(New Britain, Conn., Apr. 10, 2018) – The New Britain Bees today announced the signings of catcher James Skelton and outfielder Ozney Guillen.

“Only one week remains until players report for spring training and we’re excited how the roster is looking,” says Bees General Manager Brad Smith. “James has been one of the better catchers in the Atlantic League the past few years and will be a very important part of the team in working with our veteran pitching staff. Ozney adds some versatility to the club and has proven he can be an asset in this league.”

James Skelton returns for his third season with the Bees, sixth in the Atlantic League, and 15^th of professional baseball. Last year with New Britain, the backstop appeared in 117 games, collecting a .255 batting average with 14 home runs, 33 RBI, 69 runs scored, 17 stolen bases, and a .408 on-base percentage. He also tied an all-time Atlantic League single-season record with 101 walks drawn.

The 32-year-old was originally drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 14^th round of the 2004 MLB amateur draft. He would spend five years in the Tigers organization, and continued to play in the affiliated ranks through 2012. Skelton peaked at the Triple-A level with Louisville (Reds) in 2011, and Syracuse (Nationals) in 2012. He made his Atlantic League debut in 2013, and has played in the league since with the Somerset Patriots, Lancaster Barnstormers, Southern Maryland Blue Crabs, and Bees.

In 1,080 career minor league games, James owns a .258 batting average with 59 home runs, 405 RBI, 550 runs scored, 145 stolen bases, and a .390 on-base percentage.

Ozney Guillen joins the Bees for his second season in the Atlantic League and fifth of professional baseball. Last year, the outfielder played with the Bridgeport Bluefish, where he hit .253 with two home runs, 29 RBI, 30 runs scored, and five stolen bases across 86 games.

Ozney is the son of former Chicago White Sox Manager Ozzie Guillen and was originally drafted out of high school by the White Sox in the 22^nd round of the 2010 MLB draft. He made his professional debut in 2014 with Normal of the independent Frontier League and spent two seasons with Normal before joining Sioux Falls of the American Association in 2016.

In 233 career minor league games, the 26-year-old owns a .241 batting average with 16 home runs, 127 RBI, 132 runs scored, and 32 stolen bases.

All New Britain Bees transactions are presented by ACES. ACES is dedicated to enhancing and transforming lives through education, innovations, and leadership. Visit https://www.aces.org/ for more information.

About the New Britain Bees
The New Britain Bees are members of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, and play their home games at New Britain Stadium. For information on tickets packages, group outings and sponsorships call 860-826-BEES (2337) or visit NBBees.com.

About the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB)
The Atlantic League has been a leader in professional baseball and a gateway to Major League Baseball since 1998. Over 38 million fans have attended Atlantic League games and more than 900 players and 50 managers and coaches have joined MLB organizations directly from the ALPB. The Atlantic League emphasizes winning baseball games, showcasing the talent of top-caliber players and offering affordable family entertainment. For more information, please visit www.AtlanticLeague.com.

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