KANSAS CITY, Kan. – The Kansas City T-Bones have announced the re-signing of pitcher Michael Joyce, and the signing of Robby Kuzdale. 

Joyce, 28 (01-17-85), a 6-foot-1, 200-pound left-hander from Temecula, Calif., had a 4.40 ERA in 13 appearances (16 1/3 innings) for the T-Bones in 2013. He struck out 13 and walked seven. Joyce started the season with El Paso, where he went 1-1 with a 5.69 ERA in 22 games. After pitching collegiately for Sacramento State, Joyce spent five years as a U.S. Border Patrol Agent before beginning his professional career with El Paso in 2013.

“He’s a great story of leaving a career to pursue his dream,” said T-Bones manager John Massarelli. “If you’re left handed and have the arm he does, you just need an opportunity to put it together. We’re hoping he can have a break-out year and move on to the career he wants in affiliated baseball.”

Kuzdale, 26 (11-07-87), is a 5-foot-9, 179-pound versatile outfielder from Tampa, Fla., who has spent the last three seasons in the Frontier League. In 2013, Kuzdale (pronounced Kooz-dale) played nine games for Joliet. Before that he played two seasons for Massarelli at Lake Erie. He’s a career .233 hitter with 95 hits, including 22 doubles and seven triples, in 136 games.

“Kooz is very athletic and can play all three outfield positions,” Massarelli said. “I originally signed him out of an Arizona Diamondbacks tryout camp. He’s a very exciting player offensively, who has some power and can run the bases well. He’s an all-out gamer, which is the type of player I’m looking for.”

The T-Bones open the 2014 regular season at home on May 15 against Lincoln.