02/21/2006 1:40 PM - The T-Bones are pleased to announce that four players signed 2006 contracts, the team announced Tuesday. Returning player Gabby Delgado is joined by Charles Peterson, Jesse Acosta and Stephen Holdren as the newest additions to the roster.

Gabby Delgado returns for his first full season as the team’s second baseman. Delgado joined the T-Bones late in the 2005 season, and batted .240 and hit two homeruns in 20 games with the T-Bones. For the fourth time in five years, Delgado ranked in the top two in his league in fewest strikeouts per plate appearance. Delgado spent the 2004 season with Joliet, finishing the season with four homeruns, 39 RBI, 12 stolen bases and a .289 average. He also led the Northern League’s second basemen in fielding percentage in 2004, committing only four errors in 84 games.

1993 first round draft pick Charles Peterson also joins the team. While playing for Sioux City in 2001, Peterson led the Northern League with 90 games played and 136 hits; he finished the season with a .364 average. Last season, Peterson played for the Grays in the CanAm League, ending the season with .302 average, six homeruns and 28 RBI. For his career, Peterson has hit .290 with 118 homers and 700 RBI in 1,211 games.

Middle infielder Jesse Acosta comes to the T-Bones for his fourth year of professional baseball. Acosta has been playing in the Athletics system since 2003 after signing as a non-drafted free agent out of San Francisco State. During his first season in the Athletics system, Acosta scored 28 runs for their rookie-level team in Arizona. In 2004, he was moved up to Oakland’s AA team for nine games.

The 2006 season will be outfielder Stephen Holdren’s first as a professional baseball player. Holdren played high school baseball at Shawnee Mission South High School. He then went to play for Butler County Community College before transferring to Texas A&M. Holdren finished his college career at University of Texas San Antonio.

“We’re very excited to add a presence like Charles Peterson to our lineup,” said T-Bones Manager “Dirty” Al Gallagher. “And along with the offense of Peterson, we’ve added one of the best around on defense in Delgado. I’m also excited to see what Holdren can do. He’s a local guy with some very good tools.”