Some would say the Bengals aren't NFL players anyway ...

Here's one of those tongue-in-cheek press releases/promotions you can only get with minor-league baseball, courtesy of the Florence Freedom:

With an official lockout looming and a Collective Bargaining Agreement seemingly out of reach, NFL players are preparing for a summer without organized workouts and an uncertain future. The Florence Freedom Professional Baseball Team would like to help out Cincinnati Bengals players by giving them the opportunity to stay active and employed this summer. Please accept our invitation to attend our team tryout on April 23rd.

Chad Ochocinco’s (pictured) recent tryout with Major League Soccer showed that there are numerous opportunities available for players to pursue other athletic ventures. Located right in Cincinnati’s backyard, the Florence Freedom play a 96-game schedule from late May to early September. Any and all Cincinnati Bengals players under the age of 27 (per league rules) are invited to try out for a spot on the 2011 roster. The tryout will be free of charge to Bengals players as we’d like to lend a hand during these troubled times and help the players stay in shape this offseason.

Deion Sanders and Bo Jackson excelled on both the gridiron and the baseball diamond. Even the greatest basketball player of all time took his shot at America’s pastime. Now, we are giving Bengals players the opportunity to be the next great two-sport star. Please accept our invitation to come “play ball!” with the Freedom.

Turf work continues

Installation of the ProGrass playing surface is continuing this week at Consol Energy Park. Note that the pitcher's mound is in and much of the dirt-colored infield turf. You should be able to click on the photo and get a larger image.

Dyer signing

According to Baseball America, catcher Jared Dyer (pictured), who played 18 games late last season with the Wild Things, has been signed by the Kansas City Royals.

Dyer batted .226 with no home runs and three RBI with Washington. He played three seasons of college baseball at Tulane but a knee injury kept Dyer out of action from the 2009 college season until signing with the Wild Things. Dyer's stay with Washington was rather pedestrian. Two of his three RBI came in that wild 12-11 win at Normal in August.

Wild Things deal for power hitter

The Washington Wild Things have acquired a right-handed power hitter in a trade with the River City Rascals.

Washington sent its first-round draft pick at the upcoming Frontier League tryout and a player to be named to River City in exchange for Josh Banda (pictured).

The 25-year-old Banda is listed as a catcher in the Frontier League transactions and was described as a utility player by the Wild Things. With River City last year, Banda was not used a catcher and played only a few games at first base. He spent most of his playing time as a designated hitter.

Banda played two seasons with River City, batting .270 with 14 home runs and 52 RBI last year. During the 2010 playoffs, he batted .286 with eight hits, four runs and three RBI in eight games. In 2009, he played in 11 games for River City, batting .303 with two home runs and five RBI.

Banda's 99 strikeouts were the fourth-most in the league last season.

The Lakewood, Calif., native also played three seasons with Tri-City of the Class A Northwest League from 2006-2008. He was drafted three times by the Colorado Rockies before signing.

Ochoa played college baseball at California Baptist.

“We are very excited add Josh to our organization and look forward to adding his five years of experience and leadership to our clubhouse," Wild Things manager Darin Everson said. "He brings many valuable assets to our lineup, including his experience as an everyday player who helped lead his team to the Frontier League championship. His impact bat will be a force in the middle of our lineup, and we believe he will continue to push the ceiling of his potential.”

That the Wild Things were able to acquire Banda shows that Frontier League teams should be expected to have more experienced rosters this year under the league's new player classification system (Rookie-1, Rookie-2, Experienced and Veteran). Under the old system of Rookie, L1, L2 and Veteran, Washington already would be over the limit of L2 players with four (Justin Edwards, Billy Muldowney, Banda and Luis Rivera) and have two veterans (Emilio Ontiveros and Chris Sidick). That total would be one under the limit with a entire crops of spring training releases yet to sign.

Turf work resumes

Work on the conversion of Consol Energy Park from a grass and dirt field to an all-synthetic surface resumed last week. The Wild Things posted several photos on their Facebook page. Here's one that shows the bullpen mounds will be along the foul lines instead of behind the outfield fences.

Ellis becomes the boss

Former Wild Things second baseman Ryan Ellis (pictured) has been named manager of the Savannah Sand Gnats, the New York Mets' affiliate in the Class A South Atlantic League.

Ellis is the first former Wild Things player to be a manager in affiliated ball. Jeff Isom, who was the Wild Things' manager in their first two seasons (2002-03), is entering his fifth year as a manager in the Milwaukee Brewers' system.

Ellis was a second baseman for Washington under Isom and hitting coach for two seasons under John Massarelli. Ellis led all Frontier League second basemen in fielding percentage in 2002. He left the Wild Things to 2006 to become head baseball coach at his alma mater, Steel Valley High School. That summer, he joined the Mets' minor-league coaching staff. He's coached at all four minor-league levels (Rookie, Class A, AA and AAA).

The last three years, Ellis has been on Savannah's coach staff.

Ellis was removed from the Wild Things' active roster in the second half of the 2003 season – he was replaced by Blake Woods – and added to the coaching staff. I recall that one of the three reasons Isom gave for the roster move was "We think Ryan will be a good manager one day."

"I'm excited for the opportunity to manage in Savannah," Ellis said in a statement. "I'm excited about being in Savannah for my third year. I've had some good years in the past in terms of developing guys, and I'm looking forward to helping out."

Among Ellis' coaches are former major league pitcher Glenn Abbott and former Pirates jack-of-all-trades Benny Distefano.

"'Ellie' is the perfect guy to manage this club," Gnats team president John Katz said. "His fiery enthusiasm and passion for the game is evident from the moment you meet him, and having big-league veterans on the staff is just icing on the cake."