GASTONIA, N.C. – The Ghost Peppers are signing RHP Matt Hartman for 2025, announced by general manager Brady Salisbury on Friday.
Hartman, 29, attended the University of Arizona and pitched in the Atlanta Braves’ system from 2018-2021. Hartman reached as high as Double-A Mississippi in 2021.
The Irvine, California, native pitched for the Kansas City Monarchs of the American Association for each of the next two seasons, in 2022 and 2023.
Hartman made 27 appearances in 2023, posting a 4.43 ERA with just a 1.08 WHIP in 42.2 innings pitched.
The right-hander posted a 2.93 ERA in eight outings with Navojoa of the Mexican Pacific Winter League in the 2023-24 season.
Hartman is the fourth pitcher Gastonia has signed this offseason, joining Jimmie Sherfy, Parker Kruglewicz and Ryne Inman.
The players who have signed so far are:
RHP Jimmie Sherfy
RHP Parker Kruglewicz
RHP Ryne Inman
RHP Matt Hartman
C Gavin Stupienski
C Luis Aviles
INF Jake Hoover
INF Alan Alonso
INF Ethan Skender
The team will aim to announce a player signing every Friday for the remainder of the offseason.
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Gastonia Ghost Peppers begins its second season of operations with Zawyer Sports & Entertainment – a sports ownership group with professional teams operating in the U.S. and the fifth season for the franchise at CaroMont Health Park in the FUSE District of Gastonia. The Ghost Peppers have made the ALPB Playoffs for three consecutive seasons, setting the league record for highest win percentage in a three-year span (.651 from 2022-2024.)
In their inaugural season, the Ghost Peppers had seven players with contracts purchased by other leagues, whether that be MLB-affiliated clubs or leagues outside the country. They also had two former players make their MLB debuts in 2024 — Spencer Bivens (Tigers) and Bryan Sammons (2024.) Bivens is on the Giants’ 26-man roster in 2025. J.C. Escarra, who played for Gastonia in 2023, is currently on the Yankees’ 26-man roster.
The Ghost Peppers open the 2025 season on Friday, April 25 against the York Revolution. Game time is set for 7 p.m. Single game tickets are currently on sale. Contact the Ghost Peppers office at 980-415-2255, or visit www.ghostpeppersbaseball.com for more information.