8/24/2016-SUGAR LAND, TX--The Sugar Land Skeeters announced today that LHP Roy Merritt's contract has been purchased by the Los Angeles Dodgers. Merritt will report to the Oklahoma City Dodgers, the Los Angeles AAA affiliate. Merritt is the 1st Skeeter to have his contract purchased during the 2016 season and leaves the Skeeters after going 8-2 with a 2.99 ERA with 93 strikeouts over 18 starts. He also made 7 relief appearances this season.

The Houston native is the 44th Skeeter since 2012 to have his contract purchased by a Major League or Mexican League club and the 19th player to be assigned to AAA. Merritt is also the 2nd Skeeter to have his contract purchased by the Dodgers organization.

"Roy is always so consistent and has been, in my opinion, the best left-handed pitcher in the Atlantic League since I've been here," said Skeeters manager Gary Gaetti. "He's going to be able to do everything that the Dodgers need him to do."

Merritt owns a 53-48 minor league record in 10 seasons and has posted a 3.38 ERA with 35 saves and 808 strikeouts in 1014.0 innings of work. This will be the 2nd AAA assignment in Merritt's career after being assigned to AAA Buffalo (NYM) during the 2010 season.

About the Oklahoma City Dodgers

The Oklahoma City Dodgers are a minor league baseball team based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The team, which plays in the Pacific Coast League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers. They play at the Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark, located in the Bricktown Entertainment District in downtown Oklahoma City.

About the Sugar Land Skeeters Led by former Major Leaguer Gary Gaetti, the Skeeters play at Constellation Field, a state-of-the-art stadium located at the intersection of State Highway 6 and U.S. Highway 90A in Sugar Land. The Skeeters play 140 regular season games in the Atlantic League, which offers an open classification of play, the highest level of professional baseball other than Major League Baseball. Atlantic League players are highly experienced professionals that play to win. Over 800 players from the Atlantic League have signed contracts with big league organizations and over 100 players have been transferred to MLB.

Roy Merritt has pitched in the Pecos Spring League for the Galveston Sea Lions for the past two season.