Carolina Cowboys Bolster Roster by Signing Batista, Eguchi Ahead of Rattler Days
By: Justin Felisko
PUEBLO, Colo. – Austin Dillon knows you are unlikely to win a NASCAR race without a fresh set of tires, and he is bringing a similar approach to running his professional bull riding team in the inaugural PBR Team Series.
The Carolina Cowboys General Manager added two important pieces to what he already believes is a championship-caliber squad this week by coming to terms with free agents Sandro Batista and Marco Eguchi.
Batista, 23, and Eguchi, the 2018 World Finals event winner, were two of the largest fish available in the slim free agent pond after the Arizona Ridge Riders were forced into a roster crunch two weeks ago.
Arizona decided to relegate Batista and Eguchi to its practice roster on Sept. 19 ahead of Thunder Days after they activated Mauricio Moreira and Chase Dougherty from injured reserve.
That opened the door for the pair of riders to explore potential opportunities in the league, ultimately landing with Carolina. In a corresponding move, the Cowboys released Leonardo Lima this week.
“I had one opening already (on the protected roster) and wanted to fill it with a strong lefty after Ednelio (Almeida) went on IR (on Sept. 15),” Dillon said. “We also believe Marco is an upgrade when it came to his history and stats over Leo. He also won the World Finals in that arena.”
Eguchi won the 2018 World Finals at T-Mobile Arena, the site of this year’s PBR Team Series Championship on Nov. 4-6. The 33-year-old is the only rider in his 30s now on the Cowboys roster, and he leads the team with 10 PBR World Finals qualifications. In limited action for Arizona, Eguchi went 3-for-9.
Batista was 4-for-16 for Arizona.
Carolina leads the PBR Team Series with a 14-8 record and enters Rattlers Days one game ahead of No. 2 Oklahoma (13-9). Meanwhile, Arizona is only 1.5 games behind Carolina with six games left in the regular season.
The top two teams at the end of the regular season get a first-round bye for the PBR Team Series Championship in Las Vegas (Nov. 4-6), and the Cowboys’ additions may help them hold on to win the regular season title and get one of the two byes.
“We are really excited about adding these guys to our team,” Cowboys Head Coach Jerome Davis said. “Both of these guys ride really good into their hand. We are feeling really good about where we are with our team right now.”
Losing Batista and Eguchi is a tough pill to swallow for multiple reasons for the Ridge Riders. Arizona had hoped to be able to retain both riders on its practice roster, and possibly elevate one of the two riders to its protected roster following Chase Dougherty’s head injury on Sept. 25, but Batista and Eguchi both opted to take their talents to what they hope to be greener pastures on the east coast as free agents.
“I think I can help Carolina more at this moment than Arizona,” Eguchi told PBR.com. “Both teams have great riders. I’m excited to help Carolina go for the win.”
Meanwhile, Arizona will have to potentially try to defeat its former riders on its way to a 2022 PBR Team Series Championship. The teams are not set to play each other the rest of the season unless they meet in the playoffs.
The Ridge Riders had arguably the best depth in the league a few weeks ago, but they just lost two key pieces of its roster, and three if you include Dougherty exiting the lineup due to injury. That is the equivalent to 27% of Arizona’s previous 11-man roster.
Carolina was not the only team in hot pursuit of Batista, as the Austin Gamblers (11-11) also attempted to sign Batista.
According to Dillon, Carolina used the cash considerations it received from Austin earlier this year in the Ramon de Lima trade to sign Batista.
Rosters lock for the rest of the season, barring injuries, at 11:59 p.m. MT on Thursday night following the PBR Team Series Trade Deadline.
All of the teams in the league will then shift their focus to Rattler Days in Fort Worth, Texas, this weekend.
The first-place Cowboys take on the Kansas City Outlaws (9-13) Friday night at Dickies Arena (8:45 p.m. ET RidePass on Pluto TV).
Batista will be leading off for Carolina during his team debut and is matched up with Drago (58-5 all levels), while Eguchi will be on the bench. Batista, Eguchi and Wingson Henrique da Silva will likely be rotated in and out of the lineup by coach Davis to join forces with Carolina’s power four of Daylon Swearingen, Cooper Davis, Mason Taylor and Boudreaux Campbell.
The Cowboys are the only team with two PBR World Champions and four PBR World Finals event winners on its roster.
Swearingen said the Carolina locker room will gladly welcome Batista and Eguchi with open arms this weekend.
“I have always watched Eguchi and can’t wait to watch him ride for our side now,” Swearingen said. “I don’t know much about Batista, but he looks pretty good.”
Photo courtesy of Todd Brewer/Bull Stock Media
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