Winnipeg Goldeyes manager Rick Forney announced the signing of left-handed pitchers Isaac Hess and Michael Williams.

Hess, 25, has spent the majority of his career in Independent baseball. Last year in the Mexican League with Mexico and Oaxaca, the southpaw went 3-3 with a 5.59 ERA in 24 games, including 10 starts. He also spent time with the Victoria Seals of the Golden Baseball League in 2010. Hess went 5-4 with a 3.91 ERA in 12 starts with Victoria.

“He’s small in stature, but has a power arm,” Forney said. “I expect him to be at the top of my rotation.”

Hess joins a starting rotation that includes Mark Holliman, Chris Salamida and Ace Walker.

In 2007, he was part of the Windy City Thunderbolts team that captured the Frontier League title. He was teammates in Windy City with fellow Goldeyes Wes Long, Amos Ramon and pitching coach Brendan Sagara. Hess was 10-2 that season as a rookie and posted a 3.28 ERA.

Williams, 24, has played the last three seasons in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization, after he was drafted by the Pirates in the 44th round (1,314th overall) of the 2008 MLB amateur draft. He was 2-2 with a 4.75 ERA in 26 games out of the bullpen with the Pirates Single-A affiliate West Virginia of the South Atlantic League last year.

“He’s got a power arm and has worked hard this off-season to get himself in shape for the season,” Forney said of Williams.

The Goldeyes now have 22 players on the roster for the 2011 season, including 12 pitchers and 10 position players.

The Winnipeg Goldeyes open training camp on Saturday, April 30 at Shaw Park.