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Saturday, March 30, 2008
For Immediate
Release |
Contact: Jim Tocco
(334)
323-0363 |
Biscuits announce 2008 roster
15 players return from 2007 championship squad
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MONTGOMERY --
The Montgomery Biscuits will return 15 players to their roster from the 2007 Southern League championship squad. The team's initial 2008 roster was announced today.
Top prospects Wade Davis and Jake McGee will anchor the pitching rotation, along with lefty James Houser, Jr. Jon Barratt, Richard De Los Santos, Jeremy Flanagan and Jino Gonzalez also return from the 2007 club. The presumed closer is Eduardo Morlan, the 22-year-old righthander acquired from the Minnesota Twins in the trade for Delmon Young earlier this year. Left-hander Roger Deago, a former Southern Leaguer with some major league experience, also joins the staff. Also joining the Biscuits are lefties Jeffrey Kamrath and Mike Wlodarczyk and first-rounder Wade Townsend.
Championship heroes will return to the lineup as well. Championship Series Most Valuable Player Chris Nowak returns, changing positions from first base to third base. Outfielder Sergio Pedroza, who provided the game-winning home run in Game Five, returns to the outfield, along with Erold Andrus.
Catcher John Jaso, who finished second in the league with a .316 batting average, brings his bat back to the middle of the Biscuits' lineup. Catcher Matt Spring also returns.
Johnny Raburn, a Biscuit in 2005 and 2006, returns to the Biscuits after spending a season in the Florida Marlins' organization. Most of the remainder of the infield is back, as well. First baseman Rhyne Hughes, second baseman Josh Asanovich and third baseman Pat Cottrell are back. Ronnie Merrill, who played for three years against the Biscuits as a member of the Mobile BayBears, comes to the Biscuits to play shortstop.
Gabriel Martinez is back for his fourth year to play the outifeld, while Rashad Eldridge joins Montgomery from the Twins' organization.
Manager Billy Gardner and pitching coach Neil Allen return, joined by coach Ben Oglivie, trainer Joel Smith and Strength and Conditioning Coach Eric Boyd.
No. |
Pitchers |
B/T |
Ht. |
Wt. |
Birthdate |
Hometown |
2007 Season |
XX |
Jon Barratt |
R/L |
5-9 |
165 |
March 19, 1985 |
Springfield, Missouri |
Montgomery |
XX |
Wade Davis |
R/R |
6-5 |
220 |
September 7, 1985 |
Lake Wales, Florida |
Vero Beach / Montgomery |
XX |
Roger Deago |
R/L |
5-10 |
180 |
June 21, 1977 |
Mongarillo, Panama |
San Antonio / Portland (SD) |
XX |
Richard De Los Santos |
R/R |
6-0 |
183 |
June 1, 1984 |
Elias Pina, Dom. Rep. |
Montgomery / Durham |
XX |
Jeremy Flanagan |
R/R |
6-3 |
225 |
April 14, 1981 |
Richmond, California |
Montgomery |
XX |
Jino Gonzalez |
L/L |
6-2 |
210 |
September 5, 1982 |
Henderson, Nevada |
Vero Beach |
XX |
James Houser, Jr. |
L/L |
6-4 |
202 |
December 15, 1984 |
Sarasota, Florida |
Montgomery |
XX |
Jeffrey Kamrath |
L/L |
6-3 |
210 |
April 6, 1982 |
Houston, Texas |
Vero Beach |
XX |
Jake McGee |
L/L |
6-3 |
190 |
August 6, 1986 |
Sparks, Nevada |
Vero Beach / Montgomery |
XX |
Eduardo Morlan |
R/R |
6-2 |
220 |
March 1, 1986 |
Miami, Florida |
Ft. Myers / New Britain (MIN) |
XX |
Wade Townsend |
R/R |
6-4 |
230 |
February 22, 1983 |
Dripping Spring, Texas |
Columbus |
XX |
Mike Wlodaczyk |
L/L |
6-5 |
230 |
Decmber 2, 1982 |
Marlton, New Jersey |
Vero Beach |
No. |
Catchers |
B/T |
Ht. |
Wt. |
Birthdate |
Hometown |
2007 Season |
XX |
John Jaso |
L/R |
6-2 |
194 |
September 19, 1983 |
McKinleyville, California |
Montgomery |
XX |
Matt Spring |
R/R |
6-2 |
215 |
November 7, 1984 |
Peoria, Arizona |
Columbus / Montgomery |
No. |
Infielders |
B/T |
Ht. |
Wt. |
Birthdate |
Hometown |
2007 Season |
XX |
Josh Asanovich |
R/R |
6-2 |
192 |
January 31, 1983 |
Apache Junction, Arizona |
Montgomery |
XX |
Patrick Cottrell |
R/R |
5-11 |
170 |
March 16, 1982 |
Frankville, Alabama |
Vero Beach / Montgomery |
XX |
Rhyne Hughes |
L/L |
6-2 |
175 |
September 9, 1983 |
Picayune, Mississippi |
Southwest Michigan |
XX |
Ronnie Merrill |
S/R |
6-1 |
185 |
November 13, 1978 |
Tampa, Florida |
Mobile / Tucson (ARI) |
XX |
Chris Nowak |
R/R |
6-5 |
232 |
February 21, 1983 |
Pewaukee, Wisconsin |
Visalia |
XX |
Johnny Raburn |
S/R |
6-0 |
164 |
February 16, 1979 |
Plant City, Florida |
Carolina / Albuquerque (FLA) |
No. |
Outfielders |
B/T |
Ht. |
Wt. |
Birthdate |
Hometown |
2007 Season |
XX |
Erold Andrus |
S/L |
6-2 |
170 |
July 16, 1984 |
Maracay, Venezuela |
Vero Beach / Montgomery |
XX |
Rashad Eldridge |
S/R |
6-1 |
185 |
October 16, 1981 |
Macon, Georgia |
New Britain (MIN) |
35 |
Sergio Pedroza |
L/R |
6-1 |
180 |
February 23, 1984 |
Covina, California |
Vero Beach / Montgomery |
XX |
Gabriel Martinez |
L/R |
6-2 |
213 |
May 17, 1983 |
Sabana Grande,
Puerto Rico |
Montgomery |
No. |
Field
Staff |
Position |
Hometown |
2007 Season |
24 |
Billy Gardner, Jr. |
Manager |
Naples, Florida |
Montgomery |
16 |
Neil Allen |
Pitching
Coach |
Sarasota, Florida |
Montgomery |
XX |
Ben Oglivie |
Coach |
Tempe, Arizona |
Vero Beach |
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Joel Smith |
Athletic Trainer |
St. Petersburg, Florida |
Vero Beach |
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Eric Boyd |
Strength Coach |
Boiling Springs, N. Car. |
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