2014 New Britain Rock Cats Roster Set For Opening Day
Two Connecticut players along with a power hitting first base prospect combine with several returnees and newcomers as Rock Cats are set for Thursday's opener
New Britain, CT- The New Britain Rock Cats Baseball Club, the Double-A Eastern League Affiliate of the Minnesota Twins, has announced its 2014 Opening Day Roster. The 25-man roster includes two players with Connecticut ties, left-handed starting pitcher Pat Dean and left-handed reliever Jim Fuller. Dean, a Naugatuck native, pitched for the Rock Cats last season before moving up to Triple-A and helping Rochester reach the playoffs. Fuller pitched at Southern Connecticut State University.
Kennys Vargas, a 6-5, 273 pound first baseman who hit 19 home runs and had 93 RBI in the Florida State League in 2013, will be at New Britain for the first time. Vargas has been often compared to Red Sox slugger David Ortiz and is on the Twins 40-man Major League Roster. RHP Lester Oliveros, coming back from Tommy John Surgery, is the only Rock Cats player with Major League experience. He pitched for the Tigers and Twins (2011-2012).
Power Hitting and Starting Pitching
The Rock Cats lineup should have plenty of power with Vargas (19 HR Class-A Ft. Myers), Brandon Waring (25 HR between Bowie and Triple-A Norfolk) and Reynaldo Rodriguez who led the Rock Cats with 21 home runs last season. New Britain's starting rotation will be anchored by returnees Dean, D.J. Baxendale (10th round-University of Arkansas), Matt Summers (4th round-UC-Irvine) and joined by talented newcomers Sean Gilmartin (1st round-Braves) and Taylor Rogers (11th round-University of Kentucky).
How the 2014 Rock Cats were built
The 2014 Rock Cats roster consists of 13 returning players along with 12 new comers. While much of the roster was built on original Twins draft picks and international free agent signings, some of the players have come through trades and minor league free agent signings. LHP Sean Gilmartin was acquired from the Braves in exchange for Ryan Doumit this past December and has pitched at the Triple-A level. He was the 28th overall pick in the 2011 draft out of Florida State University. LHP Jim Fuller, OF Corey Wimberly and infielders Tony Thomas and Brandon Waring were signed by the Twins as minor league free agents. Wimberly, Thomas and Waring have played at the Triple-A level.
A breakdown of the Rock Cats 2014 Opening Day Roster:
Rock Cats Starting Rotation: (listed alphabetically) RHP D.J. Baxendale, LHP Pat Dean, LHP Sean Gilmartin, RHP Matt Summers, LHP Taylor Rogers
Rock Cats Bullpen: RHP A.J. Achter, LHP Jim Fuller, RHP B.J. Hermsen, RHP Cole Johnson, RHP Lester Oliveros, LHP Ryan O'Rourke, RHP Adrian Salcedo
Rock Cats Catchers: RH Kyle Knudson, RH Matt Kotch
Rock Cats Infielders: LH Brad Boyer, RH Nate Hanson, SH Aderling Mejia, RH Tony Thomas, SH Kennys Vargas, RH Brandon Waring, RH Stephen Wickens
Rock Cats Outfielders: SH Mike Kvasnicka, LH Daniel Ortiz, RH Reynaldo Rodriguez, SH Corey Wimberly
Disabled List: LHP Chad Rodgers, RHP Dan Turpen, 3B Miguel Sano
The Rock Cats open the 2014 season this Thursday, April 3, at New Britain Stadium (6:35 PM) against the Richmond Flying Squirrels (San Francisco-NL). The Rock Cats manager, coaches and players will be available for interviews on Media Day, Wednesday, April 2 from 2:00 PM-3:15 PM. All media is welcome and there will be photo opportunities along with a team photo.