Royals Announce 2015 Opening Day Roster
The 2015 Burlington Royals roster has been released, and features the top two draft picks from this June's draft, RHPs Ashe Russell and Nolan Watson. The duo is part of a group of 13 selections from this year's draft that will wear a Burlington uniform this season. The roster also features 12 returning players from the 2014 Royals squad. In total, 28 players comprise the 2015 Opening Day roster- 15 pitchers, three catchers, six infielders and four outfielders.
Pitchers
This group of 15- 10 right-handers and five lefties- is led by Russell and Watson. Russell was picked 21st overall by Kansas City out of Cathedral High School in Indianapolis, and Watson was selected soon after with the 33rd pick in the draft.
LHP Enmanuel Camacho struck out 16 for the B-Royals last season in 19.1 innings, and makes his return for 2015. Joining him is RHP Chase Darhower, who worked as both a starter and a reliever a season ago. LHP Christian Flecha worked in a similar role as Darhower, as he both started and relieved in 2014. Flecha fanned 34 hitters over 30 innings. Venezuelan RHP Julio Pinto returns to Burlington for a second season, as does RHP Eric Sandness. Rounding out the returning pitchers is LHP Cole Way, the 6'9 former University of Tulsa football player.
Pitchers suiting up for Burlington for the first time include 2015 8th round pick LHP Andre Davis, 9th round pick LHP Joseph Markus and 10th round pick RHP Alex Luna. They will be joined by RHP Jacob Bodner (2015-27th round), RHP Daniel Concepcion (2015-12th round), RHP Matt Ditman (2015-16th round), and RHP Igol Feliz (2011 Free Agent).
Catchers
Two of the three Royals backstops in 2015 are familiar faces- Xavier Fernandez and Meibrys Viloria. Fernandez had five doubles in 26 games a season ago, while Viloria appeared in 13 contests. They will be joined by 23rd round pick Colton Frabasilio.
Infielders
Three 2014 B-Royals return- Jose Martinez, Brandon Dulin and Angelo Castellano. Martinez is primarily a middle infielder, while Dulin plays first and Castellano is versatile. Martinez hit .229 in 2014 with eight doubles, a triple and a home run, to go with 23 RBI and nine steals. Dulin showed flashes of power in 2014, tying for the team lead with seven home runs. Castellano had six doubles and eight RBI in 42 games for Burlington.
They will be joined by three newcomers- 21st round pick Austin Bailey, 31st round pick Brian Bien and 34th round pick Trey Stover. All three come to the B-Royals from the college ranks. Bailey was drafted from the University of San Diego, Bien from Bowling Green State University and Stover from the University of Hartford.
Outfielders
Four outfielders head to Burlington this season, including returner Alex Newman, who saw his 2014 cut short by injury. Two 2014 draftees- 9th round pick Brandon Thomasson and 33rd round pick DonAndre Clark will join him, along with 2015 11th round selection Ben Johnson. Newman had 10 doubles, two triples and a home run in 51 games in 2013 with the B-Royals, and then was hitting a productive .273 in eight games in 2014 before getting hurt. Thomasson hit .239 with 11 doubles, a triple and two home runs, driving in 27, with the Idaho Falls Chukars in the Pioneer League last season. Clark hit .248 over 37 games with three doubles, two triples and 10 RBI last season with the Chukars, but his most impressive stat might be his 14 steals on the season. Johnson joins the B-Royals from the University of Texas, where he helped the Longhorns win the 2015 Big 12 Conference Tournament championship.
The Royals open their 2015 season with an exhibition game on Sunday, June 21 at 6:00 p.m. against the Kernersville Bulldogs. The regular season opens on Tuesday, June 23 with a 7:00 p.m. game at the Princeton Rays in Princeton, W. Va., and the Royals play their first regular season home game on Monday, June 29 at 7:00 p.m. against the Bluefield Blue Jays. For tickets, visit www.burlingtonroyals.com or call (336) 222-0223.