Chasers Announce 2019 Opening Day Roster

The Omaha Storm Chasers in conjunction with the Kansas City Royals have announced their Opening Day roster for the 2019 season. The roster features 16 players who wore a Storm Chasers uniform at some point last year, while ten players boast Major League playing experience.a

Three of those returnees highlight the Storm Chasers infield, including Creighton alum Nicky Lopez , who was rated by Baseball America as the fifth-best prospect in the Royals system prior to this season. Humberto Arteaga and Cheslor Cuthbert also return, joined by newcomers Jecksson Flores , Kelvin Gutierrez and Erick Mejia . Flores won the Texas League batting title in 2018 with Double-A Northwest Arkansas, while Gutierrez is considered the 12th-best Royals farmhand in the organization.
Familiar names will also be patrolling Werner Park's outfield, with three of four players returning from last year's squad in Jorge Bonifacio , Elier Hernandez and Bubba Starling . The lone new member of the Storm Chasers outfield is Brett Phillips , who was acquired by the Royals organization last season from the Milwaukee Brewers and sports Major League playing experience from each of the past two years.
Nine pitchers come back to Omaha from 2018, including Pitcher of the Year Richard Lovelady , as well as Heath Fillmyer , Arnaldo Hernandez , Kevin Lenik , Zach Lovvorn , Andres Machado , Jake Newberry , Glenn Sparkman and Josh Staumont . Right-handers Scott Blewett and Foster Griffin join Omaha for their first taste of the Triple-A level, with the former rated the 15th-best prospect in the Royals system prior to this season by Baseball America. Righties Ben Lively and Michael Ynoa , who both boast two seasons of Major League service time, round out the pitching staff.
Nick Dini and Andrew Susac complete the Opening Day roster as Omaha's backstops. Dini began the 2018 campaign with the Storm Chasers, playing in 14 contests with the club. Susac split last season between the Baltimore Orioles and Triple-A Norfolk Tides, and was a member of the 2014 World Series Championship winning San Francisco Giants.
Manager Brian Poldberg returns to Omaha for his sixth season as skipper for the Storm Chasers. Also returning for 2019 are pitching coach Andy Hawkins and hitting coach Brian Buchanan for their fourth and second seasons in Omaha, respectively. Strength and Conditioning Coach Phil Falco is also back for his third year with the Storm Chasers, while the lone newcomer on the staff is athletic trainer James Stone.
Ten players on Omaha's initial roster boast Major League playing experience, with all but two wearing a Kansas City Royals uniform at some point last season. Seven members of the roster are also considered among the top 30 prospects in the Royals' system by Baseball America entering this season.
The Storm Chasers begin their 2019 campaign this evening in Memphis, Tennessee with a five-game road series versus the Memphis Redbirds. First pitch from Autozone Park is scheduled for 7:05pm CT. Following that road trip, Omaha returns to Werner Park to begin a seven-game homestand on Tuesday, April 9. First pitch that evening is set for 6:35pm CT.
Single-game tickets for all 70 Storm Chasers home contests can be purchased online at www.omahastormchasers.com, or by calling the Werner Park Ticket Office from noon until 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday at (402) 738-5100.