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Threshers Announce 2015 Opening Day Roster

Opening Night Presented by Regions Bank is April 9
April 6, 2015

CLEARWATER, Fla. - The Threshers and Philadelphia Phillies have announced the 2015 opening day roster for Advanced-A Clearwater. The Threshers open Florida State League play with Opening Night presented by Regions Bank on April 9 at Bright House Field. Gates open at 6 p.m. for the 7 p.m. game against the Dunedin Blue Jays.

Seven players on the 25-man active roster are listed on MLB.com's Top 30 prospects for the Phillies' organization: LHP Matt Imhof (8), C Andrew Knapp (13), OF Dylan Cozens (20), OF Aaron Brown (23), IF Jesmuel Valentin (24), IF Zach Green (27), LHP Brandon Leibrandt (28).

Five players were selected by Philadelphia in the 2014 draft: Imhof (Round 2, 47th overall), Brown (Round 3), Leibrandt (Round 6), IF Drew Stankiewicz (Round 11), OF Chase Harris (Round 14). Eleven players appeared with the Threshers during the 2014 season .

Imhof started 11 games over three levels in 2014, pitching for the Phillies' GCL (Rookie) squad, Williamsport (A-Short), and Lakewood (A-Full). The left-hander had a 2.98 ERA over 42.1 innings pitched, with 40 strikeouts and 11 walks.  

Knapp is a switch-hitting catcher who spent time with both Lakewood and Clearwater in 2014. Cozens hit 16 home runs and collected 62 RBIs in a full season at Lakewood last year. Brown saw action in 61 games between Williamsport and Lakewood after the June draft.

Valentin appeared in 12 games for the Threshers in 2014 after coming over from the Dodgers organization in the Roberto Hernandez trade. Green rapped 88 hits in 84 games for Lakewood last season. Leibrandt struck out 67 batters in 60.2 innings in the GCL and at Williamsport in his first few months of professional baseball.

Shortstop J.P. Crawford, listed as the Phillies' #1 prospect by MLB.com and #22 overall, will begin the season on Clearwater's disabled list.

The Threshers are managed by Greg Legg, who is marking his 34th year with the Phillies. Legg was the Lakewood manager in 2014 and previously managed Clearwater from 2005 to 2006. Rob Ducey will be the hitting coach in Clearwater and Steve Schrenk takes over pitching coach duties.

Detailed roster at ThreshersBaseball.com

Threshers Roster, as of April 6:

Catchers (3): Willians Astudillo, Andrew Knapp, Jose Mayorga

Infielders (6): Zach Green, Devin Lohman, Angelo Mora, Drew Stankiewicz, Jesmuel Valentin, Mitch Walding

Outfielders (4): Aaron Brown, Dylan Cozens, Chase Harris, Andrew Pullin

Pitchers (12): Cody Forsythe, Matt Imhof, Ulises Joaquin, Colin Kleven, Brandon Leibrandt, Mark Leiter, Jr., Lino Martinez, Miguel Nunez, Edubray Ramos, Lee Ridenhour, Kevin Walter, David Whitehead