Dash Announces Opening Day Roster
(Click on the "Roster" tab to check out the full Dash roster.)
The 2010 Dash roster features what should be a very strong pitching staff, with 11 of the 13 pitchers posting ERA's of 3.88 or lower during the 2009 season. Five pitchers are ranked by Baseball America among the top 30 prospects in the White Sox minor league system.
The offense hopes to follow in the footsteps of the 2009 Dash, which finished in the top half of the Carolina League in nearly every category under the watchful eye of hitting coach Rob Sasser, who will begin his second season on the Winston-Salem coaching staff. The Dash lineup could mirror this year's White Sox lineup, which is expected to feature plenty of speed bolstered by a few key power threats.
The Dash features players from 13 states and four countries. The youngest player is RHP Nevin Griffith (21 years old) and the oldest is catcher Logan Johnson (26). Of the Dash's 25 players, 22 were on last year's edition of the Kannapolis Intimidators, which finished 82-57, the best record in the South Atlantic League.
The following players will be on the roster for second-year Dash manager Joe McEwing:
LHP Justin Edwards is expected to get the start on Opening Day. The former third round draft pick split 2009 between Winston-Salem and Kannapolis, going 10-5 with a 4.08 ERA in his first season back from Tommy John surgery.
Griffith is another pitcher returning from Tommy John surgery. The former second round draft pick missed significant time in 2008 & 2009, but possesses a power fastball.
RHP Nate Jones, LHP Charlie Leesman, and RHP Stephen Sauer are expected to fill out the rest of the starting rotation along with Edwards and Griffith.
RHP Dan Remenowsky has gone from an un-drafted player out of Division III Otterbein College to one of the White Sox' best relief pitching prospects. He dominated as the Intimidators' closer in 2009, going 7-3 with a 1.99 ERA and notching 24 saves.
C Josh Phegley is the highest-rated prospect on the Dash roster according to Baseball America, ranking 11th in the White Sox organization. Chicago drafted Phegley as a first round sandwich pick (38th overall) last June out of Indiana University, where he hit .344 with 17 home runs in his junior season.
3B Jon Gilmore is the Dash's other former first round draft pick. Originally selected by Atlanta 33rd overall in 2007, Gilmore was a part of the 2008 trade that sent Javier Vasquez to Atlanta and brought Gilmore, Tyler Flowers, and several other prospects to Chicago.
The Dash will rely on IF Seth Loman to provide the power numbers he supplied in 2009. Between Winston-Salem and Kannapolis, Loman hit 23 homers, which tied him for second most among all White Sox minor league players.
SS Eduardo Escobar enters the season ranked by Baseball America as the 19th-best prospect in the White Sox system and the organization's best defensive infielder. The publication describes Escobar as having "Omar Vizquel-like range" and that the middle-infield combo of him and Dash infielder Andrew Garcia "was a major reason why the Intimidators went 82-57 and held opponents to 3.8 runs per game."
The most recognizable name in the outfield is Kenny Williams, Jr., son of White Sox General Manager Kenny Williams, Sr. He will be joined in the outfield by Brandon Short, Ozzie Lewis, and Justin Greene.
The Winston-Salem Dash is the Class-A Advanced minor league affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. For more information, please visit www.wsdash.com.