Barons Announce Initial 2019 Roster

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - In conjunction with the Chicago White Sox, the Birmingham Barons are happy to announce the initial 25-man roster ahead of the tonight's season opener against the Biloxi Shuckers.

This season the Barons are headlined by one of the best outfields in the Southern League with Miker Adolfo (No. 8 best prospect in the White Sox organization by MLB Pipeline), Blake Rutherford (No. 9 prospect), and Luis González (No. 10 prospect).
Adolfo, signed as a free agent with the White Sox in July 2013 has played the last two seasons with Single-A Kannapolis Intimidators and Single-A Advanced Winston-Salem Dash. During the last two seasons, Adolfo hit .273 with 194 hits, 27 home runs, and 118 RBI. He was named the Carolina League Player of the month twice during the 2018 season.
Veteran Trey Michalczewski a seventh-round draft pick in 2013, returns to the Barons this season after leading the club in hits (114), doubles (26) and triples (6) last year. Michalczewski will be joined in the infield by top White Sox prospects Gavin Sheets (No. 18), and Laz Rivera (No. 17), who're slotted in as organizational Top-30 talents among the infielders. Former Kansas City Royals shortstop Ramón Torres, along with Ti'Quan Forbes and Mitch Roman, round out the infield core.
Catcher Alfredo González, who enjoyed a three-game stint with the White Sox in 2018, is paired with Yermin Mercedes behind the plate. Mercedes will seek to build off an impressive 2018 campaign in which he ranked among Dash's top five in hits (104), home runs (14) and RBI (64).
The five-man pitching rotation is expected to feature a number of familiar faces, including right-hander Jimmy Lambert (CWS No. 19 prospect) and left-handers Bernardo Flores and Tanner Banks. 
Southpaw Sean Nolin, who made six starts for the Oakland Athletics in 2015 before injuries shut down his 2016-17 seasons, enters his first year with the Barons. Right-hander Felix Paulino, whom the White Sox acquired from the Philadelphia Phillies on Aug. 22, 2018, rounds out the rotation.
Right-handers Mauricio Cabrera, Danny Dopico, Matt Foster, Luis Martinez and Connor Walsh, along with left-handers Brian Clark, Hunter Schryver and Matt Tomshaw, make up the bullpen.
Outfielder Luis Alexander Basabe (No. 7 prospect), left-handed pitcher Kodi Medeiros and right-handed pitchers Dane Dunning (No. 6 prospect), Tyler Johnson (No. 28 prospect) and A.J. Puckett will begin the season on the injured list.
Full Roster:
Pitchers: LHP Tanner Banks, RHP Mauricio Cabrera, LHP Brian Clark, RHP Danny Dopico, RHP Dane Dunning, LHP Bernardo Flores, RHP Matt Foster, RHP Tyler Johnson, RHP Jimmy Lambert, RHP Luis Martinez, LHP Kodi Medeiros, LHP Sean Nolin, RHP Felix Paulino, RHP A.J. Puckett, LHP Hunter Schryver, LHP Matt Tomshaw, RHP Connor Walsh
Catchers: Alfredo Gonzalez, Yermin Mercedes
Infielders: Ti'Quan Forbes, Trey Michalczewski, Laz Rivera, Mitch Roman, Gavin Sheets, Ramon Torres
Outfielders: Micker Adolfo, Luis Alexander Basabe, Joel Booker, Luis Gonzalez, Blake Rutherford 
Coaching Staff: Manager Omar Vizquel, Pitching Coach Richard Dotson, Hitting Coach Charlie Poe, Bench Coach Wes Helms, Strength & Conditioning Coach Tim Rodmaker, and Athletic Trainer Cory Barton.
- BARONS -
The Birmingham Barons are the proud Double-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. The Barons will open the home portion of their 2019 season, which celebrates the 25th anniversary of Michael Jordan's lone year in baseball, against the Tennessee Smokies at 7:05 p.m. April 10 at Regions Field. For ticket information, game schedule, promotions calendar or additional information about Regions Field, please visit barons.com or call (205) 988-3200.