Burlington Royals Announce 2017 Roster

BURLINGTON, N.C.- On the heels of a record-setting 2016 season that saw the team win 42 games and qualify for the Appalachian League Championship Series, the Burlington Royals have announced their 2017 Opening Day Roster.
The 27-man roster consists of 12 pitchers, seven infielders, five outfielders, and three catchers. Three of those position players are ranked in MLB.com's Kansas City Royals Top 30 Prospects list - OF Seuly Matias (9^th), INF Jeison Guzman (19^th), and C Sebastian Rivero (30^th).
"We're very excited about the roster Kansas City has assigned us for the 2017 season," Burlington Royals General Manager Tyler Borkowski said. "There seems to be a great mix of youth and experienced talent, as well as international prospects and players from the MLB Draft."
LOOK: 2017 BURLINGTON ROYALS ROSTER
20 of the 27 players are pre-existing players in the Royals' system, while seven are 2017 Major League Baseball Draft selections getting their first taste of professional baseball.
Two players will be returning to Burlington for their second tour of duty in a B-Royals uniform. LHP Felix Familia appeared in seven games in relief for the 2016 club, and will call Burlington home again in 2017. Joining him as a returner is 1B Ryan Dale , an Australian who split time at third base as an 18-year-old in 2014. Dale has played the past two seasons with the Idaho Falls Chukars in the Pioneer League.
As previously announced, the Royals will be managed by Omar Ramirez in 2017. He will be joined by Pitching Coach Carlos Martínez , Hitting Coach Andre David, and Bench Coach Brooks Conrad . 
Pitchers
The pitching staff features three players who honed their skills at the highest level of college baseball and were picked in the top 12 rounds of this year's draft. Sixth-round RHP Tyler Zuber hails from Arkansas State University, where he went 6-1 with six saves and a 2.06 ERA while working as the Red Wolves' closer this spring. Another collegiate reliever is RHP Collin Snider, who was picked in the 12^th round out of Vanderbilt University, where he made 21 appearances for the Commodores in 2017. LHP J.C. Cloney was 15-6 with ERAs of 2.45 and 3.11 in 33 starts over two seasons at the University of Arizona, and was named to the College World Series All-Tournament team in 2016. He was picked in the 9^th round of last week's draft.
Another trio of pitchers from the 2016 Royals draft class will work in Burlington this season - LHP Mike Messier (15th round), RHP Tyler Fallwell (19^th round), and RHP Nathan Webb (34th round). All three pitched for the Arizona League Royals in 2016.
Joining Familia as international representatives on the 2017 B-Royals pitching staff are RHP Luis Alcantara (DSL Royals in 2016), RHP Yerelmy Garcia (DSL Royals in 2016), RHP Carlos Hernandez (first professional experience), and RHP Ismael Maldonado (AZL Royals in 2016).
Rounding out the group is RHP Kevin Lenik , who signed with Kansas City as a free agent following a 2016 season spent with the Texas Rangers' Short Season Class A affiliate Spokane Indians.
Catchers
The headliner of the three Burlington backstops is Sebastian Rivero, rated by MLB.com as the no. 30 prospect in the Kansas City system. MLB.com calls Rivero "an advanced defender" for his age (18). The Venezuelan split 2016 between the DSL Royals and AZL Royals, hitting .280 with 10 doubles and 24 RBI in 46 total games. 
Rivero will share time behind the dish with Nick Hutchins, Kansas City's 27^th-round draft selection in the 2017 draft. Hutchins started 49 games in 2017 for Southern Illinois University, and 20 of his 44 hits went for extra bases.
Additonally, Jesus Atencio is on the roster. A Venezuela native, Atencio has played in 127 games across four seasons in the Royals system, and played the 2016 campaign with the AZL Royals.
Infielders
Much like the catchers, an elite international prospect headlines in the infield group. SS Jeison Guzman is rated as the no. 19 prospect in the Kansas City system by MLB.com, who praises his "soft hands, quick release, and good pitch recognition skills." Guzman hit .247 with 11 doubles, five triples, a home run and 19 RBI across 54 total games with the DSL Royals and AZL Royals in 2016.
Joining Guzman and the aforementioned Dale as international players in the Burlington infield are 1B Dennicher Carrasco (DSL Royals in 2016), 2B Jose Marquez (AZL Royals in 2016), and 3B Oliver Nunez (AZL Royals in 2016).
Two former collegiate players complete the group of infielders. SS Julio Gonzalez hit .326 with 15 doubles, four triples, and five home runs for Florida Gulf Coast University this spring, paving the way for his selection in the 17^th round of the 2017 Draft. 1B Benjamin Cash is a converted pitcher who signed as a free agent out of Middle Tennessee State University in 2016.
Outfielders
The highest-rated Royals prospect on the 2017 Burlington Royals roster resides among the outfielders. CF/RF Seuly Matias is rated as the no. 9 prospect by MLB.com, but the praise is deserved for the 18-year-old Dominican Republic native. In 2016 in the Arizona League, Matias hit eight home runs, which tied for the league lead. MLB.com says that "Matias might have the most raw power in the Royals' system."
Adding to the talent of the outfield are two players drafted in the early rounds. CF Michael Gigliotti hit .301 in 49 starts in center for Lipscomb University this spring, collecting 12 doubles, five triples, and three home runs. He was selected by Kansas City in the fourth round of this month's Draft. LF Cal Jones was picked in the sixth round of the 2016 Draft and played his first professional season in the Arizona League.
The final two outfielders are RF Reed Rohlman, the Royals' 35^th-round draft pick this year from Clemson University, and RF Jose Caraballo , who has played the last three years with the DSL Royals.
The 2017 Burlington Royals season officially begins Thursday, June 22 at 7:00 p.m. when the Royals host the Kingsport Mets. Tickets for all Burlington Royals games are available by calling (336) 222-0223 or by visiting www.burlingtonroyals.com.