Former Kentucky Wildcat and Returning SAL Champions Highlight 2019 Lexington Legends Roster

The Lexington Legends, in conjunction with the Kansas City Royals, are excited to announce today their official roster for the upcoming season.

WHITAKER BANK BALLPARK (Lexington, KY) - The Lexington Legends, in conjunction with the Kansas City Royals, are excited to announce today their official roster for the upcoming season. This year's roster will feature 14 Royals 2018 MLB Draft picks, including former Kentucky Wildcat Zach Haake. Along with five returning from the 2018 South Atlantic League Championship team, the 2019 season looks to be another competitive year in Lexington.
"After last season's South Atlantic League championship, we are thrilled to see returning players as well as some new faces," said Legends President/CEO, Andy Shea. "It is also going to be special for Big Blue Nation to cheer on a former Wildcat on the mound at Whitaker Bank Ballpark. From college athlete to professional baseball player, we are excited for Lexington to watch Zach Haake on his path to the big leagues."
Haake pitched during the 2018 season for the University of Kentucky. He made 18 appearances as a Wildcat fanning 36 batters in his 34.0 innings of work. After he was drafted in the 6^th round of the 2018 MLB Draft, he began his professional career with the AZL Royals before being promoted to Rookie-level Idaho Falls. In his first professional season, he tossed 15.0 innings with a 1.76 ERA while striking out 14 opponents. Haake is the #23 prospect in the Kansas City Royals system, according to Baseball America.
Left handed pitcher, Kris Bubic , joins the Legends as the #10 overall prospect in the Royals system, according to Baseball America. After an electric season at Stanford, the Royals took him in the 1^st supplemental round of the 2018 MLB Draft. After posting an 8-1 record and 2.62 ERA at Stanford, he finished his first professional season with Pioneer League, Idaho Falls, recording 53 strikeouts in 38.0 innings.
Another south paw on the mound for Lexington this season is Austin Cox . Another college arm (Mercer) drafted in the 2^nd round of the 2018 MLB Draft, he had a great start to his professional career. In the Appalachian League with Burlington, Cox finished the season averaging almost 14 strikeouts per nine innings.
Returning to Lexington is catcher, Chase Vallot . He spent 2015 and a part of 2016 with the Legends before being promoted to High-A Wilmington in 2017. During his time in a Legends uniform, he played 80 games in 2015 finishing with 13 doubles, three triples and 13 home runs. He improved those numbers in 2016. In 82 games he smashed 13 homers and 20 doubles with 44 RBI while boosting his batting average to .246.
Jonathan Bowlan , the 58^th overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft, comes to the Royals out of the University of Memphis. Bowlan became the second-highest Tigers player drafted behind Dave Anderson, who was a first round pick with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1981. Bowlan finished his junior year with 104 strikeouts, becoming the first Tigers pitcher since 2013 to strike out more than 100 batters in a season. He also set a school and American Athletic Conference record by striking out 18 in an 8-2 win at South Florida on April 28, the most by a pitcher in a NCAA Division I game this season.
Returning from the 2019 SAL Championship squad is Marcelo Martinez , Charlie Neuweiler , Jeison Guzman , Matt Morales and Jackson Lueck .
The full roster is as follows:
Pitchers
Jonathan Bowlan
Kris Bubic
Austin Cox
Josh Dye
Yerelmy Garcia
Tyler Gray
Zach Haake
Jon Heasley
Kyle Hinton
Daniel James
Austin Lambright
Marcelo Martinez
Charlie Neuweiler
Catchers
Freddy Fermin
Nick Hutchins
Chase Vallot
Infielders
Nathan Eaton
Jeison Guzman
Rubendy Jaquez
Matt Morales
Reed Rohlman
Outfielders
Eric Cole
Michael Gigliotti
Jackson Lueck
Juan Carlos Negret