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MLB

Crawdads 2015 Roster Released

Six Top 30 prospects and 11 alumni highlight Opening Day squad
By Aaron Cox
April 1, 2015

Hickory, NC - The Texas Rangers, parent club of the Hickory Crawdads, have released the Opening Day rosters for their minor league affiliates, including the 25 active players who will begin the season with the 'Dads.

The Crawdads boast six players who are ranked among the Rangers Top 30 prospects by both Baseball America and MLB.com, headlined by 2014 first round draft pick and returning 'Dads pitcher Luis Ortiz (Baseball America #9/MLB.com #10). Joining Ortiz in the Top 30 ranking is infielder Josh Morgan (10/14), infielder Travis Demeritte (19/13), infielder Michael De Leon (16/19), outfielder Jairo Beras (23/25), and infielder Ronald Guzman (28/26).

There are 11 total returning players on the roster, including 10 who helped the 'Dads to their first 80-win season as a Rangers affiliate in 2014. Demeritte, whose 25 home runs led the South Atlantic League and all MiLB teenagers last year, tops the list of alumni which also includes Beras, De Leon, Guzman, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Ortiz, Eduard Pinto, Kevin Torres, Collin Wiles, and Kelvin Vasquez. 2012 Crawdads pitcher Kevin Matthews also returns to Hickory for a second tour, with the 2011 first round draft pick working his way back from a shoulder surgery that cost him the entire 2013 season.

Also of note is pitcher Chris Dula, who was a standout at South Iredell High School in Troutman, NC. The right-handed hurler went on to lead Catawba College to the South Atlantic Conference championship while being named the conference Male Athlete of the Year in 2014. Fellow North Carolina native Luke Tendler was a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American at North Carolina A&T. The slugging outfielder was a Northwest League All-Star last year and tied for the league lead with 11 home runs while playing for the Spokane Indians.

The entire Crawdads Opening Day roster can be found HERE.

The Crawdads open the season with a friendly exhibition game against Lenoir-Rhyne University on Tuesday, April 7th, before starting their South Atlantic League schedule on Thursday, April 9th against the Hagerstown Suns at L.P. Frans Stadium. Tickets for all 70 'Dads home games are on sale now.

For more information regarding the Crawdads Opening Day roster, call the 'Dads front office at (828) 322-3000.

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