San Jose Giants Announce 2015 Roster

San Jose, CA- The 11-time California League champion San Jose Giants unveiled their roster today in anticipation for the 2015 season. San Jose's prospect-laden roster includes a powerful starting lineup and a group of exciting starting pitchers as the Giants look to extend their league-record streak of 11 consecutive winning seasons.

Former first round draft picks Christian Arroyo and Tyler Beede highlight the Giants roster. Arroyo, a shortstop, was San Francisco's first round pick in the 2013 draft. He won the Arizona Rookie League Most Valuable Player award in his first professional season before hitting an impressive .333 with five home runs and 48 RBI's in 58 games for the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes (Short-Season level) last year. Beede, the 14th overall pick in last June's draft, will anchor the Giants starting rotation. Beede had a standout career at Vanderbilt University earning First Team All-American honors as a sophomore in 2013 before helping the Commodores to the College World Series title last year.

Luis Ysla, Keury Mella and Chase Johnson, each regarded among the top pitching prospects in the organization, will join Beede in the San Jose starting rotation. Ysla won the South Atlantic League ERA title (2.45) and earned All-Star recognition last season while pitching for Augusta (Class-A level). The left-hander struck out 115 batters in 121 1/3 innings with the GreenJackets. Mella fashioned a combined 3.45 ERA in 18 starts between Augusta and Salem-Keizer last year. The right-hander struck out 83 and walked just 19 in 86 innings pitched. Johnson was a third round draft pick two years ago and had a 4.57 ERA in 22 starts with Augusta during the 2014 season.

Beede (#2), Mella (#4), Arroyo (#10), Johnson (#20) and Ysla (#21) are all ranked among the top prospects in the San Francisco Giants organization by Baseball America entering this season.

D.J. Snelten and Martin Agosta will also work in the Giants starting rotation to open the year. Snelten, a left-hander, was a reliever last season and logged a 1.23 ERA over 20 appearances out of the GreenJackets bullpen. Agosta was a South Atlantic League All-Star in Augusta two years ago before making 11 starts with San Jose last season.

San Jose's talented lineup includes the return of first baseman Brian Ragira and outfielders Tyler Horan and Jesus Galindo. Ragira led the 2014 San Jose Giants in home runs (20) and RBI's (82) to go with a .260 batting average. He hit 15 of his home runs after the All-Star break last year. Horan hit 25 home runs between Augusta and San Jose last season to rank second in the San Francisco farm system. After earning midseason South Atlantic League All-Star honors last year, Horan was promoted to the Giants where he blasted 10 homers in just 28 games. Galindo served as San Jose's leadoff hitter and center fielder for the majority of last season and hit .268 with team-leading totals of 31 stolen bases and eight triples.

Other returning hitters include catchers Ben Turner and Matt Parè, infielders Brandon Bednar, John Polonius and Ydwin Villegas and outfielders Ryan Lollis and Brennan Metzger. Turner was the Giants' primary catcher last season and hit .298 with two home runs and 40 RBI's in 106 games. Bednar made starts at all four infield positions for San Jose last year after a midseason promotion from Augusta. Lollis is a veteran of the California League having posted a career .287 batting average in 115 games with the Giants over the 2011, 2012 and 2014 seasons.

Third baseman Ryder Jones and second baseman Austin Slater have joined the Giants and are expected to play leading roles on the club. Jones was a second round draft pick in 2013 and hit 26 doubles, 10 home runs and collected 67 RBI's between Augusta and Salem-Keizer last season. Slater debuted professionally last summer with Salem-Keizer after his selection in the eighth round of the 2014 draft. He led the Volcanoes with a .347 batting average last season. Catcher Ty Ross and outfielder Rafael Rodriguez have also joined the team.

Other returnees to the San Jose pitching staff include Jason Forjet, Ian Gardeck, Mason McVay, Jake Smith, Jeff Soptic and Nick Vander Tuig. Newcomers Christian Jones and Dan Slania round out the Giants bullpen. Slania led Augusta with 12 saves last season before finishing the year with Double-A Richmond.

Russ Morman joins the San Jose Giants as manager for the 2015 season. Morman enters his sixth year with the San Francisco Giants organization and second season as a manager. In 2014, he served as manager of Double-A Richmond and directed the Flying Squirrels to a 79-63 record and a West Division championship. Previously, Morman spent three years (2011-13) as hitting coach for Triple-A Fresno and one season (2010) as hitting coach for Richmond. Morman played 17 seasons of professional baseball from 1983 to 1999, spending parts of nine years in the major leagues with the White Sox (1986, 1988-89), Royals (1990-91) and Marlins (1994-97).

Hitting coach Lipso Nava, pitching coach Mike Couchee, athletic trainer Garrett Havig and strength and conditioning coach Mike Lidge complete the San Jose staff.

Fans can meet the 2015 players and coaches at the 7th annual San Jose Giants FanFest on Tuesday, April 7 at Municipal Stadium from 5:00-9:00 PM. Morman and all of his players and coaches will be available to sign autographs and pose for pictures as part of a "Meet-and-Greet" that begins at 5:15 PM. Fans will also have the opportunity to watch the team practice starting at 7:00 PM, purchase new merchandise in the San Jose Giants Dugout Store and play in the Family Fun Zone. Admission and parking are free. Those interested in becoming new season ticket holders are invited to come down to Municipal Stadium during FanFest to select their seat locations. San Jose's 2015 season begins on Thursday, April 9. 

First pitch for the San Jose Giants home opener will take place at 7:00 PM on Thursday, April 16 against the Bakersfield Blaze. Opening Night festivities include postgame fireworks presented by State Farm, magnet schedule giveaway to the first 4,000 fans, San Francisco Giants World Champion Affiliate Flag Raising Ceremony and a historic first pitch that Giants fans will not want to miss! The Giants will host games at Municipal Stadium on Mother's Day (May 10), Memorial Day (May 25), and Independence Day (July 4). For information on the 2015 season and ticket packages please visit sjgiants.com, call (408) 297-1435 or stop by the Municipal Stadium Box Office Monday through Friday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. 

View the San Jose Giants 2015 roster