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MLB

2015 Roster Announced

Derek Hill Headlines Opening Day Team
By
April 4, 2015

COMSTOCK PARK, MI - A total of 14 players selected in last year's first-year player draft highlight the West Michigan Whitecaps' initial 2015 roster that was unveiled by the club in conjunction with the Detroit Tigers on Saturday.

The Whitecaps open the 2015 season with a six-game homestand at Fifth Third Ballpark, beginning with the home opener against the Dayton Dragons this Thursday at 6:35pm. The game features a mitten giveaway presented by Fifth Third Bank for the first 1,000 fans, and a spectacular postgame Family Fair fireworks show.

Headlining this year's version of the Whitecaps are seven of the teams first eight draft selections last season, including outfielder Derek Hill and pitcher Spencer Turnbull, the teams' 2014 first and second round draft picks.

Hill and Turnbull are among seven Whitecaps ranked by Baseball America as top-30 prospects in the Tigers' organization. Hill, Detroit's top pick at 23rd overall, is the Tigers' 3rd-best prospect while Turnbull, the 63rd overall pick, checks in at No. 18. Other highly-regarded prospects according to Baseball America include 19-year-old infielder Zach Shepherd (#11), catcher Arvicent Perez (#12), hard-throwing right-hander Joe Jimenez (#14), returning Whitecap Mike Gerber (#19) and infielder Joey Pankake (#30).

The Whitecaps will feature much of a Tigers' 2014 draft class loaded up on pitching prospects with college experience.

Eight pitchers drafted by Detroit last summer will open the season in West Michigan, including right-handers Adam Ravenelle (4th round), Artie Lewicki (8th round), Paul Voelker (10th round), A.J. Ladwig (11th round), Josh Heddinger (14th round) and Gabe Hemmer (24th round), as well as southpaw and former Michigan Wolverine Trent Szkutnik (20th round). Lefty Gabe Speier; acquired from the Boston Red Sox as part of the Rick Porcello trade, also joins the club.

The 19-year-old Hill headlines the offense for West Michigan. The California native is the son of Los Angeles Dodgers scout Orsino Hill, and the cousin of former Major League outfielder Darryl Strawberry. The speedy centerfielder will make his full-season debut alongside outfielder Ross Kivett, one of seven players on the roster that saw time in West Michigan last season. 18 players make their Whitecaps debuts in 2015, including infielder Giancarlo Brungnoni, the all-time home run leader at Grand Valley State and the GLIAC. The native of Grosse Pointe hit seven home runs in just 37 games with the Tigers' Gulf Coast League affiliate last season.

Manager Andrew Graham returns for his second season after leading his team to an 82-58 record in 2014. Graham's coaching staff consists of another new addition in hitting coach Phil Clark, while pitching coach Mark Johnson - who coached Whitecaps pitchers from 2008-2012 - returns to the team.

"We're excited to see the roster and talent heading to West Michigan," Whitecaps Vice President Jim Jarecki said. "Having Hill and Gerber in the outfield is already a great sign; and with Andrew Graham returning, we know we're going to get great effort day in and day out at Fifth Third Ballpark."

-end-