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Columbus Clippers announce Opening Day Roster

Indians' top prospect highlights roster for defending West Division Champions
By Columbus Clippers
April 9, 2015

COLUMBUS, OH - The Columbus Clippers announce the 2015 Opening Day roster that will take the field at Indianapolis for tonight's regular season opener. The Clippers, nine-time International League Champions, will return several players from last season's West Division Championship squad, along with some valuable additions.

Chris Tremie returns for his third season as the Clippers manager. Tremie, 45, enters his 10th season in the Indians organization, all as a manager. He guided Double-A Akron to the 2012 Eastern League Championship before joining the Clippers in 2013. Carl Willis joins the staff as pitching coach. Willis, a former Cleveland Indians and Seattle Mariners pitching coach, played nine major league seasons on four different clubs, winning the World Series with the Minnesota Twins in 1991. Rouglas Odor is the new hitting coach after holding the same position in Akron last year. Odor is entering his 28th season in the Indians organization as a player, manager, coordinator, or coach. Omir Santos joins the Clippers as a coach after completing a 14-year playing career including a stint with Columbus in 2013. Trainer Chad Wolfe and strength & conditioning coach Ed Subel each return for their second season in Columbus.

The 2015 roster is highlighted by some of the organization's top prospects and some familiar names:

  • Shortstop Francisco Lindor is considered one of the best prospects in minor league baseball. Lindor, a first round draft pick (8th overall) in 2011, split last season between Akron and Columbus while batting .276 with 11 HR and 62 RBI. He recorded 28 stolen bases and was selected to play in the MLB Future's Game for a third consecutive year. Lindor, 21, was named to the Eastern League All-Star squad in Double-A and posted a .330 batting average over his final 20 Clippers games.
  • Danny Salazar will begin the season with Columbus after being cut in the battle for the Indians fourth and fifth starter spots. Salazar bounced between Columbus and Cleveland last season, finishing 6-8 with a 4.25 ERA in 20 starts for the Indians. He rapidly ascended to the majors in 2013 starting the club's American League wild-card game against Tampa Bay.
  • First Baseman Jesus Aguilar hit .304 with 31 doubles, 19 HR, and 77 RBI last season, earning International League All-Star recognition.
  • Outfielder James Ramsey, acquired via trade from St. Louis last season, led the Double-A Texas League in HR at the time of his departure.
  • Outfielder Carlos Moncrief led the Clippers in runs, hits, and doubles last season. He also set a new Columbus franchise record with 22 outfield assists.
  • Relief Pitcher Shawn Armstrong returns to Columbus after five late-season appearances in 2014. He was named to the Eastern League All-Star team last season with Akron and limited opposing batters to a .213 average.
  • Infielder Audy Ciriaco is back in Columbus after setting career-highs in doubles, home runs, and RBI. Ciriaco played five different positions for the Clippers last season and batted a robust .295 with runners in scoring position.
  • Third baseman Giovanny Urshela, the "2014 Clipper of the Year", ranked second in the organization in RBI while compiling a .977 fielding percentage. He will start the season on the disabled list.

The 2015 season begins tonight at 7:05pm at Indianapolis, with the home opener scheduled for Saturday, April 18th at 6:05pm (the first 5,000 fans will receive a Clippers Victory Bell). The first 5,000 families through the gates on Opening Night will receive a 2014 Clippers Schedule Magnet.w For more information, log on to clippersbaseball.com or call (614) 462-5250.