2016 San Jose Giants Roster Announced
San Jose, CA- The 11-time California League champion San Jose Giants unveiled their roster today in anticipation of the 2016 season. San Jose's prospect-laden roster includes a powerful starting lineup and a collection of exciting starting pitchers as the Giants look to reach the playoffs for a 12th time in the last 13 seasons.
First baseman Chris Shaw and catcher Aramis Garcia highlight San Jose's group of position players. Shaw led the Northwest League with 12 home runs last year in just 46 games while playing for the Short-Season Salem-Keizer Volcanoes. Shaw was selected by the San Francisco Giants in the supplemental first round (31st overall pick) of the 2015 draft. Garcia, a former second round draft pick, hit 15 home runs with Class-A Augusta last year before a late-season promotion to San Jose. Garcia was then one of the Giants' top hitters during the playoffs last September when he batted .333 and belted a pair of key home runs.
Sam Coonrod and Andrew Suarez headline a deep Giants starting rotation to begin the season. Coonrod was rated the "Best Pitching Prospect" in the South Atlantic League last season by Baseball America as a member of the Augusta GreenJackets. Coonrod fashioned a 3.14 ERA in 22 starts for Augusta last year with 114 strikeouts in 111 innings. He was then promoted to San Jose for the California League playoffs and delivered two excellent postseason pitching performances to help the Giants win the North Division title. Suarez, a second round draft pick in 2015, had a sparkling 1.57 ERA in eight starts between Salem-Keizer and San Jose late last season.
Shaw (#5), Coonrod (#6), Garcia (#9) and Suarez (#10) are all ranked among the top 10 prospects in the San Francisco Giants organization by MLB.com entering this season.
Jason Forjet, Jordan Johnson, Mark Reyes and D.J. Snelten will also work in the Giants starting rotation to open the year. Forjet returns to San Jose after a terrific 2015 campaign in the California League. The right-hander went 7-4 with a 2.67 ERA last season. Forjet finished the regular season with 22 consecutive scoreless innings spanning his final four starts. Johnson made 14 starts between the Arizona Rookie League Giants, Salem-Keizer and San Jose last year and boasted a combined 3.19 ERA with 71 strikeouts and just 11 walks in 59 innings. Reyes earned South Atlantic League All-Star honors in 2015 with Augusta. The left-hander ranked second in the league with a 2.13 ERA over 23 starts. Snelten split last season between San Jose and Augusta and finished the year second in the Giants minor league system with 126 strikeouts.
Other returnees to the San Jose pitching staff include Martin Agosta, Carlos Diaz, Jose Reyes, Jeff Soptic and Pat Young. Agosta led the Giants with 125 strikeouts last year. Newcomers Dusten Knight, Rodolfo Martinez and Reyes Moronta round out the San Jose bullpen.
Other highlights to the Giants roster include the additions of outfielders Johneshwy Fargas and Ronnie Jebavy. Fargas was a South Atlantic League All-Star last season in Augusta after batting .278 with an organizational-leading 59 stolen bases. Jebavy, a fifth round draft pick in 2015, led Salem-Keizer with 23 steals last year to go with eight home runs in 63 games. Steven Duggar has also returned to the San Jose outfield. Duggar batted .293 for Salem-Keizer last season before he was promoted to San Jose during the California League playoffs. Jebavy (#21) and Duggar (#25) are both currently ranked among the top 30 prospects in the Giants farm system by Baseball America.
Other returning hitters include infielders Jonah Arenado and Brandon Bednar and catchers Ty Ross and Jared Deacon. Arenado led Augusta with 64 RBI's last season to go with nine home runs before serving as San Jose's primary third baseman during the playoffs. Bednar, the Giants' starting second baseman late last season, has played 148 games for San Jose over the last two years. Ross caught a team-high 81 games in 2015 while Deacon played briefly for the Giants two seasons ago.
Infielders C.J. Hinojosa, Richard Rodriguez and Jose Vizcaino, Jr. and outfielders Junior Arias and Cristian Paulino complete the San Jose roster. Hinojosa batted .296 with five home runs as Salem-Keizer's primary shortstop last season. Vizcaino, Jr., a third baseman, earned Northwest League All-Star honors for the Volcanoes last year after batting at a .288 clip with six home runs.
Lipso Nava will serve as San Jose's manager this season. Nava was previously the Giants' hitting coach the last three years, in addition to a stint as the club's acting manager during the final month of last season. Nava enters his ninth year in the San Francisco Giants organization and third season as a manager. Nava played 16 seasons of professional baseball from 1990-2006, including stints in the Mariners (1990-94), Red Sox (1995) and Cubs (1997) organizations.
Pitching coach Mike Couchee, hitting coach Todd Linden, coach Ydwin Villegas, athletic trainer Garrett Havig, strength and conditioning coach Andy King and clubhouse manager Nathan Alleyne round out the San Jose staff.
Fans can meet the 2016 players and coaches at the 8th annual San Jose Giants FanFest on Monday, April 4 at Municipal Stadium from 5:00-9:00 PM. Nava 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.
The San Jose Giants 2016 season begins on Thursday, April 7 at Municipal Stadium against the Lancaster JetHawks. The opening night festivities include a Magnet Schedule giveaway presented by Alliance Credit Union and Pepsi as well as a spectacular postgame fireworks show. Ticket packages for the 2016 season are on sale now. For more information, visit sjgiants.com or call (408) 297-1435.
Download the 2016 San Jose Giants Roster
View the San Jose Giants 2016 Schedule
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