Stone Crabs Finalize Opening Day Roster

PORT CHARLOTTE, FL - The Charlotte Stone Crabs, the Advanced-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays, are pleased to announce their 25-man Opening Day roster.

The 2016 Crabs are highlighted by nine players selected within the top six rounds of the MLB First-Year Player Draft, three players acquired in trades for Major League talent, and a former catcher being converted into a knuckleballer.

Rays No. 2 overall prospect Brett Honeywell returns to Port Charlotte after a dominant performance in last year's Florida State League Championship run, when he allowed just two runs on six hits across 13 postseason innings. Honeywell is joined by past top picks Riley Unroe, a speedy infielder who hit .319 and stole 12 bases for the Australian League's Brisbane Bandits this winter, and catcher Nick Ciuffo, a 2013 first-rounder expected to do the lion's share of the catching for the Crabs. Both Unroe and Ciuffo made MLB Pipeline's Rays Top 30 prospect list.

Other former high draft choices joining the Stone Crabs include 2013 third-round outfielder Thomas Milone, whose blazing speed led him to 26 steals in just 119 games at Bowling Green last year, and 2015 fourth-round righty Brandon Koch, a closer whose fastball clocked repeatedly at 98 miles per hour this spring. Koch is ranked as the Rays' No. 17 prospect by MLB Pipeline. Accompanying these future stars are former fifth-rounder Bralin Jackson and ex-sixth rounders Damion Carroll, Benton Moss, and Mac James.

The Stone Crabs also feature three players brought in via trade. Right-hander Greg Harris, netted from the Los Angeles Dodgers for pitchers Joel Peralta and Adam Liberatore, returns to Charlotte after throwing 39.2 innings of 3.40 ERA ball for the Crabs in 2015. Two former Arizona Diamondbacks also return to Charlotte Sports Park this year-outfielder Justin Williams, the Rays' No. 14 overall prospect, and switch-hitting infielder Andrew Velazquez, who made the Rays' prospect list at No. 29. Both players were acquired in November 2014 for ex-Rays starter Jeremy Hellickson, who himself made two rehab appearances with the Stone Crabs that season.

Perhaps the most intriguing addition to the Crabs' roster is Jeff Howell, a 33 year-old former catcher looking to continue his professional career as a knuckleball pitcher. Howell played the last four years in the Washington Nationals system, reaching as high as Triple-A Syracuse, but left the organization as a free agent this past winter. Howell's final year in Washington was spent developing his new pitch, and the Rays signed him in February with the hope of bringing him along as a future asset to the Tampa Bay pitching staff. This spring, Howell worked on his new repertoire with legendary knuckleballer Charlie Heagar, now a Rays minor league pitching coordinator.

Several 2015 Stone Crabs have returned to Charlotte Sports Park in 2016. A total of five pitchers are back, including Honeywell, Harris, Edwin Fierro, Michael Franco, and Hunter Wood. Infielder Jace Conrad rejoins Velazquez in the infield, and Williams is back to patrol the outfield.

The full 2016 Stone Crabs Opening Day roster is below:

PITCHERS (13):  LHP Kyle Bird, RHP Damion Carroll, RHP Yonny Chirinos, RHP Edwin Fierro, RHP Michael Franco, RHP Greg Harris, RHP Brent Honeywell, RHP Jeff Howell, RHP Brandon Koch, RHP Brian Miller, RHP Benton Moss, RHP Chris Pike, RHP Hunter Wood

CATCHERS (2): Nick Ciuffo, Mac James

INFIELDERS (6): Jace Conrad, Grant Kay, Alec Sole, Cristian Toribio, Riley Unroe, Andrew Velazquez

OUTFIELDERS (4): Cade Gotta, Bralin Jackson, Thomas Milone, Justin Williams

The 2015 Florida State League Champion Stone Crabs open their season at Charlotte Sports Park on Saturday, April 9th at 6:05 against the Palm Beach Cardinals. Gates will open early, at 3PM, for Fan Fest activities that will include music, games, prizes and more! Giveaways include Championship T-Shirts courtesy of Phoenix Payroll Solutions and 2016 Magnetic Schedules, courtesy of Olive Garden.

To purchase tickets, visit the Florida Community Bank Box Office at Charlotte Sports Park, call 941.206.HITS or CLICK HERE!