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MLB

Twenty-Five Former Altoona Curve Players Make MLB Opening Day Rosters

Nine former Curve players will suit up for the Pittsburgh Pirates
By Josh Ellis
April 1, 2011
CURVE, Pa. - During the final week of Spring Training, Major League Baseball teams finalized their 25-man Opening Day rosters and there are a total of 25 former Altoona Curve players that will hear their names announced during the opening ceremonies of their team's first game. Of the 25 players, nine will open the season with the Curve's parent club, the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Since the team's first game in 1999, a total of 81 players have stopped in Altoona on their road to the show, and when RHP Michael Crotta makes his first appearance with the Pirates, he will be the 82nd former Curve player to make the Major Leagues. Crotta was the Curve's Opening Day starter to begin their 2010 Eastern League Championship season and he will open the year in the Pirates bullpen. Including Crotta, nine former Curve players made the Pirates Opening Day roster:

3B Pedro Alvarez (2009)
RHP Michael Crotta (2009-2010)
C Ryan Doumit (2001, 2004)
LHP Paul Maholm (2005)
OF Andrew McCutchen (2006-2007)
RHP Evan Meek (2008)
1B Steve Pearce (2007)
OF Jose Tabata (2008-2009)
INF Neil Walker (2006-2007)

Headlining the list of 16 players that have played for the Curve and appear on an Opening Day roster other than the Pirates is 2010 team MVP Hector Gimenez:

Cincinnati - RHP Bronson Arroyo (1999)
Toronto - OF Jose Bautista (2005)
Washington - LHP Sean Burnett (2003)
Toronto - RHP Shawn Camp (2001, 2003)
Minnesota - RHP Matt Capps (2005)
New York (NL) - DJ Carrasco (2000-2001)
Toronto - OF Rajai Davis (2005)
Los Angeles (NL) - Hector Gimenez (2010)
Baltimore - LHP Mike Gonzalez (1999, 2001-03)
Washington - LHP Tom Gorzelanny (2005)
Chicago - LHP John Grabow (2000-2003)
Houston - INF Jeff Keppinger (2004)
Chicago (AL) - INF Brent Lillibridge (2006)
Atlanta - OF Nate McLouth (2004)
Milwaukee - OF Nyjer Morgan (2006)
Seattle - INF Jack Wilson (2000)

Last season, four former Curve players made their MLB debut, including OF Alex Presley who started the season with the Curve and made his MLB debut later in the season.

Individual tickets for the 2011 season are on sale now by calling 877.99.CURVE, visiting www.AltoonaCurve.com or by stopping into the box office at BCB during normal business hours. The Curve open the home portion of their 2011 schedule on April 14th at 6:30 p.m. versus the Richmond Flying Squirrels for Championship Weekend in Curve, PA. For a full listing of scheduled activities and promotions, please visit www.AltoonaCurve.com.