Hillsboro Hops Announce 2016 Opening Day Roster
The two-time-defending Northwest League champion Hillsboro Hops (@HillsboroHops) released their 2016 opening day roster, it was announced by the parent Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday. The roster includes 12 players selected in last week's Major League Baseball first-year player draft, highlighted by the Diamondbacks' top pick (#39 overall)-outfielder Anfernee Grier from Auburn University, taken in the Lottery A round (between the first and second rounds).
Hillsboro opens their season on Friday, June 17 at Salem-Keizer at 6:35 PM. The Hops' home-opener at Ron Tonkin Field is Monday, June 20 at 7:05 PM.
Grier hit .366 with 12 home runs, 41 runs batted in and 19 stolen bases this year as a junior at Auburn. He scored 56 runs in 56 games, and finished among SEC leaders in many offensive categories: runs (1st), total bases (1st, 137), HR (2nd), hits (2nd, 87), batting average (4th) and stolen bases (7th).
Also from the 2016 draft: RHP Jon Duplantier (3rd round, 89th overall, Rice University); LHP Jordan Watson (7th round, University of Science and Arts in Oklahoma); RHP Tommy Eveld (9th round, University of South Florida); C Gavin Stupienski (12th round, UNC Wilmington); INF Manny Jefferson (13th round, Pepperdine); LHP Colin Poche (14th round, Dallas Baptist U); RHP Jake Winston (17th round, Southern Miss); RHP Riley Smith (24th round, LSU); RHP Trevor Simms (32nd round, Tulane); INF Paxton De La Garza (33rd round, Angelo State U); and OF Billy Endris (35th round, Florida Atlantic U).
Eight players were members of the Hops at some point during 2015, including five players who were with the club when they won the championship in September: C Alexis Olmeda, 3B/1B Josh Anderson, RHP Tyler Mark, RHP Jeferson Mejia and RHP Tucker Ward. Other 2015 Hops include RHP Jose Martinez, INF Jeff Smith and 3B Nic Coffman. Coffman is the first-and to this point, the only-Portland-area native to have played for the Hops. He is a graduate of Wilson High School in Portland, Lane Community College in Eugene and Corban University in Salem.
Three players are listed among MLB's Top 30 Diamondbacks prospects list at mlbpipeline.com (a list which does NOT yet include any of the 2016 draftees). OF Marcus Wilson (ranked #20), RHP Jose Martinez (#23) and RHP Tyler Mark (#26) are currently considered among the top 30. Wilson was Arizona's second-round draft choice out of high school in 2014. Martinez, who has battled injuries over the past three seasons, was the starting pitcher in the first-ever game at Ron Tonkin Field, on June 17, 2013. He tossed five shutout innings in a 12-0 win over Eugene.
Other notable players include… OF Matt McPhearson, Arizona's 4th-round draft choice out of high school in 2013; that year, he was considered by many to be the fastest-available player in the draft. He has stolen 78 bases in 167 career professional games. … OF Matt Railey, the D-backs' 3rd-round selection out of high school in 2014. … and 1B Justin Chigbogu (shuh-BOGG-oo), signed by the Diamondbacks in May after he was released by the Dodgers-at 6-1/260, he has remarkable power, and clubbed a team-record 20 home runs for Ogden in the Pioneer League last season.
Hops games, home and road, can be heard on Rip City Radio 620 AM in Portland, with selected Monday night games airing on 1190 KEX. Friday's pregame show from Salem-Keizer begins at 6:05 PM.