Bees Announce 2012 Opening Day Roster

SALT LAKE CITY (April 2, 2012) - The Salt Lake Bees, in preparation for the 2012 Pacific Coast League season, and in conjunction with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, announced today 22 of the team's 25 players that are expected to open the season with the Bees. Because of scheduling, the Bees' opening day roster remains subject to change.

On the mound, Salt Lake returns six pitchers who saw action for the Bees a year ago, including the Angels' 2011 Minor League Pitcher of the Year Matt Shoemaker. Signed by the Angels as a non-drafted free agent in 2008, Shoemaker went 12-7 overall last season with the Bees and Double-A Arkansas, posting a 3.15 ERA with 141 strikeouts, two shutouts and five complete games. Also in the starting rotation is the Angels' third best prospect, Garrett Richards. A first-round selection by the Angels in 2009, last season Richards joined the Angels directly from Double-A, becoming the first Angels pitcher to do so since Ervin Santana in 2005. He appeared in seven games for the Angels in 2011 after going 12-2 with a 3.15 ERA in 22 games for Arkansas.

Newcomer Brad Mills, acquired in the Jeff Mathis trade to Toronto, spent most of the 2011 season with Triple-A Las Vegas, finishing 11-9 with a 4.00 ERA in 24 starts. He also appeared in five games for the Blue Jays. Additional newcomers on the mound include top prospect reliever David Carpenter, who finished 2011 with a 0.57 ERA in 44 games and former first round pick of the Texas Rangers, Eric Hurley. Veterans David Pauley and Juan Rincon also join the Angels organization for the first time in 2012, while the tallest player in all of professional baseball, seven-foot one-inch Ludovicus "Loek" Van Mil will make his first appearance with the Bees in 2012. Also on the pitching staff are returnees Trevor Bell, Jeremy Berg, Ryan Brasier, Matt Meyer and Francisco Rodriguez.

Behind the plate, the newly-acquired Robinzon Diaz brings 10 years of experience, most recently with the Triple-A Round Rock Express.

In the infield, Efren Navarro returns after a stellar 2011 at first base, where he earned a Rawlings Gold Glove and set four new Salt Lake defensive franchise records. The highly-touted Andrew Romine returns for shortstop duties while Luis Jimenez will make his first Triple-A opening day roster. Veteran utility infielder Ed Lucas joins the Angels organization for the first time in 2012, while longtime slugger Paul McAnulty will handle some infield work as well as designated hitting duties.

The Bees welcome a few new faces to the outfield in 2012. The Angels' top prospect and Baseball America's 2012 Minor League Player of the Year, Mike Trout, will make his first appearance with the Bees this season. He hit a league-best .326 with a league-high 33 stolen bases and 13 doubles for Arkansas last season prior to becoming the youngest Angel (19 years, 335 days) to make his major league debut since 1971. Kole Calhoun makes his first Triple-A opening day roster after leading the Angels organization with 22 home runs and finishing sixth with a .324 batting average in 2011 with Single-A Inland Empire. Minor league veteran Doug Deeds completes the outfield rotation.

Twelve of the 22 players bring major league experience, while seven of the 22 players are currently on the Angels 40-man roster.

The Bees begin the 2012 PCL season on the road against the Tacoma Rainiers on Thursday, April 5 at 8:05 p.m. Salt Lake will return home to host the Tucson Padres on Friday, April 13 at 6:35 p.m. with fireworks following the game. For more information about Bees season tickets, with prices starting at just $432 per person, call (801) 325-BASE or visit slbees.com.

Salt Lake Bees 2012 Opening Day Roster (PDF)