LumberKings 2012 Opening Night Roster Released
Clinton, IA - The Clinton LumberKings, Low-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners, have announced their 25-man roster for Opening Night 2012. Seven players who spent time in Clinton in 2011 are back, while 18 will wear a LumberKings uniform for the first time. Clinton has appeared in the playoffs the previous two seasons and missed by a mere game in 2009.
Eddie Menchaca returns to manage Clinton for the second consecutive season after leading the LumberKings to the 2011 Midwest League Playoffs following a 39-30 second-half. Menchaca's first manager gig was with Pulaski in 2010 when he tallied a 37-28 mark, winning the Appalachian League East. Joining his staff will be pitching coach Andrew Lorraine, hitting coach Tommy Cruz, trainer Jake Naas and performance specialist Will Lindholm. Lorraine begins his third season as a pitching coach in the Mariners minor league system. He spent 2010 with Pulaski and 2011 with Everett. Cruz begins his 22nd season in the Mariners organization. Prior to Clinton, he spent the 2009-11 seasons with High Desert. Naas and Lindholm were both members of Menchaca's staff in 2011.
Seven familiar faces return to Clinton in 2012 after spending some of their 2011 with the LumberKings. Leading the way is the Mariners supplemental first round selection (33rd overall) in 2009, catcher Steven Baron. Joining him are pitchers Stephen Kohlscheen and John Taylor. Kohlscheen, a 45th round draft pick in 2010 split time between Clinton and Everett last year. Taylor, a 22nd round draft pick in 2011 made ten relief appearances for the LumberKings after being promoted from Pulaski on August 2.
Joining Baron in the field is Carlton Tanabe, Ramon Morla, Anthony Phillips and Jabari Blash. Tanabe, a 24th round draft pick in 2009 made 43 starts at catcher for Clinton last year, gunning down over 50 percent of would be base-stealers. Morla appeared in 28 games for Clinton in 2011 before being placed on the disabled list, and then finished his season in Everett. Phillips, a South Africa native spent the majority of 2011 with Clinton with a brief stint in High Desert. In 114 combined games, the infielder stole 26 bases. Blash, a 8th round draft pick in 2010 split his time between Clinton and Everett in 2011. In 99 games between the two stops, the outfielder hit 14 home runs and knocked in 86 runs. The outfielder is the 20th ranked prospect in the Mariners organization by Baseball America.
Newcomers to this years Clinton team will be nine draft picks from the Mariners 2011 draft to go along with Taylor who is also from last years draft.. Infielder Dan Paolini was drafted out of Siena College in the 10th round. Left-handed pitcher Cameron Hobson was Seattle's next pick. The Crawfordsville, IN native attended the University of Dayton. 12th round pick Mike Dowd joins Baron and Tanabe as the third catcher on the roster. Following Dowd in the 13th round is outfielder Jamal Austin. The speedy outfielder was drafted out of the University of Alabama-Birmingham.
The fifth member of the 2011 draft class to join Clinton is infielder Dillon Hazlett who was drafted out of Emporia State University. Right-hander Brett Shankin was Seattle's 28th round selection. The Washington, MI native attended Wayne State University. Kansas State University product Kyle Hunter was the Mariners 31st round draft pick. The left-hander hails from Galesburg, IL. 40th round draft choice Trevor Miller joins the pitching staff for the LumberKings in 2012. Rounding out the newcomers from the 2011 draft class is 44th round draft pick Josh Corrales. The right-hander is a Valencia, CA native.
Other newcomers who will toe the rubber this year for Clinton is Wes Alsup, Tim Griffin, Ambioris Hidalgo, Stephen Landazuri and Jordan Shipers. Alsup, a right-hander, spent his 2011 with the Rome Braves of the South Atlantic League. He signed with Seattle on January 18. Griffin was a 28th round draft pick in 2010. The right-hander led Everett with seven saves last year while registering a 2.09 ERA in 22 games. Hidalgo made his professional debut in 2011, appearing in 11 games, all starts, for Pulaski. The right-hander signed as a non-drafted free agent in 2007. Landazuri was selected in the 22nd round by Seattle in the 2010 draft. The right-hander started 14 games for Everett last year registering 72 strikeouts in just over 72 innings. Shipers, one of three left-handers on the LumberKings staff, was a 16th round selection in the 2010 draft.
Position players making their LumberKings debut in 2012 include Jean Acevedo, Jharmidy De Jesus, Guillermo Pimentel and Mario Yepez. Acevedo spent the majority of his 2011 in Pulaski where he hit .300 with four home runs and 42 RBI in 63 games. De Jesus began his 2011 on the disabled list before being transferred to Everett where he hit .299 with four home runs and 33 RBI in just 58 games. Pimentel is the 12th ranked prospect in the Seattle system according to Baseball America. As an 18-year-old last year, the outfielder hit .265 with 11 home runs and 46 RBI for Pulaski. Yepez spent his 2011 with Everett. The outfielder hit .332 with 20 RBI in 66 games.
The regular season kicks off Thursday, April 5 at 6:30 PM as the LumberKings play host to the Burlington Bees. Fans attending will receive a 2012 Magnet Schedules courtesy of Jewel Osco and KCLN/MAC 94.7 FM.
For tickets, merchandise and more information, contact the LumberKings at 563-242-0727 or visit www.lumberkings.com.