Nine draftees highlight season opening roster

DANVILLE, Va. - The Atlanta Braves assigned 28 players to Danville today for the start of the Appalachian League season, which opens Tuesday, June 19 at American Legion Post 325 Field. The roster features a few returnees from 2011, plus plenty of new names for fans to learn, including nine signees from the 2012 First-Year Player Draft. It is comprised of 12 pitchers, three catchers, and 13 position players.

The entire pitching staff, with the exception of Mike Hashem and Carlos Perez, is made up of right-handers. The 10 righties rounding out the rotation are Mauricio Cabrera, Eduardo Castillo, Frank LaFreniere, Williams Perez, Jeremy Fitzgerald, Alex Wilson, Nathan Hyatt, Ignacio Geronimo, Zach Jadofsky, and Charlie Robertson. Three of those 10 are 2012 Rule 4 Draftees: Hyatt (13th round, 419 overall), Wilson (15th round, 479 overall), and Fitzgerald (21st round, 659 overall).

Two of the pitchers on the opening day roster pitched in Danville last season: Ignacio Geronimo and Williams Perez. Geronimo was on the roster for the first half of the season before being re-assigned to the Gulf Coast League Braves. He went 0-1 with an 8.22 ERA in four relief appearances. Perez also split time between here and there last year. He went 2-0 with a 3.33 ERA in 13 appearances between the bullpen and starting rotation. He posted even better numbers with the GCL club during the second half of the season. Both will be on the bump again for the D-Braves in 2012.

Other opening day holdovers include Nick DeSantiago, Kurt Fleming, and Edison Sanchez. The catching crew consists of DeSantiago, Troy Snitker, and one draftee: Tyler Tewell (14th round, 449 overall). DeSantiago started 42 games last season, but split the duties behind the dish with Chad Comer as part of a catching platoon. Snitker, along with Tewell, will be the backup catchers.

The four core infielders are Gerardo Reyes, Carlos Franco, Ronald Luna, and Aris Alcantara. Reyes, Franco, Luna, and Alcantara all had field experience together with the GCL club in 2011. Levi Hyams (19th round, 599 overall), Eric Garcia (20th round, 629 overall), Trenton Moses (26th round, 809 overall), and Casey Kalenkosky (30th round, 929 overall) will provide position-balance and injury-coverage.

Edison Sanchez and Kurt Fleming will begin their second and third seasons in a D-Braves uniform. Logan Robbins will see his first stint in Danville, but has been in the Braves system since being drafted over a year ago. Felix Marte and Blake Brown, the highest selection assigned to Danville (5th round, 179 overall), will also patrol the outfield.

Jonathan Schuerholz was named head coach on October 18, 2011. Schuerholz is in his second season as a minor league manager and first as skipper of the Danville Braves. In 2011, Schuerholz skippered the Gulf Coast League Braves and prior to that he spent two seasons (2009-2010) as the Braves roving field instructor.

Gabe Luckert returns for his second season as the team's pitching coach. Rick Albert, a staple in the Braves organization as a player, coach or manager every year since 1972, is the new hitting instructor. Alongside them will be the team's athletic trainer, Kyle Damschroder, and their strength and conditioning coach, Cal Tinsley.

Fans will have their first chance to meet the 2012 Danville Braves during the annual Meet the Braves Night on Monday, June 18 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at ALP Post 325 Field in Dan Daniel Memorial Park (302 River Park Drive).

The Danville Braves are the Advanced Rookie-level affiliate of the Atlanta Braves. The D-Braves open the 2012 season on Tuesday, June 19 against the Elizabethton Twins. First pitch is set for 7:00 p.m. The first 500 fans through the turnstiles will receive a magnetic schedule courtesy of Lone Star Steakhouse.

For more information on the schedule, tickets, group nights, and partnership opportunities, please contact us at (434) 797-3792, e-mail [email protected], or log on to www.dbraves.com.