Fisher Cats announce 2008 roster
"We're excited to see many familiar players back in New Hampshire, as well as a number of up-and-coming prospects the Blue Jays are sending our way," said Fisher Cats President/General Manager Rick Brenner. "The All-Star Season is finally upon us, and I look forward to seeing this team compete for an Eastern League Championship."
Mathews batted .293 last season and led the Fisher Cats in hits (138) and triples (4). He is joined in the New Hampshire outfield by Ryan Patterson, the Blue Jays' 10th-ranked prospect, who batted .267 with 18 home runs and 68 RBI for the Fisher Cats in 2007. Outfield newcomers include Jacob Butler, the Florida State League home run champion last season for the Advanced-A Dunedin Blue Jays, and Eric Nielsen, who led the FSL with 147 hits.
2007 FSL Most Valuable Player Josh Kreuzer (.309, 20 HR, 71 RBI) will be the Fisher Cats' first baseman. Joining him around the infield will be third-year Fisher Cat Ryan Klosterman, who led last year's team with 22 stolen bases, and newcomers Marcos Cabral, Anthony Hatch and Scott Campbell, the first native of New Zealand ever selected in the Major League Baseball amateur draft. Brant Colamarino and Chris Gutierrez begin the year on the Disabled List.
Veteran catcher Erik Kratz is poised to become the first player in team history to appear in all five seasons. He'll share catching duties with Brian Jerolomon, who was named the top defensive catcher in the Blue Jays' minor league system by Baseball America, and Kyle Phillips.
Joining Romero in the starting rotation will be right-hander Jean Machi, a member of the Blue Jays 40-man roster, who switches roles after appearing as a reliever in 48 games for the Fisher Cats a season ago. The other starters are right-handers Scott Richmond and Brandon Magee, and left-hander A.J. Wideman.
The bullpen includes MacDonald, a 13-game winner for the Fisher Cats in 2006, who spent most of last season with Triple-A Syracuse. Other Fisher Cats returnees in the pen are left-hander Jo Matumoto and righties Seth Overbey, Sean Stidfole and Kyle Yates.
Major League veteran Mike Gallo, a left-hander who pitched for the Houston Astros in the 2005 World Series, will also serve as a reliever with fellow southpaw Daryl Harang.
Gary Cathcart enters his first season as manager of the Fisher Cats after managing the Class-A Lansing Lugnuts to a franchise-record 78 victories last season. Ken Joyce enters his second year as the hitting coach, Dave LaRoche serves as pitching coach for a fourth straight year and Voon Chong remains the only trainer in the club's history.
The Fisher Cats begin the 2008 season this Thursday night against the Connecticut Defenders at Dodd Stadium in Norwich, CT. Game time is 6:35pm. Opening Night at Merchantsauto.com Stadium is Thursday, April 10 at 6:35pm. The first 2,500 fans in attendance will receive a free Grappone All-Star Magnetic Schedule. To purchase tickets, call (603) 641-2005 or visit www.nhfishercats.com.