2008 Jacksonville Suns Roster Announced
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The Jacksonville Suns announce their 2008 Opening Day roster, featuring a number of top prospects and familiar faces from the Los Angeles Dodgers organization.
The 2008 Suns are fielding two top pitching prospects who each saw time in Jacksonville in 2007: right-hander James McDonald and left-hander Clayton Kershaw. McDonald, a 2002 draft selection, is considered to have the best curveball in the Dodgers minor league system. He posted 64 strikeouts in just 52 innings and carried a 1.71 ERA for the Suns in 2007 and will start for the Suns on Opening Day. Kershaw, a first round pick in the 2006 draft, is considered to have the best fastball in the Dodgers organization, along with a drop-off-the table curveball. He finished the season in Jacksonville after posting stellar numbers at Single-A Great Lakes last year, his first full professional season. The 20-year-old Kershaw has been projected as a starter for the Dodgers as early as this season.
Cory Wade, a member of the Dodgers 40-man roster, also returns to the Suns after finishing with a 1.43 ERA in 14 appearances in last season. Projected as a top-flight reliever in the majors, Wade will likely see a promotion to Las Vegas with a similarly strong start to 2008. Rick Asadoorian is a familiar face as he joins the Dodgers organization after facing the Suns the last three seasons with Chattanooga. The right-hander, a converted outfielder, posted a 3.59 ERA as a Lookout in 2007.
The Suns offense should also shine bright with a number of top prospects. Ivan DeJesus, Jr., son of former Major League veteran Ivan DeJesus, is a slick-fielding shortstop who will bridge the gap left open by the promotion of 2007 Futures Game MVP Chin-Lung Hu. The top catching prospect for the Dodgers, Lucas May, joins the Suns in 2008 after belting 25 home runs for Single-A Inland Empire last season. Russell Mitchell, brother of Carolina Mudcats third baseman Lee Mitchell, shifts across the diamond from his first base post in Inland Empire and begins the 2008 season as the Suns starting third baseman. Outfielder Jamie Hoffmann also moves up from Inland Empire in 2008; a former junior hockey star, Hoffman was selected in the 8th round of the 2003 NHL draft by the Hurricanes before signing with Dodgers. Familiar faces from the 2007 Suns team include Southern League All-Star infielder Juan Gonzalez and speedy centerfielder James Tomlin.
The entire 2008 Suns roster is as follows:
# PITCHERS B/T HT WT DOB RESIDES
35 Akin, Brian R/R 6'3" 185 10/13/81 Louisville, Ky.
44 Alvarez, Mario*** R/R 6'0" 150 3/26/84 San Cristobal, D.R.
45 Arias, Marlon L/L 6'3" 150 9/1/84 Bani, D.R.
13 Asadoorian, Rick R/R 6'2" 206 7/23/80 Phoenix, Ariz.
50 Brazoban, Yhency*** R/R 6'1" 250 11/6/80 Santo Domingo, D.R.
15 Castillo, Jesus R/R 6'1" 193 5/31/84 Tucson, Ariz.
54 Hammes, Zach R/R 6'6" 225 5/15/84 Iowa City, Iowa
22 Kershaw, Clayton L/L 6'3" 220 3/19/88 Dallas, Texas
17 McDonald, James*** L/R 6'5" 195 8/19/84 Long Beach, Calif.
37 Sierra, Eduardo R/R 6'4" 196 4/15/82 San Cristobal, D.R.
18 Wade, Cory*** R/R 6'2" 170 5/28/83 Indianapolis, Ind.
29 Wilson, Kyle R/R 6'2" 200 4/21/83 Valencia, Calif.
# CATCHERS B/T HT WT DOB RESIDES
30 Gulledge, Kelley R/R 6'2" 230 1/25/79 Arlington, Texas
25 May, Lucas*** R/R 6'0" 190 8/24/84 Chesterfield, Mo.
31 Rivera, Rene R/R 5'10" 229 7/31/83 Carolina, Puerto Rico
# INFIELDERS B/T HT WT DOB RESIDES
11 DeJesus, Jr., Ivan R/R 5'11" 189 5/1/87 Guaynabo, Puerto Rico
8 Gonzalez, Aldolfo S/R 5'11" 160 6/13/85 Caracas, Venezuela
9 Gonzalez, Juan S/R 6'0" 160 2/23/82 Valencia, Venezuela
28 Justis, Shane R/R 5'10" 175 3/11/83 Bel Air, Md.
14 Mitchell, Russell R/R 6'1" 191 2/15/85 Cartersville, Ga.
# OUTFIELDERS B/T HT WT DOB RESIDES
23 Godwin, Adam R/R 5'11" 170 12/13/82 Enterprise, Ala.
34 Hoffmann, Jamie R/R 6'3" 221 8/20/84 New Ulm, Minn.
7 Jacobs, Greg L/L 5'10" 180 10/9/76 Anaheim Hills, Calif.
26 Malek, Bobby L/R 6'1" 205 7/6/81 Canton, Mich.
6 Tomlin, James R/R 6'1" 170 8/12/82 Los Angeles, Calif.
STAFF
Manager: John Shoemaker (12)
Hitting Coach: Luis Salazar (3)
Pitching Coach: Glenn Dishman (5)
Strength Coach: Trevor Dorian
Athletic Trainer: Carlos Olivas
*** Denotes member of Dodgers 40-man roster
Tickets for all 70 home games are currently on sale through the Suns Box Office at (904) 358-2846, or online at www.jaxsuns.com. Sponsorships, season tickets and group packages are also available. The Suns open the 2008 campaign against the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx, the Double-A Affiliate of the Seattle Mariners, on Thursday, April 3 at 7:05pm. The Suns are the Double-A Affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers and a member of the Southern League of Professional Baseball.
The 2008 Suns are fielding two top pitching prospects who each saw time in Jacksonville in 2007: right-hander James McDonald and left-hander Clayton Kershaw. McDonald, a 2002 draft selection, is considered to have the best curveball in the Dodgers minor league system. He posted 64 strikeouts in just 52 innings and carried a 1.71 ERA for the Suns in 2007 and will start for the Suns on Opening Day. Kershaw, a first round pick in the 2006 draft, is considered to have the best fastball in the Dodgers organization, along with a drop-off-the table curveball. He finished the season in Jacksonville after posting stellar numbers at Single-A Great Lakes last year, his first full professional season. The 20-year-old Kershaw has been projected as a starter for the Dodgers as early as this season.
Cory Wade, a member of the Dodgers 40-man roster, also returns to the Suns after finishing with a 1.43 ERA in 14 appearances in last season. Projected as a top-flight reliever in the majors, Wade will likely see a promotion to Las Vegas with a similarly strong start to 2008. Rick Asadoorian is a familiar face as he joins the Dodgers organization after facing the Suns the last three seasons with Chattanooga. The right-hander, a converted outfielder, posted a 3.59 ERA as a Lookout in 2007.
The Suns offense should also shine bright with a number of top prospects. Ivan DeJesus, Jr., son of former Major League veteran Ivan DeJesus, is a slick-fielding shortstop who will bridge the gap left open by the promotion of 2007 Futures Game MVP Chin-Lung Hu. The top catching prospect for the Dodgers, Lucas May, joins the Suns in 2008 after belting 25 home runs for Single-A Inland Empire last season. Russell Mitchell, brother of Carolina Mudcats third baseman Lee Mitchell, shifts across the diamond from his first base post in Inland Empire and begins the 2008 season as the Suns starting third baseman. Outfielder Jamie Hoffmann also moves up from Inland Empire in 2008; a former junior hockey star, Hoffman was selected in the 8th round of the 2003 NHL draft by the Hurricanes before signing with Dodgers. Familiar faces from the 2007 Suns team include Southern League All-Star infielder Juan Gonzalez and speedy centerfielder James Tomlin.
The entire 2008 Suns roster is as follows:
# PITCHERS B/T HT WT DOB RESIDES
35 Akin, Brian R/R 6'3" 185 10/13/81 Louisville, Ky.
44 Alvarez, Mario*** R/R 6'0" 150 3/26/84 San Cristobal, D.R.
45 Arias, Marlon L/L 6'3" 150 9/1/84 Bani, D.R.
13 Asadoorian, Rick R/R 6'2" 206 7/23/80 Phoenix, Ariz.
50 Brazoban, Yhency*** R/R 6'1" 250 11/6/80 Santo Domingo, D.R.
15 Castillo, Jesus R/R 6'1" 193 5/31/84 Tucson, Ariz.
54 Hammes, Zach R/R 6'6" 225 5/15/84 Iowa City, Iowa
22 Kershaw, Clayton L/L 6'3" 220 3/19/88 Dallas, Texas
17 McDonald, James*** L/R 6'5" 195 8/19/84 Long Beach, Calif.
37 Sierra, Eduardo R/R 6'4" 196 4/15/82 San Cristobal, D.R.
18 Wade, Cory*** R/R 6'2" 170 5/28/83 Indianapolis, Ind.
29 Wilson, Kyle R/R 6'2" 200 4/21/83 Valencia, Calif.
# CATCHERS B/T HT WT DOB RESIDES
30 Gulledge, Kelley R/R 6'2" 230 1/25/79 Arlington, Texas
25 May, Lucas*** R/R 6'0" 190 8/24/84 Chesterfield, Mo.
31 Rivera, Rene R/R 5'10" 229 7/31/83 Carolina, Puerto Rico
# INFIELDERS B/T HT WT DOB RESIDES
11 DeJesus, Jr., Ivan R/R 5'11" 189 5/1/87 Guaynabo, Puerto Rico
8 Gonzalez, Aldolfo S/R 5'11" 160 6/13/85 Caracas, Venezuela
9 Gonzalez, Juan S/R 6'0" 160 2/23/82 Valencia, Venezuela
28 Justis, Shane R/R 5'10" 175 3/11/83 Bel Air, Md.
14 Mitchell, Russell R/R 6'1" 191 2/15/85 Cartersville, Ga.
# OUTFIELDERS B/T HT WT DOB RESIDES
23 Godwin, Adam R/R 5'11" 170 12/13/82 Enterprise, Ala.
34 Hoffmann, Jamie R/R 6'3" 221 8/20/84 New Ulm, Minn.
7 Jacobs, Greg L/L 5'10" 180 10/9/76 Anaheim Hills, Calif.
26 Malek, Bobby L/R 6'1" 205 7/6/81 Canton, Mich.
6 Tomlin, James R/R 6'1" 170 8/12/82 Los Angeles, Calif.
STAFF
Manager: John Shoemaker (12)
Hitting Coach: Luis Salazar (3)
Pitching Coach: Glenn Dishman (5)
Strength Coach: Trevor Dorian
Athletic Trainer: Carlos Olivas
*** Denotes member of Dodgers 40-man roster
Tickets for all 70 home games are currently on sale through the Suns Box Office at (904) 358-2846, or online at www.jaxsuns.com. Sponsorships, season tickets and group packages are also available. The Suns open the 2008 campaign against the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx, the Double-A Affiliate of the Seattle Mariners, on Thursday, April 3 at 7:05pm. The Suns are the Double-A Affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers and a member of the Southern League of Professional Baseball.