Workout roster features prospects, former opponents
18-year-old Carson Kelly, the second-round draft choice of the St. Louis Cardinals in 2012, joins United States Navy veteran Mitch Harris and six players who were with the Batavia Muckdogs last year on the State College Spikes' pre-season workout roster.
A total of 24 players are on the initial workout roster, with more players slated to join the Spikes as the week progresses. The players who will form the nucleus of the Spikes will work out through Sunday leading up to Opening Night on Monday, June 17. The Spikes will kick off the 2013 season when they face the Williamsport Crosscutters (Philadelphia Phillies) at 7:05 p.m. that night.
Kelly, rated by Baseball America as the ninth-best prospect in the Cardinals organization prior to the season, joins the Spikes after spending the initial portion of the year with the Single-A Peoria Chiefs. The Portland, OR native hit nine home runs and drove in 25 runs in 56 games with the Rookie-level Johnson City Cardinals last year in his pro debut. Kelly was the Gatorade High School Player of the Year in 2011 and 2012 at Westview High School in Portland.
The Spikes will also have the oldest player in team history on the roster as Harris, a graduate of the United States Naval Academy, makes his professional debut this season. The 27-year-old was drafted by the Cardinals in the 13th round in 2008, but served his mandatory five-year active duty commitment to the Navy coming out of college. After being released from his commitment in January, Harris rejoined the Cardinals and is looking forward to his first official in-game action since May of 2008.
Spikes fans will also see some familiar faces as pitcher Ben O'Shea, catcher Adam Lewis, infielders Bruce Caldwell and David Washington, and outfielders Steven Ramos and Matthew Young return to the New York-Penn League. The six Cardinals farmhands played for the Batavia Muckdogs last year, with all but Caldwell playing at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park as members of the visiting team in 2012.
The Spikes will also welcome eight players who were members of the Rookie-level Johnson City team that made the Appalachian League playoffs under current Spikes manager Oliver Marmol in 2012. Pitchers Juan Bautista, Victor DeLeon, Willy Paulino and Jeff Rauh are joined by infielders Kelly, Trevor Martin and Cesar Valera in the ranks of players making the move to State College from Johnson City. Outfielder Ronald Castillo rounds out the octet of 2012 Johnson City players to make the trip to Central PA.
A healthy complement of 2013 Cardinals draft picks will also be working out with the Spikes in the run-up to Opening Night. Pitchers Jimmy Reed, (sixth round, University of Maryland), Andrew Pierce (eighth round, Southern Miss), Nick Petree (ninth round, Missouri State University), Chase Brookshire (20th round, Belmont University), Kyle Webb (32nd round, Elon University) and Kevin Herget (39th-round, Kean University), are all on the workout roster. Catcher Luke Voit, a resident of the St. Louis suburb of Wildwood, MO, will also be part of the Spikes' workouts after being taken in the 22nd round of this year's draft out of Missouri State, where he was Petree's teammate. Voit will be joined by University of Kansas catcher Alex De Leon, who was drafted by the Cardinals in the 23rd round.
Pitcher Jhonny Polanco will also be on the Spikes' workout roster after making eight mound appearances for Single-A Peoria earlier this season.
Fans looking to see the members of the 2013 Spikes up close and personal will get the chance at the Meet the Team Event on Saturday, June 15 at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. The free event gets underway at 6:30 p.m., with a team autograph session, a chance to play catch on the field, free inflatables and games in Ike's Kids Zone, and the opportunity to see the future Cardinals work out under the lights starting at 7:30 p.m.
Then on Monday, the 2013 season kicks off with Opening Night, presented by PSECU and 95.3 FM 3WZ. The Year of the Millionth Fan Celebration kicks off when gates will open at the special time of 5 p.m. to the general public for the 7:05 p.m. game. All fans age 18 and over will be able to enter a drawing to be named the official "One Millionth Spikes Fan" and roll for the chance at $1,000,000 after the game, with post-game FIREWORKS presented by PSECU.
Single-game tickets for all 38 regular season home dates in the 2013 season are now available to purchase by clicking here, by calling (814)272-1711, or by visiting the Medlar Field at Lubrano Park Box Office. Information on all Spikes single-game, season and group ticket packages is available by clicking here.