Nuts 2014 Roster Unveiled
The 2014 Modesto Nuts roster will feature a combination of new faces, 2013 returnees, top prospects and three members of the Colorado Rockies 40-man roster. The squad broke camp in Scottsdale today and will arrive for the first official workout in Modesto on Monday, March 31st.
The Nuts roster is headlined by infielder Rosell Herrera. Herrera, a member of the Rockies 40-man roster, was named the South Atlantic League's Most Valuable Player last year. The shortstop led the league in batting with a .343 average while adding career highs in home runs (16), RBI (76) stolen bases (21) and OPS (.933). The 21-year old was also named the Most Outstanding Prospect in the league and is considered the best position prospect in the Rockies system (3rd overall behind Jon Gray and Eddie Butler). Herrera will be joined on the left side of the infield by 2011 1st round pick and 2013 Modesto Nuts infielder Trevor Story. Story, the 9th overall prospect in the Rockies system, and Herrera will split time between third base and shortstop this year for Modesto. Story struggled at the start of the 2013 season but rebounded to finish the season with a .233 batting average with 12 home runs and 65 RBI. Story was also considered one of the top defensive infielders in the California League last year.
Pitchers Jayson Aquino and Raul Fernandez will both start the season in Modesto. Both pitchers are currently on the Rockies 40-man roster. Aquino made two appearances for the Rockies in spring training without allowing a hit in 1 1/3 inning. Fernandez allowed two earned runs in three innings over three appearances in the spring. Aquino spent the 2013 season between Tri-City and Asheville making 14 starts between the two stops. Fernandez spent the entire 2013 campaign in Asheville, making a career-high 35 appearances. He finished with 16 saves, third most in the Rockies minor-league system last year.
Right-handers Ben Alsup and Tyler Gagnon will return to Dave Burba's pitching staff this season. Alsup made 29 starts for the Nuts last year and finished as the California League leader in wins with 13 to go along with a 4.45 ERA. Gagnon tied for second in the California League in wins with 12 last year. In addition, he set career highs in starts (28), innings pitched (158.2) and strikeouts (120).
The remainder of the Nuts pitching staff is combined of players in the Rockies lower levels in 2013 as well as two newcomers to the Rockies system. Right-hander Peter Tago, a 1st round pick in the 2010 First-Year Player draft, made 18 appearances, 12 starts, splitting time between Tri-City and Grand Junction in 2013. Right-hander Andrew Brown spent all of last season with the Asheville Tourists, primarily as a relief pitcher. Brown went 7-1 with a 2.68 ERA. Righty Shane Broyles split time last year between Asheville and Tri-City. The versatile hurler made 36 combined appearances, including 15 starts. Matthew Flemer, a former UC-Berkeley pitcher, made 16 starts for Asheville last year compiling a 4-4 record with a 3.64 ERA while averaging one strikeout per inning. Rayan Gonzalez made a career-high 49 relief appearances for Asheville last year. The right-hander was 2-3 with a 2.68 ERA and 12 saves. Alving Mejias, another righty relief arm, made 36 appearances out of the bullpen for Asheville in 2013. Jacob Newberry split time last year between Grand Junction and Asheville making 26 relief appearances and finishing with a combined 3.86 ERA. The final two spots on the staff belong to two newcomers in the Rockies system. Right-hander Brandon Erbe spent the 2013 season in the Phillies system while righty Ryan Gibbard spent last year in the Brewers farm system.
The Nuts will begin the season with three catchers. Will Swanner returns to the Nuts after spending the entire 2013 season with the team. Swanner played in 100 games last year for Modesto finishing with 13 home runs and 51 RBI. Chris O'Dowd, son of Rockies GM Dan O'Dowd, will make his Modesto debut this year. O'Dowd appeared in 58 games last year while splitting time between Asheville and Tri-City. Michael Ramirez will begin the season on the disabled list. He spent last season with the Asheville Tourists.
Joining Herrera and Story in the Nuts infield will be several players that spent some time in Modesto last year. Jordan Ribera from Fresno, CA will return to the Nuts this season. He appeared in 59 games for the Nuts last year. Matt Wessinger and Dean Espy finished the season with the Nuts in 2013. Wessinger can play all of the infield positions and appeared in 19 games during the final month of the season for Modesto in 2013. Espy, son of former Nuts hitting coach Duane Espy, had two at-bats in one appearance last year for the Nuts. Juan Ciriaco played 100 games for Asheville last year, primarily at second base. He finished the year with a .279 batting average and 50 stolen bases. Infielder Jose Rivera, who appeared in 36 games for Modesto last year, will being the season on the disabled list.
The outfield will see one returner from last season's playoff squad. Australian native David Kandilas will return to John Thurman Field. Kandilas had starts in all three outfield spots last year, appearing in 96 games. The right-hander hit .265 with a career-high 24 stolen bases. Francisco Sosa will make his California League debut this year in Modesto. He finished second in the South Atlantic League with a .315 batting average while hitting 20 home runs and driving in 89 runs. Sosa also added 30 stolen bases for the Tourists. Sean Dwyer, an 11th round pick in the 2013 First Year Player Draft, spent last season in Tri-City and will make the jump all the way to Modesto this year. In addition to playing the corner outfield spots last year, Dwyer also made 41 starts at first base. Derek Jones, an 8th round pick in the 2012 First-Year Player Draft, spent the entire 2013 season in Asheville. Jones also spent time at both corner outfield positions as well as first base for the Tourists. Jones hit 19 home runs and had 56 RBI.
The Modesto Nuts 2014 season begins on Thursday, April 3 in Bakersfield against the Blaze. The home opener is scheduled for Thursday, April 10. Tickets for the home opener and any of the 70 home games this season are available for purchase online at www.modestonuts.com or by calling the Nuts ticket office at (209) 572-HITS.