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Isotopes Announce Preliminary 2018 Opening Day Roster

March 29, 2018

The Albuquerque Isotopes have announced their preliminary Opening Day roster, a team that features a mix of returning players and new faces.  

The Albuquerque Isotopes have announced their preliminary Opening Day roster, a team that features a mix of returning players and new faces.  

The roster boasts a collection of veteran leadership and up-and-coming talent, with nine players having Major League experience on a club where the average age is 26-years-old.  Eight members of the Rockies 40-man roster will start the season with the Isotopes.
Fourth-year Isotopes manager Glenallen Hill will welcome back 18 players from last season. The rest of the field staff will be new to Albuquerque in 2018. 
Left-handed pitcher Keith Hessler  is the club's elder statesman at just 29-years-old.  Hessler has appeared in 35 Major League games with Arizona and San Diego from 2015-16.
At one year and 124 days, right-handed reliever Jairo Díaz  has the most Major League service time.
The youngest player to make the Isotopes squad is 23-year-old right-handed pitcher Yency Almonte , who is also a member of the Rockies 40-man roster.
Of the players on the Isotopes preliminary roster, outfielder David Dahl  was selected highest overall in the draft (10th overall pick in 2012).  Dahl is the only first round draft pick on the Isotopes roster.
Albuquerque native and La Cueva High School's Austin House  returns to the Isotopes for the third straight season.
The Isotopes roster currently sits at 25 active players, while three will start the season on the disabled list.
Opening Night for the Isotopes is this Thursday, April 5 in Salt Lake while the Home Opener is Tuesday, April 10.
Pitchers:
Yency Almonte, Shane Broyles, Jairo Diaz, Matt Flemer, Nelson Gonzalez (DL) Keith Hessler, David Holman (DL), Austin House, Sam Howard, Chris Jensen, D.J. Johnson, Scott McGough, Harrison Musgrave, Brooks PoundersJerry Vasto
Catchers:
Anthony Bemboom, Tom Murphy, Jan Vázquez 
Infielders:
Daniel Castro, Josh Fuentes, Derrik Gibson, Jordan Patterson, Anthony Phillips, Elliot Soto (DL)
Outfielders:
Noel Cuevas, David Dahl, Raimel Tapia, Drew Weeks 
Field Staff: Glenallen Hill (manager), Tim Doherty (hitting coach), Brandon Emanuel (pitching coach), Heath Townsend (athletic trainer), Marcus Lefton (physical performance coach), Chris Glynn (bullpen catcher)