Sea Dogs Roster Announced
April 2, 2005 - Eastern League (EL1)
Portland Sea Dogs News Release
The Boston Red Sox have announced the 2005 Opening Day roster for their Double-A affiliated Portland Sea Dogs. The 2005 Sea Dogs roster consists of several of the Boston Red Sox top prospects including ten of the organization's top 30 prospects according to Baseball America, five out of the top six, and three out of the top 100 prospects in all of Minor League Baseball. The Sea Dogs open the 2005 season on Thursday, April 7th at 6:00 PM against the Norwich Navigators (Giants).
Red Sox top prospect Hanley Ramirez (pictured) highlights the 2005 roster. Ramirez will start at shortstop and is the tenth ranked prospect in all of Minor League Baseball. Ramirez is also ranked as the top prospect in the Eastern League and in the American League East. In 32 games with the Sea Dogs last year, Ramirez hit .310 with 14 extra base hits, 26 runs scored and 12 stolen bases.
Brandon Moss, Baseball America's second ranked prospect in the Red Sox organization and Minor League Baseball's 72nd ranked prospect, will be in the outfield for the Sea Dogs. In 2004, Moss was named the South Atlantic League Player of the Year, batting .339 with 13 home runs and 101 RBI for the Augusta Green Jackets in 109 games. Upon earning a promotion to Single-A Sarasota, he hit .422 in 23 games.
Jon Papelbon, the Sea Dogs probable Opening Day starter is the third ranked prospect in the Red Sox organization and is ranked 91st in all of Minor League Baseball by Baseball America. Papelbon posted a 12-7 record with a 2.64 ERA in 2004 with Sarasota. He was named to the Florida State League mid-season and post-season All-Star teams. His 153 strikeouts ranked second in the Florida State League.
Left-handed pitcher Jon Lester will join Papelbon in the starting rotation. Lester is the fourth ranked prospect in the Red Sox farm system, according to Baseball America. Dustin Pedroia, Boston's top pick from the 2004 draft, will start at second base for the Sea Dogs. Pedroia is the sixth rated prospect in the organization by Baseball America.
Other players on the Sea Dogs roster ranking in the organization's top 30 list of prospects by Baseball America include #11 prospect Manny Delcarmen, #15 David Murphy, #21 Cla Meredith, #24 Jeremy West, and #26 David Pauley. Boston native Delcarmen is rated as having the "Best Curveball" in the organization by Baseball America. He'll pitch out of the bullpen for the Sea Dogs. Murphy, an outfielder, was Boston's first round draft pick in 2003. Meredith is slated to share the closing duties with returning Sea Dog Marc Deschenes. Meredith split time with Augusta and Sarasota in 2004, leading the Red Sox organization with 18 saves and posting a 1.14 ERA. West, a first baseman, hit .293 with 18 home runs and 68 RBI at Sarasota in 2004 and was a Florida State League All-Star. Pauley, a right-handed starter, was part of the trade that sent Dave Roberts to San Diego and Jay Payton to Boston. Prior to the trade, Pauley was ranked as the Padres # 7 prospect by Baseball America.
The Sea Dogs starting rotation will consist of Papelbon, Lester, Pauley, and returning Sea Dogs Kason Gabbard and Charlie Zink. The bullpen will feature Delcarmen, Deschenes, Meredith, David Pahucki, Conor Brooks, Talley Haines, Justin Sturge, and Phil Devey.
Former Major Leaguer Jared Sandberg and returning Sea Dogs Mike O'Keefe and Raul Nieves round out the infield. Sandberg has spent parts of three seasons in the Major Leagues with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Sandberg is the nephew of former Major League All-Star and Hall of Famer-elect Ryne Sandberg. O'Keefe led the Sea Dogs with 19 home runs in 2004, the most by a left-handed hitter in seven years.
The outfield will feature Moss, Murphy, Chris Durbin, and Sheldon Fulse. Durbin is rated as the "Best Defensive Outfielder" in the Red Sox organization by Baseball America. Fulse led all Red Sox minor leaguers with 29 stolen bases in 2004.
Alberto Concepcion and Jim Buckley will handle the catching duties. Concepcion posted a .283 average with 23 doubles for Sarasota in 2004.
Stefan Bailie, Boston's Minor League Player of the Year for Portland in 2004, will begin the year on the disabled list, along with right handed pitchers Steve Langone and Chris Smith. Langone is a Reading, Massachusetts native and attended Boston College. Smith was leading the Eastern League in strikeouts in 2004 when his season was cut short due to injury.
The active roster consists of ten players who have previously seen time in a Sea Dogs uniform including Brooks, Concepcion, Deschenes, Fulse, Gabbard, Nieves, O'Keefe, Pahucki, Ramirez and Zink.
Todd Claus begins his first season as the Sea Dogs Manager. He will be joined by hitting coach Russ Morman, pitching coach Fernando Arroyo, and trainer Masai Takahasai.
Tickets for the home opener and all Sea Dogs home games including the 2005 Hannaford eastern League All-Star Game are currently on sale. Tickets can be purchased over the phone at 207-879-9500 or on-line at www.seadogs.com.
Eastern League Stories from April 2, 2005
- Baysox Announce 2005 Roster - Chesapeake Baysox
- Thunder announce tentative list of players - Trenton Thunder
- Curve opening day roster set - Altoona Curve
- Mike Bordick to throw out opening day ceremonial first pitch - Portland Sea Dogs
- Sea Dogs Roster Announced - Portland Sea Dogs
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
