SL1 Montgomery Biscuits

Montgomery Biscuits Announce 2008 Roster

Published on March 30, 2008 under Southern League (SL1)
Montgomery Biscuits News Release


MONTGOMERY -- The Montgomery Biscuits will return 15 players to their roster from the 2007 Southern League championship squad. The team's initial 2008 roster was announced today.

Top prospects Wade Davis and Jake McGee will anchor the pitching rotation, along with lefty James Houser, Jr. Jon Barratt, Richard De Los Santos, Jeremy Flanagan and Jino Gonzalez also return from the 2007 club. The presumed closer is Eduardo Morlan, the 22-year-old righthander acquired from the Minnesota Twins in the trade for Delmon Young earlier this year. Left-hander Roger Deago, a former Southern Leaguer with some major league experience, also joins the staff. Also joining the Biscuits are lefties Jeffrey Kamrath and Mike Wlodarczyk and first-rounder Wade Townsend.

Championship heroes will return to the lineup as well. Championship Series Most Valuable Player Chris Nowak returns, changing positions from first base to third base. Outfielder Sergio Pedroza, who provided the game-winning home run in Game Five, returns to the outfield, along with Erold Andrus.

Catcher John Jaso, who finished second in the league with a .316 batting average, brings his bat back to the middle of the Biscuits' lineup. Catcher Matt Spring also returns.

Johnny Raburn, a Biscuit in 2005 and 2006, returns to the Biscuits after spending a season in the Florida Marlins' organization. Most of the remainder of the infield is back, as well. First baseman Rhyne Hughes, second baseman Josh Asanovich and third baseman Pat Cottrell are back. Ronnie Merrill, who played for three years against the Biscuits as a member of the Mobile BayBears, comes to the Biscuits to play shortstop.

Gabriel Martinez is back for his fourth year to play the outifeld, while Rashad Eldridge joins Montgomery from the Twins' organization.

Manager Billy Gardner and pitching coach Neil Allen return, joined by coach Ben Oglivie, trainer Joel Smith and Strength and Conditioning Coach Eric Boyd.

No. Pitchers B/T Ht. Wt. Birthdate Hometown 2007 Season

XX Jon Barratt R/L 5-9 165 March 19, 1985 Springfield, Missouri Montgomery

XX Wade Davis R/R 6-5 220 September 7, 1985 Lake Wales, Florida Vero Beach / Montgomery

XX Roger Deago R/L 5-10 180 June 21, 1977 Mongarillo, Panama San Antonio / Portland (SD)

XX Richard De Los Santos R/R 6-0 183 June 1, 1984 Elias Pina, Dom. Rep. Montgomery / Durham

XX Jeremy Flanagan R/R 6-3 225 April 14, 1981 Richmond, California Montgomery

XX Jino Gonzalez L/L 6-2 210 September 5, 1982 Henderson, Nevada Vero Beach

XX James Houser, Jr. L/L 6-4 202 December 15, 1984 Sarasota, Florida Montgomery

XX Jeffrey Kamrath L/L 6-3 210 April 6, 1982 Houston, Texas Vero Beach

XX Jake McGee L/L 6-3 190 August 6, 1986 Sparks, Nevada Vero Beach / Montgomery

XX Eduardo Morlan R/R 6-2 220 March 1, 1986 Miami, Florida Ft. Myers / New Britain (MIN)

XX Wade Townsend R/R 6-4 230 February 22, 1983 Dripping Spring, Texas Columbus

XX Mike Wlodaczyk L/L 6-5 230 Decmber 2, 1982 Marlton, New Jersey Vero Beach

No. Catchers B/T Ht. Wt. Birthdate Hometown 2007 Season

XX John Jaso L/R 6-2 194 September 19, 1983 McKinleyville, California Montgomery

XX Matt Spring R/R 6-2 215 November 7, 1984 Peoria, Arizona Columbus / Montgomery

No. Infielders B/T Ht. Wt. Birthdate Hometown 2007 Season

XX Josh Asanovich R/R 6-2 192 January 31, 1983 Apache Junction, Arizona Montgomery

XX Patrick Cottrell R/R 5-11 170 March 16, 1982 Frankville, Alabama Vero Beach / Montgomery

XX Rhyne Hughes L/L 6-2 175 September 9, 1983 Picayune, Mississippi Southwest Michigan

XX Ronnie Merrill S/R 6-1 185 November 13, 1978 Tampa, Florida Mobile / Tucson (ARI)

XX Chris Nowak R/R 6-5 232 February 21, 1983 Pewaukee, Wisconsin Visalia

XX Johnny Raburn S/R 6-0 164 February 16, 1979 Plant City, Florida Carolina / Albuquerque (FLA)

No. Outfielders B/T Ht. Wt. Birthdate Hometown 2007 Season

XX Erold Andrus S/L 6-2 170 July 16, 1984 Maracay, Venezuela Vero Beach / Montgomery

XX Rashad Eldridge S/R 6-1 185 October 16, 1981 Macon, Georgia New Britain (MIN)

35 Sergio Pedroza L/R 6-1 180 February 23, 1984 Covina, California Vero Beach / Montgomery

XX Gabriel Martinez L/R 6-2 213 May 17, 1983 Sabana Grande, Puerto Rico Montgomery

No. Field Staff Position Hometown 2007 Season

24 Billy Gardner, Jr. Manager Naples, Florida Montgomery

16 Neil Allen Pitching Coach Sarasota, Florida Montgomery

XX Ben Oglivie Coach Tempe, Arizona Vero Beach

Joel Smith Athletic Trainer St. Petersburg, Florida Vero Beach

Eric Boyd Strength Coach Boiling Springs, N. Car.

Check out the Montgomery Biscuits Statistics

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