EL1 Akron RubberDucks

Veteran-Laden Club Headed To Akron

Published on March 31, 2008 under Eastern League (EL1)
Akron RubberDucks News Release


AKRON, OH - A slew of familiar faces will don the road grays for Akron on Opening Day April 3rd in Harrisburg, as 14 of the 24 players on the roster will be making their second tours with the Aeros the team announced today.

"Certainly our roster will undergo the same changes every team experiences with promotions, injuries, trades and the like, but having such an experienced club should be a big help for getting off to a fast start this season," said Aeros manager Mike Sarbaugh. "At the same time, those players getting their first taste of Double-A have proven they they're ready for this challenge."

An experienced outfield leads the way offensively, with 2007 starters Trevor Crowe and Ryan Goleski both back to roam the Canal Park gaps. Crowe (133) and Goleski (128) combined for over 250 starts last year, with Crowe leading the team with 87 runs scored and Goleski ranking second on the club with 73 RBI. Joining them are 2005 Eastern League Playoff MVP Nathan Panther and newcomer Jose Constanza, who hit .274 and swiped 39 bags as the table-setter for a potent Kinston lineup.

The infield should be one of the strongest in the league, featuring a pair of first-round picks in Michael Aubrey and Matt Whitney and two second-round choices in Wes Hodges and Josh Rodriguez. Aubrey and Whitney, who have both battled injuries since their selections in 2003 and 2002, respectively, will both look to build on their 2007 campaigns. Aubrey's 256 at-bats between Kinston and Akron were his most since 2004, while Whitney recovered from the complications of a gruesome leg injury sustained in 2003 to mash 32 home runs and 113 RBI between Kinston and Lake County.

Hodges and Rodriguez are expected to man the left side of the infield at third base and shortstop predominantly, and both had marvelous seasons in Kinston last year. Hodges hit .288 with 15 homers and 71 RBI, while Rodriguez hit .262 with 49 extra-base hits (including 20 homers), 82 RBI and 21 steals, becoming the first 20-20 man for the K-Tribe since Jon Nunnally in 1994. Also in the infield are Chris de la Cruz and minor league free agent Brandon Chaves, who knows the Eastern League well after spending the majority of the last four years with the Altoona Curve.

The versatile Chris Gimenez brings power to spare to the catcher position after hitting 20 homers for Kinston last year and adding six more for the Aeros, and can also play both corner infield and outfield spots. Veteran Armando Camacaro is the backup.

On the hill a quartet of impressive hurlers will make the jump to Akron, as right-handers Kevin Dixon, Frank Herrmann and Sung-Wei Tseng teamed with southpaw Ryan Edell to post 38 wins for Kinston last season. Returning to Akron once again is 12-game winner Chuck Lofgren, as well as Canton native Shawn Nottingham. T.J. Burton, Bubbie Buzachero, side-armer Randy Newsom and Jeff Stevens should comprise the bulk of the bullpen.

The Aeros open the 2008 season April 3rd in Harrisburg as part of a week-long road trip before the home opener April 10th against the Bowie Baysox at 7:05 p.m. For more information, please call the Aeros at (330) 253-5151.

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Eastern League Stories from March 31, 2008


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