Rainiers Reveal Tentative Opening Day Roster
April 1, 2014 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Tacoma Rainiers News Release
TACOMA, Wash. -- The Tacoma Rainiers today unveiled the club's preliminary roster in advance of the team's 2014 season opener scheduled for 7 p.m. this Thursday, April 3 against the Albuquerque Isotopes. The 25-man roster is slated to be filled by 15 players returning to Tacoma from the club's 2013 campaign, along with five of the top 30 prospects in the Seattle Mariners farm system.
Headlining the list of returnees is infielder Nick Franklin, who is set to mark his third consecutive season logging time with the Rainiers. A first-round pick in the 2009 draft, Franklin played in 39 games at Tacoma in 2013 prior to earning a Major League promotion to the Mariners in May. He went on to hit 12 home runs and produce 45 RBI over 102 games in his rookie season with the Mariners.
He will be joined in Tacoma by five of the Mariners top 30 prospects this season, as ranked by Baseball America. Infielder Chris Taylor - the organization's ninth-ranked prospect - will make his Rainiers debut in his third season following his selection by Seattle in the fifth round of the 2012 draft. Taylor was chosen as the Mariners Minor League Player of the Year in 2013 after batting .314 and scoring 108 runs in 134 games with Class-A Advanced High Desert and Double-A Jackson.
Right-handed pitchers Carson Smith and Dominic Leone enter their 2014 campaigns ranked as the No. 14 and No. 22 prospects in the Mariners farm system and are projected to record their first Triple-A seasons at Tacoma. Smith was named by the Mariners as the organization's Minor League Relief Pitcher of the Year after posting a 1.80 ERA in 44 appearances with Double-A Jackson, and Leone produced a 2.25 ERA in 48 appearances with Single-A Clinton, High Desert and Jackson.
First baseman Ji-Man Choi and outfielder James Jones - the 25th and 27th ranked prospects in the Mariners farm system - both closed out 2013 making their Triple-A debuts with the Rainiers and are expected back at Cheney Stadium this season. Choi batted .295 with 18 home runs and 85 RBI in 122 games between stops at High Desert, Jackson and Tacoma. Jones ranked fourth among Mariners minor leaguers with 28 steals and led the Southern League with 10 triples in 105 games with Jackson and Tacoma.
Also returning to the Tacoma are infielders Jesus Montero, Ty Kelly, and Nate Tenbrink, along with pitchers Blake Beavan, Brandon Maurer, James Gillheeney and Chance Ruffin. The Rainiers bullpen will also be bolstered by relievers Logan Bawcom, Nick Hill and Lucas Luetge, who are each set to return in 2014. The right-hander Bawcom is chief among those names after his 2.91 ERA in a team-leading 51 appearances earned him 2013 Rainiers Pitcher of the Year honors.
Former Major Leaguers Zach Miner and Ramon Ramirez are also expected to contribute to the Rainiers relief staff in their first year as players in the Mariners organization. They strengthen a Tacoma roster featuring 13 players who combine to carry more than 36 years of Major League experience. 10-year MLB veteran Endy Chavez is expected to start his second consecutive season at Tacoma and will patrol the outfield alongside former Diamondbacks, Giants and Cubs player Cole Gillespie. Veteran catcher Humberto Quintero will share time behind the plate with Jesus Sucre, who made his Major League debut with the Mariners in 2014.
Opening Weekend at Cheney Stadium officially begins at 7 p.m. this Thursday, April 3rd and will be followed by a special Opening Night post-game fireworks display. To purchase Opening Weekend tickets, group packages or party decks for the 2014 season, please call (253) 752-7707 or email tickets@tacomarainiers.com. Up-to-date news and notes leading up to the start of the 2014 season can be found at www.tacomarainiers.com and by following the Rainiers on Twitter (@RainiersLand) or liking the team on Facebook.
• Discuss this story on the Pacific Coast League message board...
Pacific Coast League Stories from April 1, 2014
- Rainiers Reveal Tentative Opening Day Roster - Tacoma Rainiers
- Aces, Wolf Pack to Play Annual Exhibition Game Tonight - Reno Aces
- Zephyrs Unveil 2014 Opening Day Roster - New Orleans Baby Cakes
- Round Rock Express Teams up with "Donate Life Texas" on Opening Day - Round Rock Express
- Isotopes Opening Day Roster Released - Albuquerque Isotopes
- Redbirds Announce Tentative Opening Night Roster - Memphis Redbirds
- Opening Day Roster Set for 2014 Salt Lake Bees - Salt Lake Bees
- 51s Ready for Season Opener - Las Vegas Aviators
- Storm Chasers First 2014 Homestand Highlights - Omaha Storm Chasers
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.
