NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, CFL stats



Frisco RoughRiders

MLB Opening Day Rosters Filled with Former Frisco RoughRiders

April 6, 2015 - Texas League (TL1)
Frisco RoughRiders News Release


FRISCO, TEXAS (APRIL 6, 2015) - Opening Day for the Frisco RoughRiders is this Thursday, but former Riders players will have a presence in nearly every Opening Day contest at the start of the 2015 Major League Baseball season. There are 33 former RoughRiders on the Opening Day active rosters of 16 different MLB teams this season, highlighted by the big league debuts of 2014 Frisco players Keone Kela and Odubel Herrera .

The Texas Rangers have an MLB-high 12 former RoughRiders on their roster, with Kela making his first appearance on a major league roster. He is expected to be a member of the Texas bullpen for tonight's season opener in Oakland. The 21-year-old right-handed pitcher was promoted to Frisco on May 3, 2014 and spent the remainder of the season as a RoughRider. Kela posted a 2-1 record with five saves and a 1.86 ERA in 36 Texas League appearances in 2014, registering a 55:27 strikeout-to-walk ratio and a .162 opponents' batting average in 38.2 innings. He did not allow an earned run in 30 of his last 32 regular season outings and twice compiled streaks of 14 consecutive scoreless appearances. Kela was the Rangers' 12th round selection in the 2012 First-Year Player Draft out of Everett (Wash.) Community College.

Herrera is expected to be the Philadelphia Phillies' everyday centerfielder when the Phillies open the season this afternoon at home against Boston. A Rule 5 Draft selection by Philadelphia in the off-season, Herrera spent the bulk of the past two seasons as a second baseman with the RoughRiders. He won the Texas League batting crown last year with a .321 average, 13 points higher than second place. In 96 games with the Riders, Herrera compiled 16 doubles, four triples, two home runs and 48 runs batted in. The left-handed batter was named a Texas League Postseason and Mid-Season All-Star last year; he was also a Mid-Season TL All-Star in 2013. A native of Zulia, Venezuela, Herrera was signed by the Rangers as a non-drafted free agent in 2008.

Twelve of the of the 15 Opening Day games scheduled for last night and today feature a former RoughRider on the 25-man roster of at least one team. Since 2003, Frisco has sent 128 former players to the big leagues (not including Major League rehabbers).

FULL LIST OF FORMER ROUGHRIDERS ON MLB OPENING DAY ACTIVE ROSTERS

Texas Rangers (12)

- SS Elvis Andrus

- RHP Neftali Feliz

- LHP Derek Holland

- RHP Keone Kela (MLB debut)

- RHP Phil Klein

- OF Leonys Martin

- RHP Nick Martinez

- RHP Roman Mendez

- 1B/OF Mitch Moreland

- 2B Rougned Odor

- OF Ryan Rua

- OF Jake Smolinski

Chicago Cubs (4)

- RHP Justin Grimm

- RHP Kyle Hendricks

- 3B Mike Olt

- RHP Neil Ramirez

Boston Red Sox (2)

- RHP Alexi Ogando

- LHP Robbie Ross, Jr.

Kansas City Royals (2)

- RHP Edinson Volquez

- RHP Chris Young

Oakland Athletics (2)

- RHP Jesse Chavez

- OF Craig Gentry

Baltimore Orioles (1)

- RHP Tommy Hunter

Cincinnati Reds (1)

- RHP Jumbo Diaz

Chicago White Sox (1)

- RHP John Danks

Detroit Tigers (1)

- 2B Ian Kinsler

Houston Astros (1)

- RHP Scott Feldman

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (1)

- LHP C.J. Wilson

New York Mets (1)

- OF John Mayberry, Jr.

Philadelphia Phillies (1)

- OF Odubel Herrera (MLB debut)

San Francisco Giants (1)

- 3B Joakim Arias

Toronto Blue Jays (1)

- 1B Justin Smoak

Washington Nationals (1)

- RHP Tanner Roark

Fans can see the next wave of big leaguers in person when the RoughRiders begin their 13th season at Dr Pepper Ballpark on Thursday, April 9 at 7:05 p.m., as Frisco plays the Arkansas Travelers. Opening Day will be the season's first Thirsty Thursday/Groovy Grubesday and marks the first game in a new era of Riders baseball, with the debut of the club's new logo, uniforms and color scheme. For tickets to Opening Day and every 2015 contest, please visit the Dr Pepper Ballpark ticket office, call (972) 731-9200, e-mail Info@RidersBaseball.com, or visit www.RidersBaseball.com.

Check out the Frisco RoughRiders Statistics

• Discuss this story on the Texas League message board...

Texas League Stories from April 6, 2015


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.

OurSports Central