Tri-City Dust Devils Announce 2016 Roster
June 14, 2016 - Northwest League (NWL1)
Tri-City Dust Devils News Release
The Tri-City Dust Devils will open the season with an initial roster that includes a mix of returning players along with a number of newcomers. A total of six players that helped the Dust Devils reach the 2015 Northwest League Championship Series will open the season with the team.
Atop the list of returning Dust Devils are pitchers Jose Castilo, Aaron Cressley, and Will Headean. Castillo went 3-1 with a 3.16 ERA in 12 starts for Tri-City last season. Cressley, a former NWL All-Star, tossed five scoreless innings in four relief appearances in 2015 for the Dust Devils. Headean joined Tri-City towards the end of the 2015 campaign. The southpaw was impressive out of the bullpen, not allowing an earned run in over nine innings of work on the mound. Angel Mejia, Emmanuel Ramirez, and Daniel Bravo will also rejoin the Dust Devils after spending time with the team last season.
The team will also feature a number of players selected by the San Diego Padres in last week's MLB First-Year Player Draft, including 17th round pick Chris Baker from the University of Washington. This spring Baker was named All-Pac-12 and to the All-Pac-12 Defensive Team after helping the Huskies to an NCAA Regional appearance. The infielder led the Huskies in many categories, including home runs (7) and RBI (34). He also ranked 9th in the Pac-12 in home runs and hits (68) and was 11th in slugging percentage (.491).
Joey Lucchesi will be the highest pick from this year's draft to begin the season with the Dust Devils. The 4th round selection from Southeast Missouri State became the first pitcher in the history of the Ohio Valley Conference to win OVC Pitcher of the Year in back-to-back seasons. He also earned All-American honors from Louisville Slugger and Baseball America this spring.
A talented two-sport athlete in college, Lake Bachar will join the Dust Devils after being drafted in the 5th round by the Padres out of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. The right-handed pitcher was also a two-time all-conference punter/kicker for the football team, helping UW-Whitewater win back-to-back NCAA Division III national championships in 2013 and 2014.
Nate Easley will join the Dust Devils after being picked in the 23rd round by the Padres last week. Easley helped Yavapai College win the NJCAA Division I National Championship earlier this month and is the son of longtime major leaguer Damion Easley.
Ben Fritz will replace Brandon Wood as the team's manager. Joining Fritz on the coaching staff will be hitting coach Oscar Bernard and pitching coach Shaun Cole.
Opening Night at Gesa Stadium will be Friday, June 17th at 7:15 p.m. versus the Everett AquaSox. The first 500 fans in attendance will receive a free 2016 Dust Devils magnet schedule courtesy of Pizza Hut and be treated to a post-game fireworks show thanks to CO-Energy. Also, like every Friday, the game is a CO-Energy $1 Family Feast Night with all 12-ounce Coca-Cola products, ice cream sandwiches, hot dogs and bags of potato chips are on sale for just one dollar.
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