2008 Senators Blend Youth And Experience
Published on March 31, 2008 under Eastern League (EL1)
Harrisburg Senators News Release
The Harrisburg Senators released their 2008 Opening Day roster today, featuring a mix of promising prospects and experienced veterans. Nationals 2007 Minor League Player of the Year Justin Maxwell, Mike Daniel and Roger Bernadina headline a speedy outfield while five pitchers boast major-league experience.
Maxwell was the only player in the minor leagues to post 25 doubles, 25 home runs and 25 stolen bases last season. The Maryland native was called up to the majors last September and hit a grand slam in his third big-league at-bat. Daniel led all Nationals minor leaguers with 143 hits and set a career high with 25 stolen bases last season. He was a South Atlantic League All-Star for the Hagerstown Suns (Low-A). Bernadina was a mainstay atop the Harrisburg lineup last year, stealing a career-high 40 bases and swatting a pair of grand slams. Jorge Padilla provides a veteran presence in the outfield. This is Padilla's 11th professional season and fourth in the Eastern League.
South Atlantic League batting champion Andrew Lefave joins the Senators to start his first season in the Nationals organization. His .345 batting average with West Virginia (Low-A Brewers) was the third-best in the full-season minors last year. Marco Yepez returns to the Harrisburg infield for the third season after batting .291 in 63 games for the Senators last season. Ian Desmond begins his second season with the Senators. The 22-year-old shortstop bounced back from a rough 2006 in Harrisburg with a strong campaign in Potomac last year. Ed Rogers, Yurendell De Caster and Luis Jimenez bring experience to the infield. Rogers begins his 11th professional season and has played 30 games for the Baltimore Orioles during parts of three seasons. De Caster starts his 12th season as a pro after spending the last three years at Indianapolis (Triple-A Pirates). This is the 10th year in professional baseball for Jimenez, his fourth in the Eastern League. Still just 25 years old, Jimenez hit .328 with 22 home runs and 79 RBIs last season for Bowie (Double-A Orioles).
Javi Herrera and Luke Montz return to form the catching corps. Herrera hit .257 in 39 games for the Senators last season after being traded from the Cleveland Indians organization. Montz ripped five home runs in 40 games in Harrisburg in 2007.
The Harrisburg pitching staff features three left-handers, two of whom have pitched in the major leagues. Eude Brito pitched for the Philadelphia Phillies in parts of 2005 and 2006. Brito, 29, battled injuries throughout last season at Triple-A Ottawa. Arnie Munoz pitched in 13 games for Washington last season after a dominant campaign at Triple-A Columbus. Mike Hinckley joins the bullpen for his third season as a Senator. He played for Harrisburg in 2004 and 2007, both times as a starter.
One-time first-round draft pick Bobby Brownlie heads the Senators' right-handed pitchers. Brownlie started last season with unaffiliated Newark before signing with the Indians and posting a 3.17 ERA with Akron. Josh Hall, a one-time major leaguer for the Reds, returns to Harrisburg for his second season on City Island. Last year the right-hander worked primarily as a reliever. Right-hander Shairon Martis gets his first extended taste of Double-A baseball after winning 14 games for Potomac in 2007. The 21-year-old paired with Roger Bernadina to lead Team Netherlands to a championship in the European Olympic qualifier this off-season. Beltran Perez returns to Harrisburg for his third season. Josh Perrault joins the Senators bullpen after pitching four games in Harrisburg last season. He spent most of 2007 with Potomac. He worked primarily as a starter in 2006 and 2007, but will come out of the bullpen to start the year. The 26-year-old was effective in limited action for Washington in 2006. Levale Speigner is another right-handed reliever who brings major-league experience to the bullpen. Speigner, 27, started last season with the Nationals before being sent to Triple-A Columbus. Jim Ed Warden brings his sidewinding delivery to Harrisburg after seven years in the Indians organization. He pitched in relief for Akron and Buffalo (Triple-A) last season. Marco Estrada and Ismael Ramirez round out the right-handers on the staff.
John Stearns skippers the Senators for the second time after managing at Triple-A Columbus in 2007. The four-time National League All-Star catcher led Harrisburg to a 67-75 record in 2006. He is again joined by pitching coach Rick Tomlin, who begins his fourth consecutive year in Harrisburg. Hitting coach Troy Gingrich joins the Senators after serving in the same capacity last year in Potomac. Gingrich played for the Senators as an outfielder in 2001, 2002 and 2003. Trainer Beth Jarrett returns for her fourth season in Harrisburg and seventh in the Expos/Nationals organization. Mike Jones joins the Senators for his first season as a strength and conditioning coach in the Nationals organization.
The average age for the Opening Day player roster is 26.1 years old. Last year's Opening Day roster was 27.4 years old. Nine of the 24 players have logged time with Harrisburg prior to 2008.
The Senators will hold a public workout Tuesday, April 1st at Commerce Bank Park. The night starts with the introduction of the Klubhouse Kids, presented by United Concordia at 4:45 PM. Players and coaches will be available to the media for interviews and pictures 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM. The team will then work out under the lights. Gates open to the public at 6:00 PM with free admission. Hot dogs, popcorn, Pepsi, coffee and hot chocolate will be available at no charge.
The 2008 season begins on Thursday, April 3rd at Commerce Bank Park when the Senators host the Cleveland Indians' Eastern League affiliate Akron Aeros. The 2008 season marks the 22nd season for the Senators since baseball returned to City Island in 1987. For more information about the 2008 season, please check out the Senators website at www.senatorsbaseball.com.
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