SL1 Birmingham Barons

Barons Announce 2012 Opening Day Roster

Published on April 3, 2012 under Southern League (SL1)
Birmingham Barons News Release


Birmingham, AL - The Birmingham Barons have announced their Opening Day roster in preparation for the season opener Thursday against the Generals in Jackson, Tennessee. The roster includes 11 players who spent time with the Barons in 2011. Four of the White Sox top-20 prospects will begin the season in Birmingham, including pitcher Nestor Molina, infielders Tyler Saladino and Andy Wilkins, and outfielder Jared Mitchell.

A crop of new faces will make up the team's starting rotation led by Molina, the second ranked prospect in the White Sox organization according to Baseball America. Molina was acquired by the White Sox in an off-season trade with the Toronto Blue Jays for Sergio Santos. Joining Molina will be newcomers Simon Castro and Pedro Hernandez who were both acquired in the offseason trade that sent outfielder Carlos Quentin to the San Diego Padres. Rounding out the rotation will be Jose Quintana who was acquired via free agency in the off-season and returning starter Cameron Bayne who posted a combined record of 14-9 between Single-A Winston-Salem, Birmingham and Triple-A Charlotte in 2011.

The Barons offense will be led by a pair of highly ranked prospects in Tyler Saladino and Jared Mitchell. Saladino enters his first season with the Barons and is ranked as the organization's seventh-best prospect. Mitchell, the former LSU standout and first round selection in 2009 will also begin his first campaign with the Barons. Baseball America ranks Mitchell as the 16th-best prospect in the organization.

Andy Wilkins, another SEC prospect, will also make his first appearance at the Double-A level this season. Wilkins, who attended Arkansas, hit 23 home runs for Single-A Winston-Salem in 2011. He is ranked as the 12th-best prospect in the organization by Baseball America.

Returning standouts on offense include infielder Seth Loman and outfielders Jon Gilmore, Justin Greene, Jose Martinez and Kenny Williams Jr., the son of White Sox General Manager Kenny Williams Sr.

Manager Bobby Magallanes returns for his second season at the helm after leading the Barons to a record of 71-69 and a playoff appearance in his inaugural campaign. He is joined by two coaches with longtime ties to the Barons and the White Sox organization. Bobby Thigpen begins his first season as the team's pitching coach after serving in the same capacity with the Winston-Salem Dash for the past two seasons. Thigpen played for the Barons in 1986 and went on to a successful career with the White Sox where he set the Major League single-season saves record in 1991. Joining the team as hitting coach will be Brandon Moore. A graduate of Auburn University and a resident of Birmingham, Moore also played for the Barons over parts of two seasons in 1997 and 1999.

The 2012 Birmingham Barons season begins on Thursday, April 5th against the Jackson Generals, Double-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners, with the home opener set for Tuesday, April 10th versus the Huntsville Stars, Double-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. For ticket information, game schedule, or promotions calendar, call (205) 988-3200 or visit barons.com, facebook.com/birminghambarons and twitter.com/bhambarons.

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Southern League Stories from April 3, 2012


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