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TL1 Corpus Christi Hooks

Astros Announce Hooks Initial Roster

April 4, 2011 - Texas League (TL1)
Corpus Christi Hooks News Release


CORPUS CHRISTI - A mix of the familiar and the new comprise Corpus Christi's initial roster for the 2011 season.

Outfielder J.D. Martinez, the Astros Minor League Player of the Year in 2010, heads up a list of 14 players who have had previous experience with the Hooks. Martinez led all Houston farmhands with a .341 average last year and earned the distinction as the organization's sixth-best prospect according to Baseball America. Primarily a left fielder, Martinez batted .302 with three home runs and 25 RBIs in 50 games last year with the Hooks.

Joining Martinez in the "familiar" category is shortstop Wladimir Sutil, a fan-favorite for the past three years at Whataburger Field. Sutil, Corpus Christi's stolen base leader in each of the last three seasons, has appeared in more games (292) than anyone else in franchise history.

Also back are first baseman Jimmy VanOstrand, who stands second on Corpus Christi's career RBI list with 119, and starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel, whose combined 133 strikeouts between Lancaster and Corpus Christi ranked second among Astros minor leaguers in 2010.

Other returnees include outfielders Jonathan Gaston and T.J. Steele, catchers Brian Esposito and Federico Hernandez, and pitchers Erick Abreu, Arcenio Leon, Matt Nevarez, Patrick Urckfitz and Shane Wolf. Outfielder Brandon Barnes, who saw action with the Hooks in the final week of the 2009 season, opens 2011 with Corpus Christi after leading Astros farmhands with 28 home runs last year.

Second baseman Jimmy Paredes headlines a list of 11 players making their Hooks debut in 2011. Acquired by the Astros along with relief pitcher Mark Melancon in the deal that sent Lance Berkman to the Yankees last July, Paredes, a 40-man roster player, has been tagged by Baseball America as the No. 7 prospect in the Houston system. Paredes ranked second last year in the South Atlantic League in hits (158) and third in stolen bases (50).

Two right-handed pitchers - Jonnathan Aristil and David Carpenter - were, like Paredes, acquired by the Astros in notable trades last year. Aristil was one of two pitchers Houston received from Colorado for reliever Matt Lindstrom in December. Carpenter, on Houston's 40-man roster, was obtained from St. Louis for infielder Pedro Feliz last August.

Also set to debut with the Hooks in 2011 are infielders David Flores, Andy Simunic and Brandon Wikoff, along with pitchers David Berner, Cesar Carrillo, Xavier Cedeno, Kyle Greenwalt and Ross Seaton.

Fred Nelson, Houston's director of player development, stressed Monday that the current working roster is not necessarily Corpus Christi's Opening Day roster. Official rosters for Opening Day are due in the Texas League office by noon this Thursday.

The 2011 Hooks will hold a workout at Whataburger Field today from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. The workout session is free and open to the public. Immediately following the workout, full-season ticket holders and Hooks sponsors are invited to a meet-n-greet function with the team in Kieschnick's Korner.

The seventh season of Hooks baseball gets under way this Thursday night at ONEOK Field in Tulsa with the opener in a three-game series against the Drillers. Opening Night at Whataburger Field takes place the following Thursday evening, April 14.

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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.

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