PCL1 New Orleans Baby Cakes

Baby Cakes Unveil Opening Day Roster

Published on April 3, 2018 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
New Orleans Baby Cakes News Release


Metairie, LA - The New Orleans Baby Cakes, Triple-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins, have released the Opening Day roster for the 2018 season.

The pitching staff is headed Opening Day starter Adam Conley, who was the 2015 Pacific Coast League Left- Handed Pitcher of the Year with New Orleans. A pair of right-handers acquired from the St. Louis Cardinals in an offseason trade, Sandy Alcantara and Zac Gallen, rank third and 14th, respectively, in MLB Pipeline's ranking of Miami's top prospects. Veteran right-handers Tyler Cloyd and Drew Rucinski are joined by 2015 draft pick Ben Meyer as options for the starting rotation. In the bullpen, left-handers James Buckelew and Alex Wimmers will complement righties Jumbo Diaz, Joe Gunkel, Chris Mazza, and the only reliever with previous experience with the 'Cakes, Nick Wittgren.

Outfielders Magnerius Sierra and Braxton Lee, rated seventh and 17th, respectively, by MLB Pipeline, will begin the year with the Baby Cakes. Sierra was another piece of the Ozuna trade who set a Cardinals franchise record last year by opening his career on a nine-game hitting streak, while Lee took home the Double-A Southern League batting crown after coming to the Marlins in a midseason trade with Tampa Bay. Rafael Ortega and J.B. Shuck have each seen time in the majors in recent years, and Isaac Galloway returns to New Orleans for a third season after an injury-plagued 2017, but finished fourth in the PCL the year before with 31 stolen bases.

Infielders include Peter Mooney, who spent all of last season with the Baby Cakes and led the team in triples and walks. Cristhian Adames will join Mooney in the middle of the diamond after playing parts of the last four seasons with the Colorado Rockies, as does Cito Culver, a former first-round pick of the New York Yankees. Veterans Eric Campbell and Scott Van Slyke figure to hold down the corner infield spots after combining to play 10 big league seasons with the New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers, respectively, and Jonathan Rodriguez makes the jump to Triple-A after narrowly missing out on the Southern League batting title to Lee last year.

Sharif Othman, drafted by the Marlins in 2011, is set to see the first Triple-A experience of his career as the team's primary catcher.

The Baby Cakes open the season on Thursday at 7 p.m. against the Nashville Sounds. The first 1,000 fans will receive a replica 'Cakes jersey courtesy of Silver Slipper Casino. Opening Night ceremonies include a tribute to the franchise's 25 years in New Orleans, a performance by the 610 Stompers and appearances by WWE Superstars, with a fireworks show following the final out. Tickets can be purchased online, at the stadium box office, or by calling the Baby Cakes at (504) 734-5155.

2 ...............................Isaac Galloway

3 ....................................... J.B. Shuck

4 ......................................Zac Gallen

5 .................................Rafael Ortega

6 ............................ Sandy Alcantara

7 ................................ Peter Mooney

8 ............................Magnerius Sierra

10 .................................Chris Mazza

11 ..............................Tommy Gregg

13 ...........................James Buckelew

14 ...............................Adam Conley

15 ....................... Robert Rodriguez

17 ............................ Alex Wimmers

18 ..............................Drew Rucinski

19 .............................Sharif Othman

20 ..................................Braxton Lee

21 ............................Scott Van Slyke

22 ................................Arnie Beyeler

23 ....................................Ben Meyer

24 ..............................Eric Campbell

25 .................................. Tyler Cloyd

26 ..............................Eric Campbell

27 ...................................Cito Culver

29 ................................... Joe Gunkel

30 ....................Jonathan Rodriguez

36 ..............................Nick Wittgren

48 ............................... Jeremy Powell

50 .................................. Jumbo Diaz

Pronunciation guide

Sandy Alcantara (Al-can-ta-ra)

Drew Rucinski (ruh-SIN-skee)

Cristhian Adames (KRIS-chin uh-DAH-mis)

Magneuris (Mag-NARE-ees) Sierra

Check out the New Orleans Baby Cakes Statistics

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Pacific Coast League Stories from April 3, 2018


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