SL1 Montgomery Biscuits

Biscuits Announce 2009 Roster

Published on April 4, 2009 under Southern League (SL1)
Montgomery Biscuits News Release


MONTGOMERY, AL - The Montgomery Biscuits, Double-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays, have announced their opening day roster at the conclusion of Rays Spring Training in Port Charlotte, FL. Headlining the Biscuits opening day roster are three of the top-15 prospects in the Rays Organization in the estimation of Baseball America, including #5 prospect OF Desmond Jennings.

Jennings, a native of Birmingham, AL, will make his Double-A debut with the Biscuits in surprising fashion after injuries limited him to just 24 games with Vero Beach (A+) in 2008. A former Alabama football signee and 10th round draft choice in 2006, Jennings arrives in Montgomery at the age of 22.

RHP Jeremy Hellickson (BA - #8) will also begin the season in Montgomery, and as announced by the Rays, will serve as the Biscuits opening day starter. Hellickson, a fourth round draft selection in 2005, was promoted to Double-A Montgomery on June 24th, 2008 and posted a 4-4 record and 3.94 ERA in 13 starts to finish the season. He had been dominant in 14 starts with Vero Beach prior to his promotion, boasting an ERA of 2.00

RHP Heath Rollins completes the trio of top-15 prospects and joins Hellickson in the Biscuits starting rotation. An 11th round draft selection of the Rays in 2006, Rollins made his Biscuits debut on August 13th, 2008. He put together a record of 1-1 with an impressive ERA of 2.88 in four late-season starts.

The Biscuits opening day roster features 13 players that have appeared for the Biscuits prior to 2009. 12 of those wore the butter and blue in 2008, with the lone exception being RHP Chris Mason. Mason, who recorded one of the finest single-seasons in Biscuits history in 2007 when he went 15-4 and was named the Double-A Pitcher of the Year, will be looking to rebound from a tough 2008 season in Durham (AAA), where he compiled a record of 3-10 and an ERA of 6.21.

The 12 returning Biscuits from 2008 include; RHP Richard De Los Santos (Begins season on roster, but will rehab in Port Charlotte at start of year), RHP Neal Frontz, RHP Hellickson, RHP Eddie Morlan, RHP Ryan Reid (Begins season on Biscuits roster, but will rehab in Port Charlotte at start of year), RHP Rollins, LHP Mike Wlodarczyk, C Craig Albernaz, C Matt Spring, 1B Rhyne Hughes, OF Rashad Eldridge and OF J.T. Hall.

The Biscuits starting rotation will feature Hellickson, Rollins, LHP Ryan Morse, RHP Brandon Mann and RHP Rayner Oliveros. Morse and Mann will each make their Double-A debut after anchoring the Vero Beach (A+) rotation in 2008, while Oliveros joined the Rays as a minor league free agent in the off-season.

In the bullpen for Montgomery on opening day; RHP Brian Baker, RHP Frontz, RHP Mason, RHP Calvin Medlock, RHP Morlan, RHP Paul Phillips and LHP Wlodarczyk. Morlan returns to the Biscuits, where he spent the entire 2008 season, after being reclaimed from the Milwaukee Brewers, who chose him in the Rule 5 Draft. Medlock spent the entire season in Durham (AAA) along with Mason, making 41 relief appearances and recording a 3-3 record and 4.57 ERA.

The catching corps for the Biscuits include two familiar faces in Montgomery. Spring and Albernaz were each members of the 2008 Biscuits, with Spring spending his entire season with the club, hitting .248 with 9 HR in 70 games. C Ian Paxton will start the year on the Biscuits roster, but will be inactive to begin the season.

The Biscuits infield returns only 1B Hughes from 2008. Joining Hughes are; INF Drew Anderson, INF Jason Bowers, 1B Chip Cannon, UTIL Brandon Chaves and 3B Cesar Suarez. Bowers, Cannon and Chaves all signed with the Rays as minor league free agents in the off-season. Suarez hit .258 in 123 games as the everyday third baseman for Vero Beach (A+). Anderson came over in a trade with the Cincinnati Reds a little over a week ago after finishing the 2008 season at Louisville (AAA) in the Reds chain.

Jennings highlights an outfield that also includes Eldridge, Hall and John Matulia. Eldridge had an outstanding campaign for the Biscuits in 2008, stealing 24 bases while hitting .290 and driving in 55 runs. Hall split the season between Vero Beach (A+) and Montgomery, notching 5 HR at each stop. Matulia advances from Vero Beach (A+) for the first time after batting .282 in 82 games in 2008.

Billy Gardner Jr. returns to manage his third season in Montgomery, needing just 52 wins to pass Charlie Montoyo as the all-time winningest skipper in franchise history. Pitching Coach Neil Allen also returns for a third season, while Coach Ozzie Timmons begins his first year in Montgomery. Montgomery native Lee Slagle will serve as the Biscuits Athletic Trainer and Pat Trainor will serve his first season as Strength & Conditioning Coach.

The Biscuits open the 2009 season on Thursday, April 9th at Riverwalk Stadium against the West Diamond Jaxx at 7:05 pm. For ticket information, please visit the Biscuits Box Office at Riverwalk Stadium or go on-line to www.biscuitsbaseball.com.

Check out the Montgomery Biscuits Statistics

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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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