CarL1 Wilmington Blue Rocks

Blue Rocks roster set

Published on March 30, 2007 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release


Wilmington, DE - The Kansas City Royals have released the 2007 opening day roster for their Advanced Class A Carolina League affiliate, the Wilmington Blue Rocks. The 26-man roster includes 12 pitchers, three catchers, six infielders, and five outfielders. Of the players assigned to start the season in Wilmington, four are listed among the top 30 prospects in the Royals farm system, according to Baseball America, including last year's Royals Minor League Pitcher of the Year, Carlos Rosa.

The 2007 opening day pitching staff of the Blue Rocks is comprised of Justin Barnes, Kyle Crist, Gilbert De La Vara, Patrick Green, Rowdy Hardy, David Humen, Blake Johnson, Chris Nicoll, Rayner Oliveros, Michael Penn, Julio Pimentel and Rosa. A hard-throwing right-hander, Rosa earned the Royals Minor League Pitcher of the Year award following a 2006 campaign in which he posted an 8-7 record and a 2.88 ERA in 27 starts between Low-A Burlington and Advanced-A High Desert. Rosa is listed as Baseball America's 19th-best prospect in the Kansas City system. Three other Blue Rocks hurlers, all right-handers, are also ranked by Baseball America in the Royals organizational top 30 (Johnson No. 17, Pimentel No. 18, and Nicoll No. 22). Meanwhile, left-hander Rowdy Hardy was named Pitcher of the Year last season at short-season Idaho Falls, where he went 5-3 with a 2.91 ERA in 14 starts for the Chukars.

Wilmington's six infielders are Valentino Arce, Josh Johnson, Kila Kaaihue, Mario Lisson, Wilver Perez, and Miguel Vera. Lisson, a speedster from Venezuela, led the Royals system with 41 steals at Burlington last year, en route to being named the Bees' Player of the Year. Lisson's teammate last season, Vega, belted 13 home runs and drove in a team-high 75 RBIs.

The outfielders are Brett Bigler, Jose Duarte, Brian McFall, and Ethien Santana. McFall led High Desert and finished second in the Kansas City system with 21 homers, while leading the Mavericks with 73 RBIs. Duarte's 31 steals were tied for second in the organization A fifth outfielder, Andrew Larsen, will begin the season on the disabled list, after missing the entire 2006 season with left thumb surgery.

The Blue Rocks will carry three catchers - Todd Balduf, Cody Clark, and Kiel Thibault.

The Blue Rocks open their 2007 campaign on Thursday, April 5, kicking off an eight-game season-opening road trip in Myrtle Beach. The team returns to Frawley Stadium for their home opener on Friday, April 13 at 7:05 p.m. Single-game tickets and ticket packages are on sale now. To order, call 302-888-BLUE; log on to www.bluerocks.com; or visit the Frawley Stadium ticket window Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or Saturday (March only) from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Check out the Wilmington Blue Rocks Statistics

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Carolina League Stories from March 30, 2007


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