SAL1 Jersey Shore BlueClaws

BlueClaws Announce Preliminary Opening Day Roster

Published on March 30, 2018 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Jersey Shore BlueClaws News Release


LAKEWOOD, NJ - In conjunction with the Philadelphia Phillies, the BlueClaws have announced their preliminary 2017 Opening Day roster. The roster is highlighted by outfielder Mickey Moniak, the first overall pick in the 2016 MLB Draft. The BlueClaws open the 2017 season on Thursday in Kannapolis, with the home opener on April 13th against Greensboro.

Click here for a pdf version of the BlueClaws preliminary Opening Day roster.

The roster includes four of the top 16 players in the organization per Baseball America: Mickey Moniak (#2), RHP Sixto Sanchez (#5), 2B Daniel Brito (#13), and RHP Adonis Medina (#16).

Moniak, who hit .284 with one home run and 10 stolen bases with the Gulf Coast League Phillies last year, becomes the first top overall pick to play for the BlueClaws and eighth first-round pick. Previously, Gavin Floyd, the fourth overall pick in the 2001 draft, played for the BlueClaws in 2002, until now the highest drafted player to play in Lakewood. Moniak will be the first #1 overall pick to play in the South Atlantic League since Bryce Harper, the first pick in 2010, played for Hagerstown during the 2011 season.

Joining Moniak in the outfield are Carlos Duran, who hit .243 with 12 steals with the BlueClaws last year, David Martinelli, a 6th round pick last year from Dallas Baptist, and Cord Sandberg, who returns to the BlueClaws after playing for Clearwater last year.

The infield includes Brett Barbier, Daniel Brito, Aquimedes Gamboa, Darick Hall, Lucas Williams, Alex Wojciechowski, and Danny Zardon. Brito, the #13 prospect in the system per Baseball America, hit .284 with seven stolen bases in the Gulf Coast League last year. He and Gamboa form an all-19 year old middle infield combo for the BlueClaws. Hall, a 14th round pick from Dallas Baptist, led Williamsport with nine home runs. Williams was a 3rd round pick in 2015. Wojciechowski was a 15th round pick from Minnesota-Duluth, where he hit 33 home runs in 55 game. He will be making his professional debut with the BlueClaws.

The two catchers on the roster are Edgar Cabral, who finished last year with Lakewood, and Henri Lartigue, a 7th round pick last year from the University of Mississippi.

The pitching staff includes seven pitchers from a Williamsport staff that had a 2.70 team earned run average last year, second best in the NY-Penn League. Included in the group from Williamsport are Adonis Medina (5-3, 2.92 ERA with the Crosscutters and the #16 prospect in the system per Baseball America), Bailey Falter (a 2015 5th round pick that had a 3.17 ERA with 59 strikeouts in 59 innings), Felix Paulino (3-4, 2.89), JoJo Romero (a 2016 4th round pick that went 2-2, 2.56 with Williamsport) and Ranger Suarez (6-4, 2.81). Will Hibbs (1.44 ERA, 4 saves) and Jonathan Hennigan (1-0, 1.88) join the BlueClaws after pitching out of the Williamsport bullpen last year.

Sixto Sanchez, Maurico Llovera, and Nick Fanti join the BlueClaws from the Gulf Coast Phillies. Sanchez, the #5 prospect in the system per Baseball America, gave up 3 earned runs in 54 innings (5-0, 0.50 ERA) last year. Llovera tied for the league lead with 7 wins and had a 1.87 ERA over his 11 starts. Fanti, from Smithtown, New York, played for Team Italy in the World Baseball Classic and won 7 games with a 1.57 ERA over 9 starts in the Gulf Coast League last year.

Three players that were on the BlueClaws playoff roster last year, Zach Morris, Harold Arauz, and Ismael Cabrera return to Lakewood to open the 2017 season.

Moniak and Sanchez are both 18 years old, the two youngest players on the team. They are just the 13th and 14th 18-year olds to play for the BlueClaws.

Marty Malloy will manage the BlueClaws this year, his first season in the organization after spending the last three years managing the Gulf Coast League Astros. He is joined on the staff by hitting coach Nelson Prada, his third season in Lakewood, pitching coach Brian Sweeney, his second season in Lakewood, trainer Takayuki Sakurai, his fifth season in Lakewood, and strength & conditioning coach Jacob Bunce, his first season in Lakewood after working in Williamsport last year.

2017 BlueClaws Preliminary Opening Day Roster

Pitchers - Harold Arauz, Trevor Bettencourt, Ismael Cabrera, Bailey Falter, Nick Fanti, Jonathan Hennigan, William Hibbs, Maurico Llovera, Adonis Medina, Zach Morris, Felix Paulino, JoJo Romero, Sixto Sanchez, and Ranger Suarez

Catchers - Edgar Cabral and Henri Lartigue

Infielders - Brett Barbier, Daniel Brito, Arquimedes Gamboa, Darick Hall, Lucas Williams, Alex Wojciechowski, Danny Zardon

Outfielders - Carlos Duran, David Martinelli, Mickey Moniak, and Cord Sandberg

Opening Day at FirstEnergy Park, presented by Jenkinson's Boardwalk, is Thursday, April 13th at 6:35 pm against the Greensboro Grasshoppers (Marlins). Tickets are on sale now by calling 732-901-7000 option 2 or online at BlueClaws.com.

The BlueClaws are the Jersey Shore's top stop for affordable, family entertainment. They have led the South Atlantic League and New Jersey in attendance in all 16 years of existence.

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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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