Bulls Opening Day Roster Highlighted by Key Returners
April 1, 2019 - International League (IL1)
Durham Bulls News Release
DURHAM, NC - The two-time defending Governors' Cup champion Durham Bulls, in conjunction with the Tampa Bay Rays, today announce the team's preliminary Opening Day roster for the 2019 season. New manager Brady Williams will pilot a roster comprised of 16 players who appeared for the Bulls in the regular season or postseason in 2018.
Headlining the roster is a talented infield lead by Durham veteran Kean Wong. The reigning Team MVP is coming off a 2018 campaign in which he was named an International League Midseason and Postseason All-Star after batting .282. At first base will be Nate Lowe, who was named Tampa Bay's Minor League Player of the Year a season ago. The left-handed swinger hit a combined .330 with 27 home runs last year between Advanced-A Charlotte, Double-A Montgomery and Durham, earning him a selection to the U.S. Future's Game.
Also returning in the infield is Andrew Velazquez, who led the International League with 29 stolen bases in 2018, despite appearing in just 117 of the team's 140 games. The switch-hitter began the season in Montgomery but earned a promotion to Tampa Bay in September. Additionally Jake Cronenworth, the team's shortstop during its 2018 Governors' Cup run, opens the season at the Triple-A level after spending the majority of last season with Montgomery.
Joining the infield rotation will be Nick Solak, who is coming off a 19-homer season with Montgomery. The University of Louisville product led the Southern League in hits (135) and on-base percentage (.384) and ranked second in RBI (76). Rounding out the infield will be Mike Brousseau, who holds a career .295 batting average through three seasons.
In the outfield Jason Coats is back for his second season in Durham after cracking 15 homers in 2018. Joining Coats in the outfield is newcomer Jake Smolinski, who spent the last three and a half seasons in the Oakland system. Entering his 13th season in professional baseball, the Illinois native has appeared in 235 MLB games. Nathan Lukes, a Sacramento State product, will make his Triple-A debut with Durham after hitting .278 in Montgomery in 2018.
Handling the catching duties will be a pair of returners in Nick Ciuffo and Mac James. In 2018, his first year of Triple-A action, Ciuffo batted .262 over 60 games with Durham. A first round draft pick in 2013, the South Carolina native threw out 43.2 percent of runners (16 of 37) who attempted to steal last year. James is back in Durham for a second stint after being promoted to the Bull City from Montgomery midway through 2018. The University of Oklahoma product appeared in 15 games for Durham after his promotion, and also saw time at third base.
At the top of the pitching rotation is Jake Faria, who's appeared in 31 games for the Bulls over the last three seasons, and 33 games for Tampa Bay since the 2017 campaign. The California native has posted a 12-6 career mark in a Durham uniform. Also returning to Durham for a fourth year is Austin Pruitt, who has split the last two seasons between Durham and Tampa Bay. The University of Houston product has split time as a starter and reliever the past two seasons, making eight starts in 23 Triple-A appearances in that span. Andrew Moore also returns to Durham to open 2019 after the right-hander joined the organization via trade midway through last year.
New to the Bulls is Ryan Merritt, who spent the first eight years of his career in the Cleveland Indians system. Over parts of four seasons with Triple-A Columbus (2015-2018), the southpaw has recorded a 26-16 mark. Brand new to the organization is Aaron Slegers, who was acquired by Tampa Bay from Pittsburgh in exchange for cash considerations on March 30. The 6-10 right-hander has made 39 starts at the Triple-A level over the past two seasons and posted a 15-4 record with Rochester in 2017.
Headlining the bullpen corps is Colin Poche, who posted a 1.08 ERA in 28 appearances with the Bulls a year ago. The southpaw, who was acquired midseason via trade, struck out 110 batters in just 66 innings to earn him MiLB's Reliever of the Year award. Also returning to the bullpen are right-handers Andrew Kittredge, Mike Franco and Hunter Wood, and left-hander Hoby Milner. New to Durham and rounding out the bullpen will be Oliver Drake, Emilio Pagan, Luis Santos, Casey Sadler and Cole Sulser.
RHP Brent Honeywell, the system's No. 1 pitching prospect, opens the season on the Injured List along with 2018 IL Midseason All-Star Ian Gibaut. Two other members of the 2018 squad, Joe McCarthy and Jose Mujica will open the year on the Injured List as well with newcomers Anthony Bemboom, Ryan Sherriff and Ryan Thompson.
Duke University product and former Bull Quinton McCracken is new to the coaching staff this season after joining the Tampa Bay organization this past offseason. Returning to the coaching staff for their second seasons are Pitching Coach Rick Knapp and Bench Coach Dan Dement. Returning for his sixth season in Durham is Strength and Conditioning Coach Bryan King, while Scott Thurston will handle the athletic training duties for the second straight year.
The roster is subject to change by the team's first game on Thursday, April 4 at Charlotte.
The Bulls open the 2019 season on the road on April 4 against the Charlotte Knights, and host their home opener on Thursday, April 11 at the DBAP. Single-game tickets, 919 Club memberships and group outings are available now at durhambulls.com or by calling 919.956.BULL.
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