Captains' rookies bring a wealth of experience

Published on April 30, 2009 under American Association (AA)
Shreveport-Bossier Captains News Release


SHREVEPORT, La. - While the Shreveport-Bossier Captains have six rookies on the roster, well in compliance with the American Association requirement of five per team, all six Captains rookies have prior professional experience. Manager Ricky VanAsselberg has assembled a rookie corps of two relievers and four infielders, including two returners from last year's Shreveport squad. Righty reliever Josh Bone and infielder Michael Lewis, who played at Fair Grounds Field in 2008, join righty Robert Romero and infielders Brett Amyx, Aaron Cone and Albert Gonzalez.

Bone attended college at nearby Stephen F. Austin in Nacogdoches, Texas, and resides in Humble, Texas, just outside of Houston. In his first pro season, the 6-foot righty had a 3.48 ERA in 27 games out of the bullpen, going 1-1 with 19 strikeouts and 10 walks in 44 innings. Now 28 years old, Bone is expected to be used in middle relief.

Like Bone, the right-handed-hitting Lewis made his professional debut with Shreveport last season, hitting .262 with two RBIs in 18 games. The 23-year-old utility infielder hails from McComb, Miss., and went to William Carey College.

The hard-throwing Romero, a 23-year-old Texan, is actually beginning his fourth professional season, but until 2008 he had not pitched the requisite 30 innings to change his rookie status. Expected to be Shreveport-Bossier's set-up man, Romero began his career with the Angels organization, playing in class-A Cedar Rapids (Iowa) in 2006 and 2007, holding opponents to a .216 batting average with 25 strikeouts in 29 innings.

Last season, the 5-10, 190-pound righty, who can get his fastball into the mid-to-upper 90s, pitched for three different independent teams - Camden (N.J.) of the Atlantic League, Gateway (Ill.) of the Frontier League, and San Angelo (Texas) of the United League. He was a combined 1-0 on those stops, allowing 19 hits in 29.1 innings, with 37 strikeouts. After reducing his walks from 21 on his first two teams to three in 9.1 innings in San Angelo, he was signed by the Red Sox in August and finished the year in class-A Lowell (NY-Penn League). With the Spinners, Romero was 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA, giving up three hits and two walks in six innings, while striking out seven.

Amyx comes to the Captains via trade with Windy City of the Frontier League, after hitting .304 with six home runs and 35 RBIs in 2008. The righty-hitting corner infielder began his career with Burlington, the rookie-ball affiliate of the Royals, hitting .260 with three homers and 26 RBIs in 50 games. The 24-year-old hails from nearby Tyler, Texas, and went to college at Texas-Tyler.

The 25-year-old Cone will also be playing at the corner infield positions, and begins his second season in pro ball, having been acquired in a trade with the San Angelo (Texas) Colts of the United League. The runner up for the United League's rookie of the year award hit .338 with 13 homers and 70 RBIs in 66 games. A lefty-swinger, Cone stands at 5-foot-11 and 195 pounds, hails from Lakeland, Fla., and played his college ball at North Carolina State.

Gonzalez, who at 21 is the youngest Captains player, split time between two United League teams last year. He began playing for his once again manager Ricky VanAsselberg in Alexandria, hitting .251 with 13 RBIs in 53 games. He then moved to San Angelo, and hit .320 in 13 games with the Colts, finishing his first pro season with a .260 average, 16 RBIs, and a .365 on-base percentage. Originally drafted by the Tigers in the 47th round of the 2005 draft, Gonzalez opted to attend college in St. Petersburg, Fla., near his native Miami before beginning his pro career in 2008.

The Captains will release more information about their spring training roster in the coming days.

The Shreveport-Bossier Captains open the 2009 season in Pensacola on May 14, and will be on the road for the first series of their 2009 campaign. All games will be broadcast on ESPN Radio, KRMD-1340 AM as well as streaming live on supertalk1340.com, with streaming video provided by NiftyTV on www.sbcaptains.com. The Shreveport-Bossier Captains' first game at Fair Grounds Field will be on May 19 against Grand Prairie. For information on tickets, promotions, advertising, and other opportunities with the Captains, check out the team's Web site at www.sbcaptains.com, or call the Fair Grounds Field office at (318) 636-5555.

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