FSL1 Charlotte Stone Crabs

Charlotte Stone Crabs Announce 2014 Opening Day Roster

Published on March 30, 2014 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Charlotte Stone Crabs News Release


PORT CHARLOTTE, FL (March 30, 2014) - When word came down from Rays brass that the full-season minor league rosters had been set, it ended all prior speculation and guessing since the big leaguers broke camp earlier in the week. The initial list of 60 players that were on the fence between Port Charlotte and Bowling Green had been wittled down to 26 names, ushering in the sixth season of Stone Crabs baseball. First year manager Jared Sandberg will take over a roster comprised of many of the same players he led to a franchise-best 82-56 record just a year ago with the Hot Rods. Three of the five former first-round picks are ranked amongst the Rays "Top 30 Prospects" by Baseball America, with speedy outfielder Andrew Toles the most prominent name in the bunch.

Ranked number six on Baseball America's "Top 30 Rays Prospects" list, Toles was named the Rays' Minor League Player of the Year in 2013 after leading the Midwest League with 169 hits and a .326 average in 121 games with Bowling Green. On the bases, the Tyrone, Georgia native set a club-record with 62 stolen bases on 79 attempts to lead all Rays farmhands and place eighth in all of minor league baseball. For his exploits, Toles was named "Best Athlete" and "Fastest Baserunner" in the organization for the second straight season. He also added "Best Hitter for Average" to the list of Baseball America's superlatives heading into 2014.

Toles leads an Opening Day outfield of four with three lefty bats that includes a pair of the aforementioned first-rounders in former Stone Crab John "Kes" Carter (2011) and Josh Sale (2010). Sale, the number six overall prospect in the Rays system heading into the 2011 season, was a Midwest League All-Star with Bowling Green in 2012.

Righthanders Robert Gomez and Parker Markel return to the Stone Crabs rotation after combining for 35 starts a year ago, while Jeff Ames prepares to make his Florida State League debut. The 42nd overall pick in the 2011 June Draft is a combined 19-7 with a 3.27 ERA in 41 career starts entering 2014. He is also the 30th ranked prospect in the organization after being selected to the Midwest and New York-Penn League All-Star teams each of the last two seasons.

The catching situation will be an interesting one to monitor as three backstops vie for playing time. Justin O'Conner made history in 2010 as the first catcher ever taken by the Rays in the first round of the draft. Last season, he tied for second in the farm system after leading Bowling Green's offense with 14 home runs. Maxx Tissenbaum begins his first year in

the organization after coming over in January's seven-player trade with the Padres that sent top pitching prospect Jesse Hahn to San Diego in exchange for second baseman Logan Forsythe. Jake DePew will look to regain his starting job after catching more games (58) than any other Stone Crabs catcher in 2013.

The six-man infield features one left-handed bat in second baseman Thomas Coyle. The former North Carolina Tar Heel trailed only Andrew Toles with 40 stolen bases on 48 attempts last season. An All-Star in Bowling Green and Hudson Valley the last two years, the 23-year-old Coyle was selected by Baseball America as having the "Best Strike-Zone Discipline" in the Midwest League after last season. Tyler Goeddel will most likely start at third base after stealing 30 bases each of the last two seasons with Bowling Green. He is currently the 22nd ranked prospect in the organization. Venezuelans Jonathan Quiñonez and Leonardo Reginatto are a formidable duo who batted .323 and .325 respectively last season. Hector Guevara returns to Port Charlotte as one of two Stone Crabs with Double-A experience after closing out 2013 with 34 games in Montgomery. Lastly, corner infielder Patrick Leonard starts his second year in the Rays organization after coming over in the blockbuster trade from two seasons ago that sent James Shields and Wade Davis to the Royals for Wil Myers and Jake Odorizzzi.

After falling to Daytona 3-games-to-1 for the Florida State League Championship last season, the Stone Crabs return to Charlotte Sports Park for their 2014 season opener on Thursday, April 3 against the Bradenton Marauders at 6:30 PM. The first 2,000 fans will receive a magnet schedule and great seats are still available, so visit www.stonecrabsbaseball.com to purchase your tickets today.

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Florida State League Stories from March 30, 2014


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