EL1 Altoona Curve

Curve Announce Initial 24-Man Roster

Published on March 31, 2008 under Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release


ALTOONA- A mix of returning players and fresh, new faces make up the list of 24 players Altoona Curve players who arrived at Blair County Ballpark on Monday. 13 of the 24 players have previously played for the Curve, while the other 11 will be wearing Cardinal and Hunter Green for the first time.

Highlighting the familiar names returning to Altoona are three pitchers - starter Yoslan Herrera and relievers Dave Davidson and Chris Hernandez - who combined to make 106 appearances for the 2007 Curve. Herrera, the Cuban-born right-hander who made his United States pitching debut with the Curve last season, will anchor the club's starting rotation. Davidson pitched in 39 games out of the Curve bullpen in 2007 before being promoted to Triple-A Indianapolis in mid-August. The left-hander went on to make his major league debut with Pittsburgh in September. Hernandez has pitched in 84 games for Altoona over the previous two seasons, boasting a 6-1 record and solid 2.86 ERA in 42 appearances in 2007.

Other pitchers assigned to the Curve roster who appeared for the 2007 club are Ronald Belisario, a member of the Pirates' 40-man roster, Kyle Bloom, Patrick Bresnehan and Derek Hankins. Right-hander Brian Rogers, who pitched briefly for the Curve during the 2006 season before being promoted by Pittsburgh, returns to the Altoona bullpen.

Returning position players are headlined by first baseman Jason Delaney and infielder Jason Bowers, who each enjoyed solid offensive seasons for the 2007 version of the Curve. Delaney, who was leading the Class-A Carolina League in batting average (.340) when he joined Altoona last June 26, hit .265 with seven home runs and 35 RBI in 65 games. Bowers played in more games than any returning player, seeing action in 113 games on the Curve infield and batting .272 with eight homers, 51 RBI and a career-high 16 stolen bases. Outfielder Brad Corley, the Pirates' 2nd round pick in the 2005 Draft and the organization's 10th-rated prospect according to Baseball America, will open the season with the Curve after appearing in 10 late-season contests for the club in 2007. Catcher Milver Reyes is the only current position player, who opened the 2007 campaign with the Curve. Outfielder Pedro Powell also has previously played for Altoona, appearing in four games for the club during the 2006 Eastern League playoffs.

Among the 11 new faces, seven have previous experience at the Double-A level or higher, including Pirates' 40-man roster pitcher Jimmy Barthmaier, who was claimed off waivers by Pittsburgh from the Houston Astros last November. The 24-year old right-hander went 2-9 with a 6.20 ERA in 24 games (16 starts) for Double-A Corpus Christi in the Astros' system in 2007. Catcher Miguel Perez and infielder Melvin Dorta have previous major league experience - Perez with Cincinnati in 2005 and Dorta with the Washington Nationals in 2006. Other veteran newcomers are pitchers Corey Hamman and Josh Hill, infielder Luis Cruz and outfielder Anthony Webster.

Only four players - right-handed pitcher Kevin Roberts, infielder Shelby Ford and outfielders James Boone and Jonel Pacheco - do not have previous experience at the Double-A level or higher. Roberts was acquired by Pittsburgh in an off-season trade that sent major league right-hander Salomon Torres to Milwaukee. Ford, the Pirates' 3rd round selection in the 2006 June Draft, is one of the Pirates' top minor league prospects. The switch-hitting second baseman, who was a Carolina League Postseason All-Star selection with Class-A Lynchburg in 2007, is rated by Baseball America as the Bucs' No. 6 prospect entering the season. Boone was the Pirates' 3rd round draft pick in 2005, following fellow outfielders Andrew McCutchen (1st round) and Brad Corley (2nd round). Pacheco opens the season at the Double-A level despite having played only nine career games at the High Class-A level (all with Lynchburg in 2007). The 25-year old outfielder enjoyed a huge offensive season with Low Class-A Hickory in 2007, batting .314 with 27 home runs, 99 RBI and 18 stolen bases.

The Curve will be led by third-year manager Tim Leiper, who has posted a winning mark of 148-132 (.529) over his first two seasons as Altoona's skipper. Leiper will be joined on the bench by pitching coach Brad Holman, hitting coach Brandon Moore, athletic trainer Thomas Pribyl and strength coach Brandon McDaniel.

Altoona will open its Tenth Anniversary Season on Thursday night at 6:35 p.m. against the Reading Phillies at Blair County Ballpark. Highlighting the festivities surrounding the Curve's Home Opener will be a special appearance by Pittsburgh Steelers legend and Curve Ownership Partner Jerome Bettis. "The Bus" will toss out the season's ceremonial first pitch prior to the game. Other promotions include a Curve Schedule Magnet giveaway to the first 5,000 fans courtesy of AIG, Post-Game Fireworks and the club's first "Thirsty Thursday" of the season, featuring soda and beer discounts throughout the night. Ballpark gates will open 90 minutes early at 5 p.m.

Great seats remain for Thursday's Home Opener and the rest of the club's season-opening, seven-game homestand, which runs through Wednesday, April 9. Tickets can be purchased by visiting the Blair County Ballpark Ticket Office during normal business hours, by calling toll-free (877) 99-CURVE or by logging on to AltoonaCurve.com.

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CURRENT 24-MAN ALTOONA CURVE ROSTER BY POSITION

- Pitchers (12)

o Left (3): Bloom, Davidson, Hamman

o Right (9): Barthmaier, Belisario, Bresnehan, Hankins, Hernandez, Herrera, Hill, Roberts, Rogers

- Catchers (2)

o Right (2): Perez, Reyes

o Left (0)

o Switch (0)

- Infielders (5)

o Right (4): Bowers, Cruz, Delaney, Dorta

o Left (0)

o Switch (1): Ford

- Outfielders (5)

o Right (2): Corley, Pacheco

o Left (1): Webster

o Switch (2): Boone, Powell

CURRENT 24-MAN ALTOONA CURVE ROSTER BY THE NUMBERS

- 13 previously played for the Curve (Belisario, Bloom, Bowers, Bresnehan, Corley, Davidson, Delaney, Hankins, Hernandez, Herrera, Powell, Reyes, Rogers)

- 12 were originally drafted or signed by Pittsburgh (Bloom, Boone, Bresnehan, Corley, Davidson, Delaney, Ford, Hankins, Hernandez, Herrera, Powell, Reyes)

- 4 are members of the Pittsburgh Pirates' 40-man roster (Barthmaier, Belisario, Davidson, Herrera)

- 4 were on the Curve's 2007 Opening Day roster (Davidson, Hernandez, Herrera, Reyes)

- 4 have previous major league experience (Davidson, Dorta, Perez, Rogers)

- 4 are making their Double-A debuts with the Curve (Boone, Ford, Pacheco, Roberts)

CURRENT 24-MAN ALTOONA CURVE ROSTER BREAKDOWN BY NATIVE COUNTRY

- United States (15) - Barthmaier, Bloom, Boone, Bowers, Bresnehan, Corley, Delaney, Ford, Hamman, Hankins, Hernandez, Powell, Roberts, Rogers, Webster)

- Venezuela (5) - Belisario, Dorta, Pacheco, Perez, Reyes

- Australia (1) - Hill

- Canada (1) - Davidson

- Cuba (1) - Herrera

- Mexico (1) - Cruz

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Eastern League Stories from March 31, 2008


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