Dash's Opening Day Roster Features Familiar Faces
Published on April 8, 2015 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Winston-Salem Dash News Release
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (April 8, 2015) - The Chicago White Sox have announced the Winston-Salem Dash's Opening Day roster, which boasts 18 men who have already logged time with the Dash. The roster also contains some local flavor, as Robert B. Glenn High School products and Winston-Salem natives CJ Beatty and Chris Jacobs will start the 2015 season with their hometown team.
Beatty became the first Winston-Salem product to don the Dash purple when he joined the club last August. The former Cardinals farmhand had played within the independent ranks for four years before latching on with the White Sox system. Jacobs joined the Sox after the Dodgers released him this offseason. The infielder climbed as high as Double-A during his eight seasons with Los Angeles.
Jacobs is the only hitter on the Opening Day roster who has never played with the Dash. Omar Narvaez returns after spending the second half of the 2014 season in the Carolina League. Former Appalachian State product Jeremy Dowdy, who enjoyed a brief stint with Winston-Salem in 2012, is the other catcher.
The Dash's infield includes four of the White Sox top 30 prospects, according to MLB.com. Third baseman Trey Michalczewski is the top farmhand on Winston's initial roster (No. 8). Shortstop Cleuluis Rondon (No. 14), second baseman Jake Peter (No. 25) and first baseman Keon Barnum (No. 29) also provide prospect punch around the diamond. Jacobs and Justin Jirschele, the son of Royals third base coach Mike Jirschele, round out the infield.
Adam Engel, the White Sox 20th-best farmhand, leads the way in the outfield. Keenyn Walker, a former sandwich round selection in 2011, and Nick Basto, a converted infielder, join Beatty and Engel.
More than half of Winston-Salem's pitchers have experience in a Dash uniform. Tony Bucciferro led all Dash qualifiers in earned run average a year ago (3.90). On July 20, 2014, Bucciferro fell two outs short of the first nine-inning solo no-hitter by a Winston-Salem hurler since 1988.
Matt Heidenreich represented the Dash as the starting pitcher in the 2012 California-Carolina League All-Star Game at BB&T Ballpark. Later that month, Chicago traded Heidenreich to the Astros, who cut ties with him this offseason. This allowed the Sox to bring him back into the organization.
James Dykstra made some strong starts for Winston-Salem down the stretch in 2014. Relievers Brad Goldberg, Sean Hagan, Zach Isler and Jefferson Olacio will also suit up for the Dash again in 2015.
An impressive group of six newcomers wrap up a talented pitching staff. Southpaw Jace Fry, a third-round pick in last year's MLB Draft, is the 16th-best prospect in the Sox system and the lone ranked farmhand among Winston-Salem's arms.
Robinson Leyer is the younger brother of Euclides Leyer, a 2014 Dash pitcher who departed for the Reds' organization thanks to the Triple-A phase of the Rule 5 Draft. Michael Ynoa is the other player the White Sox received in the blockbuster Jeff Samardzija trade. Jose Brito, Brian Clark and Andre Wheeler will also make their High-A debuts for Winston-Salem.
Tim Esmay will lead the Dash as the manager in 2015. Pitching coach J.R. Perdew is back in Winston-Salem for a fourth consecutive season, while hitting coach Charlie Poe is in the Carolina League for the first time. Josh Fallin, the reigning CL Trainer of the Year, and Shawn Powell, the strength and conditioning coach, round out the staff.
The Dash's 2015 campaign begins Thursday with the first of four at Frederick. The home opener is set for Thursday, April 16, at 7 p.m. against the Myrtle Beach Pelicans.
Tickets are still available for the jam-packed Opening Weekend, and fans can purchase theirs by calling (336) 714-2287 or visiting wsdash.com.
The Winston-Salem Dash are the Class A-Advanced minor league affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. To purchase tickets and for more information, please call (336) 714-2287 or visit www.wsdash.com.
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