FSL1 Daytona Tortugas

Daytona Tortugas Announce Tentative Opening Day Roster

Published on April 3, 2015 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Daytona Tortugas News Release


Daytona Beach, FL - Highlighted by five former first-round picks, the Daytona Tortugas roster is tentatively set for opening night at Radiology Associates Field at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. The new Advanced-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds will be managed by Eli Marrero, who will be joined by hitting coach Kevin Mahar and pitching coach Tony Fossas.

RHP Nick Howard (ranked No. 5 among Reds prospects by Baseball America) RHP Nick Travieso (ranked No. 8) will lead a promising pitching staff in 2015.

Howard, 21, was selected 19th overall in last year's draft out of the University of Virginia. A two-way player throughout his collegiate career, he served as the Cavaliers' closer in 2014, posting a 1.91 ERA and recording 20 saves. Howard made 11 appearances -- including five starts -- with the Class-A Dayton Dragons, holding opponents to a .233 batting average over his first 33.2 professional innings. Howard's fastball has been clocked at 98 miles per hour.

The Reds selected Travieso, 21, with the 14th overall pick in the 2012 draft out Archbishop McCarthy High School in Fort Lauderdale, FL. The right-hander excelled Dayton's starting rotation last season, going 14-5 with a 3.03 ERA in 26 outings. Opponents hit just .229 against Travieso, who racked up 114 strikeouts in his third season in the Cincinnati system.

RHP Zach Weiss, a 22-year-old sixth-rounder out of UCLA, will look to add some stability to the bullpen following an impressive 2014 campaign in Dayton. In 34 relief appearances, he recorded a 2.42 ERA with 80 strikeouts and 21 walks. Midwest League opponents hit .217 against Weiss, who posted a WHIP of 1.12 in his first full minor league season. The Irvine, CA native was originally drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 10th round of the 2010 draft, but he opted for the collegiate ranks, where he would eventually pitch in the 2013 College World Series for UCLA.

The Tortugas will have a trio of top prospects in the batting order as well: first-rounders Alex Blandino, Phil Ervin and Jeff Gelalich.

Blandino, 22, went 29th overall in the 2014 draft after being named a second-team All-American and All-Pac-12 Conference selection with Stanford University. He hit .310 with 12 homers and 44 RBIs in his final collegiate season. The San Jose, CA native started his minor league career with the Rookie-Level Billings Mustangs, and quickly rose to Class-A Dayton after hitting .309 with 10 doubles, four home runs, 16 RBIs and six stolen bases in his first 29 games. He equaled that production in the Midwest League, again hitting four long balls and 10 two-baggers in 34 games at the next level.

Blandino will likely join 2014 Dayton standout Carlton Daal in the Tortugas infield; Daal, a non-drafted free agent from the island nation of Curacao, hit .296 for the Dragons in 95 games last year.

Cincinnati selected Ervin, 22, with the 27th overall pick in the 2013 draft. In his final year at Samford University, the speedy outfielder hit .337 with 11 homers, 40 RBIs, 58 runs scored and 21 steals, earning him Southern Conference Player of the Year honors. Ervin was also named MVP of the prestigious Cape Cod Baseball League in the summer of 2012. His quickness has translated well to the professional ranks, as he stole 30 bases and legged out seven triples in Dayton last season, good for top 10 in the Midwest League in both categories. Ervin rounded out his strong season with seven home runs and 68 RBIs.

Gelalich, a 24-year-old UCLA product, will look to build on a powerful 2014 second half. The 2012 first round pick (57th overall) blasted nine homers and hit eleven doubles in 61 games with Advanced-A Bakersfield. August was his most impressive month; Gelalich tallied five homers, seven doubles and six steals.

C Chad Wallach -- son of former big leaguer Tim Wallach and brother of former Daytona Cub Brett Wallach - headlines an impressive cast of catchers on the Tortugas opening day roster. Originally drafted in the fifth-round by the Miami Marlins, the Reds acquired Wallach this past December along with pitching prospect Anthony Desclafani in exchange for starter Mat Latos. Wallach briefly played in the Florida State League last year, hitting .328 in 19 games with the Jupiter Hammerheads.

The Tortugas will host Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in an exhibition game on Wednesday, April 8 at 6:05 p.m. at Radiology Associates Field at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. Fans can enjoy "Thirsty Wednesday" discounted drink specials.

The team's inaugural season officially gets underway on Thursday, April 9 at 7:05 p.m. when the Tortugas host the Brevard County Manatees, featuring a fireworks spectacular after the game. The two teams will face off again in Daytona on Saturday, April 11 at 7:05 p.m., with another fireworks show scheduled to follow the action.

For tickets and more information on the Daytona Tortugas, visit DaytonaTortugas.com or call 386-257-3172.

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