Emeralds Announce 2026 Opening Day Roster
Published on April 1, 2026 under Northwest League (NWL)
Eugene Emeralds News Release
EUGENE, OR - The Eugene Emeralds have announced their 2026 opening day roster.
The Eugene Emeralds are the High-A affiliate of Major League Baseball's San Francisco Giants. The Eugene Emeralds are dedicated to providing the best in family entertainment and creating a fun, safe environment for everyone to enjoy watching a baseball game. For more information, please visit our website at www.EmeraldsBaseball.com or call the Emeralds front office at 541-342-5367.
Manager: Jacob Heyward #34 Pitching Coach: Luis Pino #10 Hitting Coach: Braxton Lee #51 Fundamentals Coach: Nate Keavy #61 Trainer: Joseph Holstedt Strength Coach: Michael McAvinn Player Development Associate: Jordan Kaplan
NO PITCHERS (17) T HT WT AGE BORN BIRTHPLACE HIGH SCHOOL COLLEGE ACQUIRED
54 Luis De La Torre LHP 5'11 209 22 9/6/03 Phoenix, AZ Ogden HS (UT) -- International Free Agent (7/3/23)
15 Trey Dillard RHP 6'0 214 27 11/15/98 Phoenix, AZ Desert Mountain HS (AZ) Texas A&M University MiLB Free Agent (2/19/26)
52 Hunter Dryden RHP 5'10 184 23 6/10/02 Spokane, WA Deer Park HS (WA) Whitworth University 17th Round, 2024 Draft
17 Cole Hillier RHP 6'2 210 25 12/7/00 Pasadena, CA Glendora HS (CA) Point Loma Nazarene University Undrafted Free Agent (8/4/23)
29 Gerelmi Maldonado RHP 6'2 256 22 12/21/03 Palo Negro, Venezuela -- -- International Free Agent (1/15/21)
28 Yunior Marte RHP 6'6 236 22 8/9/03 Azua, Dominican Republic -- -- Trade with KC (7/31/25)
47 Niko Mazza RHP 5'10 193 24 2/19/02 Richardson, TX Madison-Ridgeland Academy (MS) University of Southern Mississippi 8th Round, 2024 Draft
31 Charlie McDaniel LHP 6'3 208 24 7/4/01 Lake Mary, FL Seminole HS (FL) Presbyterian College Undrafted Free Agent (7/19/24)
41 Brayan Palencia RHP 5'11 204 23 1/14/03 San Felipe, Venezuela -- -- International Free Agent (10/6/20)
32 Ben Peterson RHP 6'3 219 24 8/18/01 Cary, NC Apex HS (NC) University of North Carolina Undrafted Free Agent (7/19/24)
45 Liam Simon RHP 6'4 251 25 10/16/00 Princeton, NJ Freehold Township HS (NJ) University of Notre Dame 5th Round, 2022 Draft
43 Ryan Slater RHP 6'3 203 23 5/23/02 Lake Forest, IL East Lake HS (FL) University of Florida 18th Round, 2024 Draft
16 Austin Strickland RHP 5'11 234 23 5/31/02 Winchester, OH Archbishop Moeller HS (OH) University of Kentucky Trade with PIT (4/2/24)
14 Tyler Switalski LHP 6'4 248 22 6/18/03 Washington, PA Waynesboro Area HS (PA) West Virginia University 16th Round, 2024 Draft
48 Ryan Vanderhei RHP 6'5 202 24 6/1/01 Tucson, AZ Estrella Foothills HS (AZ) Texas Christian University 10th Round, 2023 Draft
56 Cade Vernon RHP 6'2 211 24 1/17/02 Bowling Green, KY South Warren HS (KY) Murray State University 10th Round, 2024 Draft
59 Esmerlin Vinicio LHP 6'1 146 23 1/31/03 Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic -- -- International Free Agent (7/2/19)
NO CATCHERS (3) B-T HT WT AGE BORN BIRTHPLACE HIGH SCHOOL COLLEGE ACQUIRED
7 Diego Cartaya R/R 6'1 217 24 9/7/01 Maracay, Venezuela -- -- MiLB Free Agent (7/29/25)
53 Ty Hanchey L/R 5'9 195 26 12/19/99 Norfolk, VA Granby HS (VA) Florida A&M University Undrafted Free Agent (7/25/23)
23 Onil Perez R/R 5'11 226 23 9/10/02 Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic -- -- International Free Agent (7/2/19)
NO INFIELDERS (6) B-T HT WT AGE BORN BIRTHPLACE HIGH SCHOOL COLLEGE ACQUIRED
12 Zander Darby L/R 6'2 218 23 11/26/02 Palo Alto, CA Palo Alto HS (CA) UC - Santa Barbara 12th Round, 2024 Draft
35 Robert Hipwell L/R 6'1 223 23 3/6/03 Los Gatos, CA Scotts Valley HS (CA) Santa Clara University 6th Round, 2024 Draft
6 Gavin Kilen L/R 5'11 188 21 3/28/04 Janesville, WI Milton HS (WI) University of Tennessee 1st Round (13th Overall), 2025 Draft
13 Walker Martin L/R 6'3 215 22 2/20/04 Greeley, CO Eaton HS (CO) -- 2nd Round, 2023 Draft
8 Jack Payton R/R 5'11 209 24 8/7/01 Orland Park, IL Brother Rice HS (IL) University of Louisville 11th Round, 2023 Draft
9 Zane Zielinski R/R 6'2 195 24 7/28/01 Evanston, IL Lake View HS (IL) University of Illinois-Chicago 9th Round, 2024 Draft
NO OUTFIELDERS (4) B-T HT WT AGE BORN BIRTHPLACE HIGH SCHOOL COLLEGE ACQUIRED
1 Trevor Cohen L/L 6'0 192 22 10/29/03 Galloway, NJ Holy Spirit HS (NJ) Rutgers University 3rd Round, 2025 Draft
38 Lisbel Diaz R/R 6'2 204 20 7/19/05 Pinar Del Rio, Cuba -- -- International Free Agent (7/17/23)
2 Carlos Gutierrez L/R 5'9 180 21 8/22/04 Cuauhtemoc, Mexico -- -- International Free Agent (1/15/23)
5 Dakota Jordan R/R 6'0 231 22 5/9/03 Canton, MS Jackson Academy HS (MS) Mississippi State University 4th Round, 2024 Draft
PRONUNCIATIONS: Luis Pino (PEEN-yo), Nate Keavy (KEE-vee), Bo Babich (bab-ick), Brayan Palencia (like 'Brian'), Ryan Vanderhei (VAN-dur-high), Esmerlin Vinicio (es-MER-lin vin-EE-cee-oh), Gavin Kilen (KEE-lin),
Injured List:
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