Erie SeaWolves Announce Opening Day Roster
April 2, 2016 - Eastern League (EL1)
Erie SeaWolves News Release
(Erie, PA) - The Erie SeaWolves, in collaboration with their parent club the Detroit Tigers, have released the club's 2016 Opening Day roster.
The starting rotation features five right-handed hurlers including returners Tommy Collier and Austin Kubitza. Joining them will be Myles Jaye, recently acquired in the trade that sent SeaWolves alum Bryan Holiday to the Texas Rangers, Brennan Smith, who split last season with Erie and Lakeland and Cory Riordan. Riordan has been tabbed as the SeaWolves Opening Day starter.
The eight-man bullpen boasts five familiar faces. Righties Confesor Lara, Gabe Hemmer and Paul Voelker join lefties Matt Crouse and Joe Mantiply as those who will be returning to the SeaWolves. Ruben Alaniz, Lendy Castillo and Kurt Spomer round out the bullpen. Each are in their first seasons in the Tigers organization. Spomer was acquired in the Minor League phase of the Rule 5 draft in December, while Alaniz and Castillo are both free agent signees.
Catching duties will be split between returnees Austin Green and Drew Longley. Green played in 86 games with Erie last season while Longley split time between Erie and Lakeland. Longley delivered one of the most memorable moments of 2015 when he hit an extra-innings grand slam to beat New Hampshire on June 17.
The outfield consists of Connor Harrell, Jason Krizan and Jeff McVaney. All three outfielders spent time in Erie in 2015. Krizan and McVaney each spent part of 2015 with Triple-A Toledo.
The infield features 2015 Eastern League All-Star Dean Green, who returns for his third season in an Erie uniform. Green spent time with Erie and Toledo in 2015. Dominic Ficociello, who was an All-Star in Lakeland last season, played in 43 games with the SeaWolves late in the season. Ficociello is one of two switch-hitters on the club. The other, Gustavo Nunez, was in the Tigers organization for the first five years of his career. He played in Erie in 2011 and went on to spend the next four seasons between the Pirates and Braves organizations. Also returning in the infield are Harold Castro and Alberto Gonzalez. Tyler Bortnick and Kody Eaves complete the infield. Eaves was acquired in a trade with the Angels and Bortnick was a free agent signing.
Opening Day, presented by Plyler Overhead Door, is Thursday, April 14 at 6:35 p.m. against the Binghamton Mets (New York Mets). Gates will open at 4 p.m. with fans having the opportunity to watching batting practice. Fans are encouraged to arrive early for the third annual Party in the Plaza from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m.
Tickets for Opening Day and all SeaWolves home games are available at the Jerry Uht Park box office, by phone at (814) 456-1300 or online at SeaWolves.com. Box office hours from now through Opening Day are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.
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