EL1 Richmond Flying Squirrels

Flying Squirrels Opening Day Roster Set

Published on April 4, 2010 under Eastern League (EL1)
Richmond Flying Squirrels News Release


RICHMOND, VA -

The San Francisco Giants have released the 2010 opening day roster for their Double-A affiliate, the Richmond Flying Squirrels. The inaugural Flying Squirrels team, embarking on their first season in the Eastern League, will feature eight players ranked among the top-30 organizational prospects by Baseball America. Headlining that group is LF Thomas Neal, who is rated as the fourth-best prospect in the Giants' system. The opening day roster includes 14 players that spent time with the 2009 California League Champion San Jose Giants (A+), who were led by 2010 Flying Squirrels' manager Andy Skeels. Additionally, seven players that saw time with the Flying Squirrels' predecessor, the Connecticut Defenders, in 2009 will be in Richmond to open the season. The Defenders claimed the Eastern League North Division title in 2009, before division realignment occurred prior to the 2010 season.

Neal headlines a highly-regarded outfield that will also include RF Roger Kieschnick and CF Darren Ford. Each of the three is rated among the top-15 prospects in the Giants' system by BA, with Kieschnick slotted 7th and Ford ranked 13th. Neal, 22, led the California League in On-Base Percentage (OBP) in 2009 (.431), while finishing fifth in the league batting race with an average of .337. He was named to both the midseason and post-season California League All-Star Teams. Ford, 24, was added to the Giants' 40-man roster in November after hitting .354 in the second half of 2009. He is regarded as the fastest player in the Giants' organization, and is expected to anchor center field in Richmond. Kieschnick, 23, enters just his second professional season in 2010. He finished second in the California League in RBIs in 2009 with 110, while leading San Jose with 23 home runs and 37 doubles. Each of the three advance to the Double-A level for the first time in their careers. Clay Timpner, 26, and Tyler Graham, 26, complete the outfield corps for the Flying Squirrels. Timpner hit .250 in 119 games while spending the entire 2009 season with Fresno (AAA). Graham split the 2009 season between three stops (San Jose, Connecticut, Fresno).

The Richmond infield will also feature a trio of top-20 prospects, with SS Brandon Crawford, 3B Conor Gillaspie and 2B Nick Noonan slated to start the season with the Flying Squirrels. Gillaspie and Noonan are both former first round draft selections of the Giants, with Noonan, 20, chosen with the 32nd overall pick in 2007 and Gillaspie, 22, selected 37th overall in the supplemental first round in 2008. Crawford, 23, is tabbed by BA as both the #9 prospect in the Giants' organization and the system's best defensive infielder. He spent the majority of 2009 (108 games) with Connecticut, before batting .312 in 20 games in the prestigious Arizona Fall League. Noonan is tabbed as the #11 prospect in the Giants' system, while Gillaspie, a member of the Giants' 40-man roster, checks in at #17. Each spent the entire season with San Jose in 2009. The Flying Squirrels' infield will also include: 1B Michael Ambort (24); INF Sharlon Schoop (22) and INF Skyler Stromsmoe (26). 1B/DH Andy D'Allessio will be with the club at the outset of the season as well, but begin the year on the disabled list.

A pair of lefties lead the Flying Squirrels' pitching staff, with 2009 California League Pitcher of the Year Craig Clark and Clayton Tanner slated at the top of the starting rotation. The 25-year old Clark established a new Giants' franchise record with 15 consecutive winning decisions with San Jose in 2009, finishing tied for second in all of minor league baseball with 16 overall wins. He is rated as the #26 prospect in the Giants' chain by BA. Tanner, 22, finished 2009 third in the California League in ERA (3.17). He is currently rated #23 on BA's top-30 prospects list. The Flying Squirrels' pitching staff will also include RHP Tony (TJ) Pena Jr., 29, who is attempting to make the transition to pitching after reaching the big leagues with Atlanta and Kansas City as a shortstop. Towering left-hander Andy Sisco, 27, is also attempting a comeback, as the former big leaguer returns to the mound for the first time since 2007 after missing the last two seasons following Tommy John elbow surgery in 2008. The entire Flying Squirrels' pitching staff: LHP Clark; RHP Rafael Cova (28); RHP Mike MacDonald (28); RHP David Mixon (25); RHP Pena Jr.; RHP Ronnie Ray (25); LHP Sisco (27); LHP Jake Stevens (25); LHP Tanner; RHP Daniel Turpen (23).

Richmond will carry two primary catchers to start the season, with Jackson Williams, a former first round selection, teamed at the Double-A level for a second consecutive season with Tyler La Torre. Williams, 23, saw time in 105 games while spending the entire season with the Connecticut Defenders in 2009. La Torre, 26, also spent the entire campaign with Connecticut, appearing in 69 contests with the Defenders. Matt Klimas, 22, is also on the Flying Squirrels' roster to start the year, but he will begin the season on the Disabled List.

The inaugural version of the Flying Squirrels will be led by Skeels, Pitching Coach Ross Grimsley, Hitting Coach Russ Morman, Athletic Trainer Eric Ortega and Strength & Conditioning Coach Abe Gonzalez. Players and staff will be assigned uniform numbers upon their arrival in Richmond.

The Flying Squirrels will hold a "Meet the Team" event on Tuesday, April 6th at 6 PM at T Miller's at the Downtown Marriott on Broad Street. All Flying Squirrels players and field staff will be in attendance.

The Flying Squirrels open their inaugural season on the road against the Bowie Baysox (Baltimore Orioles) on Thursday, April 8th at 7:05 PM. Following a seven-day, seven-game road trip to open the season, they return to Richmond to host Opening Night presented by MARTIN'S on Thursday, April 15th at The Diamond at 7:05 PM. Individual tickets have sold out for Opening Night presented by MARTIN'S, but do remain for the additional six games in the Flying Squirrels' first home stand. To purchase tickets or for more information, fans may visit the Flying Squirrels' ticket office at The Diamond, call (804) 359-FUNN (3866) or log on to SquirrelsBaseball.com.

Check out the Richmond Flying Squirrels Statistics

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Eastern League Stories from April 4, 2010


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