Gnats Set Roster For '08
Published on April 3, 2008 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Savannah Sand Gnats News Release
SAVANNAH, Ga. - The New York Mets have announced the 2008 Opening Day roster for the Sand Gnats. Donovan Mitchell will lead a roster that features 12 players that spent time in Savannah last season and 13 players 20 years of age or younger.
The roster features lots of highly drafted talent as five of the Gnats 25 players were drafted in the first 10 rounds. Leading the prospect list will be pitchers Nathan Vineyard and Scott Moviel. Vineyard was drafted in the first round (supplemental) of the 2007 draft by the Mets out of Cartersville, Ga. A 6-3, 200-pound lefty, Vineyard will be just 19 years old when the season starts. He is ranked as the No. 9 prospect in the Mets organization by Baseball America.
Moviel, a second round pick in 2007, started 12 games for the GCL Mets after being drafted out of St. Edward High School in Lakewood, Ohio. In those 12 games, Moviel was 0-2 with a 3.38 ERA and struck out 37 batters in 40.0 innings of work. He is ranked as the 12th best prospect in the Mets organization by Baseball America.
The rest of the pitching staff is a mixture of returnees and fresh talent. Newcomers Michael Antonini, Jose Bierd, Maikel Cleto, John Holdzkom, Jacobo Neguilis, Elvin Ramirez and Nick Waechter will join returnees Angel Calero, Emary Frederick, Julio Polanco, and Josh Stinson. Only three of the Gnats 14 pitchers are lefties.
On the infield, the Gnats will have some familiar faces up the middle in Jake Eigsti and Greg Veloz. Jose Jimenez, who hit .309 with 7 home runs for Kingsport last season, joins the Gnats for '08 along with Richard Lucas and 2007 New York-Penn League All Star Matthew Bouchard. Francisco Pena, still just 18-years-old will lead a team of three backstops including Tony Maccani and Jordan Abruzzo. Juan Lagares, last year's starting shortstop, will start 2008 on the disabled list.
Savannah's outfield is littered with familiar faces as Darren Clark, Richard Pena and Daniel Stegall all return for their second stint in the Coastal Empire. Raul Reyes, who spent 2007 with the Brooklyn Cyclones, will join them in patrolling the outfield
Savannah opens the season at 7 p.m. tonight at Golden Park in Columbus, Ga. when they take on the Columbus Catfish. The Gnats open the home portion of 2008 April 11 at 7 p.m. versus Columbus with a Fireworks Friday contest presented by KIX96. Magnet Schedules will be handed out to the first 1,000 fans courtesy of St. Joseph's/Candler and KIX96. First pitch is slated for 7 p.m. For tickets and more information, visit www.sandgnats.com or call 912-351-9150.
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