Harrisburg Senators Game Notes

April 9, 2017 - Eastern League (EL1)
Harrisburg Senators News Release

TONIGHT'S GAME The Senators and Altoona Curve finish out their season-opening four game series Sunday afternoon at FNB field. The Senators have lost two of their first three games after splitting a doubleheader Saturday night. The Senators finished 7-10 against the Curve last season, 6-3 at FNB field. Harrisburg opens up the season with a four game series against Altoona, followed by a three game set versus the Hartford Yard Goats. Altoona edged Harrisburg by one game in the Eastern League Western Division standings in 2016 to earn the final playoff spot in the division.

31 YEARS OF SENATORS BASEBALL Friday marks the beginning of the 31st season in Senators franchise history. The club has won the Eastern League Championship six times, most recently in 1999. 279 former Senators players have reached the Major Leagues, including six from the 2016 season. 32 former Senators players, managers and coaches have gone on to manage or coach in the majors, including current manager Matt LeCroy who served as the Nationals bullpen catcher from 2014-2015.

COACHING STAFF RETURNS The Senators retain the same coaching staff for the 2017 season that led the club to a 76-66 record in 2016. Matt LeCroy, the franchise all-time winningest manager, returns for his second consecutive season and fourth overall as skipper of the Senators. Pitching coach Chris Michalak and hitting coach Brian Rupp also come back to the team for a second straight year.

TOP PROSPECTS ON ROSTER The Senators opening day roster features five of the top 30 prospects in the Nationals organization according to Baseball America. Eric Fedde (2), Andrew Stevenson (5), Drew Ward (12), Osvaldo Abreu (21) and Raudy Read (22) all were included on the list, while Fedde was also named the 52nd best prospect in all of MLB according to the publication.

MLB PEDIGREE Neftali Soto and Spencer Kieboom are the only two Senators players that have Major League experience. Soto appeared in 34 games combined for Cincinnati in both 2013 and 2014, accumulating 42 at bats. Kieboom was promoted to the Nationals last year on September 2, and took a walk in his only plate appearance.

ROSTER MAKEUP 17 of the 25 players on the Senators opening day roster spent some or all of the 2016 season in Harrisburg. Starting pitcher Gabriel Arias, relievers Jake Johansen, Jimmy Cordero and Braulio Lara, outfielders Yadiel Hernandez and Alec Keller, infielder Osvaldo Abreu, and catcher Raudy Read are the only players who have not previously played for the Senators. 17 of the 25 players on the roster have spent their entire careers with the Senators. The average age on the Senators is 25.3.

TODAY'S STARTING PITCHERS FOR ALTOONA JT Brubaker takes the mound for Altoona in the series finale. The 23-year-old is making his double-A debut. The right-hander split time with West Virginia and Bradenton in 2016, going 6- 11 with a 4.44 ERA in 26 starts between the two levels. The New Carlisle, Ohio native pitched collegiately at Akron for three seasons, before being drafted in the 6th round by Pittsburgh in the 2015 MLB Draft. HARRISBURG SENATORS GAME INFO EASTERN LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: 1987, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999 REGULAR SEASON DIVISION CHAMPIONS: 1991, 1993, 1994, 1997, 2011, 2013 PLAYOFF APPEARANCES: 1987, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2010, 2011, 2013

TWITTER: @HBGSENATORS '- FACEBOOK: Facebook.com/senatorsbaseball HARRISBURG SENATORS (1-2) vs. ALTOONA CURVE (2-1) Sunday, April 9 @ 1:30 p.m. '- FNB Field Game 4 '- MiLB.com TV '- Radio: Fox Sports AM1460, Internet: www.foxsports1460.com & Tune In

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