Hot Rods Introduce 2011 Hot Rods
Published on April 4, 2011 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Bowling Green Hot Rods News Release
Bowling Green, KY - With just one week to go until Citizens First Opening Night, the Bowling Green Hot Rods introduced their initial roster for the new 2011 season. University of Louisville product Phil Wunderlich will lead this new class of Tampa Bay Rays' prospects looking to deliver the Hot Rods to the Midwest League playoffs. The talented group includes some of the best young players in the Rays system, including eight players ranked in Baseball America's Top 30 Rays Prospects.
Wunderlich, drafted out of Louisville in the 12th round of the 2010 MLB Daft, will play first base and anchor what should be a strong, well-balanced infield for the Hot Rods. He'll be joined by fellow 2010 collegians in 2nd-round pick Derek Dietrich and 13th-rounder Robby Price, the latter having led the New York-Penn League with a .437 on-base percentage with the Hudson Valley Renegades in 2010. Young Venezuelan Hector Guevara, just 19 years old, makes his full-season debut while veteran Robi Estrada and 2010 Long Beach State University grad Phil Tinoco provide infield depth.
Highly touted Luke Bailey leads the Hot Rods catching contingent in 2011. The Georgia native is ranked by Baseball America as the 17th best prospect in the Rays system. He'll be joined by defensive specialists Kyle Holloway, who saw playing time with Class AAA Durham in 2010, and Alejandro Torres.
Bowling Green should have plenty of offensive firepower in the outfield, a group headlined by a healthy Cody Rogers. After spring hip surgery, the Texan exploded onto the Midwest League scene with seven home runs in just 19 games when he joined the Hot Rods in July. Another injury, however, cut short his season in the month of August.
Rogers will be teamed with fellow Texan Todd Glaesmann. Like Rogers, the athletic Glaesmann once committed to Texas A & M University before signing with the Rays. He has been voted the strongest throwing arm in the Rays system two years in a row. 2010 draft picks Kevin Kiermaier and former infielder Nick Schwaner round out the outfield, both bringing strong offensive resumes from their first season in pro ball last summer.
On the mound, the Rays have once again provided Hot Rods fans with some exciting arms to watch. This year's crop of hurlers features two of the top Dominican-born pitchers in the Rays' system. Lefties Enny Romero (1.95) and Braulio Lara (2.18) posted the two best ERA's in the Appalachian League last season, with Romero earning the league's top pitching prospect honors. After a strong final week with the Hot Rods in 2010, C.J. Riefenhauser returns to the Hot Rods, teaming with righties George Jensen and Victor Mateo to round out the staff.
A deep Hot Rods bullpen will lean on former Auburn closer Austin Hubbard for save opportunities. Hubbard excelled with Hudson Valley in 2010, notching 12 saves in 13 opportunities. He'll be joined by southpaws Chris Rearick, Jimmy Patterson, and 2010 Hot Rod Matt Stabelfeld. Steve Hiscock, Nate Garcia, and Eliazer Suero provide relief balance from the right side.
Three pitchers begin the season on the Hot Rods disabled list, including two members of the 2010 squad. Starter Wilking Rodriguez and reliever Jairo De La Rosa are both recovering from shoulder injuries. Former 2nd-round pick Will Kline hopes 2011 ends his streak of injuries that is currently three seasons long.
The 2011 club begins the season on Thursday, April 7, in Dayton, OH, at 6 PM CDT. Manager Brady Williams, pitching coach RC Lichtenstein, and coach Manny Castillo begin workouts with the players in Bowling Green following Tuesday's Media Day at Bowling Green Ballpark. Hot Rods 5-Year Season Ticket holders have the first chance to meet the new club at the exclusive Meet-and-Greet at the ballpark on Wednesday night at 5:30 PM. Following the event, the team holds a final workout before heading to Dayton on Thursday morning.
After a four-game series with the Dayton Dragons, the Hot Rods return home for Citizens First Opening Night on Monday, April 11, at 6:35 PM. The new season begins with a commemorative t-shirt giveaway for the first 1,000 fans courtesy of Citizens First. Opening Night kicks off a full-week of games, including $2 Warren County Wednesday, Thrifty Thursday, and the first fireworks show on Saturday, April 16. For a complete list of promotions and to order tickets, visit www.bghotrods.com.
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