Initial 2016 Roster Announced
April 5, 2016 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston Dirty Birds News Release
CHARLESTON, WV - The West Virginia Power, a Class A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates, are pleased to announce their initial roster for the 2016 campaign. The tentative Opening Day roster features three players rated in Pittsburgh's Top 30 prospects according to Baseball America, three with South Atlantic League experience and a total of 18 players drafted within the last two years, four of which were drafted in the first three rounds.
Several highly touted prospects are slated to see action on the field for the Power in 2016. At the forefront is outfielder Ke'Bryan Hayes, the Pirates 2015 supplemental first round draft pick out of Concordia Lutheran High School in Tomball, Texas. Hayes is the 9th rated prospect in the organization and is slated to make his South Atlantic League debut after playing 56 games in rookie ball and short season last year. Hayes will be joined by another highly touted high school draft pick in right handed pitcher Mitch Keller (18th per Baseball America). Keller was a second round draft pick from Xavier High School in Iowa. Rounding out the top prospects for the Power is infielder Casey Hughston (26), a third round pick out of the University of Alabama in the 2015 First-Year Player Draft.
The initial West Virginia roster sees the return of several players from the 2015 club that won a franchise record 87 games and finished first in the South Atlantic League regular season. Infielder Tyler Filliben played 79 games with the Power last season and was also named the club's 2015 Pirates Community Commitment Program award winner for his character and charitable donations to the community. Pitcher Jake Burnette enters his fourth season with the Power, after appearing in 32 total games with the team. Outfielder Tito Polo also returns to the South Atlantic League after appearing in 102 games for West Virginia last season.
The Power baseball season begins on Thursday, April 7, when the team visits the Greensboro Grasshoppers for a 7:00 P.M. match-up. The home slate begins on Thursday, April 14, when West Virginia hosts the Lexington Legends at Appalachian Power Park at 7:05 P.M. For more information, contact the Power front office at (304) 344-2287 or visit wvpower.com.
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