Introducing the 100th Edition of the Arkansas Travelers
April 3, 2006 - Texas League (TL1)
Arkansas Travelers News Release
RAY WINDER FIELD, LITTLE ROCK - The Los Angeles Angels have announced the 2006 opening day roster for the 100th season of the Arkansas Travelers. In their sixth year as the Angels' Class AA affiliate, the Travs will feature record-breaking shortstop Brandon Wood, Minor League Baseball's 2006 home run king at shortstop and catching prospect Bobby Wilson. After managing at the Angels advanced-A affiliate in Rancho Cucamonga, CA, in 2005 Tyrone Boykin returns for his third season as Travs' manager. The Travelers will hold practices Tuesday and Wednesday, April 4 & 5 at Ray Winder Field at 6:00 p.m. and open the season in Springfield on Thursday, April 6.
Wood, 20, set an Angels minor league record with 43 home runs during the 2006 season while at Rancho Cucamonga. Besides winning the title as the Minors Home Run King, Brandon also led Minor League Baseball with 53 doubles, 101 extra-base hits and 370 total bases. Wood, the 2006 California League MVP and co-Angels Minor League Player of the Year, also finished in the Minors top five with 116 RBI, 110 runs scored and a .667 slugging percentage. Bobby Wilson, 22, will handle the bulk of the catching duties with the Travs after setting career highs at Rancho Cucamonga with a .291 average, 14 home runs, 77 RBI, 66 runs and 32 doubles.
Anchoring the Travelers' pitching staff are returnees RHP Steven Shell (10-8, 4.57 ERA) and LHP Daniel Davidson (13-5, 4.72 ERA) who head the starting rotation. New to the Travs' starting pitching rotation are RHP James Holcomb (10-7, 5.02 ERA at Rancho), RHP Chris Hunter (6-8, 5.11 ERA at Rancho) and RHP Jesse Smith (7-8, 4.90 ERA between Cedar Rapids & Rancho). The Travelers will feature a bullpen that is balanced between Texas League veterans and newcomers. RHP Bobby Zimmerman (6-8, 3.32 ERA, 17 saves at Rancho) takes over the closer's role with LHP Tim Bittner (1-7, 6.33 ERA as a starter at Arkansas) the bullpen's sole lefthander. Three-year Texas League vet RHP Marcus Gwyn (2-3, 4.52 between Midland & Sacramento) joins the Angels farm system after six seasons in Oakland's organization, while RHP Aaron Pullin (5-6, 5.03 ERA, 5 saves with Travs) returns to the Arkansas bullpen. Newcomers to the relief corps include RHP Allen Buckley (4-4, 4.20 ERA at Rancho), RHP Bill Edwards (6-8, 4.88 ERA w/ C. Rapids & Rancho) and RHP Rich Thompson (6-8, 5.27 ERA at Rancho).
Two players will share time as Wood's double play mate with 2B Eric Rodland (.278-5-28 at Lakeland) getting the bulk of the playing time. Rodland comes to the Angels after spending the previous three years as a Tigers farmhand. INF Casey Smith (.221-0-18 at Salt Lake) also might see time at second base after playing all four infield positions at Salt Lake last year. INF Mike Eylward (.287-14-72 with Travs) returns for his third season as a corner infielder, while 1B Greg Porter (.286-11-56) is back with the Travs to play first base. 3B Matt Brown (.262-12-65 at Rancho) makes the move with Wood and Boykin to Arkansas after playing at Rancho Cucamonga in 2005. C Brent Del Chiaro (.167-5-17 between Arkansas & Salt Lake) will back up Wilson behind the plate.
In the outfield there are two familiar names with OF David Gates (.247-16-58) and OF Jason Aspito (.268-8-32) back at Ray Winder Field. OF Aaron Peel (.309-19-69 between C.R. & Cucamonga) makes the jump to Arkansas while OF Dwaine Bacon (.252-2-18-44 sb) will patrol centerfield after coming to the Angels as a free agent from the Cubs farm system.
A breakdown of the Travs' roster shows an average age of 24.6 years and only one player hailing from a foreign country, that being the Australian-born pitcher Rich Thompson. For the first time since joining the Angels, the Travs do not feature a player of Mexican, Caribbean or South American descent. Steven Shell is the only Travs player listed on the Angels' 40-man roster.
The Travelers open the season on a nine-game road trip in Springfield and Wichita. Opening day on the road is Thursday, April 6 at Springfield. The final home opener at Ray Winder Field is set for Sunday, April 16 at 4:00 p.m.
Please call 664-1555 or visit www.travs.com for game information.
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Texas League Stories from April 3, 2006
- Hooks Opening Day roster announced - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Introducing the 100th Edition of the Arkansas Travelers - Arkansas Travelers
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