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IL1 Lehigh Valley IronPigs

IronPigs Opening Day Roster Announced

April 4, 2010 - International League (IL1)
Lehigh Valley IronPigs News Release


(Allentown, Pa.) -- Identifiable returnees, including Andy Tracy, John Mayberry Jr., Rich Thompson and pitchers Joe Savery and Brian Mazone join an accomplished core of Major League veterans (some with local and regional ties) to comprise the 2010 Lehigh Valley IronPigs roster, announced by the N.L. Champion Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday. Overall, the initial roster includes eight returning players and four members of the Phillies' 40-Man Roster including a pair of pitchers -- Scott Mathieson and Mike Zagurski - now both fully healthy two years after undergoing "Tommy John" surgery.

Named an IL All-Star for the first time since 2000, Andy Tracy paced the club in both home runs (26) and RBI (96) for the second consecutive season -- totals that ranked second in the league. In fact, his prodigious home run total was the most by a Phillies farmhand dating back to 1989. The 36-year-old also ranked among the league leaders in various other offensive categories, including walks (1st, 74) and runs (4th, 74). Moreover, Tracy is an accomplished fielder and led all IL first baseman with a .992 fielding percentage in 2009.

The 15-year veteran also ranks third amongst active Minor Leaguers with 257 career home runs, trailing just Mike Hessman (311) and Scott McClain (292) in the category.

John Mayberry Jr., 26, made his Major League debut with the Phillies last year after being acquired by Philadelphia in an off-season trade with Texas. By homering off Andy Pettite at Yankee Stadium for his first Major League hit last May, he became just the 19th Phillie to accomplish such a feat and the first since Chase Utley in 2003. A former first-rounder (19th overall in 2005), Mayberry has a big league pedigree - his father John was a two-time American League All-Star first baseman in the 1970s. The Stanford University product has impressive power, belting 95 career home runs in 2,048 career Minor League at-bats.

Rich Thompson, 30, is the team's all-time leader in steals (51) and has appeared in 216 games for the IronPigs since signing with the Phillies as a free agent in late April of 2008. The speedster also finished last year with 7 triples, tied for fourth most in the IL. A product of James Madison (VA) University, Thompson made his Major League debut in 2004, appearing in six games with the Kansas City Royals.

Joining the notable offensive returnees are a pair of recognizable pitchers that are expected to serve as important members of the IronPigs rotation, Joe Savery and Brian Mazone.

The former Rice University standout that helped guide the Owls to the 2006 College World Series, Joe Savery combined to go 16-6 between Double-A Reading and Lehigh Valley last year, finishing tied for 2nd among all Minor League pitchers in wins. While with Reading, the 24-year-old won 12 consecutive decisions before receiving a promotion to Triple-A on July 31. Baseball America ranks Savery as the No. 21 prospect in the Phillies system.

A consistent winner at Minor League Baseball's highest ranks, Brian Mazone enters 2010 tied with Drew Carpenter for the most wins (11) in IronPigs history. In addition to winning 27 games as a Phillies Triple-A farmhand since 2006, the 33-year-old led the International League with an impressive 2.03 ERA in 2006. Last season, Mazone went 2-6 with a 3.50 ERA for Lehigh Valley after being acquired from the Dodgers on June 30.

The remaining members of the Phillies 40-man Roster on the IronPigs Opening Day roster are the aforementioned Scott Mathieson and Mike Zagurski along with SS Brian Bocock.

After missing all of 2008 rehabbing from his second Tommy John surgery, Scott Mathieson was very effective when he returned to action in 2009. The Vancouver native appeared in a combined 22 games at three levels to go 4-0 with a 0.84 ERA and then posted a 2.84 ERA in 11 games for Scottsdale in the Arizona Fall League. Once on the fast-track in the Phillies system, the 17th round pick in 2002 made it up to Philadelphia in just his fifth pro season (2006) before undergoing his first Tommy John surgery that September. Even after the pair of surgeries, Mathieson is still considered the No. 15 Prospect in the system and as having the Best Fastball in the system by Baseball America prior to the 2010 season.

Following a breakout 2007 campaign in which he pitched at four levels in the Phillies system and won the prestigious Paul Owens Award, Mike Zagurski underwent "Tommy John" reconstructive surgery in April of 2008. He quickly returned to pre-surgery form upon returning to the mound in 2009, striking out 63 batters in 53.0 innings (10.7 SO/9.0 IP) with a 3.57 ERA in 45 games with Double-A Reading. During his tremendous 2007 campaign, the 27-year-old logged a sparkling 1.39 ERA in 25 Minor League games while making his Major League debut that same season and appearing in 25 more games out of the Phillies bullpen (1-0, 5.91).

Brian Bocock was claimed off waivers by the Phillies this winter and had a productive Big League camp (6-for-15) before being reassigned to the Minors. The former 9th-round selection of the Giants is just two years removed from being San Francisco's Opening Day starter at shortstop. In 2007, he was named to the U.S. Team for the Futures Game at AT&T Park.

A trio of accomplished veterans with regional or local ties - RHP Brandon Duckworth, RHP Nate Bump and RHP Ryan Vogelsong - are expected to join Savery and Mazone to complete the IronPigs' starting rotation.

Brandon Duckworth, who came up through the system and pitched three seasons with Philadelphia, re-signed with the Phillies as a minor league free agent on Jan. 13. The Salt Lake City native spent all of 2009 in Triple-A Omaha, going 3-6 with a 5.31 ERA in 20 games for the Royals top farm club. Duckworth burst onto the scene in 2001 when he went 13-2 with an International League-best 2.63 ERA in 22 games (20 starts) with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He was then called up in August and quickly became a fan favorite, posting an impressive 3-2, 3.52 record in 11 games started as a rookie - and receiving a support section at Veterans Stadium known as the "Duck Pond." After three seasons with the Phillies, he was traded to Houston and later reappeared in the Big Leagues with Kansas City. In parts of eight seasons, Duckworth has gone 23-34 with a 5.28 ERA in 134 games (84 starts) at the Major League level.

Nate Bump - the highest drafted player ever in Penn State history and the school's only 1st rounder - returns to his native state after signing with the Phillies this off-season. After beginning 2009 with Camden in the Independent Atlantic League, Bump was signed by Detroit in early July and went 7-1 with a 2.38 ERA in 10 starts for Triple-A Toledo. Originally selected by San Francisco in the 1st round (25th overall) of 1998, the 33-year-old was traded to Florida as part of the Livan Hernandez deal in 1999. In parts of three seasons with Florida ('03-'05), he went 6-7 with a 4.68 ERA in 113 games. Bump left Penn State as the school's all-time leader in wins, strikeouts, games started and innings pitched.

An All-American at nearby Kutztown University and a member of the KU Athletics Hall of Fame, Ryan Vogelsong returns stateside for the first time since 2006 as a Phillies farmhand. The Downington, Pa. native has spent the last three seasons pitching for the Orix Buffaloes and Hanshin Tigers in Japan. A former 5th round selection of San Francisco in 1998, Vogelsong was traded to Pittsburgh in 2001 in part of the Jason Schmidt deal. In parts of six Big League seasons with San Francisco ('00-'01) and Pittsburgh ('03-'06), he has appeared in 120 games and made 33 starts.

Anticipated to be alongside Scott Mathieson and Mike Zagurski in the IronPigs' bullpen are a pair of returning southpaws, Jason Anderson and Jake Woods along with RHP Alex Concepcion, who appeared briefly for the IronPigs in 2009.

Despite shuttling back and forth between Double-A and Triple-A during each of the last two seasons, Jason Anderson has appeared in more games (67) than any pitcher in the brief history of the IronPigs franchise. The University of Illinois product was originally drafted by the Yankees in the 10th round of 2000 and debuted in the Major Leagues with 22 appearances for New York in 2003. He has also appeared for the Mets ('03) and Indians ('04) in parts of three Big League seasons.

Jake Woods, 28, was originally selected by the Angels in the third round of 2001 and reached the Major Leagues with the club in 2005. In his first season in the Phillies organization, Woods enjoyed success with the IronPigs as a long reliever, going 5-1 with a 2.52 ERA in 36 relief appearances. Prior to signing with the Phillies he spent three seasons pitching in the Seattle organization after getting claimed off waivers prior to 2006. In 85 Major League appearances, the Fresno, Calif., native has gone 8-5 with a 4.60 ERA.

After having modest success with Lehigh Valley a year ago, Alex Concepcion figures to be a valuable part of the IronPigs bullpen again in 2010. The Santo Domingo, D.R. native excelled with Reading last year, appearing in 32 games and allowing just 69 hits in 81.1 innings while showing impeccable command by walking just 11 batters.

The staff is completed by RHP Brian Gordon, a converted position player that reached the Major Leagues just two years after completing the rare feat, and a non-roster invitee to Phillies Spring Training, RHP Ehren Wassermann.

The 31-year-old Brian Gordon was an accomplished Minor League slugger - having hit .274 with 118 home runs in 1144 Minor League games - before making the switch to hurler in 2007. Remarkably, he made just 73 Minor League appearances before making his Major League debut in September of 2008 with Texas. In total, he would appear in 3 games for the Rangers that September and allow just one run in four innings of relief work.

A two-time Carolina League saves leader, Ehren Wassermann figures to play a primary role in the back-end of the IronPigs' bullpen. The Alabama native spent each of his first seven seasons in the White Sox system, reaching the Major Leagues for the first time in 2007 and again in 2008. During his rookie campaign on the South Side, 28 of his 33 appearances were scoreless.

In addition to featuring Andy Tracy, John Mayberry and Rich Thompson, the IronPigs offense also includes C Paul Hoover, who hit .253 in 73 games with Lehigh Valley last season and also appeared in 3 games with the Phillies in September. A non-roster invitee to Phillies Spring Training each of the last two years, Hoover hit .344 against left-handed IL pitching last year. He has appeared in 31 Major League games with Philadelphia ('09), Florida ('06-'08) and Tampa Bay ('01-'02) in parts of six seasons.

Complimenting the returning core is a plethora of organizational newcomers with varying degrees of Major League experience that will comprise a majority of the offense. This new group includes 3B Cody Ransom, OF DeWayne Wise, OF Chris Duffy, C Dane Sardinha, 2B Luis Maza and INF Luis Valdez.

A member of the 2009 World Champion New York Yankees, Cody Ransom began last season as the club's Opening Day third baseman while Alex Rodriguez recovered from hip surgery. In 2008, he was an International League midseason All-Star while leading Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in hits, double and home runs. That same season he hit an impressive .302 in 32 games with New York and became just the 11th player in team history to homer in his first Yankees plate appearance in the expansion era (since 1961). Interestingly, he also made the final putout in the history of the original Yankee Stadium. The former 9th round pick of San Francisco in 1998 has appeared in the Major Leagues during part of seven seasons with San Francisco ('01-'04), Houston ('07), New York-AL ('08-09) and batted .233 in 197 games.

Known for his outstanding defense, DeWayne Wise, 32, made the unbelievable, over-the-wall catch in the ninth inning to preserve Mark Buehrle's perfect game on July 23, 2009. In addition to making "the catch", Wise appeared in a career-high 84 games for the White Sox last season and batted .225. Wise brings speed to the bases, having swiped 20 or more bases in a season on five occasions. Cincinnati's 5th round selection in 1997 has had a lengthy Big League run, appearing in 324 games with Toronto ('00, '02), Atlanta ('04), Cincinnati ('06-'07) and Chicago-AL ('08-'09).

Chris Duffy, 29, made Milwaukee's Opening Day roster last season after batting .311 in 28 spring games. The impressive accomplishment came on the heels of a 2008 in which he missed the majority of the season recovering from left shoulder surgery. Duffy also brings significant speed to the lineup, amassing 30 or more steals on four occasions. Originally drafted by Pittsburgh in 2001, he was the Pirates Opening Day centerfielder in 2006 and 2007.

A tremendous defensive asset, Dane Sardinha was a non-roster invite to Phillies Spring Training after appearing in a combined 29 games with Detroit since 2008. A native of Hawaii, Sardinha threw out 49% of potential base stealers with Louisville in 2006. In 2004, the 29-year-old was named an IL midseason All-Star. He has appeared in 31 games with Cincinnati ('03, '05) and Detroit ('08-'09) in his ML career.

A year removed from hitting .378 with Triple-A Las Vegas and making his Major League debut with the L.A. Dodgers, Luis Maza is expected to see noteworthy playing time with the IronPigs. The 30-year-old Maza hit .300 last season in Triple-A and also played for Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic. He was signed by Minnesota as an amateur free agent and spent his first nine professional seasons as a Twins farmhand.

Wilson Valdez signed with the Phillies this past off-season after appearing in 41 games for the rival New York Mets in 2009. He is a career .222 hitter in 152 combined games between Chicago-AL ('04), Seattle ('05), San Diego ('05), Los Angeles ('07) and New York ('09). Valdez enjoyed a solid spring in Big League camp, hitting .313 with a homer and six RBIs in 20 games.

Rounding out the Opening Day roster is 3B Neil Sellers who will be making his Triple-A debut this season after spending each of the last two campaigns in Reading. Selected by the Phillies in the minor league phase of the 2007 Rule 5 draft, Sellers has excelled the last two seasons with the R-Phils, hitting a combined .297 with 36 homers and 164 RBIs. Last year, he led the Eastern League with 164 hits while hitting .317. He was originally selected by Houston in the 32nd round of the 2004 draft.

As announced earlier, the team will guided by veteran Minor League manager Dave Huppert, hitting coach Greg Gross and pitching coach Rod Nichols for the third consecutive season.

The Lehigh Valley IronPigs host the Double-A Reading Phillies in the third annual U.S. 222 Showcase exhibition game at Coca-Cola Park on Tuesday. First-Pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. and gates will open at 5:35 p.m.

The IronPigs official home opener at Coca-Cola Park is on April 14 at 7:05 p.m. against the Rochester Red Wings. Single-game tickets, season tickets, mini plans and group tickets for the 2010 season presented by Capital BlueCross are now on sale.

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