Sports stats



SAL1 Lexington Legends

'Local Legends' Miller, Bodner on Opening Day Roster

April 4, 2016 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Lexington Legends News Release


(WHITAKER BANK BALLPARK, Lexington, Ky.) The Lexington Legends' opening day roster will include two players with strong local ties, two top returnees from last year's pitching staff as well as some prospects in the Kansas City Royals' system who are moving up from the rookie leagues.

Outfielder Anderson Miller, who last year became the first player from Lexington to play for the Legends, returns in 2016. Miller played at Lafayette High School and Western Kentucky University before being selected by the Royals in the third round of the June 2015 draft.

Pitcher Jacob Bodner (pronounced BODE-ner), a graduate of Boyle County High School who played in college for Xavier University, joins the Legends for the first time. He was drafted in the 27th round in June 2015 and pitched for Burlington of the Appalachian League, where he was named Burlington Pitcher of the Year by the Royals. He also made two late-season appearances for Idaho Falls in the Pioneer League.

Foster Griffin and Scott Blewett, two highly regarded pitching prospects who were in Lexington last year, will open the 2016 season with the Legends. Griffin, a left-hander, was a first-round choice in 2014, and Blewett, a right-hander, was chosen in the second round in 2014. Both were drafted out of high school.

Right-hander Nolan Watson, a first-round pick in 2015 by the Royals, is also on the staff. Watson was the 33rd overall pick in the draft after finishing his high school career at Lawrence North in Indianapolis.

The roster, as always, has an international flavor, and this season that includes shortstop prospect Marten Gasparini, a native of Italy, who signed with the Royals at age 16 and played for Idaho Falls last season.

Catcher Chase Vallot, the 40th overall pick in the 2014 draft, returns after hitting 13 home runs for the Legends last season.

Other players on the opening day roster who were with Lexington for at least part of the 2015 season include pitchers Torey Deshazier, Yunior Marte, Jake Newberry, Emilio Ogando, Corey Ray and Nik Stephenson; first baseman-outfielder Samir Duenez, and Michael Hill, who saw action at third base, first base, shortstop, left field, right field and catcher in 2015.

Others new to Lexington this year are pitchers Kyle Kubat, Julio Pinto and Franco Terrero; first baseman Brandon Dulin; infielders D. J. Burt and Jecksson Flores; catcher Xavier Fernandez; and outfielders Amalani Fukofuka, Ben Johnson and Cody Jones.

"This roster of players should bring some exciting baseball to Whitaker Bank Ballpark," said Legends President/CEO Andy Shea. "It looks like a great combination of top prospects and experience. That just adds to our anticipation of the 2016 season."

Omar Ramirez returns for his second season as manager of the Legends. Glenn Hubbard is back for a third season as bench coach. Damon Hollins returns for a second season as hitting coach, and Mitch Stetter joins the Legends as pitching coach after serving in that role for Surprise of the Arizona League last season.

Athletic trainer Mark Keiser enters his fourth season with the Legends, and Will Gilmore begins his first season as the strength and conditioning coach.

The Legends open the season Thursday, April 7 at 7:05 p.m. at Whitaker Bank Ballpark against the Lakewood BlueClaws, an affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies.

Check out the Lexington Legends Statistics



South Atlantic League Stories from April 4, 2016


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central