Can-Am Brockton Rox

Returning Core, Papelbon Highlight Rox Opening Day Roster

Published on May 27, 2010 under Canadian American League (Can-Am)
Brockton Rox News Release


Brockton, Mass. - The Brockton Rox of the Can-Am League have announced the club's 2010 opening day roster, which includes 21 active players and an additional three inactive players.

The starting rotation is anchored by RHP Wayne Lundgren, who will make his second straight opening day start for the Rox. Lundgren was 9-5 last year with a 2.75 ERA and a league-leading five complete games. He will be joined at the top of the rotation by former major-leaguer RHP Mike Smith, who pitched for Toronto in 2002 and Minnesota in 2006.

LHP Mike Wlodarczyk, RHP Freddy Flores and LHP Logan Williamson will round out the rotation for Brockton. Wlodarczyk, a newcomer to the Rox and a former Boston College hurler, spent the previous five seasons in the Tampa Bay Rays organization. Flores was stellar with Brockton in 2009, registering a 6-5 record and a 3.93 ERA. Williamson joins the Rox after being acquired from Grand Prairie of the American Association.

The bullpen has two members of last year's staff returning for the 2010 season. LHP Brad Hertzler, who was placed on the inactive list Thursday, will look to follow up a solid 2009 as he compiled a 3.70 ERA in 48.2 innings. RHP Buster Lussier is back in Brockton after joining the team mid-season in 2009, picking up a 3-0 mark and a 4.02 ERA working as a starter and reliever.

RHP Josh Papelbon has been tabbed as the team's closer to start the 2010 campaign. Papelbon, a submarine-style hurler and the brother of Boston Red Sox hurler Jonathan Papelbon, was a 2006 draft pick of the Red Sox and last year put together a 2.94 ERA in 64.2 innings in Single-A and Double-A.

Lefty Dustin Birosak and righties Colin Lynch and Santo Maertz round out the relief corps for the Rox in 2010. RHP Keith Noe and RHP Adam Piechowski will also begin the season on the inactive list.

Offensively the Rox return the bulk of their 2009 lineup to the team in 2010. Reigning Can-Am League Rookie of the Year Chris Valencia is back in Brockton to man center field. Valencia put together a .309 average and 107 hits in 93 games played last year. Melvin Falu will shift to the outfield after back-to-back outstanding seasons. In 2008, Falu set league and team records with a .383 average and 140 hits, and in 2009 he followed up with a .328 batting average.

Keith Brachold will play his second consecutive year in Brockton and his third overall after leading the team with 65 RBI in 2009. Newly acquired Mike Conroy will join Valencia, Falu and Brachold in the outfield for the Rox. Conroy, from Scituate, Mass., was a first-round draft choice of the Cleveland Indians in 2001.

All four infield spots have a returning player for the 2010 season. Phillip Cuadrado, a switch-hitter, will man the hot corner, while Dominic Ramos will be the club's shortstop. Both are entering their third consecutive seasons with the team. Cuadrado belted eight home runs in 2009, and Ramos has totaled 100+ hits in each of the last two seasons.

Derek Kinzler, who joined the Rox in August of 2009, will be looked upon to play the majority of the time at second base. In 18 games with the Rox last year, Kinzler hit .310 with two homers and eight RBI.

Clyde Williams, a left-handed power bat, will see time as the club's first baseman as well as designated hitter. Williams came over from New Hampshire in June of 2009, and finished the year with a total of 16 home runs and 64 RBI. Scott Wearne comes to Brockton after playing professionally in his native Australia and will see time at both second base and shortstop for the Rox in 2010.

The Rox will have two active catchers, including Chris Grossman, who starts his second year in Brockton. Grossman played in 79 games last season with a .296 average. He will be backed up by Fall River, Mass., native Dan Coury. Coury spent last season in the Atlanta Braves organization.

Manager Chris Carminucci is back at the helm for his second season after leading the Rox to a franchise-high 56 victories in 2009 and a berth in the playoffs for the first time since 2007. Brockton mainstay Ed Nottle also returns as pitching coach in 2010, while Dan McNamara will serve as bullpen coach and first-base coach.

The Brockton Rox regular season opens up this Friday, May 28 with a 7:05 home game against the Worcester Tornadoes. Single-game tickets are on sale now through the club's web site, brocktonrox.com or by calling the box office at 508-559-7070.

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Canadian American League Stories from May 27, 2010


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