Rock Cats 2011 Opening Day Roster Announced

Published on April 1, 2011 under Eastern League (EL1)
New Britain Rock Cats News Release


New Britain, CT - The Opening Day edition of the 2011 New Britain Rock Cats has been assembled in Florida and, on Monday morning, the excited group will be arriving at their Summer home in Connecticut. Returning skipper Jeff Smith and his players - 20 talented returnees and 7 promising rookies - are all eager to unpack their bags and begin the franchise's 39th consecutive season of professional baseball in the Nutmeg State. The Eastern League club will open their new baseball season at 7:05 PM next Thursday night (4/7) in Richmond, Virginia. The Home Opener will come one week later at New Britain Stadium on Thursday, April 14, at 6:05 PM.

The Rock Cats' 2011 Opening Day Roster contains a veteran presence that had been missing in recent years, when the New Britain team was consistently among the youngest in the historic baseball circuit. Indeed, of the 27 players starting the new campaign in the Hardware City, fully twenty are returnees who have previously performed in a New Britain uniform. One talented returnee, 23-year-old 1B Chris Parmelee, was Minnesota's #1 Draft pick in 2006 while another, 23-year-old slugging OF Joe Benson, was named Minnesota's 2010 Minor League Player of the Year. Baseball America ranks Benson the #4 Prospect in the entire Twins system and the sweet-swinging Parmelee, #18. Other top Prospects en route to Connecticut include three highly-regarded RH Pitchers: 22-year-old RHP Liam Hendriks (ranked #6 by BA), 23-year-old David Bromberg (#13), and 23-year-old Bobby Lanigan (#31). Joining these studs on the New Britain staff in 2011 will be a rookie - and the pride of Danbury High and the University of Connecticut - 6'8" LHP Michael Tarsi. The Twins selected Mike out of Storrs in the 2007 Draft and, right on cue, he'll soon be making his AA, Eastern League debut this year.

Other key returnees to the Rock Cats in 2011 include 21-year-old RHP Deolis Guerra - a 2010 Eastern League All-Star - and 23-year-old LHP Tyler Robertson, who led the 2010 club in Starts (27), Innings Pitched (144.2) and Strike Outs (91). While Guerra is penciled in as a starter, the 6'6" Robertson will likely be working out of the `Cats bullpen in 2011.

Additional players making the journey back to New Britain in 2011 include veteran Catchers Danny Lehmann, Jair Fernandez, and Allan de san Miguel; Fernandez will start the year on the DL. In addition to the aforementioned Parmelee, five Infielders who previously performed in Rock Cats uniforms will also be back in 2011. They are Chris Cates, Estarlin de los Santos, the versatile Toby Gardenhire, Yangervis Solarte, and Steve Singleton. Both de los Santos and Gardenhire - the latter the winner of the Rock Cats 2008 10th Player Award - will start the new season on the DL.

Coming to New Britain for the first time in 2011 are four veteran players who were acquired by Minnesota after they had performed in other organizations. This talented group includes RHP Brett Jacobson, a 6'6" reliever acquired via trade with Baltimore,

LHP Jake Stevens, a bullpen specialist signed away from San Francisco, and Infielders Ray Chang, a 2010 EL All-Star with Portland who signed as a free agent, and Mike Hollimon, a middle-infielder who has MLB time with Detroit.

Along with Tarsi, another rookie who will be debuting in New Britain this season is INF Deibinson Romero, a highly-touted prospect who is now healthy after suffering a series of leg injuries.

The complete 2011 Opening Day Roster in New Britain is as follows:

PITCHERS (12): RHP Santos Arias, RHP David Bromberg, RHP Cole Devries, RHP Deolis Guerra, RHP Liam Hendriks, RHP Steve Hirschfeld, RHP Brett Jacobson, RHP Bobby Lanigan, LHP Tyler Robertson, LHP Spencer Steedley, LHP Jake Stevens, and LHP Michael Tarsi.

CATCHERS (3): Allan de san Miguel, Jair Fernandez, Danny Lehmann. Fernandez will begin the season on the DL.

INFIELDERS (9): Chris Cates, Ray Chang, Estarlin de los Santos, Toby Gardenhire, Mike Hollimon, Chris Parmelee, Deibinson Romero, Steve Singleton and Yangervis Solarte. Both de los Santos and Gardenhire will begin the new season on the DL.

OUTFIELDERS (3): Joe Benson, Evan Bigley, and Mark Dolenc. The 24-year-old Bigley was impressive as a late-season call-up last year, batting .336 with 9 Doubles, 4 HRs and 15 RBI in just 27 games. The versatile Dolenc contributed in several different ways and won the Rock Cats 2010 10th Player Award.

The Rock Cats 2011 Home Opener at New Britain Stadium will be Thursday, April 14th at 6:05 PM. Good seats remain available for that special game and all others during the 2011 Season. Fans seeking tickets may visit the New Britain Stadium Box Office (M-F, 10 AM to 6 PM; Sat, 10 AM to 2 PM) or call the Ticket Office at (860) 224-8383. Those interested in the convenience of online purchasing may do so by visiting the club's website ( www.rockcats.com).

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