Rock Cats' Roster Revamped

Published on April 7, 2007 under Eastern League (EL1)
New Britain Rock Cats News Release


NEW BRITAIN, CT - One thing is for sure when the 2007 season starts for the New Britain Rock Cats - there will be plenty of new faces around. After a disappointing 2006 campaign, where the Rock Cats finished in the basement of the Northern Division with a 64-78 record, the team looks to return to the playoff hunt. A host of new players, including a mixture of up-and-coming prospects from the Minnesota Twins' farm system and veterans who have been around the game, will strive to return the Cats to the top ranks of the Northern Division.

Only a handful of players from last season return to New Britain; most of last year's team has either moved up to Rochester or were released from the organization. Meanwhile, the Rock Cats' entire coaching staff returns from a year ago, with manager Riccardo Ingram at the helm for his second consecutive season. Pitching coach Gary Lucas also returns for his second season and hitting coach Floyd Rayford begins his third year in New Britain.

Ingram and his staff will strive to continue the development of the players - the most important aspect of the minors. The Rock Cats' coaching staff work closely with the Twins' front office brass, including General Manager Terry Ryan, throughout the year to keep the team on track in the area of player development.

"We have an objective for each and every player. There are things that the organization picks out for each player to work on," said Ingram in a recent radio interview.

The main objective may be player development, but there is always a yearning to win as well.

"We try to mesh the two. It's very important we get those objectives done for each player," he said. "At the same time, no one wants to have a losing season like we did last year."

In accomplishing this, the Rock Cats' skipper has stressed one important aspect of this year's squad that seemed to be lacking last season - team chemistry.

"This is good group," Ingram said of his 2007 team. "They root for each other."

Many of the younger players on this year's roster have been together throughout their minor league careers. The roster lacks the star-studded names from past seasons, including last year when four first-round draft picks suited up for the Rock Cats, but the newcomers are expected to be a more cohesive and productive unit overall. Many of this year's squad moved up the ranks of the farm system together. They have also proved to be successful on the field, as many of the players helped the High Class A Ft. Myers Miracle to a winning season last year and a few even carried the Rookie League Elizabethton Twins to the Appalachian League title in 2005.

Plenty of top talent will still be on the field. This season, Rock Cats' fans will likely have the opportunity to see the trio of talented arms the Twins nabbed in the 2004 draft. Righthanders Anthony Swarzak and Kyle Waldrop and lefty Kyle Aselton headlined a Ft. Myers staff that racked up a team ERA of 3.55, third best in the Florida State League. That Miracle team finished in first place in the FSL West in second half of season (42-28) and won the division. Ft. Myers finished the year with an overall record of 80-60 (.571). Only Swarzak starts the season on the 'Cats roster, but he will be joined by several Miracle teammates from last year who will makeup the Rock Cats' bullpen. The Rock Cats will also have a first rounder on the roster in shortstop Trevor Plouffe.

The coaching staff will look to combine the up-and-comers from Ft. Myers with a crop of veterans with the hopes that team chemistry develops. Ingram and company will also be sure to work on reducing mental mistakes, one area that plagued the team last season. The Cats finished with 148 errors - second most in the league - and the catchers led the league in passed balls with 26.

The Rock Cats' starting staff may include the leadership and poise the team needs to be successful this year. The front end of the rotation will have a familiar look with a 1-2 punch of veterans Nick Blackburn and Errol Simonitsch.

Blackburn made a name for himself in the Twins' organization in 2005, when he went 7-5 with a 3.36 ERA in 15 starts for Ft. Myers and followed that up with an impressive 1.84 ERA in seven starts with New Britain. In 2006, the Ada, Oklahoma native delivered a solid season overall (7-8, 4.42, 132.1 IP) while splitting time between a starter's spot and the bullpen in his first full season with the Rock Cats.

Simonitsch also started 2005 in Ft. Myers and earned a mid-season promotion to New Britain. The Gonzaga University product provides the Cats with a reliable left-handed veteran. Simonitsch's first full season in New Britain last season was a mixture of dominance and struggles. Among the highlights were two consecutive streaks of shutout ball in May, one that lasted 17 innings and the other 15 innings; the lows included a career-high 12 passed balls. The 6-4, 225-lb. California native finished the season with an 8-14 mark and 4.48 ERA in 148.2 innings.

Ingram believes that the experience Blackburn and Simonitsch gained last season and late in 2005 will be beneficial to them both.

"It's very important. They've been through this league. They've been to the visiting ballparks. They know the dimensions," Ingram said. "Hopefully those veterans will lead the younger guys."

The third starter for the Rock Cats will be Eastern League veteran Jesse Floyd. The 26-year-old Texan may be a familiar name to New Britain fans, as he pitched for the Defenders last season. In 25 games, he posted a 4-14 record, but had a respectable 4.00 ERA with 100 K/38 BB ratio. Floyd was taken by Minnesota in the Rule V draft in December.

Another familiar face in the starting rotation will be Brian Duensing. The lefty saw action with the Rock Cats last year, posting a 3.65 ERA in 49.1 innings. Duensing, an Omaha, Nebraska native who pitched at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, also spent time with Beloit (2.94, 70.1 IP, 55K/14 BB) and Ft. Myers (4.24, 40.1 IP, 33K/8 BB) in 2006. Duensing's best pitch is his changeup, which Baseball America ranked as the best among all of the Twins' minor leaguers.

Rounding out the starters is top prospect Anthony Swarzak, who is ranked by Baseball America as the fifth-best prospect in the Twins' system. In 2006, he led a talented pitching staff in Ft. Myers with an 11-7 record and 3.27 ERA (third best in the FSL). The right-hander also led the Florida State League in strikeouts (131). Nabbed by the Twins in the second round of the 2004 draft, Swarzak has posted a 3.45 ERA in three professional seasons. The 21-year-old delivers a fastball in the low 90's and has a dangerous curveball that is potent in strikeouts situations. Swarzak, a native of Ft. Lauderdale, led Nova High School to the Florida 5-A Championship, the school's first state title, during his senior year.

Ingram has seen Swarzak in action before and liked what he saw back then.

"I managed him in the Gulf Coast League when he first came out of high school," said Ingram. "He has an electric arm. He can run the ball up there with a lot of velocity. He has a great over-the-top curveball."

With the starting rotation solidified, the Rock Cats appear to have a strong nucleus to start the season. Here is a look at the rest of the roster:

BULLPEN:

The Rock Cats' new-look bullpen will be headlined by Jose Mijares. A member of the Twins' 40-man roster, Mijares will come out of the Cats' bullpen as he continues to climb the ladder to being one of the future arms of the Twins' relief corp. In 2006, the lefty posted a 3.57 ERA while striking out 77 batters in 63 innings.

Mijares will be joined by newcomers and fellow 2006 Miracle teammates J.P. Martinez, Danny Powers, and Tim Lahey. Martinez, 24, has quite the impressive resume since being selected by the Twins out of the University of New Orleans in the ninth round of the 2004 draft. The Louisiana native has posted a 12-8 record with 2.64 ERA and 229 strikeouts in 208.1 innings in three seasons. Last year, he notched a 4-4 record with 2.91 ERA and 12 saves in 48 games out of the Miracle bullpen.

Powers, an eighth round draft pick in 2005, has skyrocketed through the Twins' farm system. The 24-year-old righthander split the 2006 campaign between Beloit (1-0, 0.43, 20 K/4 BB, 21 IP) and Ft. Myers (6-2, 3.10, 61 K/18 BB, 58 IP).Lahey, who was born in Worcester, Massachusettes and attended Princeton University, arrives in New Britain after spending the 2006 season in Ft. Myers. In 45 games, he posted a 7-1 record with 4.33 ERA and nine saves.

The bullpen will have a little more local flair with the addition of New England native Brad Baker. The 26-year-oldwas born in Brattleboro, Vermont andattended high school in Northfield, Massachusetts. A former first round draft pick, selected by Boston 40th overall in 1999, Baker has also spent time in San Diego and Atlanta's organizations. In 2002, Baker represented the USA in the Futures Game during the MLB All-Star Game festivities. In 2004, he was a Double A All-Star, Baseball America First Team Minor League All-Star, Southern League Most Outstanding Pitcher Last season, Southern League All-Star, and San Diego Padres Minor League Player of the Year. Last season, Baker was traded back to Boston to complete an earlier trade. In 286 professional games, Baker has a 45-37 record with 3.74 record. Baker would also be a candidate for spot starts, as he may even get the call for the Rock Cats' second game of 2007 if Simonitsch still has a sore shoulder that started at the end of Spring Training.

One reliever whose name may sound familiar to Rock Cats' fans is Brian Forystek, who has pitched for the Bowie BaySox for the past four seasons. At 28, he will be one of the eldest members of this year's team; with that, he brings to the Rock Cats experience and familiarity with Eastern League ballparks. In 2000, Forystek was selected by Orioles in 14th round out of Illinois State University. The southpaw racked up a 3.57 ERA with two saves and 64 strikeouts in 43 games (70.2 IP) last season in Bowie.

The lone returnee to the bullpen will be Jay Sawatski. The lefty spent most of the 2006 season in New Britain. For the Rock Cats, he turned in an impressive rookie campaign with a 4-2 record and 2.87 ERA. He also showed good command with 69 strikeouts and 22 walks in 75.1 innings.

CATCHERS:

The catching duties will be split between Kyle Geiger and newcomer Korey Feiner. The starting job will likely belong to Feiner. Geiger spent time in Ft. Myers and New Britain last season. He struggled offensively, batting .213 in 91 combined games, but provided solid defense behind the plate. Feiner, meanwhile, beings his first season in Double A. He isn't likely to bring much more offensive production, as he hit .219 in 81 games at Ft. Myers in 2006, but he should also give the Rock Cats an upgrade in defense. The combination of Geiger and Feiner will look to drastically improve the league-high 26 passed balls by Rock Cats catchers last year.

INFIELD:

First base will be manned by Brock Peterson. In 2006, Peterson hit .291 (tied 9th in FSL) with 21 HR (tied 1st FSL, led all Twins minor leaguers) and 75 RBI (tied 8th FSL). He saw some action with the Twins in Spring Training. In fact, he went a perfect 4-for-4 in two games, including when he delivered two-run triple in a 5-4 loss to Boston on March 28. He also hit a solo homer in his second spring game.

In his first full season with New Britain in 2006, second baseman Felix Molina proved to be a sparkplug of sorts for a team that didn't often show much energy. The native of Mayaguez, Puerto Rico used a combination of solid offense and steady - and sometimes flashy - defense to earn a spot in the 2006 Eastern League All-Star Game. For the season, he batted .270 with nine homers and 50 RBI. That was as a switch-hitter. This year, though, expect to see Molina only batting from the left side of the plate. With another solid season in New Britain, the 23-year-old will solidify himself as a middle infield prospect.

Molinawill be joined by highly-touted Trevor Plouffe in the middle infield. The Twins' first round draft pick from 2004 will start the season as the Rock Cats' starting shortstop. Plouffe moves up to New Britain with still something to prove in the pros - he has a career .244 average in three pro seasons. While he has plenty of time on his side - the kid won't even turn 21 until June - he does have the high expectations of being a first rounder to live up to. Last season, he batted just .246 with four home runs and 45 RBI for the Miracle. He did end the season on a hot-streak, though, and the Twins have high hopes that he will continue to develop into a future Major League middle infielder. Plouffe will also be watched closely on the defensive end, as he committed an organization-high 35 errors in Beloit two season ago and added 29 miscues last year.

Ingram has little concern about his shortstop, the youngest member of the team playing one of the most important positions on the diamond.

"He has all the ability and the tools to get it done," said Ingram. "He's a leader. He's young, but the guys respond to him."

The starting infield will be rounded out by another Double A rookie with star power potential. The Rock Cats may have lost a top prospect with the departure of Matt Moses, but they will simply insert another of the Twins' top ten prospects at the hot corner. David Winfree, ranked as the Twins' eighth-best prospect, will look to put the drama of last season behind him as he begins a new chapter of his baseball career. After being named the Minnesota Twins' Minor League Player of the Year in 2005, Winfree suffered through a less-than-magical season with Ft. Myers in 2006. First, he missed time with a thumb injury; then, he left the team in May for personal reasons before returning in July to end the season. Winfree, who was drafted in the 13th round by the Twins in 2003, finished the season batting .276 with 13 home runs and 48 RBI in 67 games with the Miracle. He followed that up with three home runs with 17 RBI in 21 games in the Arizona Fall League.

With such young starters in the infield, the Rock Cats will look to Brian Buscher for experience as a back-up infielder. Buscher, who is capable at filling in at first and third, joins the Rock Cats after playing for the inter-state rival Defenders in 2006. The South Carolina product posted solid numbers (.259, 7 HR, 49 RBI) and earned a spot in the E.L. All-Star Game last season. He was also picked up by Minnesota in the Rule V draft. Returnee Gil Velazquez will also come off the bench for the Rock Cats. Velazquez has played parts of the past two seasons in New Britain. He was invited to the Twins' camp in Spring Training and was slated for a back-up role in Rochester. With the release of J.R. Taylor, though, a spot needed to be filled on the Cats' roster. Velazquez, 27, started last season in New Britain before a promotion to Rochester (.250, 1 HR, 17 RBI, 56 G). He missed most of July with a knee injury, but returned to help the Triple-A club in its run to the International League championship series.

On the bubble is Luke Hughes, who would give the Rock Cats an extra utility infielder. Hughes, 22, spent the entire 2006 season with Ft. Myers. The Australian batted .231 with four homers, 15 doubles, and 37 RBI in 95 games with the Miracle. He will likely land on the roster if the Rock Cats opt for 11 pitchers instead of 12.

OUTFIELD:

Garrett Guzman returns to New Britain after splitting time with the Miracle and Rock Cats last year and will be the starting right fielder. Since being drafted by the Twins in the 10th round in 2001, Guzman has steadily climbed the Minnesota organizational ladder. The California native missed the entire 2005 season after suffering a broken neck in an off-season car accident. Guzman came back stronger than ever in 2006, showing more power than he had before the injury with career-highs in home runs (15) and doubles (24). After putting up a .274 mark in 65 games with Ft. Myers, he showed he could handle Double A pitching just as well with a .275 average in 64 games.

While top prospect Denard Span has moved onto Rochester, his spot as the leadoff man and center fielder will be filled by the equally exciting Brandon Roberts. In fact, Roberts is rated as the fastest baserunner in the Twins' farm system - including quicker than Span. Roberts joined Ft. Myers last season after being traded to the Twins in the deal that sent Juan Castro to Cincinnati on June 15. The 22-year-old begins just his third professional season. Selected by Cincinnati in the seventh round in 2005 after playing two years at Cal Poly, Roberts made the jump from Rookie League Billings in 2005 to High Class A Sarasota last year. He didn't seemed fazed by the Florida State League, as he led the league in stolen bases (50) and ranked eighth in batting (.293) between Sarasota and Ft. Myers. In his first two professional seasons, the speedy outfielder batted .301 with 26 doubles, eight doubles, eight triples, and 85 RBI. He also swiped 82 bases in 199 games.

The outfield will be rounded out by right fielder Matt Allegra. The Twins picked up the six-year veteran during the off-season. Allegra, who was drafted out of high school in 1999, was once a top outfield prospect for the Oakland A's. The Lake Mary, Florida product is still just 25 with plenty of professional experience to help provide the Rock Cats with veteran leadership.

Rashad Eldridge will be the back-up outfielder to start the season. The 25-year-old comes to the Minnesota organization after opting to test the market as a six-year free agent in the off-season. In 2006, spent time in AAA Oklahoma City (Texas), AAA Norfolk (Mets), and AA Binghamton (Mets). The Macon, GA native played in just 36 games for Oklahoma City (.220, 2 HR, 14 RBI) before being released. He opted to sign with the New York Mets and was assigned to Binghamton (.284, 1 HR, 6 2B, 2 3B, 10 RBI, 31 G) before a promotion to Norfolk. Eldridge, who was originally selected by Cleveland in the fifth round of the 2000 draft and traded to Texas in 2002, has batted .264 with 29 homers and 254 RBI in seven professional seasons.

With a mix of veterans and talented newcomers, the Rock Cats should have the combination to return to the top half of the Northern Division. Be sure to come out to New Britain Stadium and catch the action of what should be an exciting 2007 season!

FUTURE CATS:

With one of the finest farm systems in baseball, the Minnesota Twins always have players ready to move up if needed. Here are the top names to watch as they work their way to New Britain:

RHP Kyle Waldrop - The Twins' first round draft pick in 2004 (25th overall) split the 2006 campaign between Beloit (6-3, 3.85, 18 G, 62 K) and Ft. Myers (3-2, 3.57, 8 G, 25 K). He only threw 45.1 innings with the Miracle and will need to log more productive innings in Single A; however, if a pitching spot becomes available in New Britain, this is one likely candidate to fill it.

LHP Kyle Aselton - The third of the great trio that pitched in Ft. Myers last season, Aselton joined forces with Swarzak and Waldrop to lead a pitching staff that dominated the FSL. Aselton, 24, opened eyes in 2005 when he went 6-2 with a 2.49 ERA and 113 strikeouts in 112 innings (41 games, 10 starts) for Beloit. The 6'5", 215-lb. lefthander followed that up with a solid season with Ft. Myers in 2006 (9-5, 3.79, 90 K, 97.1 IP) as strictly a starter's role. Aselton was originally drafted by Seattle in the 29th round of the 2001 draft, but opted to attend Oregon State; in 2004, the Twins grabbed him in the 11th round.

RHP Jay Rainville - After posting impressive numbers between Beloit and Ft. Myers in 2005, Rainville was slated for the Rock Cats last season. An injury in Spring Training, though, required surgery and cost the prospect the season. The former 2004 first round draft pick out of Bishop Hendricken High School (Warwick, RI) has posted a 15-7 record with 3.06 ERA and impressive 150 K/36 BB ratio. The 21-year-old will likely start the season in the Miracle starting rotation. Rainville will be another likely call-up from Ft. Myers when another arm is needed by the Cats.

RHP Oswaldo Sosa - At 21, Sosa remains one of the most promising arms in the Twins' farm system. In 2006, he went 9-7 with a 2.75 ERA at Beloit and 4-1 with a 2.08 ERA in a stint with Fort Myers. Sosa is a member of the Twins' 40-man roster.

RHP David Shinskie - Shinskie, who will turn 23 in May, made the jump from Beloit to New Britain during the 2006 season. After dominating the Midwest League (6-7, 2.13, 76 IP, 11 saves, 61 K, 15 BB) in his second season, the Mount Carmel, PA native was greeted rudely by Eastern League opponents. Shinskie struggled to an 0-4 mark with an 8.44 ERA in 16 innings of work for the Cats.

C Caleb Moore - After being selected by the Twins in the fourth round of the 2005 draft, Moore wasted no time in getting off to a productive start to his professional career. In 36 games with Elizabethton, he batted .309 with six doubles, three long balls, and 13 RBI.

C Jeff Christy - In 2006, Christy found himself in Double A after just three months in the pros. Selected in the sixth round out of the University of Nebraska, Christy began the year at Elizabethton. He posted solid numbers (.259, 1 HR, 11 RBI) in 24 games before being promoted to Ft. Myers. The Lincoln, Nebraska native didn't have time to establish himself in Ft. Myers (.063, 1 RBI, 6 G) before being shipped off to New Britain to end the season. Christy, who will turn 23 on April 13, went 0-for-6 in just two games with the Rock Cats.

Further Down the Road:

SS Paul Kelly - The Twins selected Kelly in the second round of the 2005 draft, a year after Plouffe, and has made the race for the next Minnesota shortstop an interesting one. Kelly batted .280 for Beloit in 2006 before a knee injury ended his season. With a strong arm, ranked as the best infield arm in the Twins' farm system, Kelly can also play third base.

RHP Eduardo Morlan - The Miami native posted a 2.29 ERA with 125 strikeouts in 28 games with Beloit last season. Morlan, selected by the Twins in the third round in 2004, has seen action as a starter and reliever.

RHP Jeff Manship - Drafted out of Notre Dame just last June in the 14th round, Manship could find himself in Double A before this season is over. In four games with the Miracle last year, he notched a 2.08 ERA. Manship's curveball is rated the best in the Twins' system.

LHP Alexander Smit - The Netherlands native signed with the Twins as a 17-year-old and has been steadily climbing the organizational ladder. At 21, he will start the season in Ft. Myers. In 2006, his first full-season in Beloit, he posted a 7-2 record with 2.99 ERA and 141 strikeouts. He has struck out a jaw-dropping 364 batters in 270 innings during his four-year professional career.

**Please note that the 2007 roster will not be finalized until April 3. Last minute changes may occur. Check back on rockcats.com for a final roster.**

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Eastern League Stories from April 7, 2007


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