Round Rock Express Announce 2006 Opening Day Roster
April 4, 2006 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release
Round Rock, TX - The Round Rock Express have announced their roster for the 2006 season opener against the New Orleans Zephyrs in New Orleans on Thursday, April 6.
The Express roster contains eight players who spent significant time with the Express last season. Returning pitchers include Ezequiel Astacio, Roberto Giron, Jared Gothreaux and Carlos Hernandez. Position players include catcher Humberto Quintero, second baseman Brooks Conrad, utility player Royce Huffman and leftfielder Luke Scott.
New faces to the roster include right-handed pitcher Jason Hirsh, who is rated as the number one prospect in the Houston Astros organization by Baseball America. Hirsh spent the entire 2005 season at Double-A Corpus Christi where he posted a 13-8 record with a 2.87 ERA. Also making the jump to Triple-A from Corpus Christi are pitchers Philip Barzilla, Mark McLemore, Chris Sampson; catcher Hector Gimenez; and outfielders Charlton Jimerson and Mike Rodriguez.
Newcomers to the Houston Astros organization are pitchers Dave Borkowski (Ottawa), Steve Kent (Colorado Springs/Mississippi) and Joe Valentine (Cincinnati/Louisville), infielders Joe McEwing (Omaha/Kansas City), Cody Ransom (Oklahoma/Iowa), Alan Zinter (Tucson) and outfielder Brian Gordon (Salt Lake).
Returning to the Astros organization are relief pitcher Brandon Puffer and infielder Kevin Orie. Puffer, who makes his residence in Round Rock, went 6-1 with a 2.07 ERA in 56 games for the Express in 2001. Orie batted .329 with four home runs and 20 RBI in 22 games for the Express in 2004.
The Express coaching staff will remain the same from 2005. Manager Jackie Moore, who has been the only manager in Round Rock's six year history, returns for his seventh season. Joining Moore are pitching coach Burt Hooton, hitting coach Harry Spilman, bench coach Spike Owen, trainer Mike Freer and bullpen assistant Noberto "Cookie" Ibarra. New to the staff to serve as strength and conditioning coach will be William Prescott.
EZEQUIEL ASTACIO
PHILIP BARZILLA
CARLOS HERNANDEZ
JOE VALENTINE
DAVE BORKOWSKI
BRANDON PUFFER
ROBERTO GIRON
CHRIS SAMPSON
STEVE KENT
JARED GOTHREAUX
JASON HIRSH
MARK McLEMORE
HECTOR GIMENEZ
HUMBERTO QUINTERO
BROOKS CONRAD
BRIAN GORDON
CHARLTON JIMERSON
LUKE SCOTT
MIKE RODRIGUEZ
CODY RANSOM
JOE McEWING
KEVIN ORIE
ALAN ZINTER
ROYCE HUFFMAN
For a complete list of the 2006 Express Opening Day roster, please log on to www.roundrockexpress.com. Tickets for the home opener on April 14 can be purchased online at www.roundrockexpress.com or by calling the ticket office at 512-255-BALL.
Pacific Coast League Stories from April 4, 2006
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- Opening day roster set, workout open to public - Omaha Storm Chasers
- Round Rock Express Announce 2006 Opening Day Roster - Round Rock Express
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