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PCL1 Salt Lake Bees

Salt Lake Welcomes Sacramento

April 7, 2016 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Salt Lake Bees News Release


The Salt Lake bees will begin their opening series against the Sacramento River Cats this evening at 6:35 at Smith's Ballpark. Tonight's game will mark the first of an eight-game homestand.

The River Cats got the better end of the season series in 2015, winning the series 12-4. The Bees bats were led by Grant Green (.362, 6 2B, 2 3B, 1HR, 10RBI's), who is now in the other dugout. Of the Bees returning to the club in 2016 Kyle Kubitza faired the best, sporting a .269 average and hitting 10 of his league-leading 43 doubles against Sacramento. Current Angel starter, Andrew Heaney, was 2-0 with a 2.19 ERA against Sacramento in 2015 and Chris O'Grady had a scoreless appearance.

The Bees return seen players from the 2015 squad including 2015 PCL All-Star Jett Bandy, Kaleb Cowart, Kyle Jubitza, Alex Yarbrough, Chris O'Grady, and Nate Smith. Additionally, Tyler Skaggs pitched for Salt Lake while on a Major League rehab assignment in 2014.

Nate Smith with toe the rubber tonight for the Bees. Smith, the 2015 Texas League All-Star, finished 8-4 with a 2.48 ERA while with Double-A Arkansas. The 24-year-old southpaw will look to shut down the Sacramento offense using his 87-91MPH fastball along with his devastating change-up.

Former fifth-round pick, Ty Blach, will take the mound for Sacramento in the series opener. Blach is coming off an 11-12 season for the River Cats where he posted a 4.46 ERA in 27 starts. In his final start against the Bees in 2015, Blach allowed nine hits, six runs, and one homerun in five innings of work.

The Angels 2015 Minor League Player of the Year, Kaleb Cowart, will look to repeat his 2015 output where he batted .285 with 27 doubles, seven triples, eight homeruns and 68 RBI's.

2014 World Series Champion, Andrew Susac, adds experience to the Sacramento lineup. Susac, the former San Francisco Giants #1 prospect, holds a .274 BA in triple-A along with 11 homeruns.

Probable pitchers for the Sacramento series include: TBA vs. Clayton Blackburn (Friday), Yunesky Maya vs. Chris Stratton (Saturday), Tyler Skaggs vs. Matt Lujan (Sunday), and TBA vs. Mike Hauschild (Monday).

Keith Johnson returns as Bees manager in 2016 after working as a roving infield instructor and Major League player information coach for the Los Angeles Angels in 2015. Johnson managed the Bees from 2011-2014 and won the Pacific Coast League Manager of the Year Award in 2013 as he guided the Bees to Pacific Coast League Finals. Prior to Salt Lake, Johnson served a two-year managerial stint with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga (2009-2010) and one season as manager of Single-A Cedar Rapids (2008). Johnson enjoyed a 12-year professional playing career including organizational stints with the Los Angeles Dodgers (1992-1998, 2001), Arizona Diamondbacks (1999) and Anaheim Angels (2000, 2002-2003). The former infielder played for Salt Lake from 2002-2003, hitting .283 over 215 career games. Johnson is a native of Hanford, California, and currently resides in Salt Lake City with his wife, Malena. The couple have four children Maya, Korey, Jeromy and Kodee.

Jose Alguacil takes on the position of River Cats manager, their seventh manager since planting roots in Sacramento in 2000. Alguacil served eight seasons as a roving instructor in the Giants organization and as the Coordinator of Infield Instruction in 2014. He is noted for working with players such as Pablo Sandoval, Brandon Crawford, Kelby Tomlinson, and Matt Cain. Prior to his time as a coach and manager, he spent nine seasons in the minor leagues (1993-2001). Primarily an infielder, Alguacil reached Double-A in the Giants organization and Triple-A with the White Sox in 2000.

Don't miss any of the Salt Lake Bees action this year! The broadcast is led by legendary play-caller, Steve Klauke. The Salt Lake Bees broadcaster has been honored as the Utah Sportscaster of the Year by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association in both 2014 and 1995. He was also named Broadcaster of the Year by Ballpark Digest following the 2014 baseball season. Klauke is entering his 24th season as the radio and television voice of the Bees. Since being hired as a part of the original Salt Lake Buzz staff in 1994, Klauke has described nearly every moment of the team's history. He has punctuated thousands of home runs with his signature "It's up there, it's out there, it's gone!" call and finished more than 1,500 Bees victories with "Handshakes and high fives all around."

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Pacific Coast League Stories from April 7, 2016


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