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CalL1 San Jose Giants

San Jose Giants Announce 2010 Roster

April 5, 2010 - California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release


SAN JOSE, CA- Highlighted by several standout returning hitters and a talented starting pitching rotation, the defending California League champion San Jose Giants unveiled their opening day roster in anticipation for the 2010 season. The club will be led offensively by top prospect and 2009 Championship Series Most Outstanding Player Francisco Peguero while returnees Eric Surkamp and Kyle Nicholson are expected to lead a deep pitching staff.

Peguero, catcher Johnny Monell and first baseman/DH Josh Mazzola headline the list of returning hitters while former first round draft picks Wendell Fairley and Charlie Culberson add depth to the starting lineup. Reigning Northwest League Most Valuable Player Drew Biery and top shortstop prospect Ehire Adrianza are also expected to play key roles on the club.

Peguero will anchor the center field position in San Jose after an outstanding 2009 season that put the top prospect on San Francisco's 40-man roster. Peguero led the Low-A Augusta GreenJackets with a .340 batting average last year before joining San Jose for the playoffs, where he hit a team-high .387 in helping the club to the California League title. During the regular season, Peguero knocked out 15 doubles, five triples, one home run, collected 46 RBI's and stole 22 bases while the speedster is also praised for his defensive abilities in the outfield.

Monell, a non-roster invitee to Major League spring training, led San Jose with two playoff home runs last year after a productive regular season in Augusta. With the GreenJackets, Monell hit .273 and ranked among the team leaders with 21 doubles, eight home runs and 44 RBI's. Mazzola also made a significant impact with the Giants last September after earning a promotion for the playoffs. During the regular season, he led Augusta in home runs (16) and RBI's (96) while also producing a .284 batting average and earning South Atlantic League All-Star honors.

Fairley and Culberson were among San Francisco's six first round draft selections in 2007 and will each be looking for breakthrough seasons in the San Jose lineup this year. Fairley, an outfielder, was a non-roster invitee to big league camp while Culberson is expected to garner most of the playing time at second base.

Biery enjoyed a spectacular rookie professional season last year as the third baseman hit .326 with six home runs and 48 RBI's in leading Salem-Keizer to the Northwest League championship. The third baseman led the Volcanoes in batting average, doubles and RBI's. Adrianza, who spent last season in Augusta, has been rated the top shortstop prospect in the San Francisco organization according to Baseball America.

Infielder Ryan Lormand and catcher Aaron Lowenstein also return from the 2009 squad. First baseman Brandon Belt, a fifth round draft pick last year after a standout collegiate career at the University of Texas, is expected to assume a full-time spot in the starting lineup while outfielders Juan Perez and James Simmons and infielder/catcher Joel Weeks have also joined the team.

San Jose's starting rotation is expected to be led by Surkamp, Nicholson along with Ari Ronick and Aaron King. Surkamp led the San Francisco Minor League system with 169 strikeouts last year in Augusta. The left-hander finished the regular season with an 11-5 record and a 3.30 ERA before a spectacular playoff performance with San Jose. Surkamp was the winning pitcher in the clinching game of the Championship Series against High Desert last year after striking out a Giants playoff-record 12 batters over eight dominant innings.

Nicholson ranked among the South Atlantic League leaders with a 2.80 ERA before a promotion to San Jose last July, where he compiled a perfect 4-0 record in seven starts. The right-hander boasts an outstanding 2.36 career earned run average through the first two years of his professional career. Ronick was also a standout starting pitcher in Augusta last season finishing with the second-lowest ERA (2.65) and opponents batting average (.215) in the league. The 20-year old King is considered one of the top left-handed pitching prospects in the organization and has averaged nearly a strikeout per inning pitched throughout his career.

Andy Reichard, Craig Westcott and Oliver Odle also have previous starting experience. Reichard led Augusta with a 2.30 ERA last season, serving as both a starter and a reliever. Westcott combined for a perfect 7-0 record and a 2.49 ERA between the Rookie-level Arizona Giants and Salem-Keizer after his selection in the 2009 draft. Odle returns to San Jose after posting an 8-12 record and ranking third on last year's team in starts and innings pitched.

Top prospect Jason Stoffel and returnee David Quinowski are expected to anchor the San Jose bullpen. Stoffel, a fourth round draft pick of the San Francisco Giants last year, fashioned a 0.90 ERA and four saves between the AZL-Giants and Salem-Keizer last summer. The right-hander walked only one batter compared to 19 strikeouts over 20 innings pitched. Quinowski logged a 1.77 ERA for the Volcanoes last summer before winning two postseason games with San Jose.

Other newcomers to the pitching staff include Justin Fitzgerald, Scott Nestor, Eric Stolp and Ben Wilshire while Edwin Quirarte returns after spending a portion of the 2009 season in San Jose.

King and Weeks will be on the club at the outset of the season, but each will begin the year on the disabled list and not on the 25-man active roster.

Brian Harper joins the San Jose Giants as manager this year after spending the last two seasons as the roving minor league catching instructor for the San Francisco Giants. Previously, he served seven years as a manager in the Angels farm system, including a successful two-year stint at the Triple-A level. Harper managed the Salt Lake Bees of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League in 2006 and 2007 posting a combined record of 155-132 (.540) and taking both teams to the postseason. He also served as manager for the Angels' Rookie-level team in the Arizona League from 2001-05. Harper played 16 seasons in the major leagues for seven different teams, most notably as the primary catcher on the 1991 World Series champion Minnesota Twins.

Hitting coach Gary Davenport, pitching coach Jerry Cram, trainer L.J. Petra and strength and conditioning coach Garrett Sherrill round out the San Jose staff.

Fans can meet the 2009 players and coaches at the 3rd annual San Jose Giants FanFest on Tuesday, April 6th at Municipal Stadium. Gates open at 5:30 PM while Harper and all of his players and coaches will be available to sign autographs, pose for pictures, and answer questions from fans as part of a "Meet and Greet" at 6:00 PM on the Martinelli's VIP Deck. Fans will then have the opportunity to watch the team practice beginning at 7:00 PM, enjoy their first bite of Turkey Mike's BBQ, purchase new merchandise at the Clubhouse Store, and play in the Family Fun Zone. Admission and parking are free. Those interested in becoming new season ticket holders are invited to come down to Municipal Stadium during FanFest to select their seat locations.

The San Jose Giants open their defense of the California League title on Thursday, April 8th at Modesto. The home opener at Municipal Stadium is scheduled for Monday, April 12th against the Visalia Rawhide. The Opening Night Extravaganza will include a post-game fireworks display, the championship ring ceremony, 2010 magnet schedule giveaway, the return of Gigante and much more. For more information on tickets for the 2010 season please call (408) 297-1435 or visit www.sjgiants.com.

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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.

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