Southern League Set To Kick Off Season
Published on April 5, 2006 under Southern League (SL1) News Release
MARIETTA, GA - The Southern League will kick off the 2006 season on April 6 with a full slate of five games.
The entire South Division will open the season at home. The reigning Southern League champion Jacksonville Suns will take on the Chattanooga Lookouts at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville. Southern League All-Star Game hosts, the Montgomery Biscuits, will oppose the visiting Tennessee Smokies at Riverwalk Stadium. The West Tenn Diamond Jaxx, who posted the best overall regular season record in the league last season, will visit the Birmingham Barons at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium. The Mississippi Braves will host the Huntsville Stars at Trustmark Park while the Carolina Mudcats will visit the Mobile BayBears at Hank Aaron Stadium to round out the opening day schedule.
The Southern League is once again loaded with top-tier talent heading into the 2006 season. Heading the list is highly touted Atlanta Braves' prospect Jarrod Saltalamacchia. The catcher is ranked the 18th best prospect in baseball and the top prospect in the Braves' organization by Baseball America. Third baseman Andy LaRoche will return to the Jacksonville Suns to begin the season. LaRoche is ranked the 19th best prospect in baseball and the second best prospect in the Dodgers' organization by Baseball America.
Other prospects to watch include Barons' shortstop Robert Valido, lefthander Ray Liotta, righthander Lance Broadway and second baseman Chris Getz; Mudcats' righthander Anibal Sanchaz and lefthander Tyler Tankersley; Lookouts' catcher Miguel Perez, first baseman Joey Votto, righthander Travis Chick, and lefthanders Tyler Pelland and Phil Dumatrait; Stars' lefthander Manny Parra, righthander Tim Dillard and catcher Lou Palmisano; Suns' outfielder Matt Kemp, shortstop Chin-Lung Hu and righthander Justin Orenduff; Braves' shortstop Yunel Escobar and second baseman Martin Prado; BayBears' catcher George Kottaras and righthanders Ceasar Carrillo and Jared Wells; Biscuits' third baseman Wes Bankston, righthander Andy Sonnanstine and lefthander Chuck Tiffany; Smokies' catcher Miguel Montero and righthanders Garrett Mock and Micah Owings; and Diamond Jaxx' first baseman Brian Dopirak, second baseman Eric Patterson and third baseman Scott Moore.
The Southern League is one of the oldest and most respected leagues within professional sports with roots dating back to 1885. The league is currently home to 10 teams located in the Southeast. The teams and their Major League affiliates include the Birmingham Barons (Chicago White Sox); Carolina Mudcats (Florida Marlins); Chattanooga Lookouts (Cincinnati Reds); Huntsville Stars (Milwaukee Brewers); Jacksonville Suns (Los Angeles Dodgers); Mississippi Braves (Atlanta Braves); Mobile BayBears (San Diego Padres); Montgomery Biscuits (Tampa Bay Devil Rays); Tennessee Smokies (Arizona Diamondbacks); and the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx (Chicago Cubs).
Southern League Stories from April 5, 2006
- Diamond Jaxx win final exhibition game - Jackson Generals
- Diamond Jaxx update - Jackson Generals
- Southern League Set To Kick Off Season - SL1
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.
