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FSL1 Charlotte Stone Crabs

Stone Crabs Announce 2018 Opening Day Roster

April 3, 2018 - Florida State League (FSL1)
Charlotte Stone Crabs News Release


PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. - The Charlotte Stone Crabs, in conjunction with the Tampa Bay Rays, are proud to release the 2018 Opening Day roster.

Three of the organization's top 11 prospects and two of their most recent trade acquisitions highlight the roster.

Outfielder Jesus Sanchez (No. 4 MLB Pipeline, No. 57 overall) was the Rays' Minor League Player of the Year in 2017, leading the organization in home runs (15), RBI (82), total bases (227), hits (145) and runs (81). He paced the Midwest League in RBI and placed second in batting average (.305) and hits. A career .318 hitter over three minor league seasons, Sanchez could prove to be one of the most dangerous bats in the league.

Shortstop Lucius Fox (No. 7 MLB Pipeline & Baseball America) headlines a group of 10 returners from the 2017 Stone Crabs team that made a strong playoff push in the second half. Named the Rays' Baserunner of the Year, Fox stole 30 bases last season, the second most in the organization. Fox joined the Stone Crabs on July 25 after hitting .278 for Low-A Bowling Green.

Outfielder Josh Lowe (No. 11, MLB Pipeline & Baseball America) notched 36 extra-base hits and drew 42 walks for Low-A Bowling Green last year, his first full season after graduating high school in 2016. The Chesapeake, Va. native hit .268 over 118 games for the Hot Rods, finishing fourth in the Rays' organization with 22 stolen bases. The Gatorade Player of the Year in Georgia in 2016, Lowe was named the best athlete in the system by Baseball America.

Infielder Tristan Gray was acquired from the Pirates in the Corey Dickerson trade on February 22. Gray joins the Stone Crabs for his first full pro season after being drafted in the 13th round out of Rice. Gray drove in 37 runs in 53 games for Low-A West Virginia last summer after leading Rice in hitting (.313) while clubbing eight home runs during his college season.

Right-hander Curtis Taylor was acquired from the Arizona Diamondbacks in November in exchange for long-time Rays' reliever Brad Boxberger. Taylor struck out 68 batters in 62.1 innings for Low-A Kane County, holding the opposition to a .235 average. Originally drafted in the fourth round by Arizona, the Canadian burst onto the draft radar after two terrific seasons for the University of British Columbia.

Joining Fox amongst a group of six returning position players is Peter Maris, David Olmedo-Barrera, Nate Lowe, David Rodriguez and Kevin Padlo .

Three of the system's six current strikeout leaders from last year will anchor the Stone Crabs' pitching staff.

Lefty Kenny Rosenberg placed third in the Midwest League and fourth in the Rays' organization with 133 punchouts last year. He fanned six batters or more in 15 of his 20 starts, improving his ERA by a full point in the second half of the season. An eighth round pick out of Cal State Northridge in 2016, Rosenberg went 6-1 with a 3.21 ERA in 2016, leading the Big West in strikeouts (118).

Righty Adrian Navas placed fifth in the Rays' organization in strikeouts (123) in 2017, leading Low-A Bowling Green in innings (125.2) and starts (22). The Venezuela native pitched drastically better in the second half, going 8-3 with a 2.67 ERA, allowing 57 hits in 70.2 innings (.224 Opp. AVG).

Left-hander Brock Burke returns to Port Charlotte after going 11-6 with a 2.99 ERA at two different levels last year. The Colorado native posted a 1.04 ERA with a 0.77 WHIP over his final four starts with Bowling Green, earning a promotion to the Stone Crabs on June 8.

New manager Reinaldo Ruiz moves up with many of the Stone Crabs' players from Bowling Green to pilot the 2018 club. He'll be assisted by three coaches that possess 16 seasons of Stone Crabs experience. Pitching coach Steve "Doc" Watson enters his seventh season with Charlotte, Joe Szekely his ninth and German Melendez returns for his second season.

The Stone Crabs open the 2018 season in Fort Myers on Thursday, April 5 at 7 p.m. The team's home opener is slated for Saturday, April 7. Gates open at 3:30 p.m. for a fan fest in celebration of the team's tenth season. Festivities include live music and first pitch will be thrown at 6:05 p.m.

FULL ROSTER:

Right-Handed Pitchers (11): Peter Bayer, J.D. Busfield, Spencer Jones, Brandon Lawson, Deivy Mendez, Adrian Navas, Willy Ortiz, Roel Ramirez, Reimin Ramos, Curtis Taylor, Mikey York

Left-Handed Pitchers (2): Brock Burke, Kenny Rosenberg

Catchers (2): Rene Pinto, David Rodriguez

Infielders (7): Tristan Gray, Lucius Fox, Nate Lowe, Peter Maris, Miles Mastrobuoni, Kevin Padlo, Robbie Tenerowicz

Outfielders (3): Josh Lowe, David Olmedo-Barrera, Jesus Sanchez

STONE CRABS BY THE NUMBERS:

By country: United States (16), Dominican Republic (4), Venezuela (3), Bahamas (1), Canada (1)

How acquired: MLB Draft (13), international free agent (7), trade (4), undrafted free agent (1)

Type of Draft Picks: NCAA college (11), high school (3), other college (2)

Top Draft Picks: Josh Lowe (1st Round, 2016), Brock Burke (3rd Round, 2014), Mikey York (5th Round, 2016), J.D. Busfield (7th Round, 2016)

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