Storm Chasers Announce Preliminary 2016 Roster
Published on April 5, 2016 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Omaha Storm Chasers News Release
OMAHA - The Omaha Storm Chasers in conjunction with the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday announced their preliminary roster for the upcoming 5th Anniversary Season at Werner Park. The 25-man roster consists of 11 players who appeared in a game for Omaha last season, 14 who have Major League experience, and one Omaha Millard South High School graduate who went on to play for the Nebraska Cornhuskers.
Among Storm Chasers returnees are 2015 Pacific Coast League Batting Champion and Omaha Player of the Year Jose Martinez, who set a modern-day PCL record by recording a .384 batting average with Omaha last year. Infielder/outfielder Whit Merrifield, the Storm Chasers' 2015 hits leader, also comes back to start the 2016 campaign with Omaha, along with outfielder Brett Eibner, who led the club with 19 longballs last season. Other 2015 Storm Chasers players returning include Omaha Pitcher of the Year Scott Alexander, as well as fellow hurlers Brian Flynn and Jonathan Dziedzic, and infielders Dusty Coleman, Cheslor Cuthbert and Balbino Fuenmayor.
An exciting group of newcomers also headline the initial 2016 roster, highlighted by former Nebraska Cornhuskers hurler and Omaha Millard South High School grad Brian Duensing and 2015 Pacific Coast League All-Star Cody Decker, who smashed 21 home runs in the PCL last season. Major League veterans in catcher Tony Cruz, pitcher John Lannan, infielder Clint Barmes and outfielder Travis Snider, who have combined to appear in 2,228 Major League contests, also bring a wealth of Big League experience to the squad.
In total the first Omaha roster boasts six of the Kansas City Royals' top 30 prospects according to Baseball America. Leading that group is Almonte (No. 4), the second-best pitching prospect in the system according to the publication, with Cuthbert (No. 10), outfielder Jorge Bonifacio (No. 11), Eibner (No. 17), Flynn (No. 23) and Martinez (No. 24) all garnering top 30 recognition as well.
The preliminary roster is subject to change before Opening Day. The season kicks off at Werner Park on Thursday, April 7 at 7:05 p.m. against the New Orleans Zephyrs, the Triple-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins. Single-game tickets for Opening Day and all other 71 home dates are still available and can be purchased online at www.omahastormchasers.com/tickets, or by calling the Werner Park Ticket Office at (402) 738-5100.
The Omaha Storm Chasers are the Triple-A Affiliate of the Kansas City Royals, and play at Werner Park in Papillion, Sarpy County, Nebraska. For more information please visit omahastormchasers.com and follow us on Twitter @omastormchasers and at facebook.com/omahastormchasers/.
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