NYPL State College Spikes

Top Prospect Heredia, Returning Players Headline Spikes Mini-Camp Roster

Published on June 14, 2012 under New York-Penn League (NYPL)
State College Spikes News Release


(STATE COLLEGE, PA) - 17-year-old pitcher Luis Heredia, who will become the youngest player to suit up at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, will join ten players coming back to State College this summer on the Spikes roster for the team's three-day Mini-Camp. The camp begins on Friday in Altoona before shifting to Medlar Field at Lubrano Park for workouts on Saturday and Sunday. The Spikes' official Opening Day roster will be announced on Monday.

The Pittsburgh Pirates signed Heredia out of Mazatlan, Mexico in August of 2010, and quickly became a shining star in the Pirates organization. The 6-foot-6, 237-pound right-hander has been ranked as the fifth-best prospect in the Pirates system by Baseball America in both 2011 and 2012.

Heredia joins a Mini-Camp roster that also includes ten returning players from last year's edition of the Spikes. Pitchers Jordan Cooper, Emmanuel De Leon, Justin Ennis, Joan Montero, Logan Pevny, and Joely Rodriguez all make their return to the Medlar Field at Lubrano Park mound. Infielders Samuel Gonzalez and Walker Gourley are also among the holdovers, as are outfielders Alex Fuselier and Rodarrick Jones. Gonzalez, who was named the 2011 New York-Penn League All-Star Game's Top Star, is making the transition from catcher.

The Spikes' Mini-Camp roster also includes seven players selected by the Pirates in the 2012 Major League Baseball Draft three weeks ago. Catcher Jacob Stallings (7th round, North Carolina) will have the opportunity to work with six pitchers from the class of 2012: Pat Ludwig (10th round, Yale), Dalton Friend (12th round, Jefferson (MO) College), Thomas Harlan (13th round, Fresno State), Kyle Haynes (20th round, VCU) Lance Breedlove (23rd round, Purdue), and Josh Smith (25th round, Wichita State).

In addition, the Spikes are welcoming several more players from Latin America to State College for the camp, including infielders Francisco Aponte (Venezeula), Yhonathan Barrios (Colombia) and Jodaneli Carvajal (Dominican Republic). Outfielder Raul Fortunato, also a native of the Dominican Republic, also makes his debut in Central Pennsylvania. Fortunato strung together a 36-game hitting streak for the Dominican Summer League Pirates in 2011.

Pitchers Jacob Burnette, Jason Creasy and Clay Holmes, who were taken consecutively from the 7th to 9th rounds by the Pirates in the 2011 Draft, are also part of the Spikes' Mini-Camp mix.

Infielders Jared Lakind and David Valesente, as well as catcher Ryan Hornback, round out the roster.

The complete initial Mini-Camp roster is attached.

The 2012 Spikes will begin the regular season on Monday, June 18, when they visit the Williamsport Crosscutters (Philadelphia Phillies) at Historic Bowman Field. The Home Opener at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park is set for Tuesday, June 19 at 7:05 p.m. against Williamsport.

The Home Opener will mark the first of five home dates in six days as part of Spikes Opening Week from June 19-24. Single-game tickets for Opening Week, as well as all 38 Spikes regular season home games, are currently on sale through the Spikes Box Office by calling (814) 272-1711 or by visiting in person weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fans can also buy and print single-game tickets at StateCollegeSpikes.com.

To learn more about Spikes tickets, including an array of group and other hospitality options, promotions, game schedules and other team news and information, visit www.statecollegespikes.com .

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