Tornadoes Announce Opening Day Roster
Published on May 25, 2005 under Canadian American League (Can-Am)
Worcester Tornadoes News Release
Worcester, MA (May 25, 2005) â The Worcester Tornadoes today announced the team's Opening Day roster, bringing to a climax two weeks of training camp. The historic group of players will be the first professional team in 71 years to take the field for the City of Worcester when the Tornadoes take on the North Shore Spirit on Friday.
The Opening Day roster consists of 25 players, 24 of which are currently active. Pitcher Ed Riley, a Worcester native and the team's elder statesman, was placed on the inactive list with some elbow discomfort. The setback is very minor, though, and he is expected to be activated in time for the Tornadoes home Opening Night on Monday, June 6.
The roster includes several fresh faces as well as some names familiar to fans in Central Massachusetts, as some players made a successful late push to make the team. Among those are pitchers Steve Palazollo (from North Reading) and Chris Shank (Westminster), infielder Chris Loiseau (Worcester) and outfielder Alex De Los Santos (Worcester). They are joined by Riley, infielder Omar Pena (from Haverhill), and Junior Guerrero, a Dominican native who now makes his home in Dorchester, to bring the team's total of Massachusetts residents to seven.
A position by position look at the Opening Day roster:
Pitchers â The pitching staff is a mix of young rookies and savvy veterans, and guided by manager Rich Gedman and pitching coach Bob Ojeda, it could very well be the strength of the 2005 Tornadoes. Starters Mike Cox, Derell McCall, and Riley give the team the veteran core for a solid rotation, especially when coupled with 2004 Northeast League All-Star Alex Pena. Not to be ignored is Junior Guerrero, the 1999 Kansas City Royals Minor League Pitcher of the Year, who promises to become a fan favorite. Young starters like Palazollo (who stands an intimidating 6'10") and Jake Glanzmann will also fight for starts to make an impact. In the bullpen, newcomers Shank and Joe Yarbrough (who saved 22 games in 2003) join David Byard, who has a career 3.08 ERA, to make Worcester a force in the late innings. Veteran Dallas Mahan gives the Tornadoes the flexibility to start or relieve, and youngsters Adam Docar and Reid Willet offer further depth. Fans will quickly notice that what the staff does not lack in any way is size. Only one of the thirteen pitchers is less than six feet tall, and the average size of the staff is more than 6'3" and 215 pounds.
Catchers â Veteran Yohanny Valera, the only Tornadoes player with major league service time, is complimented behind the plate by Danilo Reynoso, a product of the New York Mets system. Valera, who appeared with the Montreal Expos in 2000, has spent five of the last six years playing at the Double-A level or above. Amazingly Reynoso, who is entering his eighth pro season, is still the third-youngest player on the team at age 23.
Infielders â The infield is led by first baseman Jeremy Booth, whose leadership and experience will be a stabilizing force. A pro since 1998, Booth has the savvy gained from service time in four different independent leagues, not including experience playing in Mexico. Omar Pena, the younger brother of Detroit Tigers first baseman Carlos Pena, joins Alex Nunez in the middle infield. Zach Strong, a switch-hitter, comes to the Tornadoes from the San Francisco Giants system. Loiseau, who just this spring was an assistant coach for the baseball team at the College of the Holy Cross, further bolsters the infield.
Outfielders â The outfield is an exciting mix of speed and power that should keep fans on the edge of their seats. Lucas Taylor, a West Virginia native who batted .337 and finished fifth in the league in stolen bases with North Shore in just half a season last year, will keep fans â and the opposition â on their toes. Josh Beauregard brings even more speed to the team, and De Los Santos, who still holds the Burncoat High School record for stolen bases, does the same. Andy Brown, the New York Yankees first round draft choice in 1998, can generate serious power from his 6'6" frame and lefthanded swing. Omar Rosario brings to Worcester the knowledge gleaned from seven pro seasons, six of them in the Oakland Athletics organization.
The Tornadoes will open the season Friday night in Lynn, when they take on the Spirit. Since Worcester is technically the home team, and through a special arrangement with the Spirit, the Tornadoes are able to make available some tickets for the club's historic first game. Tickets for the May 27 game may be purchased for $5 each at the Tornadoes box office, located at 313 Main Street, or over the phone by calling (508) 792-2288. All tickets for Friday's game are general admission.
Worcester welcomes back professional baseball on Monday, June 6, when the Tornadoes return home for a sold out Opening Night against the Brockton Rox. Festivities for the game are being finalized, but it will be an event to remember. The celebration will continue through Opening Week, which will see the Rox remaining in Worcester for games on June 7 and 8, followed by three games against the Spirit, June 10 to 12. Tickets for Opening Week are still available through the box office, over the phone, or by logging on to www.worcestertornadoes.com.
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