SAL1 Charleston Dirty Birds

WV Power Game Notes

Published on April 4, 2013 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston Dirty Birds News Release


Asheville Tourists (0-0) at West Virginia Power (0-0)

Game 1 | April 4, 2013 | Appalachian Power Park | Charleston, WV

Radio: Charleston's ESPN 104.5 & 1490 - wvpower.com Airtime: 6:45 pm

TONIGHT'S MATCHUP

RH Eddie Butler (No Record) vs. LH Joely Rodriguez (No Record)

Butler: Pitched for Grand Junction in the Pioneer League in 2012 (7-1 w/ 2.13 ERA over 13 games )

Rodriguez: Went 3-4 for State College in 2012 over 14 starts (4.50 ERA with 32 K over 64.0 IP)

THE LEAD OFF: West Virginia opens the 2013 season tonight against Asheville at Appalachian Power Park. The Power play their first seven games of the season at home and take to the road for the first time next Thursday at McCormick Field against the Tourists. West Virginia plays 11 times at home and 14 games away from Charleston during the month of April.

ROSTER RUNDOWN: The initial 2013 Power roster features five players ranked by Baseball America in the top 30 Pittsburgh Pirates prospects, eight with South Atlantic League experience, and 13 selected within the last two drafts. Outfielder Josh Bell (6th according to BA) returns after missing most of the 2012 season with a knee injury. Other top prospects include pitcher Clay Holmes (10), catcher Wyatt Mathisen (15), pitcher Tyler Glasnow (19), and infielder Dilson Herrera (20), the reigning Topps GCL Player-of-the-Year. The initial roster gives the club an average age of 21.25 years old on Opening Day.

NEW SKIPPER FOR THE NEW SEASON: Pittsburgh has assigned Michael Ryan to manage the Power during the 2013 campaign. The former outfielder was selected in the fifth round of the 1996 MLB Draft by the Minnesota Twins out of Indiana High School in Indiana, Pennsylvania. Ryan played in 1,345 games in the Minors over 15 seasons and 149 in the Majors while playing within the Twins, Braves, Pirates, Marlins, and Angels organizations, as well as 60 in independent ball. He served as a player/coach for the Altoona Curve during the 2012 season.

COACHING STAFF CHANGES: The Pirates have assigned a new coaching staff to the Power for the upcoming season. Jeff Johnson will serve as West Virginia's pitching coach in 2013, his sixth within Pittsburgh's system and fourth with the Power. Orlando Merced rejoins an organization where he spent 12 years of his playing career to coach on Michael Ryan's staff. The native Puerto Rican played in 776 games in a Pirates jersey. Miles Durham will serve as the player/ coach on the 2013 staff. He was drafted by Pittsburgh in 2006 and appeared in 725 Minor League games within the Pirates system.

OPENING HISTORY: West Virginia enters it's ninth season at Appalachian Power Park with a favorable 5-3 mark in home openers. The Power, however, are 3-5 on Opening Day since being renamed in 2005, including season opening losses each year since becoming a Pirates affiliate in 2009.

TOURISTS TRAVELS WELL: West Virginia's season opening series with Asheville marks the first four of 15 meetings between the clubs this season. The Tourists lead the all-time series 37-27 and have gone 20-13 at Appalachian Power Park since 2005.

ALUMNI WATCH: Matt Benedict, Alen Hanson, and Gregory Polanco, West Virginia's SAL All-Stars in 2012, will begin the 2013 campaign with the Bradenton Marauders. Brandon Cumpton is Altoona's Opening Day starter. Tony Sanchez is slated to be the primary catcher for Indianapolis this season.

PROMO UPDATE- APRIL 10: Appalachian Power Park will host a College & Career Fair on April 10 at 10:30 am during the series finale with the Charleston RiverDogs.

POWER POINTS: Copies of the 2013 Media Guide are available upon request... West Virginia finished the 2012 season 61-79 after going 23-47 in the first half before surging to a 38-32 record over the final 70 games... The Power enter the 2013 season with an all-time record of 555 wins and 548 losses.

AROUND THE ORGANIZATION: Pittsburgh takes on the Chicago Cubs this afternoon... Indianapolis opens their schedule at home tonight against Columbus... Altoona starts it's season on the road against the Erie Seawolves... Bradenton plays at Fort Myers this evening.

ON THE AIR: West Virginia Power games can be heard on Charleston's ESPN 104.5 FM and 1490 AM in Charleston, WV, and online at wvpower.com. Adam Marco will call the action for all 140 games this season and will be joined by Mike Baggerman when the team plays at Appalachian Power Park.

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South Atlantic League Stories from April 4, 2013


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