The Richmond Flying Squirrels, in conjunction with the San Francisco Giants, are pleased to announce the preliminary roster for the 2018 Flying Squirrels season. The roster consists of 25 players arriving in Richmond from Spring Training in Scottsdale, AZ. The team includes 12 players who have previously worn a Squirrels uniform and five players that are ranked among the Giants top-30 prospects by Baseball America.

Flying Squirrels fans will have a chance to meet the team for the first time on Monday, April 2 at The Diamond. The team will host an open workout from 5-7 p.m., followed by a meet and mingle event on the main concourse from 7-8 p.m. Fans are also invited to hang out at the Thirsty Acorn and concourse areas to watch the Flying Squirrels TV special on CBS 6, airing at 7:30 p.m., leading into the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship Game.

The team’s top-rated Giants prospects (ranking) are C Aramìs Garcìa (#6), LHP Garrett Williams (#7), RHP Shaun Anderson (#11), SS Ryan Howard (#16) and RHP Tyler Cyr (#26). Garcìa and Cyr are also among the group of 12 players returning to the River City. Garcìa finished the 2017 season with Richmond and is the lone Squirrel player on the Giants 40-Man roster. Cyr led the Squirrels last season completing 18 of his 20 save opportunities and finished third in the Eastern League in saves.

“We are tremendously excited about the mix of young and veteran talent coming to The Diamond this season,” said Flying Squirrels General Manager Ben Rothrock. “There’s lots of excitement building up to opening day both on and off the field and we are excited to see the stands packed on Friday, April 13th.”

Returning Flying Squirrels pitchers for the 2018 season include; RHP Ray Black, RHP Tyler Cyr, LHP Matt Gage, RHP Ryan Halstead, RHP Jordan Johnson, RHP Dan Slania and RHP Cory Taylor. Cyr and Gage were both named to the Eastern League All-Star team for Richmond last season, while Gage and Taylor were both named team pitcher of the week for the Eastern League in 2017.

Of the 12 position players on the preliminary roster, five have spent prior time with the Squirrels. The group includes; OF Daniel Carbonell, UTL Ali Castillo, OF Dylan Davis, C Aramìs Garcìa, and UTL Jerry Sands. Carbonell, Davis, and Sands combined for 19 of the Squirrels 93 home runs last season and 73 of the Squirrels 485 RBI’s.

The Squirrels will be led by manager Willie Harris. Harris, entering his first season in Richmond, is joined by pitching coach Glenn Dishman, hitting coach Francisco Morales, first-year bullpen coach and former Squirrel Eliezer Zambrano, fundamentals coach Gary Davenport, athletic trainer Hiro Sato, and strength & conditioning coach Jonathan Medici.

2018 Flying Squirrels Opening Day Roster

Pitchers

• Anderson, Shaun
• Black, Ray
• Connolly, Michael
• Cyr, Tyler
• Gage, Matt
• Halstead, Ryan
• Johnson, Jordan
• Knight, Dusten
• McCasland, Jake
• Simpson, Will
• Slania, Dan
• Taylor, Cory
• Williams, Garrett

Catchers

• Garcia, Aramis
• Freeman, Ronnie

Infielders

• Arenado, Jonah
• Castillo, Ali
• Dobson, Dillon
• Howard, Ryan
• Sands, Jerry

Outfielders

• Carbonell, Daniel
• Davis, Dylan
• Jebavy, Ronnie
• Lipka, Matt
• Rodriguez, Luigi

The team traveled from Scottsdale, AZ on Saturday and will participate in media day on Tuesday, April 3 from 3-4 p.m. The squad will hold workouts at 5 p.m. on both Monday, April 2 and Tuesday, April 3..

The Flying Squirrels begin the year on the road Thursday, April 5 in Trenton, NJ and will return for Opening night at The Diamond Friday, April 13. Limited tickets remain as the Squirrels will begin their ninth season against the Reading Fightin’ Phils (Philadelphia Phillies) at 7:05 p.m. For tickets for opening night or any other 2018 regular season game, please log onto SquirrelsBaseball.com or call (804) 359-3866