The Richmond Flying Squirrels, in conjunction with their parent affiliate, the 2014 World Champion San Francisco Giants, are pleased to announce the preliminary roster for the 2015 Flying Squirrels.
The roster includes 28 players who will travel to Richmond from Scottsdale, AZ. The roster will be reduced to 25 active players ahead of the Squirrels’ season opener on Thursday, April 9th. The group of 28 players includes a team-record 21 players who have previously appeared in a Squirrels’ uniform. The roster also includes five players that are ranked among the Giants’ top-30 prospects by Baseball America.
Those prospects include RHP Kyle Crick (#3), OF Mac Williamson (#11), RHP Chris Stratton (#12), OF Daniel Carbonell(#14) and RHP Joan Gregorio (#15). Crick, Stratton and Carbonell are also among the group of 21 players returning to the River City. Williamson and Gregorio are joined by RHP Joe Biagini, RHP Stephen Johnson, LHP Matt Lujan, RHP Pedro Rodriguez and UTIL Rando Moreno as the seven players who will be making their Squirrels’ debut.
“We are tremendously excited about the group of players and instructors that the Giants have sent to represent the RVA,” said Flying Squirrels’ VP/COO/GM Todd “Parney” Parnell. “We have enjoyed tremendous success on the field and off with so many of these players and coaches in the past, and can’t wait to build upon that success this year.”
Pitchers that return include; RHP Jose Casilla, RHP Austin Fleet, LHP Kelvin Marte, LHP Phil McCormick, LHP Josh Osich, RHP Tyler Rogers and LHP Jack Snodgrass. Snodgrass and McCormick have both been mid-season Eastern League All-Stars for Richmond, while Snodgrass has also twice been named team pitcher of the year and claimed a spot on the EL Post-Season All-Star team in 2013.
Of the 14 position players on the preliminary roster, 12 have spent prior time with the Squirrels. The group includes; CJeff Arnold, C Jackson Williams, C Eliezer Zambrano, 3B Mitch Delfino, 2B Blake Miller, 1B Ricky Oropesa, SS Kelby Tomlinson, 1B Angel Villalona, OF Elliott Blair, Carbonell, OF Devin Harris and OF Javier Herrera. Herrera was the Squirrels’ Most Valuable Player in 2013, while Williams was a member of the Flying Squirrels’ inaugural team in 2010. He also appeared in Richmond in 2011. Zambrano is the only player that will have appeared for all six teams in franchise history. Williamson and Moreno are the lone position players that have not appeared for Richmond prior to 2015.
The Squirrels will be led by first-year manager Jose Alguicil. “Auggie” will be joined by first-year pitching coach Steve Kline, fifth-year hitting coach Ken Joyce, second-year athletic trainer David Getsoff and second-year strength & conditioning coach Adam Vish.
Full 2015 Preliminary Flying Squirrels Roster:
Pitchers
Biagini, Joe
Casilla, Jose
Crick, Kyle
Fleet, Austin
Gregorio, Joan
Johnson, Stephen
Lujan, Matt
Marte, Kelvin
McCormick, Phil
Osich, Josh
Rodriguez, Pedro
Rogers, Tyler
Snodgrass, Jack
Stratton, Chris
Catchers
Arnold, Jeff
Williams, Jackson
Zambrano, Eliezer
Infielders
Delfino, Mitch
Miller, Blake
Moreno, Rando
Oropesa, Ricky
Tomlinson, Kelby
Villalona, Angel
Outfielders
Blair, Elliott
Carbonell, Daniel
Harris, Devin
Herrera, Javier
Williamson, Mac
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Chris Graham
