truebluefan

Eastern League

New Britain, CT - The New Britain Rock Cats have finalized their 2008 Opening Day Roster and the group of twenty-four includes a record seventeen returnees - including 2 former first round draft picks - and six players who Baseball America rank among the Minnesota Twins' best overall prospects.

Among the players returning to New Britain to start the 2008 Season are 21-year-old INF Trevor Plouffe - New Britain's 2007 Player of the Year; 22-year-old RHP Anthony Swarzak, one of the top pitchers in the Eastern League over the second half of 2007, and; 23-year-old Matt Moses, a former #1 draft pick who has recently been converted from Infielder to Outfielder.

New Britain's 2008 Opening Day Roster is comprised of 14 Pitchers, 2 Catchers, 5 Infielders, and 5 Outfielders. Two of the Pitchers - left-handers Errol Simonitsch and Jose Mijares - are recovering from injuries and will start the season on New Britain's Disabled List. Of the 12 active hurlers, four are southpaws - returnees Jason Miller, Ryan Mullins and Jay Sawatski - while Ben Julianel is a newcomer acquired in the offseason from the Cleveland organization. The staff's right-handers, in addition to Swarzak, are returnees Armando Gabino, Yohan Pino, David Shinskie, and Oswaldo Sosa. Set to make their first appearances in the Hardware City in 2008 are Kyle Aselton, Zach Ward, and a highly-touted Rhode Island native, Jay Rainville. All three were at Ft. Myers in the Single-A Florida State League last year.

The 2008 Catching corps will be include Drew Butera and 23-year-old University of Nebraska product, Jeff Christy. Both have Eastern League experience; the 24-year-old Butera is the son of former New Britain manager (1995), Sal Butera.

In addition to Plouffe - the Twins' #1 Draft choice in 2004 - the New Britain Infield includes two very capable returnees who were Eastern League All-Stars, Felix Molina (2006) and Luke Hughes (2007). Moreover, the Rock Cats 2007 Home Run leader - 24-year-old Brock Peterson - and Steve Tolleson, son of former big leaguer Wayne Tolleson, are also en route to New Britain. The 23-year-old Peterson swatted 15 HRs for the Rock Cats in 2007.

The Rock Cats new Outfield will include an interesting mix of Double-A rookies and New Britain vets. In the latter category, 23-year-old Matt Moses - selected by Minnesota in the 1st round of 2003 - and 22-year-old David Winfree, taken in the same draft, will be patrolling the New Britain outfield in 2008. Both Virginians have played in New Britain previously, but as infielders; as outstanding athletes and hitters, both are now being converted to corner outfielders. Joining them in the OF is fellow returnee, 23-year-old Brandon Roberts - and two rookies who will be making their Eastern League debuts: Erik Lis, who gained notoriety when he homered off Roger Clemens in Single-A ball last May, and 23-year-old Dustin Martin, who came over from the Mets last year.

Baseball America ranks Anthony Swarzak as the 5th best Prospect in the entire Minnesota system. Other members of New Britain's Opening Day roster cited by BA include SS Plouffe (Prospect #10), LHP Mijares (#11), LHP Mullins (#16), RHP Sosa (#23), and OF/1B Erik Lis (#27).

The Rock Cats will open the home portion of their 2008 Eastern League schedule this Thursday, April 3rd at 6:05 PM against the Portland Sea Dogs, EL Partners of the 2007 World Champion Boston Red Sox. Good seats remain available and may be procured by calling (860-224-8383) or visiting the New Britain Stadium Box Office.

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