Minor league rosters will be released this weekend. Mendocino found the Lugnuts roster last night and it is shown below. Kevin Gray at the Union Leader got Dick Scott to reveal a few of the players that will be on the Fisher Cats roster, namely 1B David Cooper, 2B Brad Emaus, LHP Marc Rzepczynski, C Brian Jeroloman, RHP Zach Dials, C Kyle Phillips.
Is there anything we can deduct from what we know so far?
1. The Jays continue to push their high school picks
Last season the Jays pushed high school picks like Kevin Ahrens, Justin Jackson and John Tolisano to Lansing. The kids had their ups and downs but they survived and all three of those players will be moved up to Dunedin to start 2009. The 2008 high school draftees were described as being more raw than the 2007 kids. Nevertheless the Jays have sent Marcus Brisker, Kenny Wilson and Tyler Pastornicky to Lansing for 2009.
The Eric's, Eiland and Thames are not on the Lansing roster. Eiland was a late arrival to Lansing last season and was rawer than the other 2007 draftees, I thought he might be sent to Lansing but it looks like he is going to Dunedin. Thames didn't play in 2008 due to injuries but I assume he is going to Dunedin too.
2. The Jays look like they are pushing their pitchers too.
Marc Rzepczynski is skipping Dunedin and going straight to AA. He pitched well last season but that is a big jump for him, someone above him in AA must be injured or bumped to the bullpen, prime candidates are Marty McLeary, Kenny Rodriguez or Brandon Magee. Trystan Magnuson struggled in his debut season in 2008, he also must have made the Dunedin jump. Several pitchers from Auburn in 2008 are not on the lansing roster, Andrew Liebel, Danny Farquaher, Bobby Bell, Joel Carreno and castillo Perez. Again, unless they are injured, I assume they are all headed for Dunedin skipping Lansing. Another example of aggressive pushing of their prospects by the Jays.
3. What's happening with Cooper and Dopirak?
It looks like both Cooper and Dopirak will be in AA, how will they split their playing time? Stay tuned for more rosters.
Lansing Roster:
Catchers
Chris House
Antonio Jimenez
Jon Talley
Infielders
Jon Del Campo
Balbino Fuenmayor
Bryan Kervin
Justin McClanahan
Mike McDade
Tyler Pastornicky
Mark Sobolewski
Outfielders
Markus Brisker
Yohermyn Chavez
Brian Van Kirk
Kenny Wilson
Pitchers
Henderson Alvarez
John Anderson
Michael Barbara
Jonas Cuotto
Matt Daly
Frank Gailey
Chuck Huggins
Ryan Koch
Yorman Mayora
Hunter Moody
Jared Potts
Josh Wells
https://www.battersbox.ca/article.php?story=20090404110258779