The minor league season starts next week, around the same time as the Blue Jays start. The rosters were announced to the players this morning and Batters Box has received a copy.
Most assignments were well known: d'Arnaud, Gose, Sierra and Hechavarria to AAA. McGuire, Jenkins, Hutchison and Jimenez to AA. And Marisnick, Crouse and Knecht to Dunedin. But there are a few surprises.
Here are the moves that surprised me:
Joel Carreno will start in AA. Carreno already pitched in AA last season and I thought he would go to AAA haven't had experience in the major leagues.
Trystan Magnuson; Evan Crawford; and Danny Farquhar also are in AA.Sam Dyson and John Stilson are on the Dunedin roster.
Brian Jeroloman is back in AA, Gomes gets the AAA slot.
Carlos Perez back in Lansing
Vega-Rosado and Sweeney in Lansing
Rosters are published here.
I am not sure who all the starters will be in AAA. AA has McGuire, Hutchison, Jenkins, Tepera and Carreno. That is a good starting lineup.
I am also not sure who will start in Dunedin, they have six starters. Nolin, Lawrence, Dyson, Stilson, Wojo and Egan Smith are on the roster. Dyson and Stilson's ability to start depends on the trainers approval as both are coming off injuries.
Lansing also has a strong rotation, Sanchez, Syndergaard (both of whom are getting great reports from spring training), Nicolino, Ybarra and likely DeSclafani.
From a lineup perspective Las Vegas has a number of prospects for a change, d'Arnaud, Hechavarria, Gose, Sierra, Cooper.
The only prospects in AA are Jimenez and McDade, but with that pitching they could again challenge for a title.
Dunedin has the Lansing outfield from 2011 with a returning infield and catcher.
Lansing has an interesting lineup with Hawkins, Pillar, Vega-Rosado, Sweeney with returnees Hobson, Perez and Wilson.
So who didn't make a full season roster that might have? On the position side I thought Shane Opitz might have a chance. Balbino Fuenmayor, Gustavo Pierre and Gari Pena, who were on full season rosters last season, didn't make it this year. All the 2011 draftees will stay in Florida. Eric Arce, Dalton Pompey and Art Charles stay in extended too.
On the pitching side Griffin Murphy, Adonys Cardona, Deivy Estrada and Tatlor Cole are in extended.
With the rosters out it's time to get excited about the 2012 season!
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