The Altoona Curve have announced their Opening Day 25-man roster, led by Tyler Glasnow and Josh Bell. The full roster is as follows.
Catchers
Sebastian Valle
Jacob Stallings
Infielders
Josh Bell
Dan Gamache
Gift Ngoepe
Max Moroff
Edward Salcedo
Eric Wood
Outfielders
Willy Garcia
Keon Broxton
Stetson Allie
Jonathan Schwind
Junior Sosa
Starting Pitchers
Tyler Glasnow
Jason Creasy
Chad Kuhl
Angel Sanchez
Zack Dodson
Relievers
Matt Benedict
Tom Harlan
Tyler Sample
Yhonathan Barrios
John Kuchno
Jhondaniel Medina
Josh Smith
Tim started Pirates Prospects in 2009 from his home in Virginia, which was 40 minutes from where Pedro Alvarez made his pro debut in Lynchburg. That year, the Lynchburg Hillcats won the Carolina League championship, and Pirates Prospects was born from Tim's reporting along the way. The site has grown over the years to include many more writers, and Tim has gone on to become a credentialed MLB reporter, producing Pirates Prospects each year, and will publish his 11th Prospect Guide this offseason. He has also served as the Pittsburgh Pirates correspondent for Baseball America since 2019. Behind the scenes, Tim is an avid music lover, and most of the money he gets paid to run this site goes to vinyl records.
Tim, it looks like Angel Sanchez will be starting the opener. When will the rest of the rotation be set, and what goes into the decision to give Sanchez the Opening Day nod?
Usually minor league ‘openers’ are simply a continuation of the spring rotation. Not much of an ‘honor’ of being handed the ball on opening day.
Tim, I have been watching the Curve since 1999, and I don’t remember any opening Day roster with as many promising age appropriate players up and down the roster. Particularly the pitchers. Correct me if I am wrong, but I don’t think even the 2010 roster wasn’t this strong in April.
Was that during the Altoona 4 period?
If you mean the mid 2000s with Snell, Maholm, Duke etc., yes.
Bet he was referencing the more recent Owens/Locke/Wilson/Morris combination.
You at all surprised to see Kuchno in the pen and Dodson in the rotation?
Yeah, I meant Owens/Locke/Wilson/Morris. I had lower expectations then and thought they were going to save the Pirates. Sad…………where is Owens by the way?
Dodgers just picked him up. I think he is in there minor league system.
Thanks Dale
interesting rotation to watch and OF