The Indianapolis Indians have set their Opening Day roster. The Pittsburgh Pirates Triple-A roster will have more top prospects in the system than any of the other affiliates. Here’s a look at the players.
Pitchers
Cody Bolton
Mike Burrows
Osvaldo Bido
Tyler Chatwood
Yerry De Los Santos
J.C. Flowers
Carmen Mlodzinski
John O’Reilly
Luis Ortiz
Quinn Priester
Yohan Ramirez
Hunter Stratton
Colin Selby
Cam Alldred
Kent Emanuel
Angel Perdomo
Caleb Smith
Daniel Zamora
Priester, Burrows and Ortiz are top ten prospects in the system for almost any source you check. They will all be in the starting rotation. Smith will also be in the starting rotation. The fifth starter (and possibly sixth if they go with a six-man rotation) hasn’t been announced yet, but Emanuel and Bido seem like the most likely options, as everyone else is a reliever. Chatwood has started in the past, but not at all during the last two years. Mlodzinski and Bolton have been confirmed as relievers this year.
Catchers
Tyler Heineman
Grant Koch
Endy Rodriguez
Rodriguez is the top prospect in the system for most sources. He spent most of last year in Greensboro, but saw brief time with Altoona and even less time with Indianapolis last year. Despite the upper level inexperience, he might be in the majors by mid-season. Heineman will see plenty of time when Rodriguez is off for the day or playing another position possibly.
Infielders
Josh Bissonette
Nick Gonzales
Mark Mathias
Malcom Nunez
Chris Owings
Aaron Shackelford
Jared Triolo*
Gonzales is another top ten prospect in the system, while Nunez and Triolo aren’t far behind. However, Triolo is out for about two months due to a hamate injury. Mathias, Owings, Nunez and Gonzales should see the majority of the time from this group.
Outfielders
Miguel Andujar
Tucupita Marcano
Cal Mitchell
Travis Swaggerty
Chavez Young
All five of these players will see regular time. Marcano can play infield as well, while the DH spot will get the group plenty of extra at-bats.
Indianapolis opens up tonight. Our daily Prospect Watch will be posted shortly after the game ends.
John started working at Pirates Prospects in 2009, but his connection to the Pittsburgh Pirates started exactly 100 years earlier when Dots Miller debuted for the 1909 World Series champions. John was born in Kearny, NJ, two blocks from the house where Dots Miller grew up. From that hometown hero connection came a love of Pirates history, as well as the sport of baseball.
When he didn't make it as a lefty pitcher with an 80+ MPH fastball and a slider that needed work, John turned to covering the game, eventually focusing in on the prospects side, where his interest was pushed by the big league team being below .500 for so long. John has covered the minors in some form since the 2002 season, and leads the draft and international coverage on Pirates Prospects. He writes daily on Pittsburgh Baseball History, when he's not covering the entire system daily throughout the entire year on Pirates Prospects.
John, where is Blake cederlind? Is he still on IL or starting at a lower level?
Yeah, good decision not to roster Yerry.
So, is there a train from Indy to Cincy arriving by game time tomorrow. Go Swags and ERod!!!! Yes.. .I know, calm down.
Swags leadoff hit, Endy 2 run bomb. Indy scores 5 on 6 hits in first inning!
Camera work at Indy sucks today, no outfield coverage…..
Just noticed the outfield alignment for Indy. Swags is definitely going to get to showcase his glove a lot. Mitchell in left and Andujar in right, Swags gets to pull a Garry Maddox with the ground he will need to cover.
Rodriguez v Bradley on MLBTV, watching that until our boys take the field.
That Altoona club seems awfully old. Time to cull the herd.
I hope 2-3 whether I’d be Indy or Altoona players separate. Don’t care who just want to see what seems to be adequate talent turn to major production.
Sure seems like a whole lot of pitchers listed, Is the starter’s role to pitch just 3 innings???
I’d like to laugh but the time is coming… pitch counts and inning limits proponents unite!
I guess this means that we are giving up on MLod in the rotation?
For now, he’s a bullpen piece. That’s his best role in my opinion
Did they release Drew Maggi? Haven’t seen him listed in any transactions.
He’s in Altoona
I don’t suppose Mitchell will be playing any first base?
Who’s playing shortstop?
Owings will likely see the most time since that’s his most played position, but I imagine that Gonzales will see turns there similar to the past. Bissonette will fill in anywhere. Mathias has played there in the past.
JD,
No Gorski?
More consistant playing time in Altoona to polish up swing?
I saw him moving around pretty good in Pirate city mid March
Looked healthy there and in the few games he played
Yeah, I was thinking Gorski, Peguero, and Andres Alvarez had a good chance to be in Indy. But I would rather they get volume in Altoona than timeshare in Indy.
Was hoping to see Peggy, but OK.
He’s in Altoona
My mom is too old to play SS anymore.
She said the same thing about you!
I’m a lefty. I was limited to Of and 1b. Being a lefty explains a lot, right?
It explains everything, Lee.
Won’t the Vlade experiment continue in AAA if nobody claims him?
Yes, but he’s obviously not on the roster right now
Is it really possible to carry all of those pitchers on the roster or is there still some shake out?
They can have some extra players, for situations when the taxi squad has players. They also have bigger rosters than the majors. Not all 18 will be available tonight
For those wondering, Matt Gorski and Kyle Nicolas are opening the year with Altoona. Henry Davis was announced with Altoona not long ago. Andres Alvarez, Liover Peguero, Connor Scott, Matt Fraizer are all there as well. Carter Bins is in Altoona for playing time purposes, switching places with Koch, who will likely see very little time in Indy. Mason Martin is dropping down to Altoona. Any other names you thought would be here, just ask.
Some tough assignments for a few of these guys. End of the line approaching for some I would guess.
Andy idea where Maggi and Palacios are going to start?
Both in Altoona
Thomas in Altoona as well?
Yes