Excitement is building as the 4 full season teams start their seasons tonight. The local press is churning out good stuff today.
Round Rock:
The buzz about Yordany Ramirez keeps building:
“Ramirez in center has made some plays in the last few weeks of spring training that in — my, how many years I’ve been playing? — I haven’t seen before,” said Klassen. “He’s pretty special out there.”
Corpus Christi
Roster changes lead the news with Harold Eckert being released, Brian Gordon moving down from AAA and placed on the inactive list. This move was precipitated by the Astros signing Tim Byrdak to pitch at AAA. Gordon will be on the inactive list along with Tip Fairchild (TJ surgery) and Sergio Perez (groin).
Here is the expected opening day line up.
As for the Hooks’ starting lineup, second baseman Drew Sutton, shortstop Tommy Manzella and third baseman Chris Johnson are penciled in as the first three hitters. First baseman Robert Cosby, right fielder Mitch Einertson and catcher Lou Santangelo are the 4-6 hitters, followed by center fielder Eli Iorg and left fielder Billy Hart. Right-hander Brad James is scheduled to face Tulsa right-hander Alan Johnson.
Salem
The Clemens name continues to be expected to sell tickets and papers. The local paper features Clemens move to catcher. Clemens let’s it be known he is willing to play anywhere, with one condition.
“Whatever’s going to get me to the big leagues and let me stay in the big leagues– really, I’d play anywhere as long as I get to hit.”
Lexington
Lexington’s local paper comes with a strong start to the season with a feature on Colin DeLome.
“He can run. He can hit. He can juice the ball out of the ballpark,” said Gregg Langbehn, manager of the Legends. “He’s a pretty serviceable outfielder, seems to make all the plays.”
Langbehn plans to work with the 6-foot-2, 195-pound left-handed hitter on spraying the ball to all fields. The right-field deck at Applebee’s Park can be enticing, but Langbehn says he doesn’t want DeLome to get “pull happy.”
DeLome on playing for Jim Gilligan at Lamar:
“He really helped me learn the game of baseball, the mental side of it,” said DeLome, who also played shortstop in high school. “Really come into my swing and start playing ball, and give me the chance to be here.”
DeLome on DeLome:
“I definitely need to keep working on arm strength. Make sure my defense stays steady, because this is only my fourth full season to be in the outfield,” he said. “At the plate, though, I feel great right now. Please throw me a low, inside fastball. We’ll see how far it can go over the party deck. Other than that, I’m just looking to put the ball in play, start off the season with hits. I’m not worried about hitting home runs or anything.”
Rotation News:
The plan to “piggyback” start Carlos Ladeuth and Colt Adams — each pitching half a game — is on hold. Instead, each will get a start at Asheville, plugging a hole left by Jeff Icenogle. Icenogle will skip a start as a result of taking a ball off his left calf during spring training.