Mud Hens release opening day roster
3/29/2014The Mud Hens released their roster for the 2014 season, and the roster includes nine players ranked among the Tigers top 30 prospects and 12 who saw action in Toledo last season.
The Hens starting rotation will be left-handers Duane Below, Kyle Lobstein and Robbie Ray along with right-handers Derek Hankins and Drew VerHagen.
The Toledo bullpen will include four lefties in Casey Crosby, Kenny Faulk, Blaine Hardy and Nate Robertson along with right-handers Jhan Marinez, Justin Miller, Melvin Mercedes and Jose Ortega.
The catching duties will be handled by James McCann and Luis Exposito, while the infield will include Brandon Douglas, Mike Hessman, Marcus Lemon, Jordan Lennerton, Hernan Perez and Danny Worth.
Toledo’s outfielders will be Ezequiel Carrera, Daniel Fields, Ben Guez and J.D. Martinez.
Perez ranks ninth among Detroit prospects as ranked by Baseball America, while McCann is 11th, VerHagen is 12th, Ortega is 13th, Merdeces is 16th, Crosby is 17th, Lennerton is 19th, Fields is 22nd, Lobstein is 23rd.
The players who spent at least part of last season with the Mud Hens are Below, Hankins, Lobstein, Crosby, Faulk, Hardy, Ortega, Lennerton, Worth, Perez, Douglas, and Guez.
Pitcher Eduardo Sanchez and outfielder Trevor Crowe will begin the season on the disabled list, while catcher Ronny Paulino will be on Toledo’s restricted list.