Buffalo Bisons Roster

BISONS TOUT METS’ TOP PROSPECTS
Herd Releases 2009 Opening Day Roster

The Buffalo Bisons, Triple-A Affiliate of the New York Mets, have announced their 2009 roster in anticipation of today’s Opening Day against the Pawtucket Red Sox (3:05 p.m.).

The Bisons will take the field with several players listed among New York’s best prospects, according to Baseball America. That list includes outfielder Fernando Martinez (No. 1), first baseman Nick Evans (No. 9) and pitchers Jonathon Niese (No. 3), Eddie Kunz (No. 10), and Dillon Gee (No. 17).

At 20 years, 178 days old, Martinez is the youngest Bisons player in more than 15 years (Angelo Encarnacion was 20 years, 135 days in 1993). Martinez comes to Buffalo from AA Binghamton in 2008. The centerfielder hit .287 in 86 games with the B-Mets and was selected to the 2008 Futures Game. He has been chosen by Baseball America as one of New York’s top two prospects in each of the last three years.

Evans and Niese both come to the Bisons after debuting at Shea Stadium last season. Evans played 50 games in the outfield for the Mets following a midseason call-up from AA. Niese made three starts for the Amazins in ’08, throwing eight scoreless innings against the Atlanta Braves in his second outing.

The roster also features 17 Major Leaguers, including veteran outfielders Bobby Kielty and Cory Sullivan, infielder Rob Mackowiak, catcher Rene Rivera and pitchers Elmer Dessens, Nelson Figueroa, Casey Fossum, Kyle Snyder and Jon Switzer.

In addition to Kunz, Figueroa, Evans and Niese, infielder Argenis Reyes, pitcher Carlos Muniz and catcher Robinson Cancel also made it to the Mets in 2008. Reyes played in 49 games for the Mets after signing with the team as a free agent before last season. Muniz has pitched for the big club in each of the last two campaigns, striking out 16 batters in 18 outings last year. A product of Long Beach State’s heralded baseball program, Muniz was Binghamton’s team MVP in 2007. And cracking the majors for the second time in his career, Cancel played in 27 games with the Mets in a year ago.

OBERKFELL AT THE HELM – A World Series champion with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1982, Ken Oberkfell begins his first season as Bisons manager. Oberkfell comes to WNY after serving as first base coach in Flushing for the latter portion of last year. The 52-year old began 2008 as the manager in New Orleans, then New York’s Triple-A affiliate. A veteran of 16 Major League seasons, Oberkfell is in his 12th season as a skipper.

Oberkfell will be joined in the dugout this season by coaches Luis Natera, Ricky Bones and Robert Malek. Natera has worked his way through the Mets system, serving as hitting coach in AA Binghamton last year. Bones joined Natera in the Southern Tier, instructing pitchers for the B-Mets since 2007. Malek finished his playing career last season at AA Jacksonville (Dodgers). He reached Triple-A with the Mets in 2006. Brian Chicklo will serve as the Bisons trainer. Ken Coward will be in charge of strength and conditioning.

The Bisons open the 2009 season today at 3:05 against the Pawtucket Red Sox. The Herd will play at home through April 16th before heading on the road for a week and returning to Coca-Cola Field April 24th.