BINGHAMTON, NY – TheBinghamton Mets have announced their 2012 Opening Day roster in preparation oftheir 21st season in the Southern Tier.
The B-Mets clubhouse ishighlighted by a strong pitching staff, led by top Mets’ prospect RHP ZackWheeler. Wheeler, ranked first in the Mets’ system by Baseball America, was acquired from the San Francisco Giants inexchange for Carlos Beltran last July. He went 7-5 with a 3.99 ERA in 16 gameswith the San Jose Giants (High-A) and finished his season with six games withthe St. Lucie Mets (High-A).
Wheeler will be joinedin the starting rotation by RHP Collin McHugh, LHP Darin Gorski and RHP GregPeavey. McHugh, last year’s B-Mets Pitcher of the Year, will make the start onOpening Night against the Akron Aeros. Gorski comes to Binghamton after going11-3 with a 2.08 ERA with the St. Lucie Mets last year. The southpaw earnedFlorida State League Pitcher of the Year honors and was named the Sterling OrganizationalPitcher of the Year as the top hurler in the Mets’ system. Peavey split lastseason, his first as a pro, between the Savannah Sand Gnats (Low-A) and St.Lucie.
The B-Mets pen ischock-full of talented relievers. LHP Robert Carson will move from the startingrotation, where he went 4-11 with a 5.05 ERA last year, to the bullpen. He’llbe joined by RHP Brad Holt, LHP Josh Edgin, RHP Kevin Mulvey, RHP EdgarRamirez, RHP Elvin Ramirez, RHP Armando Rodriguez and RHP Erik Turgeon.
Behind the dish KaiGronauer returns to Binghamton after logging 52 games as catcher with theB-Mets last year. C Juan Centeno, a native of Puerto Rico, arrives in theSouthern Tier after spending all of 2011 with St. Lucie.
On the infield, 1BAllan Dykstra returns after a career-year last season. The San Diego native setcareer-highs in batting average and home runs and was named the B-Mets MostInspirational Player of the Year. He’ll be joined by 3B Eric Campbell, INF SeanKazmar, INF Oswaldo Navarro, UT Travis Ozga, INF Josh Rodriguez and 3B JefryMarte.
In the outfield, CFMatt den Dekker leads a talented group. Den Dekker slugged 11 home runs last seasonin 72 games with Binghamton and put up highlight-reel defense in center. He’llbe flanked by Juan Lagares, Raul Reyes and Pedro Zapata.
The B-Mets will be ledby first-year manager Pedro Lopez. Lopez, a native of Puerto Rico, is in hisfifth year with the Mets’ organization. After a 13-year playing career, hemanaged for six years in the Texas Rangers system and joined the Mets in 2008.He has managed the Kingsport Mets (R), Brooklyn Cyclones (SS-A), Savannah SandGnats (Low-A) and St. Lucie Mets (High-A). Lopez led the St. Lucie club all theway to the Florida State League Championship Series last year.
Lopez will be aided bysixth-year hitting coach Luis Natera and first-year pitching coach GlennAbbott. Natera has worked in various capacities in the Mets system since 1992,while Abbott is in his second year with the Mets. This season mark’s Abbott’s23rd as a pitching coach in the minor leagues. He spent 11 yearspitching in the Major Leagues with the Oakland A’s, Seattle Mariners andDetroit Tigers.
The B-Mets start the2012 campaign tonight when they host the Akron Aeros at 6:35 PM. Tickets forOpening Day and all other B-Mets’ home game may be purchased throughwww.bmets.com, over the phone by calling (607) 723-METS (6387), or in person atNYSEG Stadium during normal business hours.
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