Little Rock, AR – The Arkansas Travelers Organization has announced its tentative 2015 Opening Day roster to be led by Manager Bill Richardson, Pitching Coach Pat Rice and Hitting Coach Tom Tornincasa. The Travs welcome back 11 players (four position players, seven pitchers) from the 2014 Texas League North Second Half Champion roster, including All-Star infielder Brian Hernandez and All-Star pitcher Danny Reynolds.
The tentative opening day roster features three of MLB’s Top 20 Angels Prospects: LHP Nate Smith (8th), RHP Trevor Gott (15th) and RHP Kyle McGowin (17th). McGowin was also ranked as the Angels’ number 10 prospect according to Baseball America.
Eight 2014 League All-Stars will start the season with the Travs: Hernandez (Arkansas), INF/OF Drew Maggi (Altoona), Reynolds (Arkansas), LHP Tyler DeLoach (Inland Empire), RHP Trevor Gott (Lake Elsinore), Smith (Inland Empire), RHP Kurt Spomer (Inland Empire) and OF Chad Hinshaw (Burlington). The roster also boasts three of MiLB.com’s 2014 Angels Organizational All-Stars: DeLoach, Hinshaw and INF Sherman Johnson.
Hernandez, 26, was selected in the 27th round of the 2011 draft by the Angels. The infielder hit .308 with seven home runs, 25 doubles and 60 RBI in 119 games with the Travs last season.
Maggi, 25, hit .280 with three home runs, 25 RBI and 37 stolen bases in 110 games with AA-Altoona (Pirates) in the Eastern League. The utility player was signed by the Angels, along with his brother Beau, in March of 2015.
Reynolds, 23, was selected in the sixth round of the 2009 draft by the Angels. The righty went 4-2 with a 2.90 ERA in 42 combined relief appearances between Inland Empire, Arkansas and Salt Lake. Reynolds struck out 63 batters in 62 innings.
DeLoach, 23, made six starts for the Travs in 2014 and went 4-0 with a 2.29 ERA over 35.1 innings. Prior to his promotion to Arkansas, the Roanoke Rapids, NC native appeared in 21 games (19 starts) for Inland Empire and posted a 10-4 record with a 3.21 ERA in 112 innings. DeLoach struck out 161 total batters over 147.1 innings between the two levels.
Gott, 22, is the youngest Travs player on the roster. After being selected in the sixth round of the 2013 draft by San Diego, Gott was traded along with RHP Huston Street to the Angels in July of last year. In 13 relief appearances with the Travs, the Lexington, KY native went 2-1 with a 1.56 ERA.
Smith, 23, was taken by the Angels in the eighth round of the 2013 draft out of Furman University. The southpaw split his 2014 between Inland Empire and Arkansas, making 10 starts for the 66ers (6-3, 3.07) and 11 for the Travs (5-3, 2.89). The West Chester, OH native struck out exactly one batter per inning (118 IP) and is one of four lefty pitchers on the Travs tentative roster.
Spomer, 25, pitched as high as AAA-Salt Lake last year, going a combined 7-6 with a 2.17 ERA and eight saves over 52 relief appearances for Inland Empire, Arkansas and Salt Lake. The Omaha, NE native did not surrender an earned run over 10 innings of work in the Pacific Coast League. He also posted a 1.79 ERA over 32 games with Inland Empire.
Hinshaw, 24, hit .270 with 16 homes runs, 70 RBI, 27 doubles, 11 triples and 41 stolen bases and scored 100 runs in 124 games between Burlington and Inland Empire. The Bloomington, IL native was taken by the Angels in the 15th round of the 2013 draft out of Illinois State.
Johnson, 24, was selected in the 14th round of the 2012 draft out Florida State. The Tampa, FL native hit .276 with 17 home runs, 78 RBI, 23 doubles, 13 triples and 26 stolen bases, and scored 107 runs in 136 games. Johnson led the California League in triples, was second with 88 walks (.382 OBP) and finished third in runs.
Other returning Travs include catcher Anthony Bemboom (’13), infielder Mike Snyder, infielder Eric Stamets, and pitchers RH Michael Brady, Gott, McGowin, and Reynolds.
The Travelers will also welcome four first-time Angels. Outfielder Kentrail Davis (Milwaukee), RHP Nate Hyatt (Atlanta), Maggi (Pittsburgh) and OF D’Arby Myers (Oakland) will each play their first games in the Angels’ system.
Three 2015 Travs bring Triple-A experience to the roster. RHP Michael Brady, Reynolds and Spomer each pitched for the Salt Lake Bees last year.
The Travs will feature players born in 15 different states.
Tallest: LHP Tyler DeLoach 6’6”
Shortest: OF Kentrail Davis 5’9”
Oldest: RHP Michael Brady (28)
Youngest: RHP Trevor Gott (22)
Richardson begins his first year with the Travelers after spending the last two seasons managing in Burlington and Orem, both within the Angels organization. The Sacramento, CA native spent 2008-2012 managing in the Rangers system, and sports a 394-347 career record in seven minor league seasons. Richardson guided the 2014 Burlington Bees to the Midwest League playoffs, and saw his 2011 Hickory Crawdads finish with the best record in the South Atlantic League. Richardson also managed the 2013 Mesa Solar Sox to a 19-11 record and first place finish in the Arizona Fall League. In addition to his seven minor league seasons as manager, Richardson coached high school baseball in California from 1982-1990 (San Juan HS), 1996-2002 (Del Campo HS), and 2005-2008 (Bella Vista HS).
The Travs will begin the season on the road at Frisco on Thursday, April 9th, with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m. The 2015 home opener is scheduled for Thursday, April 16th at 7:10 p.m. vs. Frisco at Dickey-Stephens Park. Season tickets, group tickets, mini-plans and single game tickets are available by calling (501) 664-7559, logging on to www.travs.com or by stopping by the Dickey-Stephens Park Box Office.
For media and photo inquiries email Robbie Aaron (Robbie@Travs.com) or call (516) 524-4261. Media Day is scheduled for Tuesday, April 7th from 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. at Dickey-Stephens Park.
2015 Tentative Opening Day Roster
Pitchers
RHP Michael Brady
RHP Alan Busenitz
LHP Tyler DeLoach
RHP Trevor Gott
RHP Nate Hyatt
RHP Kyle McGowin
LHP Chris O’Grady
RHP Danny Reynolds
RHP Eduard Santos
LHP Nate Smith
RHP Curt Spomer
RHP Albert Suarez
RHP Austin Wood
Position Players
C Anthony Bemboom
C Zach Wright
INF Brian Hernandez
INF Wade Hinkle
INF Sherman Johnson
INF Mike Snyder
INF Eric Stamets
INF / OF Drew Maggi
OF Kentrail Davis
OF Chad Hinshaw
OF D’Arby Myers
OF Cal Towey
Staff
Manager – Bill Richardson
Pitching Coach – Pat Rice
Hitting Coach – Tom Tornincasa
Trainer – Greg Spence
Strength & Conditioning Coach – Andrew Chappell
