Gwinnett Stripers Announce 2018 Opening Day Roster
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. - The Gwinnett Stripers, in conjunction with the Atlanta Braves, have announced their Opening Day roster for the 2018 season. Second-year manager Damon Berryhill will lead a Gwinnett club that includes three members of MLB.com's Top 100 Prospects list, each just 20 years old: Outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr.
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. - The Gwinnett Stripers, in conjunction with the Atlanta Braves, have announced their Opening Day roster for the 2018 season. Second-year manager Damon Berryhill will lead a Gwinnett club that includes three members of MLB.com's Top 100 Prospects list, each just 20 years old: Outfielder
The Stripers are led by Berryhill, pitching coach Reid Cornelius (second season), hitting coach John Moses (fourth season), coach Jose Mota (third full season), certified athletic trainer Nick Jensen (first season) and strength and conditioning coach Jason Curry (fifth season).
Gwinnett Stripers Opening Day Roster (As of April 5, 2018):
RH Pitchers (8):
LH Pitchers (4): Kolby Allard,
Catchers (2):
Infielders (5): Christian Colón,
Outfielders (5): Ronald Acuna Jr.,
Disabled List (3): OF
Acuna Jr. is also rated the No. 1 prospect in baseball by Baseball America after earning that publication's Minor League Player of the Year award for 2017. Last season, the La Guaira, Venezuela native combined to bat .325 with 21 home runs, 82 RBIs, 44 stolen bases and a Minor League Baseball-high 181 hits in 139 games between Advanced-A Florida, Double-A Mississippi and Triple-A Gwinnett. After earning the Most Valuable Player Award in the Arizona Fall League last November, he had an impressive Spring Training as a Braves' non-roster invitee, batting .432 with four homers, 11 RBIs and four stolen bases in 16 games.
Soroka, rated Atlanta's No. 3 prospect by MLB.com, earned the Braves' Phil Niekro Award for Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2017 after going 11-8 with a 2.75 ERA in 26 starts for Mississippi. He made three appearances as a Braves' non-roster invitee this spring, posting a 1.80 ERA and a .125 BAA. Soroka was selected by Atlanta in the first round (28th overall) of the 2015 June draft out of Bishop Carroll High School in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Allard, rated Atlanta's No. 6 prospect by MLB.com, went 8-11 with a 3.18 ERA in 27 starts for Mississippi last season, earning selection to the Southern League Postseason All-Star team. As a Braves' non-roster invitee this spring, he pitched 3.0 scoreless, hitless innings over two appearances. Allard was selected by Atlanta in the first round (14th overall) of the 2015 June draft out of San Clemente High School in California.
Not included on MLB.com's Top 100 Prospects list but ranked No. 16 in the Atlanta system, outfielder
Acuna and Peterson headline a group of 15 players on Gwinnett's Opening Day roster who spent time with the club last year.
Returning position players include two winners of Gwinnett Team Awards in 2017: Co-Most Valuable Player
Infielder
Lawrenceville native
Soroka and Allard are the only two members of the Opening Day roster poised to make their Triple-A debuts, but they are two of nine players who will make their Gwinnett debuts in 2018.
Other newcomers include pitchers
Gwinnett's Opening Day roster features 12 players who saw time with a Major League team in 2017: Blair, Brothers, Ruiz, Santana, Sims and Wisler with Atlanta, and Brantly (Chicago White Sox), Carrera (Toronto), Colón (Kansas City and Miami), Decker (Oakland), Smith (Seattle) and Socolovich (St. Louis) with other clubs.
The Gwinnett Stripers open the 2018 season with a road game on Friday, April 6 at 7:05 p.m. vs. the Norfolk Tides. Soroka will make his Triple-A debut as the Stripers' Opening Day starter. Tony Schiavone has the play-by-play call on 97.7 FM The Other Side of the River beginning at 6:35 p.m.
The Stripers' home opener at Coolray Field is set for Thursday, April 12 at 7:05 p.m. vs. the Rochester Red Wings. For tickets, call 678-277-0340 or visit GoStripers.com/tickets.