Dodgers Name 2018 Loons Roster

MIDLAND, Mich. - In conjunction with the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Great Lakes Loons are pleased to announce the team's preliminary roster for the 2018 season. The Opening Day roster will be finalized prior to Thursday's game against the Lansing Lugnuts at Dow Diamond. First pitch is at 6:05 p.m. with gates opening at 4 p.m.
PITCHERS (14):James Carter, Max Gamboa, Austin Hamilton, Devin Hemmerich, Dan Jagiello, Melvin Jimenez, Marshall Kasowski, Wills Montgomerie, Riley Ottesen, Zach Pop, Andre Scrubb, Edwin Uceta, Jesus Vargas, Aneurys Zabala 
CATCHERS (3):Garrett Hope, Gersel Pitre, Ramon Rodriguez
INFIELDERS (6):Marcus Chiu, Zach McKinstry, Brandon Montgomery, Moises Perez, Jared Walker, Nick Yarnall
OUTFIELDERS (5):Romer Cuadrado, Starling Heredia, Brayan Morales, Zach Reks, Carlos Rincon
Some notes regarding the 2018 roster:
•   19 players spent a portion of the 2017 season with Great Lakes
•   16 players contributed to the Rookie-level Ogden Raptors Pioneer League Championship in 2017
•   9 players were drafted by the Dodgers in the 2017 First-Year MLB Draft
•   12 players make their offseason homes outside the United States (5 Dominican Republic, 4 Venezuela, 2 Puerto Rico, 1 Canada)
•   Right-handed pitcher Aneurys Zabala & outfielders Starling Heredia & Carlos Rincon all grew up in Santo Domingo, DR
•   2017 Midwest League Home Run Derby Champion Carlos Rincon returns for the Loons
•   Outfield slugger Romer Cuadrado, 20, hit .335/.413/.523 with nine home runs and 60 RBI for Rookie-level Ogden last year
•   Zach McKinstry is the lone holdover from the 2016 Midwest League Championship team; also attended Central Michigan
•   Right-handed pitcher Zach Pop & outfielder Zach Reks both attended Kentucky; we're drafted three rounds apart (7th, 10th)
John Shoemaker returns as Loons manager for the 2018 season. "Shoe" guided the Loons through the 2011-12 seasons and is entering his 42nd season in the Dodgers organization and 25th season as a minor league manager. Shoemaker spent last season with the Rookie-level AZL Dodgers. Drafted by the Dodgers in the 35th round of the 1977 draft, the 61-year-old has been with the club ever since; as a player (1977-80), manager, coach and coordinator. During his two seasons in the Loons' dugout, Shoemaker compiled a 139-140 (.498) record before he was appointed the Dodgers' "Captain" of Player Development in 2015.
Back for a second stint as the team's pitching coach will be Bobby Cuellar. After helping the Loons win their first Midwest League Championship in franchise history in 2016, the veteran coach spent last year in Utah with the Ogden Raptors. It will be Cuellar's fourth season with the Dodgers organization. Jair Fernandez will be entering his third season with the Dodgers organization and his second with the Loons as the team's hitting coach. Seth Conner is set to begin his first year coaching with the Dodgers and will serve as the team's assistant coach. 
Chris McNeely will serve as the team's athletic trainer, while Noah Huff joins the Loons for the upcoming season as the performance coach. Kushal Patel is the video coordinator.
Returning for their fourth season in the radio booth for ESPN 100.9-FM will be Chris Vosters and Brad Tunney. All 140 Loons games can be heard on ESPN 100.9-FM, ESPN1009.com, Loons.com and on your mobile device using the TuneIn App. Along with the radio broadcast, all 70 Loons home games and select road games are streamed digitally via MiLB.TV.
The Great Lakes Loons have been the Single-A partner of the Los Angeles Dodgers since the team's inception in 2007. Dow Diamond serves as the team's home and also houses the Michigan Baseball Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit public charity, and ESPN 100.9-FM. For tickets or information about the Loons, call 989-837-BALL or visit Loons.com.