Generals' 2013 Opening Day Roster Announced

JACKSON, TENN. (April 3, 2013) - The Jackson Generals, Double-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners, are excited to release their Opening Day roster for 2013. The group is highlighted by five members of the Seattle Mariners 40-man roster, seven returners from the Generals 2012 North Division Championship team, and 11 of the Top-30 prospects in the Seattle Mariners organization, according to Baseball America.

The 2013 roster includes players that contributed to the Major League club in spring training. Those included position players Abraham Almonte, Vinnie Catricala, John Hicks, Francisco Martinez, Brad Miller, Julio Morban and pitchers Jonathan Arias, Tyler Burgoon, Stephen Kohscheen, Hector Noesi, Chance Ruffin, Carson Smith and Taijuan Walker.

Leading the charge for the Generals is starter and MLB.com's No. 5 overall prospect, RHP Taijuan Walker. In 2012, the 20-year-old was named to the Southern League All-Star team. Walker was key for Jackson in the playoffs last season posting a 0.71 ERA in two starts, with 13 strikeouts. Walker is listed as the Mariners No. 1 prospect by Baseball Prospectus and No. 2 by Baseball America. He enters the season as the No. 2 ranked right-handed pitching prospect by MLB.com.

In addition, Mariners 2012 Heart and Soul Award recipient INF Brad Miller (#9 Mariners prospect) returns to Jackson after an impressive 2012 season and 2013 spring. In 2012, he batted .334 with 110 runs, 40 doubles, 7 triples, 15 home runs and 68 RBI in 136 games combined between High Desert and Jackson. His 186 hits ranked 2nd amongst all minor leaguers. Miller batted played in 21 Major League spring games and batted .255 with a homerun, four doubles, two triples and six RBI.

Experience in the rotation will come from starters RHP Hector Noesi and RHP Chance Ruffin. Each have made appearances at the Major League level. Noesi made 30 relief appearances for the New York Yankees in 2011 and made 22 appearances (18 starts) for the Mariners last season. Ruffin made two relief appearances for the Detroit Tigers and 13 for Seattle in 2011. Filling out the rest of the rotation will be Walker and lefties Roenis Elias, and James Gillheeney.

RHP Carson Smith (#16 Mariners prospect) will look to repeat his 2012 success in 2013. While in High Desert (A+), Smith's record was 5-1, with a 2.90 ERA and 15 saves in 62 innings, with 77 strikeouts.

Former LSU two-sport athlete, OF Leon Landry (#17), will play for the Generals. In 2012, the 23-year-old stole 27 bases, batted .341 with 13 HRs, 34 doubles, 18 triples, off of 153 hits in 104 games for Rancho Cucamonga (LAD, A+) and High Desert. 

Prospect Jack Marder (#20) will play infield for the Generals after posting a .360 batting average in High Desert as well as, 10 HRs, 56 RBIs and 16 stolen bases. Marder was drafted in 2011 by the Mariners in the 16th round after prepping at the University of Oregon. Marder has played 83 minor league games for the Mariners organization.

2012 High Desert catcher, and University of Virginia alum John Hicks will begin the 2013 season in Jackson. After hitting .312, 79 RBIs, 15 bombs and 22 stolen bases in 121 games, Hicks looks to add speed and stability to line-up and behind the plate.

2011 Mariners minor league player of the year, Vinnie Catricala (#26), will play infield for the Generals. In 2011, Catricala played 62 games for the Generals and hit .347, 11 HRs,  45 RBIs, and 1.052 on-base percentage. In 2012, Catricala played for Tacoma (AAA).

2013 Generals that made an appearace for Jackson last season include: RHP Jonathan Arias, LHP James Gillheeney, RHP Andrew Kittredge, RHP Stephen Kohlscheen, RHP Forrest Snow, Walker,  INF Leury Bonilla, Miller, INF Gabriel Noriega, INF Steven Proscia, and OF Francisco Martinez.

Other Mariners top prospects on the 2013 Generals roster include: Francisco Martinez (#22), Julio Morban (#23), Chance Ruffin (#27), and Anthony Fernandez (#30).

Overall, the Generals have only nine players who have not played Double-A or above. The list consists of pitchers Tyler Burgoon, Roenis Elias, Carson Smith, John Hicks, Jack Marder, James Jones, Leon Landry, and Julio Morban.

Opening the season on the Jackson disabled list are RHP Moises Hernandez, LHP Anthony Fernandez and OF Mickey Wiswall.

The Generals open the 2013 season tomorrow night in Jacksonville, Fla, against the Suns (Marlins) at 6:05 p.m. The home opener at The Ballpark in Jackson is April 10 against the Montgomery Biscuits (Rays).

Games during the 2013 season can be heard on the new flagship radio station, 96.5 ESPN Radio, jacksongeneralsbaseball.com or the Jackson Generals TuneIn Radio station.

Fans may continue to purchase the new 13-game pyro pack featuring all of the Firework Shows in 2013 for only $75. Group and season ticket packages are also on sale at the Ticket Office, or by calling 988-5299. 

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