Top 30 Middle Infield Prospects Headline 2023 Dust Devils Opening Day Roster
The Tri-City Dust Devils, proud High-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels, released their 2023 Opening Day roster Tuesday as part of their ongoing preparations for their 22nd season. The new edition of the Dust Devils includes two infielders marked as Top 30 prospects in the Angels organization by MLB
The Tri-City Dust Devils, proud High-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels, released their 2023 Opening Day roster Tuesday as part of their ongoing preparations for their 22nd season.
The new edition of the Dust Devils includes two infielders marked as Top 30 prospects in the Angels organization by MLB Pipeline, Adrian Placencia (#9 prospect) and Arol Vera (#29 prospect). Placencia and Vera headed up the middle infield for Single-A Inland Empire in 2022, where their contributions in the field and at the plate helped the 66ers win the California League’s second-half South Division title.
The pitching staff will also see some new faces, looking to repeat the success on the mound of the 2022 Tri-City staff. Big righties Jack Kochanowicz and Connor Van Scoyoc will make the jump from Single-A Inland Empire, with Van Scoyoc coming off a breakout season in which he won 11 games (tied for second at the Single-A level) and struck out 140 (third in Single-A).
Righties Chase Chaney, who had a 2.77 ERA over 91 innings of work both starting and relieving, and Kelvin Caceres, who held California League hitters to a .170 average, also make the jump from Single-A. As well, southpaw Sammy Natera and righthander Bryce Osmond are scheduled to make their professional debuts with the Dust Devils in 2023.
19 players from the 2022 squad return to the Tri-Cities alongside the newcomers, such as outfielder D’Shawn Knowles, who had a strong performance for Great Britain in the World Baseball Classic, and infielder Gabe Matthews, who led the team in several offensive categories including home runs (14), RBI (64) and doubles (26).
Pitchers returning include two Northwest League Pitchers of the Week in 2022: Robinson Piña, who had double-digit strikeouts twice against the NWL champion Eugene Emeralds, and lefty Nick Mondak, who threw five perfect innings in an August start at Vancouver. Relievers Dakota Donovan (tied for team lead with 6 saves) and Emilker Guzman (1.98 ERA in 50 IP) have also made their way back for 2023, helping bolster the bullpen on the back end.
The Dust Devils will play a 132-game schedule in the Northwest League, beginning with a three-game visit from the Hillsboro Hops this coming Thursday-Saturday, April 6-8 at Gesa Stadium.
Thursday’s opener will also mark a historic occasion in professional baseball, as Hops manager Ronnie Gajownik will become the first woman to lead a minor league team at the High-A level.
For tickets for both Opening Night and the weekend’s series, visit dustdevilsbaseball.com, the Gesa Stadium office from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., or call the office at (509) 544-8789.