Travs Unveil Initial 2018 Roster

The Seattle Mariners have announced the preliminary roster for the Arkansas Travelers 2018 season, their second as the Mariners' Double-A affiliate. 25 players comprise the team; 13 pitchers and 12 hitters.
Highlighting the list are six of the Mariners' top 30 prospects according to MLB Pipeline with two ranking in the top 10. Outfielder Braden Bishop (5) and relief pitcher Art Warren (8) both had impressive 2017 campaigns including appearances in the prestigious Arizona Fall League before opening eyes as non-roster invitees to big league Spring Training this year. Other Travs included in MLB Pipeline's top 30 for the Mariners organization are pitchers Anthony Misiewicz (19), Chase De Jong (21) and Darin Gillies (26) as well as outfielder Chuck Taylor (28).
18 members of the ballclub have played in Double-A before with 11 playing for the Travs last season. The returning names include Bishop, Misiewicz, De Jong, Gillies and Taylor in addition to pitchers Lindsey Caughel and Andrew Moore, infielders Adam Law, Chris Mariscal and Seth Mejias-Brean and outfielder Dario Pizzano.
Moore, the Travs Opening Night starter last year, and De Jong, the 2016 Texas League Pitcher of the Year with Tulsa, spent time at three levels in 2017 including their first taste of the Major Leagues. On the mound for Seattle, Moore appeared 11 times with nine starts while De Jong had seven appearances with four starts.
The seven players with previous Double-A experience from other organizations are pitchers Johendí Jiminian and Stephen Parakslis, catcher Joe Odom, infielders Joey Curletta and Yonathan Mendoza and outfielders Beau Amaral and Andrew Aplin.
There are seven players who will be receiving their first exposure to Double-A including pitchers Nathan Bannister, Spencer Herrmann, Scott Kuzminsky, Joe Pistorese, Matt Walker, Art Warren and catcher Joe DeCarlo. Six of those players are among 10 on this roster who won the California League Chamionship last season playing for Seattle's Class-A affiliate in Modesto, Calif.
Leading the team will be Manager Daren Brown, Hitting Coach Roy Howell, Pitching Coach Ethan Katz and Asst. Hitting/Mental Skills Coach Jimmy Van Ostrand. They are joined on the staff by Athletic Trainer B. J. Downie and Performance Coach Andy Lyon.
Click here to see the full roster!
In preparation for the season opener, the Travs will hold workouts at Dickey-Stephens Park. Wednesday's workout beginning at approximately 5:00 p.m. will be free and open to the public. The Arkansas Travelers then open the 2018 season this Thursday, April 5, at home against the San Antonio Missions. First pitch is set for 7:10. Single game tickets for all games are available either online at travs.com or by calling (501)-664-7559.