[DG18]

2025 Opening Day Roster:
(Age, B/T, 2024 Stats)

Starting Rotation:
Min-ho Lee (28, R, 166.0 IP, 1.46 ERA, 137 K, 0.86 WHIP, 4.6 WAR) - Lee returns as the defending ERA champion of the USBL, but the biggest question will always be if he can stay healthy. The South Korean knuckleballer made 27 starts last season, but he was frequently pulled from games early and made a few trips to the Injured List.

Sergio Torres (29, L, 180.2 IP, 3.14 ERA, 100 K, 1.30 WHIP, 2.4 WAR for BOI & STL) - Torres is not a strikeout pitcher, but last season he allowed only 161 hits in 180.2 innings pitched for the Bobcats and Shockers. His ability to initiate weak contact will be crucial, but if he can do that he should be a solid starter at the top of the rotation.

Andy Castillo (25, R, 170.2 IP, 5.43 ERA, 110 K, 1.68 WHIP, 0.7 WAR) - The young Venezuelan led baseball in losses, as he posted a dismal 3-18 record in 2024. Despite a rough start to his career, Castillo may still have some potential as a starter, as his 95+ fastball and good mix of pitches can keep hitters guessing. One thing to improve on will definitely be control, as Castillo walked 92 batters last year.

Curt Koonts (27, R, 75.2 IP, 2.14 ERA, 64 K, 1.35 WHIP, 0.4 WAR) - After spending all of last year in the bullpen where he accumulated 14 saves, Curt Koonts will begin the year as our #4 starter. Koonts was excellent in relief last year, but the question will now be if he can get through the lineup multiple times as a starter.

Jimmy Embleton (23, R, 23.0 IP, 1.57 ERA, 20 K, 1.17 WHIP, 0.1 WAR) - Embleton received a mid-season call up and had success immediately, but a shoulder injury cost him about two months at the end of the year. He showed promise with a 3.53 ERA in AAA, so hopefully the big righty can now have a successful first full season in the USBL.

Bullpen:
Julio Lambruschini (40, R, 148.0 IP, 6.02 ERA, 50 K, 1.61 WHIP, 0.2 WAR) - All you need to do is look at Lambruschini's stats to see that the 40-year old is over the hill. Unfortunately, his vesting option makes it much cheaper to keep him around this year than cut him now. Lambruschini was actually decent in his limited time pitching out of relief, so hopefully he can at least be a serviceable long reliever.

Marcos Archuleta (25, R, 21.1 IP, 22 K, 1.69 WHIP, -0.5 WAR) - Archuleta was electric in AAA last year (2.18 ERA, 27 saves), but never found a rhythm in Columbus. He'll get another chance to start this year with the big league club, where he'll try to improve on last year's cup of coffee.

Steve Steen (29, R, 70.0 IP, 3.86 ERA, 60 K, 1.34 WHIP, 0.0 WAR) - Steen was nothing more than an average middle reliever last year, and he'll pick up that role again in 2024.

Jake Jones (30, R, 58.1 IP, 4.47 ERA, 70 K, 1.35 WHIP, 0.6 WAR) - Jones got off to a great start in 2024 before a few rough outings in a row inflated his stats. If needed, Jones could serve as a spot starter, although Lambruschini would probably have the first crack at that role.

Dylan Daniels (34, R, 64.1 IP, 1.82 ERA, 66 K, 0.95 WHIP, 2.2 WAR with STL & SA) - Daniels spent the first half of last season as a strong set up man in St. Louis, before saving 9 games for San Antonio to finish the year. Daniels is a good option at the end of games, as his fastball/changeup combo will keep hitters off balance. His control is also excellent, as he walked just 8 batters last year.

Jeremy Townsend (28, L, 63.1 IP, 2.98 ERA, 93 K, 1.15 WHIP, 0.9 WAR with RI) - The lone lefty in our bullpen, Townsend throws hard and features a great cutter and slider. While he is wild (4.8 BB/9), he also strikes out a ton of batters and doesn't give up many hits.

Ramon Salazar (31, R, 66.1 IP, 2.98 ERA, 68 K, 1.21 WHIP, 1.3 WAR with ORE) - Salazar had a great spring, and will open the season as our closer. The veteran is coming off a nice season with Oregon, and his postseason experience should help out the rest of our pitching staff.

Catchers:
C Michael Decker (28, R, .235/.292/.328, 3 HR, 24 RBI, 0.4 WAR with LA and COL) - Decker is a decent backup and great behind the plate, but his weak bat holds him back.

C/1B Pedro Guzman (32, R, .247/.339/.391, 11 HR, 54 RBI, 2.7 WAR with TUL) - Guzman isn't quite as good defensively as Decker, but his ability to take walks and hit for extra bases (30 doubles in 2024) makes him a valuable asset.

Infielders:
1B Jose Ariza (40, R, .230/.301/.367, 13 HR, 56 RBI, -0.5 WAR) - The Cuban veteran really slowed down at the end of last year, and he will be on a short leash if this year starts poorly. At this point, his greatest value is as a strong clubhouse presence.

2B Manny Batres (35, R, .267/.362/.374, 7 HR, 41 RBI, 2.1 WAR with NY) - Batres should provide a huge boost to our middle infield defense, and although he doesn't hit for any power, his .362 OBP was very solid for a second baseman.

2B Jordan Limas (27, R, .247/.295/.382, 6 HR, 37 RBI, -0.1 WAR) - Limas loses his starting role heading into 2025, as he never got things going at the plate last year. He did hit 11 triples last year, but has just been too inconsistent to be a solid regular in the lineup.

3B Corey Neu (30, R, .240/.343/.417, 18 HR, 59 RBI, 2.4 WAR with ORE and COL) - After getting off to a hot start after last season's trade, Neu went cold in July and August before picking things up to close the season. He has the chance to be a high-OBP guy with walks, but last year his average hovered around .200 for a while during a cold stretch.

SS Tony Palacios (31, R, .252/.295/.360, 8 HR, 57 RBI, 1.1 WAR) - Palacios was great in the field last season, but his lack of hitting resulted in a move to the bottom of the order late last year. His 39 doubles led the team, but otherwise he produced little at the plate.

Outfielders:
CF Adan Corella (23, L, .273/.357/.376, 8 HR, 49 RBI, 3.9 WAR in AAA) - The 23-year old finds himself as the Opening Day center fielder after a great 2024 campaign in Triple A. Corella is a great baserunner and defender, but we'll see if his hitting can remain solid in the big leagues.

RF/DH Myles Fenty (42, R, .254/.363/.572, 27 HR, 49 RBI, 2.3 WAR) - Fenty led the USBL in home runs halfway through the year, but his season was cut short with a knee injury. It might be difficult keeping the 42-year old healthy, so he will see most of his playing time as the designated hitter.

LF/IF Ron Goldman (28, R, .272/.341/.403, 9 HR, 77 RBI, 2.8 WAR with NY) - Goldman can play just about anywhere on the field, but we're expecting him to begin the year in left field at the top of the lineup. He has little power, but did steal 17 bases while getting caught just 5 times.

RF Ben Grates (25, L, .268/.341/.493, 16 HR, 38 RBI, 2.0 WAR) - Grates had a terrible first month in the USBL, but he ended up being by far our best hitter by the end of the season. His combination of power and speed makes him an exciting player, and if he builds on last season he could be a future star.

CF William Lizarraga (27, R, .251/.312/.327, 2 HR, 57 RBI, 1.7 WAR) - Lizarraga won a Great Glove Award in center field last year, but that was his only real success as he was terrible at the plate for most of the season. He will open the season on the bench against right-handed pitching, but he should still see plenty of opportunities as a pinch runner and defensive replacement.

LF Alex Roberts (29, R, .259/.335/.387, 7 HR, 34 RBI, 0.5 WAR) - Roberts was great after recovering from a concussion at the beginning of last year, but three separate injuries interrupted his season. He really struggled after breaking his thumb in August, and will start this year on the bench as a fourth outfielder.