This Team Bites: Blog of the Crystal Lake Sandgnats

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Re: This Team Bites: Blog of the Crystal Lake Sandgnats

#46 Post by Sandgnats »

This Team Bites: Blog of the Crystal Lake Sandgnats

Gnats Sign All But One Arbitration Eligible Player with Orlando Barrón signing (26/7)
By: Stephanie Dole
November 11, 2026 at 9:50 PM CST
The Gnats and SS Orlando Barrón have announced an agreement to avoid arbitration with a 1-year $5.75 million dollar deal. Barrón enters his last year of team control with a pedestrian 2026 campaign, posting a disappointing .319 OPB down from .358 OPB last season. The Gnats expect better numbers from its lead-off man, closer to his career average of .340. With free agency on the horizon, Barrón will feel the pressure to perform in 2027.

Barrón was a 2020 international free agent signing by the Sandgnats. He was traded to the Rio Grande organization at the end of the 2020 season and then traded the Yuma in 2022. Barrón finished 2nd in 2022 PEBA SL Wunderkind Award voting. He remained with Yuma until returning in the 2025 mid-season trade that brought him back to the Gnats, this time as starting shortstop. The hope was that he could fill the loss felt when SS Juan Hernández signed a record high 6-year 226.5 million dollar deal with Duluth. The new GM of Duluth was able to see the folly of that contract and promptly unloaded Hernandez to Kalamazoo.

The only remaining arbitration eligible player left that has not signed is RP Dave Jones. Jones had a down season this year with an ERA that ticked upward to 3.86 from career best numbers in 2025. The Gnats and his agent have yet to come to an agreement and arbitration looks likely.
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Re: This Team Bites: Blog of the Crystal Lake Sandgnats

#47 Post by Sandgnats »

This Team Bites: Blog of the Crystal Lake Sandgnats

Crystal Lake Announced Minor League Players of the Year 2026 (26/8)
By: Stephanie Dole
November 11, 2026 at 10:55 PM CST
Minor League Hitter of the Year: 1B Will Smith AA Brampton

Will Smith was drafted in the 2020 first-year player draft (Round 5, Pick 19, 121st overall pick) by the Crystal Lake Sandgnats and signed a a signing bonus of $230,000. Prior to being drafted he won the 2020 Interscholastic Federation Super Prep Championship with the Union City HS Hillers from Union New Jersey - just outside New York City - the home town of legend Jim Klein. He was selected to the 2023 Surf and Snow Amalgamation All-Star Game. His awards also include in 2026: GNL AA PCAL Player of the Week Award and GNL AA PCAL Batter of the Month Award. He also was awarded the NAFTA A BCL Player of the Week Award. "I hope I get to play with Klein before he retires," stated Smith when receiving news of the award. "He's my hero."

Minor League Pitcher of the Year: RP Greg Hughes AA Brampton

Greg Hughes was drafted in the 2021 first-year player draft (Round 8, Pick 29, 264th overall pick) by the Crystal Lake Sandgnats out of college with the Iowa Archers. He was awarded the NAFTA A BCL Pitcher of the Month Award in 2024. In 2026 he pitched a 2-hit shutout against the Kumamoto Mothra with 9 strikeouts and 2 BB allowed. He also was selected to the 2026 Great Northern League All-Star Game. His stats in 2026 amounted to a record of 13-5 with a 1.79 ERA and 0.91 WHIP.
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Re: This Team Bites: Blog of the Crystal Lake Sandgnats

#48 Post by Sandgnats »

This Team Bites: Blog of the Crystal Lake Sandgnats

Crystal Lake Ownership Reacts to New Collective Bargaining Agreement (26/9)
By: Stephanie Dole
November 12, 2026 at 12:55 AM CST
It was announced today that the Professional Baseball Players Association (PBPA) and PEBA ownership have reached a temporary agreement on a new collective bargaining agreement through the 2027 season according to reports from Baseball America. We reached out to team owner Sydney C. Dole as he was flying back on his private jet from ownership meetings led by Featherheads owner Drew Streets at his Casino Resort in Las Vegas. He was kind enough to release the following statement during our interview:

"Drew Street drives a tough bargain which is why he took the lead here. (We love to visit his five-star restaurants in Vegas - I'm always down for a free buffet.) We also understand with gross revenues the highest they have been in years that the players would be reaching for more of the pie. Of course those increased revenues have been mostly driven by the investment PEBA owners have made the last few seasons by increasing stadium seating. Ownership till wants to maintain a good profit margin from that investment. However, this compromise agreement with the players will satisfy the players needs with also respecting that they are our greatest asset. This agreement will also help maintain our working partnership with the World Independent League, but still maintaining our competitive strength as the sports league in the world."

GM RJ Ermola also released a statement today:

"Mr Dole and I are in agreement with the compromise reached with the PBPA to prevent a work stoppage. This new agreement should not alter our near or long term plans given player contracts and our projected rosters. We have pending offers with players agents that will still comply with the present and/or new agreement which will not be in effect until the official start of free agency."

With Winter Meetings still on the horizon, discussions should be interesting the new few weeks.
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Re: This Team Bites: Blog of the Crystal Lake Sandgnats

#49 Post by Sandgnats »

This Team Bites: Blog of the Crystal Lake Sandgnats

Sandgnats Transaction News (27/1)
By: Stephanie Dole
November 25, 2026 at 03:53 PM CST
In usual fashion the Sandgnats have entered into the off-season with a flurry of moves including avoiding arbitration with players and signing some to short term extensions for the 2027 season prior to free agency. This off-season has also seen a number of trades including a blockbuster trade which has sent crowd favorite CF Jerry Long to Shin Seiki in exchange for Dave Yarbrough and minor league pitcher Mike Ryan. Yarbrough will be assigned to Right Field and a possible DH role.

Rumor was that Jerry Long was not willing to sign a reasonable contract extension to stay in Crystal Lake. With Jarrod 'Merlin' Ricks already making $17 million per year there was just not enough room in the roster for another large salary in the outfield. Long was rumored to be asking for upwards of $20-25M per year to extend past 2027. Ricks will now shift his duties to Left Field with Raúl Uribe moving to Center Field.

Yarbrough will bring badly needed help to on-base percentage and is rumored that he might be the lead-off hitter next season with Orlando Barrón moving down in the lineup. Minor league pitcher Mike Ryan will pitch this year in AAA Evansville with an eye for being PEBA ready for 2028. The minor leaguer was promoted to AAA half way through last season where he posted a 3.12 ERA. He's projected to be a back-end to mid-range starter of the future.

Yarbrough has entered his last season of arbitration eligibility and quickly came to an agreement to a one-year $5 million dollar deal to play in 2027. Yarbrough was rumored to be asking for a multiyear extension in excess of $18M per year over 8 years, but the team and player agreed to place those negotiations on hold until next season. Yarbrough has indicated he is excited to work with Crystal Lake hitting coach Pepe Lorenzo who is known for helping contact hitters reach the best of their ability.

Crystal Lake also announced various agreements acquiring minor league players and upcoming picks in the draft with with Aurora and Shin Seiki. Rumors also have it that another blockbuster deal may be in the works in or around free agency with a team that sources have not yet allowed us to reveal.

Lastly the following extensions have been announced:

RP Jonathan Francis 2-years, $10,420,000
2B Takane Chikafuji 1-year, $575,000
RP Dave Jones 1-year, $1,900,000
Last edited by Sandgnats on Mon Apr 30, 2018 8:49 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: This Team Bites: Blog of the Crystal Lake Sandgnats

#50 Post by Sandgnats »

This Team Bites: Blog of the Crystal Lake Sandgnats

Sandgnats Transaction News (27/2)
By: Stephanie Dole
January 1, 2027 at 12:53 PM CST
Happy New Year from suburban Chicago where the off-season and recent winter meetings have seen a flurry of transactions as the Gnats continue to position themselves to compete in the Great Lakes Division, which aimes to be one of the most competitive this season with returning champion Duluth and the ever improving Fargo.

December began with a shakeup in the front office with the firing of long time scout Jose Luna and the hiring of former Florida Featherheads scout Pablo Durango. "It was time to move on." stated GM RJ Ermola. "We have a lot of respect for how Luna led our Scouting department over the years. Particularly he did a great job developing out international complex. But we've decided to move in a different direction and bring on Pablo who is a proven legend from his days in the IL with Florida."

With the hiring of Durango, the Gnats moved in to the rest of December with a retooling of the present roster to more balance power vs. on-base percentage. Most notably was the release of Rob Raines into free agency. Reportedly, the Gnats did tender a qualifying offer to Raines who rejected it. The Gnats did engage in further discussions, only to be outbid during free agency and have since stopped discussions with Raines. The Gnats seems satisfied to gain a 1st round compensation pick for the loss of Raines and seek other most cost-efficient options in free agency that are still out there.

The Gnats then cleared some budget space with the trade of SP Tatsui Kouno to San Juan in exchange for SP To-wai Zhou and a minor league pitching prospect who was flipped to Shin Seiki for two more prospects. The Gnats did give up a 1st, 4th, 5th and 6th rounds picks to entice San Juan to take on the 19M per year salary of former 2024 championship team member Kouno who was brought over at the trade 2024 deadline from West Virginia.

A week later on December 7th, the Gnats came to terms for a $48.5 million - 4 year extension with Dave Yarbrough who will start at Right Field and lead-off this season. The 4-year deal extends Yarbrough, who was about to enter free agency next season, with the Gnats through 2031, if the team exercises the 4th year option. The Yarbrough extension put the end to Orlando Barrón's time in Crystal Lake. Barrón was traded to Shin Seiki for 3 prospects and bench utility player 2B Kinji Kondo Kondo will likely compete with 1B Juan Toro for the infield backup role.

Toro was signed on December 22nd to a one-year, $2.8 million dollar deal. The former Aurora back-up role player will likely take the same role in Crystal Lake, yet has the inside track to start at first base verses left-handed pitching where he hits a career .280/.333/.397. The Toro/Memde combination looks likely at first base this season. Memde still can't hit little league left-handed pitching so Toro will help fill this void as well as be a pinch hitter when teams make a left handed pitching switch late in games.

The month of December ended with the release of catcher Noriyuki Suzuki and the signing of catcher Jason Aaron as the new back up catcher. Aaron is a former 3rd round pick by Omaha (now Hartford) out of high school in 2019 at 17 years of age. Aaron was traded to the Duluth organization 2024 in a deal for the now free agent 1B Mike Harris. Aaron was selected the 2025 Great Northern All-Star Game and then entered free agency where Neo-Toko signed him to a minor league deal with a $250k bonus. He then was selected to the 2026 Global Baseball Brotherhood All-Star Game where he hit a .262/.321/.394 and 11 home runs. The Gnats offered him a token $100 bonus and quickly promoted him to the active roster.

The Rule 5 Draft then saw the loss of the following players:

Lost 2B Sergio Prieto to the San Juan Coqui.
Lost 1B Will Smith to the Duluth Warriors.
Lost 3B Chris Higgins to the Amsterdam Lions.
Lost 2B Takane Chikafuji to the Amsterdam Lions.

Finally, the year began with today's big announcement of international free-agent SP Hyung-jin 'Cactus' Kang signing a 5-year contract worth a total of $138,850,000. Reportedly Cactus us known for his excellent Fastball, Slider, and Changeup. The left-hander has above average stuff on his pitches with very good movement and average control. Reportedly Cactus enjoys boating during the off-season.

Here's to a great 2027! Go Gnats.
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Re: This Team Bites: Blog of the Crystal Lake Sandgnats

#51 Post by Sandgnats »

This Team Bites: Blog of the Crystal Lake Sandgnats

Spring At Last! (27/3)
By: Stephanie Dole
March 14, 2027 at 10:53 AM CST
That time of year has finally arrived when the snow starts to melt in the Midwest (mostly) and our hopes and dreams bloom for another Gnats season. Newcomers and familiar faces will begin form their own identity as the 2027 Gnats. The assignment heading into next season comes with a litany of issues to address, but with the focus on the Gnats shifting to a more balanced lineup from a power driven lineup with the idea to create more consistency with run production.

The most notable change for this season is the promotion of Dan Stephens to Bench Coach from manager of the AA Brampton Camels. Dan impressed management with his excellent ability to help develop players as well as his good relationship with all the players on the projected active roster. There's not one player that he does not get along with.

Invited to Spring Training this season were young prospects: SS Juan Carlos Gutiérrez and 2B Larry Frawley, who look to gain valuable developmental experience. Frawley apparently is being groomed to be the heir apparent to 2B Jim Klein. Frawley is also known for his strong leadership ability and has spent the last couple of off-seasons under Klein's tutelage at Klein's Jersey City training facility.

Of note also was the successful debut of SP Hyung-jin 'Cactus' Kang in his 4 inning debut he struck out 6, allowed 2 hits with one earned run. The South Korean native stated after the game, "I just felt like I could rock to the rhythm." (https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/ko ... 4d2e0bdbcc)
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#52 Post by Sandgnats »

This Team Bites: Blog of the Crystal Lake Sandgnats

Opening Day 2027 (27/4)
By: Stephanie Dole
April 5, 2027 at 9:53 AM CST
The Gnats have announced their 26 man active roster and opening day roster for 2027.

Starting Pitching:
1. Dean McNeil
2. Jim MacCowan
3. Hyung-jin Kang
4. Miguel Cantu
5. Tony Cuellar

Getting the nod for opening day at home will be veteran Miguel Cantu, followed by Cuellar in game 2. The Gnats will send out the 34 year Veteran for his second opening day start in a Gnats uniform. However, what is clear is that the top of the rotation has now been taken over by young men Dean McNeil (28) and Jim 'Nitro' MacCowan (26). Kang earned the 3 spot with a strong Spring Training performance. But where does this leave To-wai Zhou?

Bullpenn:

CL: To-wai Zhou
Setup:Jonathan Francis
Setup: Joshua Hall
Middle:Edgar Merriam
Middle:David Lopez
Middle:Christian Moore
Middle:Dave Jones
Long/Emer: Jon Browning

The Gnats were impressed with Zhou's ability to get strikeouts along with his strong fastball and change up. He was projected to be the number 2 rated closer by OSA. So as a lefty Cuellar got the nod for the 5th starting spot and Zhou will make a run at closing this season which will likely be by committee. Last season's closer Joshua Hall will rotate a setup man with veteran Jonathan Francis. Zhou and Browning will be emergency starters should injuries arise over the season. David Lopez will remain the lefty specialist out of the bullpen.

Outfield:
LF: Jarrod Ricks
CF: Raul Uribe
RF: Dave Yarbrough
DH:Stephen Hooper

The Gnats season will start with Jarrod Merlin Ricks out of the first week of the season. He was projected to start in left field this season when he gets back from one week out with injury. All-leather winner at left field Raul Uribe will get the starting role at center field. Yarbrough will start in left field with Ricks out. This will move Antonio Valdez into right field for the first week of the season. Valdez will be the first utility man in the outfield when Ricks returns. Hooper gets the nod at DH.

Infield:
1st: Ray Kimball
2nd: Jim Klein
SS:Hikaru Arai
3rd:Ed Brown
C:Tony Parker

Ruben Memde was waived and hit the wires to make room for the more balanced veteran Kimball at first. Arai will also improve the Gnats at short which was a weakness all last season. Ed Brown returns at 3rd and so does Tony Parker who emerged as last years surprise young star. Jim Klein will enter the last year of his present deal with the Gnats with another opening day start.

Bench:
M.Campoy
K.Kondo
L.Villanueva

Villanueva won the back up catcher spot this season. The question is who will remain Kondo or Campoy when Juan Toro returns from the DL. Toro will be the back up utility man and start verse left handed pitching when he returns.

Good luck to all and go Gnats!
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#53 Post by Sandgnats »

This Team Bites: Blog of the Crystal Lake Sandgnats

Pre-season 2028 (28/1)
By: Stephanie Dole
February 25, 2028 at 10:53 AM CST
The Gnats today announced a flurry of minor league contract signings as well as its Spring Training Roster this morning. The Gnats signed 25 players to minor league contracts to fill a revamped and depleted farm system that are too many to list here.

Much of the Starting Rotation looks to be intact from last season with:

1. Dean McNeil
2. Jim MacCowan
3. Hyung-jin Kang
4. To-wai Zhou
5. Tony Cuellar

Joshua Hall is set to be the closer at the start of this season after winning the job from Jonathan Francis last season. Relief Pitchers Christian Moore, Kyle Weaver and Andre Gresham have all been invited to compete for a spot in the bullpen for 2028.

In the outfield, long term journeyman outfielder Scott Jowalski and younger outfield prospect Gary Faris have been invited to compete for a backup outfield role and gain some valuable PEBA level experience as they might be called up should injuries arise during 2028.

Infield prospect Larry Frawley has been invited to Spring Training for some experience at second and third base. As the unofficial heir apparent to Jim Klein's leadership role, Larry could possibly be full time utility man in 2029. But injuries are sure to see his service time increase.

Recent minor league contract signee Alejandro Morales will get the invite for shortstop and at 30 years old looking to compete as a mid-infield utility man. Alejandro went unsigned during the international free agent period and looks to make a push to make the opening day roster at age 30 after competing in the Argentine Baseball League for many years.
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Re: This Team Bites: Blog of the Crystal Lake Sandgnats

#54 Post by Sandgnats »

This Team Bites: Blog of the Crystal Lake Sandgnats

Gnats Trade Entire Draft Away and Avoid Bankruptcy (28/2)
By: Stephanie Dole
March 7, 2028 at 10:00 PM CST
The Sandgnats announced two trades today with New Orleans and Yuma saving imminent bankruptcy of the team which would remind Illinois fans of the demise of Sears back in 2018/2019. Facing a current deficit of $16 million dollars at the end of 2027 and a projected budget deficit of $21 million at the end of 2028, the Gnats faced a real painful choice caused by the computer hacking that released Miguel Cantu in August of 2027 throwing the Gnats' finances into a tail spin placing them on the hook for his entire contract and unable to exercise the team option for a buy out at the end of 2027. As a first priority faced by GM Ermola and new owner Chuck Dole IV was to solve a financial situation in dire straights. "We just weren't sure how we were going to pay our vendors before Spring Training," stated RJ Ermola "Mr. Dole gave me authority to do what had to be done."

As a first order of business GM Ermola made a call to New Orleans that had shown signs of being willing to spend to make a run for 2028. New Orleans expressed a willingness to obtain 32 year old, 2027 All-star and Wunderkind award winning pitcher Hyung-Jin Kang ($27.5M) in exchange for New Orleans starting pitcher Juan Cervantes ($3.5M). The Gnats sent their 3rd round pick to New Orleans as part of the sale. Although not Kang, Cervantes will be a reliable starter. Goal accomplished. $24M off the books and starting line-up remains in-tact. -

The next call was made to Yuma where the Gnats were able as part of this deal provide much needed Colorado River water from Yuma to replenish Crystal Lake which has suffered from years of drought. In a salary dump deal The Gnats traded CF Raul "Glass Jaw" Uribe ($7.5M;$9.5M;$2.5M buyout year 3) and RP Jonathan Francis ($5M) in exchange for the Gnats 1st round pick, 1st supplemental round and picks 4 through 15. The Gnats also sold off 6 prospects. In return, Yuma sent $1,000.00 and 1,000 gallons of Yuma water.

With The Gnats finances in order and bankruptcy avoided, the Gnats are ready for the 2028 season.
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Re: This Team Bites: Blog of the Crystal Lake Sandgnats

#55 Post by KenH »

Tough moves, but you made it work. Congrats on being back in the black!
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#56 Post by Vic »

Wow. You might want to consider a forensic accountant in one of the early rounds of the draft this year ...

Nice job keeping things afloat!
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#57 Post by Sandgnats »

Claymores wrote:Wow. You might want to consider a forensic accountant in one of the early rounds of the draft this year ...

Nice job keeping things afloat!
Thanks Vic. Since we have no draft, hopefully one goes un-drafted.
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#58 Post by Sandgnats »

This Team Bites: Blog of the Crystal Lake Sandgnats

Spring Training Acquisitions (28/3)
By: Stephanie Dole
March 20, 2028 at 05:00 PM CST
As the Gnats pitching continues to be shelled this Spring Training - providing batting practice for the rest of the SL, the Gnats quietly signed 33 year-old, free agent, RP Christian George formerly of the Florida F-Heads to a one-year $875,000 deal. Drafted in the 2013 first-year player draft in the 5th round by Aurora Borealis, he was then named its organizations's 2014 minor league pitcher of the year. London selected George in the 2019 Rule 5 draft. In an unfortunate turn of events for his career, he was released by London, West Virginia and Palm Springs all during 2020. But his big break came when he signed a PEBA level contract with Havana in the 2020 off-season. He spent 4 seasons with Havana before being signed to and becoming part of the 2025 F-Head PEBA Championship squad. An average veteran reliever, George provides the Gnats some depth at lefty mid-relief.

The Gnats also signed center fielder, Orlando Reyes, to a minor league deal that will become a $1.5M one-year deal, if he is promoted to the active roster at the beginning of the season. The 9-year veteran has average speed, but great timing while on base. He's a right handed power-bat that can go long against pitchers with poor movement skills. Most importantly, he serves as a sure handed center fielder, that the Gnats have lacked the last 2 seasons and especially now with the departure of Raul Uribe. After pedestrian batting stats with Palm Spring last season, Orlando at 34, is hoping to keep is career alive with the Gnats and was their affordable choice at center field. The question remains, can he bring his numbers back to his career averages, which are well, average at best.
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Re: This Team Bites: Blog of the Crystal Lake Sandgnats

#59 Post by Borealis »

Ah, Christian George... we had such high hopes for him at one time...
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#60 Post by Sandgnats »

This Team Bites: Blog of the Crystal Lake Sandgnats

Opening Day 2028 Roster (28/4)
By: Stephanie Dole
April 3, 2028 at 05:00 AM CST
The Gnats have announced their 26 man active roster and opening day roster for 2028. After going 4-0 in the last week of Spring Training with their traditional reduced 30 man roster for the last week, the Gnats feel ready to go and are anxious to compete for the Great Lakes Division this season.

Starting Pitching:
1. Jim MacCowan
2. Dean McNeil
3. To-wai Zhou
4. Tony Cuellar
5. Juan Cervantes
Image
SP Jim 'Nitro' MacCowan
For the first time in his career Jim 'Nitro' MacCowan will get the call for an opening day start for the home opening against Duluth. Nitro topped the team with 15 wins, 2.95 ERA and allowing only .7 HR per 9 innings in 2027. Dean McNeil, who was the opening day starter last season looks to rebound from a pedestrian 2027, by his standards, with an 11-10 record and 3.38 ERA. To-wai Zhou, Tony 'Mr. Nice Guy' Cuellar (hero of 2024) and Juan Cervantes will round out the rotation.

Bullpen:

CL: Yasutoki Ine
Setup:Joshua Hall
Middle:Edgar Merriam
Long/Emer: Enrique Fonseca
Long/Emer: Christian George
R Specialist: Dave Jones
L Specialist: David Lopez
L Specialist: Jon Browning
Image
CL Yasutoki Ine
Familiar faces and new comers will fill the bullpen this season. The Gnats announced today that recent free agent signee Yasutoki Ine will start the season as closer with Joshua Hall as his setup man. Both Hall and Ine have a history of converting over 90% of their save opportunities - blowing only 2 and 1 opportunities respectively last season. Post Falls, Idaho's own Edgar Merriam will be the go to man for middle relief opportunities.

Outfield:
LF: Jarrod Ricks
CF: Orlando Reyes
RF: Stephen Hooper/Dave Yarbrough
Image
LF Jarrod Ricks
Merlin Ricks will anchor LF with his power bat. New Comer and defensive stalwart Orlando Reyes will fit the hole at outfield with the Gnats looking to improve their bottom rating in the SL at fielding last season. Hooper will get the start in right field against RHP with Yarbrough and his glassjaw as the defensive sub and starter against LHP.

Infield:
1st: António Vega
2nd: Jim Klein/Derrick Dwyer
SS: Hikaru Arai
3rd: Ed Brown
C: Tony Parker
DH: Ray Kimball
Image
1B António Vega
Last season's breakout power bat star Antonio Vega will start full time at first base. Jim Klein enters his 11th season with the Gnats (longest tenured Gnat) as the field general at second base against RHP. Derrick Dwyer will take over starting duties against LHP at second. Ed Brown will be at 3rd with star Tony Parker behind the plate. Ray Kimball enters his 10th PEBA season at DH.

Bench:
OF: Juan Garcia
C: Luis Villanueva

With many of the Gnats sharing time against RHP and LHP respectively, the only reserve players without some sort of a starting role will be veteran OF Juan Garcia and backup catcher Luis Villanueva.

Go Gnats!
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