Tigers, Whitecaps set 2011 Roster
The Detroit Tigers organization along with the West Michigan Whitecaps have set the opening day roster which includes ten returning players and seven that are on Baseball America’s top prospect list. This will be a young team just like last year, with six teenagers being asigned to Detroit’s Single-A affilate in Grand Rapids.
The top prospect making the team is third baseman Nick
Castellanos (pictured), who is ranked number two on Detroit’s list after former ‘Cap Jacob Turner. The 19 year old was Detroit’s first pick and 44th overall in 2010. Castellanos impressed scouts at the 2009 Under Armor All-American Game at Wrigley Field where he won the home run derby and was named Player of the Game after hitting 4-4 with four doubles. Playing at Archbishop McCarthy High School in Florida, he was named 2010 Gatorade Player of the Year after hitting .542, 41 RBI’s, six homers, and 22 steals.
Other prospects joining this years club are relief pitcher Bruce Rondon, catcher Rob Brantley, shortstop Dixon Machado (sweet baseball name btw), and starting pitchers Kyle Ryan and Ramon Lebron.
The amount of young talent has first year Whitecaps manager Ernie Young optimistic about the upcoming season. He told the Grand Rapids Press: “It’s going to be and exciting group of guys. We’re going to do a lot of things baseball-wise–we’re going to hit-and-run, steal and take extra bases. We’re going to do little things to help us become a better ball club.”
Returnig to West Michigan are Brantly, Lebron, Antonio Cruz, Shawn Teufel, Patrick Cooper, Jordan Pratt, Luis Alberto Sanz, Hernan Perez, Jimmy Gulliver and Jeff Rowland.
Photo courtesy of Grand Rapids Press
Minoring In Baseball 
Mike: Young talent is indeed exciting. I’m waiting for my Yanks to use catcher Jesus Montero, but I guess I’ll have to wait a little longer. The Tigers didn’t look too good in the first two games against the Yankees…
-Virginia
http://southernbelle.mlblogs.com
The Rays are perpetually young, so I know the fun of having a youthful team. Lots of energy, lots of hustle, lots of innocence. I’m sure your boys will have a solid season.
http://raysfanboy.mlblogs.com/
Nice! Watching the Angels rookies this season and in Spring Training reminded me how much fun it is to watch the younger players who still look and act as giddy to be out on the field playing ball as we feel for the beginning of the season. It sounds like you’re going to have an extra fun team this season.
Kristen
This is a very simple game…
Seven top prospects? Sweet. I often forget how much fun it is to track the kids on the farm. Today’s stars are great, but they won’t be there forever…
Catherine
http://chisoxblog.mlblogs.com/
Ernie had me at ‘hit-and-run’…
–Jeff
http://redstatebluestate.mlblogs.com/
Virginia-Tigers broke the bats out in game 3 of the series. Then gently put them away again against the Orioles.
RFB-I like watching the Rays, too, since I’ve seen a handfull of them play ball here in Michigan.
Kristen-these guys don’t make much money, but are full of hopes and dreams. Much like the fans.
Catherine-it makes it fun for the kids to see them on tv after we’ve seen them or met them in the Minors.
Jeff-maybe Ernie should call Leyland and tell him how you produce runs…
–Mike