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Bees open season at home Thursday
Burlington plays Kane County at Community Field
For The Daily Gate City
BURLINGTON - Manager Jim Gabella will have eight former players on his team again as the Kansas City Royals have set the Burlington Bees opening day roster for the upcoming season.
Left-hand pitcher Matt Campbell, a first-round pick in 2004, returns to the Bees after shoulder surgery cut his 2005 season short and kept him out all of last season.
Lefty Ryan DiPietro also returns from injury. DiPietro tore his ACL in his sixth start last year.
Right-handers Chris Hayes, Mario Santiago and Angelo Morales also return from last year's pitching staff.
Hayes led the staff with 45 relief appearances, while recording seven saves. Santiago joined the Bees after just one start in the short-season Arizona Rookie League and was 3-6 with a 5.37 ERA in 12 appearances. He started eight games. Morales led the Arizona League with 76 innings pitched in 14 starts and was tied for third with six wins before joining the Bees for one start at the end of the season.
Lefty Brent Fisher will also be a key contributor to the staff. He is 10th on Baseball America's Royals Top 30 prospect list. Everett Teaford, a 12th round pick last year out of Georgia Southern, gives the Bees four lefties on the pitching staff. Harold Mozingo (6th round, (VCU), Josh Cribb (8th round, Clemson) and Tyler Chambliss (11th round, Florida State) also come out of last year's draft with major Division I college experience.
Aaron Hartsock and Henry Barrera round out the pitching staff, Hartsock tied for the Pioneer League lead with six wins last year, while Barrera finished second in the Arizona league with six saves in his first season.
Catcher Brady Everett, shortstop Chris McConnell and infield-outfielder Jeremy Jirschele are the returning position players.
Everett hit .256 with five home runs and 22 runs batted in in 86 games last year after missing the first part of the season with a broken hand.
After two great season in short-season ball, McConnell struggled and hit .172 in 69 games to start last year before going back to Idaho Falls. He is ranked 27th on the Royals Top 30 prospect list by Baseball America.
Jirschele played nearly every every position on the field for the Bees last year and contributed 20 RBI in 84 games.
Second baseman Kurt Mertins and outfielder Joe Dickerson are also top 30 prospects with the Royals. Mertins hit .342 and had 26 stolen bases for Idaho Falls last year, while Dickerson hit .281 with seven home runs and 38 RBI for Idaho Falls.
Third baseman Marc Maddox is also coming off a big offensive debut. He hit .336 with 22 doubles and 40 RBI in 62 games with Idaho Falls.
Michael Thompson and Scott Lucas were both signed as minor league free agents. First baseman Jase Turner has spent the last two seasons at Idaho Falls and rounds out the infield.
Matt Morizio and Ross Boudreaux are the catchers behind Everett. Boudreaux will start the season on the disabled list.
Opening night is at 7 p.m. Thursday against Kane County. The first 1,500 fans will receive a magnet schedule sponsored by Mazzio's Italian Eatery.
This is the 87th season of professional baseball in Burlington. It is the organization's 46th year in the Midwest League and the seventh season at the affiliate of the Kansas City Royals.
For The Daily Gate City
BURLINGTON - Manager Jim Gabella will have eight former players on his team again as the Kansas City Royals have set the Burlington Bees opening day roster for the upcoming season.
Left-hand pitcher Matt Campbell, a first-round pick in 2004, returns to the Bees after shoulder surgery cut his 2005 season short and kept him out all of last season.
Lefty Ryan DiPietro also returns from injury. DiPietro tore his ACL in his sixth start last year.
Right-handers Chris Hayes, Mario Santiago and Angelo Morales also return from last year's pitching staff.
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Lefty Brent Fisher will also be a key contributor to the staff. He is 10th on Baseball America's Royals Top 30 prospect list. Everett Teaford, a 12th round pick last year out of Georgia Southern, gives the Bees four lefties on the pitching staff. Harold Mozingo (6th round, (VCU), Josh Cribb (8th round, Clemson) and Tyler Chambliss (11th round, Florida State) also come out of last year's draft with major Division I college experience.
Aaron Hartsock and Henry Barrera round out the pitching staff, Hartsock tied for the Pioneer League lead with six wins last year, while Barrera finished second in the Arizona league with six saves in his first season.
Catcher Brady Everett, shortstop Chris McConnell and infield-outfielder Jeremy Jirschele are the returning position players.
Everett hit .256 with five home runs and 22 runs batted in in 86 games last year after missing the first part of the season with a broken hand.
After two great season in short-season ball, McConnell struggled and hit .172 in 69 games to start last year before going back to Idaho Falls. He is ranked 27th on the Royals Top 30 prospect list by Baseball America.
Jirschele played nearly every every position on the field for the Bees last year and contributed 20 RBI in 84 games.
Second baseman Kurt Mertins and outfielder Joe Dickerson are also top 30 prospects with the Royals. Mertins hit .342 and had 26 stolen bases for Idaho Falls last year, while Dickerson hit .281 with seven home runs and 38 RBI for Idaho Falls.
Third baseman Marc Maddox is also coming off a big offensive debut. He hit .336 with 22 doubles and 40 RBI in 62 games with Idaho Falls.
Michael Thompson and Scott Lucas were both signed as minor league free agents. First baseman Jase Turner has spent the last two seasons at Idaho Falls and rounds out the infield.
Matt Morizio and Ross Boudreaux are the catchers behind Everett. Boudreaux will start the season on the disabled list.
Opening night is at 7 p.m. Thursday against Kane County. The first 1,500 fans will receive a magnet schedule sponsored by Mazzio's Italian Eatery.
This is the 87th season of professional baseball in Burlington. It is the organization's 46th year in the Midwest League and the seventh season at the affiliate of the Kansas City Royals.
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