Newcomers blanket roster
By Billy Byler| Staff Writer
Thursday, April 03, 2008

The Augusta GreenJackets Opening Day roster is filled with new faces. Here's a rundown of who to look for as the new season begins tonight at 7:35 at Lake Olmstead Stadium.

PITCHERS

Madison Bumgarner, the Giants' No. 1 draft pick last summer, will make his professional debut this season. The 6-foot-4, 215-pound left-hander signed out of high school last year and comes to the GreenJackets ready to prove his worth with a fastball that's been clocked in the mid-90s.

Another lefty, Opening Day starter Steven Calicutt, posted a 6-5 record with a 3.88 ERA in 16 starts with the GreenJackets last season.

INFIELD

The GreenJackets are loaded with young, talented middle infielders, led by Charlie Culberson and Nick Noonan, a pair of 19-year-olds taken in the first round of the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft. Angel Villalona, who signed with the Giants as a 16-year old in 2006 and is one of the top prospects in the organization, will move from third base to first this season.

All three played rookie ball in Arizona last summer. Noonan led the team, batting .316 with 40 RBI in 52 games.

OUTFIELD

Four outfielders made the Opening Day roster. Garrett Baker and Shane Jordan hit .300 or better for Class A short-season Salem-Keizer last year, while Francisco Peguero led his team in batting, hits and runs in the Dominican Summer League. James Simmons is one of three former GreenJackets on the roster this season.

CATCHERS

Matt Klimas and Jackson Williams, high school teammates from Broken Arrow, Okla., will be reunited as they transition into their first full year of professional baseball.

Nestor Rojas, who played 24 games for the GreenJackets last year, is returning for his sixth year in the Giants organization.

COACHES

Andy Skeels, last year's hitting coach, is this year's manager after the Giants made former skipper Roberto Kelly their new first base coach.

Ross Grimsley returns for his fourth season as pitching coach. Newcomer Lipso Nava takes Skeels' old spot.

-- Billy Byler

From the Thursday, April 03, 2008 edition of the Augusta Chronicle
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