03
Apr
2015
Preliminary roster includes Astros' top 2014 draft signee, eight top-10 round picks, five 2014 All-Stars
DAVENPORT, Iowa (April 1, 2015) - Featuring the top position player and pitcher among the Houston Astros' latest draft class signees, the Quad Cities River Bandits will again have a talent-laden roster when the Midwest League season opens April 9. The Astros and River Bandits on Wednesday announced a preliminary roster that includes Houston's top 2014 draft signee - outfielder Derek Fisher - among eight top-10 round picks, as well as seven returning players, including Moline native infielder Thomas Lindauer.
Over the last two seasons, Quad Cities has graduated eight of the top nine and 15 of the top 30 prospects in the Astros organization, according to Baseball America. Five River Bandits from the last two seasons are already on the Astros' 40-man major league roster. Quad Cities is the only Class-A team to be represented by a current player in each of the last two All-Star Futures Games.
"The Astros have groomed some of baseball's best young talent at Modern Woodmen Park the last two seasons, including 8 of the top 9 prospects within the Astros organization, many of whom will be future stars," said River Bandits owner Dave Heller. "I'm excited for River Bandits fans to again have the opportunity to see the Major League stars of tomorrow here today at Modern Woodmen Park."
Houston's minor league system leads all major league organizations with four championships above the rookie level over the last three seasons, including the River Bandits' 2013 Midwest League Championship. Fifteen players on the River Bandits' preliminary roster played in 2014 for the short-season Class-A Tri-City ValleyCats, who won a third straight division title in 2014 and came within one win of a second consecutive New York-Penn League Championship. Five River Bandits - right-hander Ryan Thompson, catcher Jamie Ritchie, infielder Nick Tanielu, and outfielders Bobby Boyd and Derek Fisher - were 2014 New York-Penn League Midseason All-Stars.
Fisher, a Competitive Balance Round A selection (37th overall) in the 2014 First-Year Players Draft, is set to become the Astros' fourth straight top draft signee - following Carlos Correa (2012) and Mark Appel (2013) in 2013 and George Springer (2011) on a rehab assignment in 2014 - to play in the Quad Cities. After selecting first overall the last three seasons, Houston has the second and fifth overall picks in the June draft.
Seven other 2015 River Bandits were originally drafted in the first 10 rounds. They include the Astros' top two pitching signees from the 2014 draft, right-handers Daniel Mengden (fourth round) and Brock Dykxhoorn (sixth), as well as outfielder Bobby Boyd (eighth), left-hander Brian Radziewski (ninth), catcher Jacob Nottingham (sixth, 2013), right-hander Joe Musgrove (first supplemental round, 2012 by Toronto) and right-hander Kevin Comer (first supplemental round, 2012 by Toronto). MLB.com ranks Fisher (No. 11), Musgrove (No. 16) and Mengden (No. 22) among the Astros' top prospects entering the season.
Returning from appearances with the 2014 River Bandits are Lindauer, who became the first Quad Cities-native in 26 years to play for the Quad Cities Midwest League franchise, as well as Boyd, Comer, outfielder Ryan Bottger, left-handers Chris Lee and Albert Minnis, and right-hander Keegan Yuhl. Minnis and Lee were respectively the River Bandits Pitchers of the Month in July and August last season.
The roster is subject to change prior to the opening game at 7 p.m. April 9 at Dozer Park in Peoria, Ill. Tickets are still available for the River Bandits' home opener against the Clinton LumberKings at 1:15 p.m. Sunday, April 12, at Modern Woodmen Park.
UP NEXT: Registration is still available at riverbandits.com/5k for the April 11 River Bandits Race to Home 5K presented by Palmer Chiropractic Clinics. The race is at 9 a.m. Saturday, April 11. Individual tickets are on sale at the River Bandits box office and online at riverbandits.com. Ticket plans of 12 to 70 games - which include free parking, reserved seats, merchandise discounts, and guaranteed giveaways - are available by calling 563-324-3000.
ABOUT THE BANDITS: The River Bandits ownership in 2014 made one of the biggest improvements to Modern Woodmen Park since the ballpark was first built back in 1931! A new Ferris wheel, standing 105 feet over the playing field, opened May 24, Space Camp opened June 20; the new Drop'N Twist debuted in July; and the newly expanded 300-foot long zip line also reopened.
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