Whitecaps announce Opening Day roster

Wed, Apr 2, 2008    to del.icio.us

COMSTOCK PARK — The West Michigan Whitecaps have announced their 2008 Opening Day roster, which features eight players from the 2007 draft along with six returning players from the Whitecaps Midwest League Championship team last year.

Returning for the Whitecaps are pitchers Lauren Gagnier, Ramon Garcia, Kelvin Cedano and position players Audy Ciriaco, Jordan Newton and Joe Tucker. Ciriaco and Gagnier were both on the Whitecaps' Opening Day roster in 2007. Outfielder Cory Middleton also returns to West Michigan after being with the Whitecaps in 2006.

One of the top hitting prospects and highest draft pick coming to West Michigan is infielder Ronnie Bourquin. Bourquin, the Tigers' second-round pick in 2006 from Canton, Ohio, hit .325 in 57 games at short-season Oneonta last season. He was named Big Ten Player of the Year following his senior year at Ohio State in 2006.

Fans will also see Justin Henry and Chris Carlson in the Whitecaps lineup this season. Henry, a 6-foot, 3-inch second baseman from the University of Mississippi, hit .340 in 67 games with the Oneonta Tigers for third-best in the New York-Penn League.

Carlson, a 6-4 first baseman from the University of New Mexico, was named Oneonta's MVP in 2007 after hitting 10 home runs, 51 RBIs and a .291 average in 72 games.

The Whitecaps' roster also features a couple of local players. RHP Andrew Hess is a native of Kalamazoo and pitched four seasons at the University of Michigan before being drafted in the 19th round of the 2007 draft. Also, outfielder Casper Wells is a native of Grand Rapids and is in his fourth season with the Tigers organization after hitting nine homers and 47 RBIs at Oneonta last year.

Another local product is LHP Jon Kibler. Kibler, a 30th round pick from 2007, pitched at Michigan State in 2007 after transferring from Dundalk Community College in Maryland. Kibler was named the Gulf Coast League Tigers Pitcher of the Year in 2007, splitting time between the GCL Tigers and Oneonta.

FORMER WHITECAPS IN THE SHOW: Seven former Whitecaps were on the Tigers' Opening Day roster this season: Fernando Rodney, Joel Zumaya, Jordan Tata, Brandon Inge, Ramon Santiago, Ryan Raburn and Clete Thomas.