By Garrett Greene, Biloxi Shuckers
The first Biloxi Shuckers roster for 2019 was announced earlier this week by the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday, including 11 players returning from the 2018 season.
The 27-man roster will be brought down to 25 players before the Shuckers Opening Night game against the Birmingham Barons on Thursday.
The Shuckers pitching staff will include six players who logged innings for Biloxi in 2018. RHP Marcos Diplan, RHP Nattino Diplan, RHP Nate Griep, RHP Thomas Jankins, RHP Trey Supak and RHP Braden Webb all spent parts of the 2018 campaign with the Shuckers. Jankins and Griep were named 2018 Southern League Midseason All-Stars, while Griep was named a Southern League Postseason All-Star. The new hurlers for the Shuckers include 2018 Brewers MiLB Organizational All-Star RHP Luke Barker, RHP Johan Belisario, RHP Alec Bettinger, LHP Daniel Brown, RHP Aaron Kurcz, LHP Angel Perdomo and RHP Devin Williams. RHP Tyler Spurlin, who pitched for the Shuckers in 2016, will be back at Double-A after missing the last two seasons due to injury.
On offense, INF Blake Allemand, INF Luis Aviles Jr., OF Trent Grisham, C Max McDowell and INF Weston Wilson return to Biloxi. OF Dillon Thomas, who was added to the Shuckers 2018 postseason roster, will be with the Shuckers to start the year. OF Cooper Hummel and C Robbie Rojas both earn promotions to Biloxi from within the Brewers system.
The other five position players for the Shuckers will be in their first season in the Brewers organization. C Alexander Alvarez comes to Biloxi from the Tampa Bay Rays after being acquired in the Minor League phase of the Rule 5 Draft in 2018. INF C.J. Hinojosa, who was acquired by Milwaukee from San Francisco in exchange for C Erik Kratz on March 24, will be part of the Shuckers infield. Minor League free agents INF Bruce Caldwell (Yankees), INF Patrick Leonard (White Sox) and OF Michael O’Neill (Rangers) all bring experience to Biloxi after signing with the Brewers this offseason.
Biloxi topped William Carey University in an exhibition game on Tuesday, 15-1 at MGM Park. The Shuckers open their fifth season on Thursday, April 4 at 6:35 pm against the Birmingham Barons at MGM Park.
Full Season Shuck Nation memberships, Weekender Shuck Nation memberships and Group Outings for the 2019 Biloxi Shuckers season are on sale now and are available for purchase by calling 228-233-3465, online at biloxishuckers.com or by visiting the MGM Park front office.
