With opening night Thursday for the Buffalo Bisons, here is the “official” opening day roster for the Mets AAA entry in the International League. With at least five major league prospects on the roster in Harvey, Familia, Valdespin, Lutz, and Nieuwenhuis, this AAA team is getting away from the image of fielding a team full of retreads every year. Perhaps this incarnation of the Herd can compete for it’s first playoff appearance since before the Mets moved there in 2009. So it is without further adieu, I present to you the 2012 AAA Buffalo Bisons.
STARTING ROTATION
1) Matt Harvey (RHP)
2) Jeurys Familia (RHP)
3) Chris Schwinden (RHP)
4) Jeremy Hefner (RHP)
5) Garrett Olson (LHP)
BULLPEN
Dylan Owen (RHP)
Fernando Cabrera (RHP)
Chuck James (LHP)
Daniel Herrera (LHP)
Justin Hampson (LHP)
Jeff Stevens (RHP)
Jack Egbert (RHP)
Jenrry Mejia (RHP) D.L.
Chris Young (RHP) D.L.
CATCHERS
Rob Johnson
Lucas May
INFIELDERS
Val Pascucci
Josh Satin
Jordanny Valdespin
Omar Quintanilla
Zach Lutz
Bobby Scales
Michael Fisher
OUTFIELDERS
Kirk Nieuwenhuis
Adam Loewen
Vinny Rottino
Matt Tuiasosopo
Corey Wimberly D.L.
STAFF
Wally Backman – Manager
Mark Brewer – Pitching Coach
George Greer – Hitting Coach
Joe Golia – Athletic Trainer
Ronald Kenyatta – Strength Coach
It’s hard to say where this team might end up this year. Of course a lot of it will depend on what happens with the big league club this season. Last year injuries to the major league team caused a mass exodus out of Buffalo and into Flushing, and it pretty much torpedoed the Bisons’ season. Hopefully this year the Mets remain healthy, and the Bisons roster remains intact. If all breaks well for this team they could make a run at the playoffs.
The Herd opened up the 2012 regular season last night in a match-up on the road with the Pawtucket Red Sox. Matt Harvey, the Mets 2010 1st-round draft pick, was slated to pitch for Buffalo.
