A Look at the Corpus Christi Hooks Opening Day Roster

The 2016 Corpus Christi squad is a nice mix of experienced AA hands and players new to the level. The Hooks welcome the Dodgers AA affiliate Tulsa Drillers to town as they start their season tonight at home.

Joe Musgrove - May 2015

Photo by Jayne Hansen

Top prospect Joe Musgrove, his fellow right-hander Edison Frias, and lefty Brian Holmes will be the most experienced returning Hooks rotation pitchers. They will be joined by another couple of highly ranked prospects in Francis Martes and David Paulino. Martes saw limited action with the Hooks last season; it will be the first AA experience for Paulino. Kyle Smith also brings a lot of experience to the team, having spent a good chunk of the 2014 season with the Hooks, but he is coming back from Tommy John surgery this season and will be somewhat of a wild card. Keegan Yuhl and newcomer Cy Sneed both topped out at High A last season.

With that many starting arms, Yuhl will likely appear out of the bullpen to start the season since he has experience in relief. Aaron West will anchor the bullpen, having had great success in that role for the Hooks in 2015. Danny Reynolds and Brendan McCurry are both new to the organization and both bring AA experience to the mix. And the team will feature not one, not two, but THREE lefty relievers in Reymin Guduan, Michael Freeman and Albert Minnis. Guduan has the most experience at the level, but both Freeman and Minnis got their toes wet in Corpus Christi last season. Missing from action is Gonzalo Sanudo who was spotted on Team Rehab during Spring Training by friend of the blog Larry McCoy.

The pitching staff will be handled by highly regarded prospect Alfredo Gonzalez, who spent the final two months of the 2015 season with the Hooks, and Trent Woodward, who caught at four different levels in 2015, including filling in for Max Stassi at AAA when Stassi was recalled to Houston.

Returning to the team to handle infield duties will be 1B Conrad Gregor and middle infielders Jack Mayfield and Chan Moon. They will be joined by SS Alex Bregman, ranked by most pundits as the top prospect in the Astros system; he will be arriving at AA in only his second professional season. 2B/SS Mott Hyde, Bregman's double play partner from Lancaster, will get his first taste of the Texas League as well. Arriving to handle corner outfield duties will be 3B J.D. Davis and 1B Chase McDonald. Both spent the entire 2015 season with Lancaster and both are capable of providing a lot of power.

Toolsy outfielders Teoscar Hernandez and Danry Vasquez return to roam the outfield for the Hooks; both will be trying to find the consistency that will propel them to the next level. 2015 Lancaster teammates Derek Fisher and Ronnie Mitchell will get their first chance at AA. Fisher is yet another top prospect in the system. Notably missing is James Ramsay. Since he wasn't on any roster, I'm assuming that he may also be on Team Rehab back in extended Spring Training. If healthy, he will certainly join the Hooks at some point.

With a really good mix of talent, experience and potential, this Hooks team is going to be a ton of fun to watch!

CORPUS CHRISTI HOOKS

LHP Michael Freeman
RHP Edison Frias
LHP Reymin Guduan
LHP Brian Holmes
RHP Francis Martes
RHP Brendan McCurry
LHP Albert Minnis
RHP Joe Musgrove
RHP David Paulino
RHP Danny Reynolds
RHP Kyle Smith
RHP Cy Sneed
RHP Aaron West
RHP Keegan Yuhl

C Alfredo Gonzalez
#C Trent Woodward

SS Alex Bregman
3B J.D. Davis
*1B Conrad Gregor
2B/SS Mott Hyde
IF Jack Mayfield
1B Chase McDonald
#IF Chan Moon

*OF Derek Fisher
OF Teoscar Hernandez
*OF Ronnie Mitchell
*OF Danry Vasquez

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