Meet the Greeneville Astros

The Greeneville Astros will kick off their 2015 campaign tomorrow evening as they travel to Bristol to take on the Pirates. Who will begin their careers/continue their road to Houston in the Appalachian League? Well, this post will help you, and another resource that will prove to be valuable is the just-updated Houston Farm System Handbook, now available at a new low price! But first, a little information.

Greeneville is located in the far reaches of East Tennessee, in the Appalachian Mountains. The town prides itself on being the only "Greeneville" in America; it was named for Nathanael Greene, a general in the American Revolution. Former President Andrew Johnson, Abraham Lincoln's successor, considered Greeneville his hometown.

The Appy Astros play at Pioneer Park, on the campus of Tusculum College, the oldest college in the state of Tennessee. They are in the West division of the Appalachian League, which also features the Bristol Pirates, the Elizabethton Twins, the Kingsport Mets, and the Johnson City Cardinals.

(I know linking to Wikipedia is generally frowned upon, but this isn't a scholarly article...)


And now, without further ado, your 2015 Greeneville Astros (as of this moment)!

Italics - Player bats/throws left-handed
Asterisk - Player is a switch-hitter

Coaching Staff

Manager - Lamarr Rogers
Hitting Coach - César Cedeño
Pitching Coach - Josh Miller

Pitchers

Albert Abreu - International free agent, 2013, DSL Blue
Yhoan Acosta - Signing date unknown; GCL/DSL Orange
Brandon Culbreth - 8th round, 2011 draft, Forsyth Country Day School, Lewisville, North Carolina; did not play in 2014 as he was recovering from Tommy John surgery.
Samil De Los Santos - International free agent, 2011; Greeneville/GCL
Ryan Deemes - 36th round, 2015 draft, Nicholls State; making pro debut
Juan Delis - International free agent, 2010; Greeneville/GCL
Devonte German - 11th round, 2013 draft, Bishop Manogue High School, Reno, Nevada; Greeneville
Zac Grotz - 28th round, 2015 draft, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University; making pro debut
Salvador Montaño - International free agent, 2013; DSL Blue
Chris Murphy - 24th round, 2015 draft, Millersville University of Pennsylvania; making pro debut
Steve Naemark - 40th round, 2015 draft, Angelo State; making pro debut
Makay Nelson - 20th round, 2015 draft, College of Southern Idaho; making pro debut
Erasmo Pinales - International free agent, 2012; DSL Orange/Blue
Cris Santamaria - Signing date unknown; GCL/DSL Orange
Ben Smith - 17th round, 2014 draft, Coastal Carolina; making pro debut, did not play in 2014 as he was recovering from Tommy John surgery.
Alejandro Solarte - Acquired from Blue Jays (along with Will Dupont) in June 2014 for Adron Chambers
Alex Winkelman - 21st round, 2015 draft, Southeast Missouri State; making pro debut

Catchers

Marlon Avea - International free agent, 2010; GCL
Gabriel Bracamonte - International free agent, 2014; DSL Orange
Kevin Martir - 18th round, 2015 draft, Maryland; making pro debut
Brian Peña - International free agent, 2012; GCL

Infielders

Randy Cesar - International free agent, 2011; Greeneville/GCL
Osvaldo Duarte - International free agent, 2013; GCL/DSL Orange
Connor Goedert - 15th round, 2014 draft, Neosho County Community College
Arturo Michelena - International free agent, 2011; GCL

Outfielders

Rodrigo Ayarza* - Minor league free agent signing, 2014; DSL Orange/Blue
Justin Garcia - 17th round, 2015 draft, Nova Southeastern; making pro debut
Brauly Mejia - International free agent, 2012; Quad Cities/GCL
Aaron Mizell - 32nd round, 2015 draft, Georgia Southern; making pro debut
Luis Payano - International free agent, 2012; GCL
Myles Straw - 12th round, 2015 draft, St. John's River State College; making pro debut