Meet the 2017 Buies Creek Astros

The Astros are back in the Carolina League for the first time since 2008. For the next two seasons, their Class A Advanced affiliate will be located in Buies Creek, North Carolina before moving permanently to Fayetteville in 2019.

Also their Twitter avatar

The Buies Creek Astros will play their games at Jim Perry Stadium on the campus of Campbell University. They will play in the Carolina League's Southern division with Carolina (Brewers), Winston-Salem (White Sox), Myrtle Beach (Cubs), and Down East (Rangers).

Omar Lopez will move up from Quad Cities to manage the new club. Also moving up from Quad Cities is pitching coach Chris Holt. Hitting coach Troy Snitker is the son of Braves manager Brian Snitker. Former Astro Mickey Storey will serve as the development coach

Kyle Tucker and Franklin Perez are the two marquee names on this squad. Myles Straw is a speedster who slashed .358/.423/.454 across both A levels last season. Riley Ferrell is looking to get himself back on track after spending most of 2016 on the disabled list, while Framber Valdez had a fine season across four levels.

Buies Creek will host Winston-Salem to open 2017. First pitch is at 7:00 Eastern.

A FEW BUIES CREEK-RELATED TWITTER ACCOUNTS TO FOLLOW

Team - @bcreekastros
Fayetteville Astros, placeholder account for when they move in 2019 - @FayAstros

Let's meet the 2017 Buies Creek Astros!

Oldest player on roster: Andrew Thome (born January 13, 1993)
Youngest player on roster: Franklin Perez (born December 6, 1997)

Tallest: Justin Ferrell (6'7")
Shortest: Osvaldo Duarte (5'9")

Duarte is the smallest guy on the team, at 5'9", 160. Yoanys Quiala is the heaviest, checking in at 235 on his 6'3" frame.

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

STAFF

Manager: Omar Lopez
Hitting Coach: Troy Snitker
Pitching Coach: Chris Holt
Development Coach: Mickey Storey
Athletic Trainer: John Gregorich
Strength & Conditioning: Mark Spadavecchia

PITCHERS

Framber Valdez - July 2016

Photo by Jayne Hansen

Akeem Bostick - Acquired from Rangers for Carlos Corporán, 2015; played with Lancaster and Tri-City in 2016
Matt Bower - 23rd round, 2015 draft (Washington State); Lancaster/Quad Cities
Justin Ferrell - 36th round, 2014 draft (Connors State College); Quad Cities
Riley Ferrell - 3rd round, 2015 draft (TCU); Lancaster
Ralph Garza Jr. - 26th round, 2015 draft (Oklahoma); Lancaster/Quad Cities
Elieser Hernandez - International free agent, 2011 (Venezuela); Lancaster/Quad Cities
Jose Luis Hernandez - International free agent, 2015 (Mexico); Lancaster/Quad Cities
Nick Hernandez - 8th round, 2016 draft (Houston); Quad Cities/Tri-City
Sebastian Kessay - 22nd round, 2013 draft (Scottsdale Community College); Quad Cities/Tri-City
Franklin Perez - International free agent, 2014 (Venezuela); Quad Cities
Yoanys Quiala - International free agent, 2015 (Cuba); Quad Cities
Andrew Thome - Undrafted free agent, 2015 (North Dakota); Lancaster/Quad Cities
Framber Valdez - International free agent, 2015 (Dominican Republic); Greeneville/Tri-City/Quad Cities/Lancaster
Alex Winkelman - 21st round, 2015 draft (Southeast Missouri State); Lancaster/Quad Cities/Tri-City/GCL

CATCHERS

Christian Correa - Undrafted free agent, 2015 (Nicholls State); Lancaster/Quad Cities
Eduardo de Oleo - Rule 5 draft selection (Minor league phase), 2016; Mobile/Kane County/AZL (D-Backs)
Anthony Hermelyn - 4th round, 2015 (Oklahoma); Quad Cities

INFIELDERS

Osvaldo Duarte - May 2016

Photo by Jayne Hansen

Ryne Birk - 13th round, 2016 draft (Texas A&M); Quad Cities/Tri-City
Osvaldo Duarte - International free agent, 2013 (Dominican Republic); Lancaster/Quad Cities
Dexture McCall - 31st round, 2014 draft (Hillsborough Community College); Quad Cities
Arturo Michelena - International free agent, 2011 (Venezuela); Quad Cities
Stijn van der Meer - 34th round, 2016 draft (Lamar); Greeneville/GCL

OUTFIELDERS

Kyle Tucker - May 2016

Photo by Jayne Hansen

Jason Martin - 8th round, 2013 draft (Orange Lutheran High School, Orange, California); Lancaster

Pat Porter - 15th round, 2015 draft (Ohio State); Quad Cities

Johnny Sewald - 14th round, 2015 draft (Arizona State); Lancaster/Quad Cities

Myles Straw - 12th round, 2015 draft (St. John's River State College); Lancaster/Quad Cities

Kyle Tucker - 1st round, 2015 draft (Plant High School, Tampa); Lancaster/Quad Cities