{ 2007 04 01 }

2007 Harrisburg Senators Roster Unveiled

In his latest blog entries, Geoff Morrow from the Harrisburg Patriot News has the unofficial 2007 Harrisburg Senators roster. The following players are scheduled to play at City Island (my best guess to projected role in parentheses):

Right-handed starting pitchers

Right-handed relief pitchers

Left-handed starting pitcher

Left-handed relief pitcher

Catchers

Infielders

Outfielders

From a quick scan of the roster, there are nine of the propsects from the Nationals accelerated spring training (Balester, Magrane, Nall, Zinicola, Ivany, Whitesell, Bynum, Dement, and Bernadina). Campbell, Hall, Perez, Valdez, Hinckley, Diaz, and Blanco were all part of the big league camp, either as members of the 40-man (Campbell, Perez, Hinckley, Diaz, and Blanco) or spring invites (Hall and Valdez).

The starting rotation looks solid enough fronted by the NFA #1 prospect, Balester, and late season call-up to the big leagues, Perez, who handled himself well in three late season starts. Aside from Balester, the big story to watch in 2007, is the projected #3 (according to NFA) Mike Hinckley. Hinckley went from one of the most promising LHSP in all of the minor leagues (back in 2004) to a poor showing in Potomac in 2006. If Hinckley can regain a part of what made him so promising, Senators fans should enjoy the starting pitching in Harrisbug in 2007.

In the bullpen, there are two names worth watching. First and foremost is Zech Zinicola who will be closing to start the season. The 2006 6th rounder shot his way up the system after the June draft on his way to earning the organization’s pitcher of the year. Zinicola should be the first minor league option for the Nationals if either Jon Rauch or Chad Cordero is injured or traded. Aside from Zinicola is Brett Campbell who has developed himself into a solid middle relief pitching option, finishing 2006 in the majors.

With regards to position players, Harrisburg will get to see the Nats top catching prospect in Devin Ivany. Ivany is the strongest defensive catcher in the organization and has worked on improving with the bat. Josh Whitesell is a big power bat at 1B who returns to Harrisburg for a second season. He’s blocked in Columbus by Larry Broadway who was not successful in his quest to fill in at 1B for the Nats until Nick Johnson returns from injury. Seth Bynum has drawn attention from the organization as a potential utility IF for the big league club with solid play at SS. Think of him as a Jamey Carroll type player.

In the OF, both Frank Diaz and Roger Bernadina are known primarily for their gloves. I believe Diaz may be the stronger candidate defensively in CF, but I believe the Nats would like to see if Bernadina can develop into a serviceable CF for the Nationals in 2008 or 2009. Either way, the Nationals will have two very strong defensive OFs, which I’m sure the pitching staff will appreciate.

An interesting story to watch will be OF Robin Jennings. That age you read above is correct, Jennings is 35 years old this month and the Annandale native joins his sixth major league organization in 2007.

All told, the Senators have a solid enough team to remain competitive in a strong Eastern League.

Posted by Brian Oliver on Sunday, April 1st, 2007, at 3:42 pm, and filed under Harrisburg (AA).

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