The Rocket City Trash Pandas’ season-opening pitch against the Birmingham Barons in the Magic City tonight will prove to be a humdinger as the team introduces its new manager, Andy Schatzley, and six of the Los Angeles Angels’ top prospects.
Schatzley led the High-A Tri-City Dust Devils in 2021. Trash Pandas hitting coach Kenny Hook and pitching coach Michael Wuertz are returning from the 2021 season. New additions include Dann Bilardello, Henry Aleck as the strength and conditioning coach and athletic trainer Will Whitehead.
Left-handed pitcher Ky Bush (No. 5), infielder Jeremiah Jackson (No. 8), right-handed pitcher Chase Silseth (No. 18), right-handed pitcher Coleman Crow (No. 22), right-handed pitcher Mason Erla (No. 25) and right-handed pitcher Luke Murphy (No. 29) are all exciting Major League prospects under the Angels’ family according to MLB.com.
Nine players are back on the Rocket City roster after playing for the team in the 2021 inaugural season, including outfielder Torii Hunter Jr. and catcher Anthony Mulrine. After tying for the team lead with six wins in 2021, right-handed pitcher Cristopher Molina is also back for a second season with the Trash Pandas.
Infielder Livan Soto, closer Kolton Ingram and setup man Zach Linginfelter are also returning.
Bush is the Angels’ second-round selection. The rest of the draft picks are Murphy, a fourth-round selection; right-hander Brett Kerry, a fifth-round pick who made one start for Rocket City last season; Silseth, the Angels’ 11th round selection that made two Double-A starts in 2021; southpaw Eric Torres, a 14th round pick; and Erla, the 17th round selection.
The pitching staff is rounded out by several newcomers making their Rocket City debuts.
Sean McLaughlin was a member of the Mississippi Braves’ 2021 Double-A South Championship team. Luis Ledo spent the entire season in the bullpen for the Birmingham Barons. Ivan Armstrong was acquired from the San Francisco Giants in a deadline deal last July; and 2019 Angels draft picks Jack Dashwood and Brent Killam will both pitch at the Double-A level for the first time.
The Trash Pandas will have a diverse group of young talent mixed with minor league veterans in the lineup.
Jerimiah Jackson, a Mobile native and the only ranked infield prospect on the roster, will make his Double-A debut, as will Kevin Maitan and Braxton Martinez after playing under Schatzley at Tri-City last season.
Preston Palmeiro, the son of four-time Major League All-Star Rafael Palmeiro, joins the Trash Pandas after previously playing at the Double-A level in the Orioles’ system in 2019. At 21-years-old, Soto is the youngest infielder while Jose Gomez will make his Angels’ organization debut.
Fan-favorite Torii Hunter Jr., son of Minnesota Twins and Angels legend Torii Hunter, Sr., returns to the Trash Pandas. He was Player of the Month in September 2021.
Trey Cabbage will make his organizational debut after slugging 27 home runs in the Minnesota Twins’ system last season.
Ryan Aguilar played against the Trash Pandas last season as a member of the Biloxi Shuckers.
Bryce Teodosio signed as an undrafted free agent out of Clemson last July and will make his Double-A debut.
Australian outfielder Aaron Whitefield is the only member of the Trash Pandas with Major League experience, having played in three games for the Twins in 2020.
Handling the pitching staff will be the catching trio of Gustavo Campero, Zach Humphreys and Mulrine.
Mulrine spent the entire season with Rocket City last year and threw out 32% of would-be base stealers. Humphreys begins his first full professional season out of TCU, and Campero joins the fold after playing for Low-A Inland Empire in 2021.
Download the full Rocket City Trash Pandas Preliminary Roster as of April 7 here.
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