m-braves roster

Mississippi Braves manager Rocket Wheeler has his first roster for 2011, and there are many names of note on it. Onetime Atlanta Braves starter Kenshin Kawakami will open the year in the Double-A club’s rotation. And then there’s newly acquired (from Texas) second baseman/outfielder Marcus Lemon, the son of Jackson native and ex-big leaguer Chet Lemon. Also making the club are top-rated Braves pitching prospects Randall Delgado, Brett Oberholtzer and J.J. Hoover along with shortstop Tyler Pastornicky and outfielder Cory Harrilchak. Reliever Billy Bullock, acquired in a recent trade with Minnesota, was a rising prospect in the Twins’ system. Rounding out the pitching staff are Paul Clemens, a starter, and bullpen arms Luis Avilan, Michael Broadway, Jaye Chapman, Rowdy Hardy, Benido Pruneda and Richard Sullivan. Jesus Sucre returns as one of the catchers, along with Matt Kennelly. Donell Linares is back at third base, and Ernesto Mejia, who appeared here briefly in 2009, returns to play first. Mejia, re-signed after a year in the Kansas City system, hit 21 homers in A-ball in 2008. Ex-Chicago White Sox farmhand C.J. Retherford, Jordan Kreke and Gerardo Rodriguez are the other infielders. Speedy Antoan Richardson, one of the best players on the 2010 M-Braves club, is back in center field, and the fourth outfielder on the roster is Gavin Dickey, who hit 17 homers in independent ball last summer. “Ninety percent of these guys, I’ve had before,” said Wheeler, who spent the previous five years at Class A Myrtle Beach. “It’s going to be a fun summer. We’ve got a little power and we’ve got a little speed. And the pitching looks good. Now we’ve just got to put it all together.” The season starts April 7 at Trustmark Park.