Waldorf, Md. - The Blue Crabs announced their 2019 Spring Training roster today, including nine returnees from the team’s 2018 roster.
The pitching staff boasts five players with MLB experience that combine for a 3.79 ERA in 1,292 innings pitched in the MLB, making them a staff to be reckoned with in the Atlantic League. The standouts among the former major-leaguers include Mat Latos who was top ten in the MLB Cy Young voting in 2010 and led the MLB in starts in 2012. Daryl Thompson, another standout is a La Plata, Maryland native that returns to the staff for his eighth season looking to continue to climb the ALPB career leaderboards. A third big timer on the staff began the 2018 season with the Blue Crabs, and finished it with the Toronto Blue Jays.
Returnees from the 2018 pitching staff include Ryan Chaffee, Craig Stem, and Daryl Thompson. The lone returning outfielder is Cory Vaughn, who has the most home runs in the ALPB over the past two seasons. To round out the returners, five infielders come back to Southern Maryland for the 2019 season, Edwin Garcia, Jon Griffin, Craig Maddox, Frank Martinez, and Angelys Nina.
The Blue Crabs play six exhibitions games in total, with four coming at home. Following the team’s first Spring Training game at the York Revolution’s ballpark, the team plays their Spring Training home opener April 19th when they host the Black Sox. The squad will then travel to Lancaster to play their final road game on April 22nd and follow that up with a York/High Point Rockers double header on April 23rd that is free to the public. To polish off the Spring Training schedule, the Blue Crabs will host High Point on April 24th in a game that will be closed to the public.
Full 2019 Blue Crabs Spring Training roster:
Pitchers:
RHP Wilfredo Boscan
RHP Ryan Chaffee
RHP Brandon Cumpton
LHP Adam Choplick
LHP Pat Dean
RHP John Hayes
RHP Andrew Johnston
RHP Michael Kelly
RHP Mat Latos
RHP El’Hajj Muhammad
RHP Miguel Nunez
RHP John Richy
RHP Craig Stem
RHP Daryl Thompson (Player-coach)
LHP Tommy Thorpe
Catchers:
Mike Falsetti
Charlie Valerio
Infielders:
Kent Blackstone
Matt Dean
Edwin Garcia
Jon Griffin
Rian Kiniry
Craig Maddox (Player-coach)
Frank Martinez
Josh McAdams
Angelys Nina
Outfielders:
Tony Thomas
Rubi Silva
Cory Vaughn
*Denotes returner
The team opens the 2019 season on May 3rd at home against the Lancaster Barnstormers. To save your seat at the ballpark for the upcoming season and other team news, visit www.somdbluecrabs.com or call 301-638-9788.
About the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs
The Blue Crabs play 140 regular season games in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball Clubs. The Blue Crabs call Regency Furniture Stadium in Waldorf, Maryland home. The 12th franchise season will begin April 2019. For more information on the SOMD Blue Crabs, please call 301-638-9788 or visit http://www.somdbluecrabs.com for more information.
About the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB)
The Atlantic League has been a leader in professional baseball and a gateway to Major League Baseball since 1998. Over 40 million fans have attended Atlantic League games and more than 900 players and 70 managers and coaches have joined MLB organizations directly from the ALPB. The Atlantic League emphasizes winning baseball games, showcasing the talent of top-caliber players and offering affordable family entertainment.
For more information, please visit www.AtlanticLeague.com.