ONEONTA _ Pitching depth shouldn't be a problem for the Oneonta Tigers this season.
First-year manager Howard Bushong's 28-man roster includes 14 pitchers. The O-Tigers will also carry two catchers, eight infielders and four outfielders heading into their New York-Penn League season-opener at 7:05 tonight against the Tri-City ValleyCats at Damaschke Field.
The following is a position-by-position look:
PITCHERS
Bushong said he was pretty sure his squad has solid pitchers.
Jeff Gerbe, a 6-foot-3 right-hander who pitched in Oneonta in 2006, is coming off a surgery on his right shoulder that cost him the 2008 season. Gerbe, who went 2-3 between Single-A West Michigan and Double-A Erie in 2007, will get the start tonight.
"Gerbe is still rehabbing and still trying to get consistent," Bushong said. "He's had really good games and he's struggled in some games. I'm expecting him to come out here with the added adrenaline of a competitive league where you're playing for a championship. I'm expecting him to do real well for us."
Two others _ Gary Perniar and Luis Sanz _ will also start for Oneonta.
Three players from this year's draft _ Adam Wilk (11th round out of Long Beach State), Nathan Newman (17th round out of Pepperdine) and Cory Hamilton (23rd round out of the University of California at Irvine) could be part of the rotation, Bushong said.
Wilk and Kenny Faulk are the only lefties on the roster for Oneonta.
"We were hoping to get a few more lefties in there," Bushong said. "But at the same time, if the right-handers are your best guys, we'll put them in. It doesn't matter who you are throwing against, you have to get them out."
Perniar is also coming off surgery _ the right-hander missed the 2008 season after having his right elbow operated on, according to Detroit's media guide. Perniar has pitched in one professional game _ allowing one run on two hits over 2/3 of an inning for the Gulf Coast League Tigers in 2007.
Sanz, who started the season with West Michigan, is in his fourth professional season. A right-hander, Sanz went 0-1 with an 8.64 ERA in eight games with the Whitecaps. He's 13-10 in his career.
"I think we have some good guys, pitching-wise," Bushong said. "We got some help when Sanz came down from West Michigan. I think he's really going to help us. Perniar pitched real well in extended (spring training)."
Oneonta should have depth in the bullpen as well.
Faulk could serve as Oneonta's closer, Bushong said. Drafted in the 16th round out of Kennesaw State (Ga.), he went 7-4 with four saves and a 3.16 ERA in college this season.
Of the remaining pitchers, two were drafted this year. Kevan Hess (14th round out of Western Michigan) and Wade Kapteyn (24th round out of Evansville) will join Nick Cassavechia, Clemente Mendoza, Jose Ortega, Michael Torrealba and Mike LaLuna out of the bullpen.
LaLuna, who signed as a free agent this past October, is from Port Jefferson. Cassavechia, Mendoza, Ortega and Torrealba have been with the Detroit organization.
Cassavechia pitched in three games with Oneonta last season, going 0-1 with a 3.60 ERA.
"Some of the other guys are coming from other programs that are extremely competitive," Bushong said. "I think our bullpen is going to be OK, to be honest. We have some guys who can go out there and compete very well."
INFIELDERS
Versatility could be key for Oneonta's infield.
Third-round draft pick Wade Gaynor _ the highest pick from this year's First-Year Player Draft on Oneonta's roster _ will play third base. It's likely the Tigers' organization will keep a close on Gaynor.
"I don't think there's much pressure, really," Gaynor said. "I was happy where I went. I'm ready to play ball. It's an even-playing field. It doesn't matter what round you were drafted in now."
Gaynor, a 6-foot-4, 213-pounder out of Western Kentucky, finished fifth in the nation with 25 home runs this spring for the Hilltoppers.
Wade Lamont, the son of Detroit Tigers third-base coach Gene Lamont, is back for his second season in Oneonta. A first baseman, Lamont hit .255 in 34 games with the Oneonta last year. Rawley Bishop, a 19th-round pick out of Middle Tennessee State, will also see time first base.
The middle of the infield could be a strong point. Alden Carrithers, who played last season with the GCL Tigers, and Christopher Sedon, a 10th-round pick this year from Pittsburgh, will see time at second base. Jimmy Gulliver, selected in the 20th round of Eastern Michigan, will play shortstop.
Carmelo Jaime and Luis Palacios are utility players who can man most infield spots.
"I'm certainly hoping the infield is one of our strong suits," Bushong said. "Just from talking to people about the draft and the people we have from the draft and knowing the guys we have and being able to use them in the right situation, I think we have a chance to be OK in the infield."
CATCHERS
John Murrian, selected in the ninth round out of Winthrop, will join fellow draftee Eric Roof (18th round out of Michigan State) as Bushong's choices for catcher.
Roof is the son of Detroit roving outfield and baserunning coordinator Gene Roof, who played three seasons in the major leagues with St. Louis and Montreal in the early 1980s.
OUTFIELD
With 38 of the team's 76 scheduled games at spacious Damaschke Field, outfield speed is a necessity and Bushong said the Tigers have plenty of it.
Recently signed draftees Jamie Johnson (seventh-round out of Oklahoma), Michael Rockett (13th round out of the University of Texas-San Antonio) and Matthew Mansilla (22nd round out of College of Charleston) can all run.
How their speed translates to game conditions remains to be seen, Bushong said.
"I'm looking forward to seeing all these guys," Bushong said. "The key to baseball is you can watch a guy take batting practice, you can watch him take groundballs and you can evaluate some tools, but there's nothing like watching them in a ballgame, and seeing them adjust and adapt. That's what will make a baseball player."
Alexis Espinoza is in his fourth year with the organization. He played two years with the Venezuelan Summer League Tigers and last year in the GCL.
Over those three years, he hit .288 (124-for-430) with 20 home runs and 64 RBIs.
"He's kind of hit-and-miss at times, but boy he has tremendous power," Bushong said. "He'll need to work a little on his defense and making a little more contact."
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P.J. Harmer can be reached at pharmer@thedailystar.com or 607-432-1000, ext. 229.
