The 2009 season-opening roster for the Johnson City Cardinals of the Appalachian League follows. 31 players are on the club, including 16 members of the 2009 draft class. The signing of all 16, including second-rounder Robert Stock, had previously been announced. Johnson City begins their regular season on Tuesday evening at Kingsport.
As soon as I can get the Gulf Coast League Cardinals roster, I will update the Roster Matrix for the entire organization, including Batavia, Johnson City and GCL.
For additional details on the 2009 Johnson City club, Scout.com subscribers should be sure to check out Shawn Kerrick’s pre-season report at The Birdhouse.
| # | Catchers | B | T | HGT | WGT | Hometown | DOB | Age | Obtained | Years |
| 31 | Travis Tartamella | R | R | 6′ | 205 | Alta Loma, CA | 12/17/1987 | 21 | 19th round 2009 | 0 |
| 35 | Robert Stock | L | R | 6’1″ | 190 | Westlake Village, CA | 11/21/1989 | 19 | 2nd round 2009 | 0 |
| 5 | Audrey Perez | R | R | 5’9″ | 180 | Santo, Domingo, DR | 12/23/1988 | 20 | Free Agent 2008 | 1 |
| # | Infielders | B | T | HGT | WGT | Hometown | DOB | Age | Obtained | Years |
| 54 | Matthew Adams | L | R | 6’3″ | 240 | Philipsburg, PA | 8/31/1988 | 20 | 23rd round 2009 | 0 |
| 7 | Yunier Castillo | S | R | 6’0″ | 160 | Miami, FL | 5/15/1989 | 20 | Free Agent 2008 | 1 |
| 4 | Luis Mateo | R | R | 6’0″ | 160 | Orocovis, PR | 5/23/1990 | 19 | 20th round 2008 | 1 |
| 15 | Ted Obregon | S | R | 5’11″ | 165 | Caracas, VZ | 4/5/1990 | 19 | Free Agent 2007 | 1 |
| 11 | Rich Racobaldo | R | R | 6’1″ | 220 | Marlton, NJ | 7/10/1985 | 23 | 37th round 2009 | 0 |
| 29 | Matt Rigoli | R | R | 5’11″ | 220 | Parsippany, NJ | 11/19/1985 | 23 | 21st round 2008 | 1 |
| 16 | Romulo Ruiz | R | R | 6’0″ | 170 | Cagua, VZ | 11/30/1989 | 19 | Free Agent 2006 | 1 |
| # | Outfielders | B | T | HGT | WGT | Hometown | DOB | Age | Obtained | Years |
| 44 | Christian (CJ) Beatty | S | R | 5’10″ | 190 | Winston Salem, NC | 9/29/1988 | 20 | 26th round 2009 | 0 |
| 27 | Edgar Lara | R | R | 6’3″ | 175 | Santo Domingo, DR | 3/2/1989 | 20 | Free Agent 2006 | 2 |
| 30 | Rainel Rosario | R | R | 6’1″ | 185 | Sabana Perdida, DR | 3/29/1989 | 20 | Free Agent 2006 | 2 |
| 28 | Ross Smith | R | R | 6’2″ | 200 | Eastman, GA | 10/6/1987 | 21 | 14th round 2009 | 0 |
| 10 | Michael Swinson | L | R | 6’2″ | 185 | Douglas, GA | 9/24/1989 | 19 | 12th round 2008 | 1 |
| # | Pitchers | B | T | HGT | WGT | Hometown | DOB | Age | Obtained | Years |
| 19 | John Durham | L | L | 6’1″ | 170 | Port St. Lucie, FL | 8/19/1987 | 21 | 38th round 2009 | 0 |
| 33 | Anthony Ferrara Jr. | R | L | 6’2″ | 205 | Riverview, FL | 9/2/1989 | 19 | 7th round 2008 | 1 |
| 57 | Reynier Gonzalez | R | R | 6’3″ | 180 | Puerto Ordaz, VZ | 11/5/1988 | 20 | Free Agent 2006 | 2 |
| 47 | Kyle Heim | L | L | 6’4″ | 220 | St. Joseph, MO | 9/30/1987 | 21 | 44th round 2009 | 0 |
| 26 | David Kington | R | R | 6’2″ | 205 | Coquitlam, B.C., Canada | 12/1/1987 | 21 | 34th round 2009 | 0 |
| 25 | Travis Lawler | R | R | 6’3″ | 180 | College Station, TX | 6/13/1988 | 21 | 32nd round 2009 | 0 |
| 32 | Andrew Moss | R | R | 6’1″ | 210 | Peidmont, MO | 10/8/1986 | 22 | 35th round 2009 | 0 |
| 51 | Chris Notti | R | R | 6’5″ | 220 | Mailibu, CA | 9/3/1988 | 20 | 36th round 2008 | 1 |
| 40 | Jason Novak | R | R | 6’2″ | 200 | Agoura Hills, CA | 10/19/1987 | 21 | 48th round 2009 | 0 |
| 23 | Pablo Ortiz | R | R | 6’4″ | 175 | Maturin, VZ | 6/11/1988 | 21 | Free Agent 2006 | 2 |
| 56 | Jose Rada | R | R | 6’1″ | 180 | Puert Cabella, VZ | 4/13/1988 | 21 | Free Agent 2006 | 2 |
| 50 | Randy Santos | R | R | 6’2″ | 190 | Santo Domingo, DR | 8/21/1988 | 20 | Free Agent 2007 | 1 |
| 22 | Jesse Simpson | R | R | 6′ | 180 | Baton Rouge, LA | 1/29/1987 | 22 | 40th round 2009 | 0 |
| 34 | Justin Smith | R | R | 6′ | 190 | Pleasant Grove, UT | 3/23/1988 | 21 | 36th round 2009 | 0 |
| 9 | Aaron Terry | R | R | 5’11″ | 185 | Rison, AR | 12/28/1986 | 22 | 42nd round 2009 | 0 |
| 24 | Michael Thompson | L | R | 6′ | 200 | Newburgh, IN | 8/28/1986 | 22 | 47th round 2009 | 0 |
1st thoughts:
1. no R. DeLaCruz at 3B – will have to keep an eye out when the GCL roster comes out
2. as far as age – an old roster
3. 10 late round 2009 draftees on the pitching staff.
[...] Brian Walton has the JC Cardinals roster. Notably absent is their big July 2nd signee Roberto de la Cruz, whom Luhnow was gushing about last fall and had projected he’d very likely skip the DSL, GCL and move right up to Johnson City. Looks like that was a tad optimistic. It does however make the GCL team worth following a lot more. [...]
For perspective on DeLaCruz, there is no reason to have him begin at a high rung versus US collegiates in the Appalachian league. He can earn his way up from the Gulf Coast League. Audrey Perez played in the DSL last summer and has qualified to begin at JC. This seems reasonable.
Its nice to see so many recent draftees draw an assignment to Johnson City. In the past, guys like Stock and Tartamella might have been assigned to Batavia. A lot of collegiates used to begin with the NYPa league team. Now Johnson City is getting a stronger outfitting. For some other teams in this league, they are the highest rookie league team, whereas the Cards have two collegiate entry squads in JC and Batavia. This better stocking should result in stronger JC teams.
Does anyone know what kind of coverage they have of the Appy league games?
Welcome, CardsFan. Not sure what you mean by coverage – radio, TV, print, internet? We have a Scout.com writer, Shawn Kerrick, who attends most JC home games and writes a regular report.
Some of the Latin players, such as Edgar Lara, Raniel Rosario, and Reynier Gonzalez, have arguably had three prior seasons in pro ball. This metric tends not to be well captured at the Baseball Cube, which must not integrate Venezuelan or Dominican play into player profiles well.
I was looking for live coverage, audio, video or game tracker. – Thanks
Robert Stock, despite having three years worth of experience in a major college baseball program, is only about six months older than Pete Kozma was when he started his pro career in 2007 straight out of high school.
CardsFan,
I will be writing reports for Scout.com throughout the year on the Johnson City club and will be maintaining an MLBlog about Johnson City.
The MLBlog link can be accessed here: http://stkerrick.mlblogs.com/
I try to check the Scout.com and “The Cardinal Nation” sites at least once a week during the season to see if there are questions I might be able to answer. I will be checking comments on the JC blog regularly if you want to ask me something there.
I made an entry on my MLBlog yesterday about following JC through the internet (i.e ” live coverage, audio, video or game tracker”).
Hope this helps.
JCInfo
CardsFan,
I have also created some links to local Johnson City news media at the MLBlog for you to see news reports and video reports. There is video of Edgar Lara’s home run and quotes from Mike Shildt and Matt Adams…
JCInfo
JCInfo,
Many thanks for the feedback.
When Big Matt Arburr began at JC in 2007, it was initially a struggle, though he improved during August. Two years on, he is at Springfield.
Now in 2009, JC fans get to watch Big Matt Adams. Encouragingly, Adams has hit in his first few games. Adams may add still more lustre to the reputations of Big Matts.
Does Big Matt Rigoli count? I spoke with his Dad, Joe, just yesterday in NY. Joe is a pro scout for the Cards.
Wow, Brian, that’s a surprising and great question. Please permit me to reflect and pontificate.
I did not know that the M in Joseph M Rigoli was Mattthew. How splendid.
Big Matt Arburr has been rated 6’4″, 250 to 260. A mountain of a man. Hits home runs or whiffs trying. Now we have added Big Matt Adams, a 6’3″, 245 pound hunk, the understandable pride of Slippery Rock and scourge of Appie League pitchers.
Of course Matt Rigoli counts as a Johnson City Matt (and would not qualify as a Kingsport Met, lucky him).
Matt Rigoli is rated 5’10″, 210. He is certainly not a shrimp or even a jumbo shrimp. But he is 5 or 6 inches shorter than those who have previously worn the name Big Matt. Maybe he should be considered Sturdy Matt or Normally Proportioned Matt.
Given the geographical setting of the Appalachian Range, to uphold the legends of Big Matts, maybe a Matt should tower above 6’2″
The Cards signed a kid out of Slippery Rock State U about 27 years ago. Catcher Sal Agostinelli. He played minor league ball for about 9 years with Cards and Phils. After his playing ended, Agostinelli became a scout, then international scouting director for the Phillies. He has a baseball academy on Long Island. Big Matt Adams is following in a distinguished tradition.