The Pensacola Blue Wahoos are following the chain of promotion, becoming the third team today to release their opening day roster. The Dayton Dragons kicked things off this morning and were followed just before noon by the Daytona Tortugas. Let’s jump right on into the roster for the 2018 Pensacola Blue Wahoos.
The Pitchers
- Jose Adames – RHP
- Brennan Bernardino – LHP
- Rafael De Paula – RHP
- Vladimir Gutierrez – RHP
- Ariel Hernandez – RHP
- Dean Kiekhefer – LHP
- Robinson Leyer – RHP
- Keury Mella – RHP
- Carlos Navas – RHP
- Alex Powers – RHP
- Jesus Reyes – RHP
- Wyatt Strahan – RHP
- Domingo Tapia – RHP
- Daniel Wright – RHP
The Catchers
- Garrett Boulware
- Chad Tromp
The Infielders
- Alberti Chavez
- Gavin LaValley
- Shed Long
- Alfredo Rodriguez
- Taylor Sparks
- Josh VanMeter
The Outfielders
- Aristides Aquino
- Gabby Guerrero
- Nick Longhi
- CJ McElroy
- Brian O’Grady
Some quick thoughts
Looking at the pitchers I’d venture to guess that the rotation would be, in no order: Vladimir Gutierrez, Keury Mella, Jesus Reyes, Wyatt Strahan, and Daniel Wright. That’s a rotation that could get things done for Pensacola. The bullpen has some interesting arms in it, too. The pitching staff should certainly be a strength.
The infield returns a lot of players, with Alfredo Rodriguez being the lone newcomer. Shed Long leads the way as the top prospect among the group and he’ll look to pick up where he left off at the end of the 2017 season with Pensacola. The outfield also returns a lot of guys that were there last season. Only CJ McElroy is a new addition. He did not play during the 2017 season.
There should be some pop in the middle of the lineup with Aristides Aquino and Gavin LaValley. There’s some speed to mix in, too with guys like Brian O’Grady (who has a little bit of pop, too), McElroy, Sparks, VanMeter, Long and Chavez.
Pensacola’s roster has multiple Top 25 Cincinnati Reds Prospects on it. Shed Long (8), Vladimir Gutierrez (10), Aristides Aquino (18), Gavin LaValley (22), Nick Longhi (23), and Jesus Reyes (24) all find themselves among the Top 25 and on the Blue Wahoos roster.