The 2013 Redlegs look to have a 17 player roster with five returning players and twelve newcomers to the program. Graduates from Bantam area teams in the Tri-Cities, Burnaby and Ridge Meadows are the core basis of the team for 2013. Nine players from our 2012 team have graduated to the Senior Reds this year.

Head Coach WES TAYLOR returns for his second year along with Reds General Manager/Program Coach BILL GREEN and Reds player grad JARED PETERSON and Pitching Program Coach DAVID KINGTON both in their second years back in the Reds program. The Redlegs program’s goals of player development through competitive experience in the Junior PBL remains the same; to challenge with expectations and proper standards of coaching progressive baseball skills

Here is a preview of this year’s team members:

CATCHERS

A trio of young developmental 15 year olds will challenge for game time needs. Bantam grad RYLEY LEOPPKY shows a foundation of defensive skills with a strong arm and batting strength potential; may also get playing time at 3B as needed. Newcomer THIERRY PARKER shows sound defensive skills with a good arm; will also see some relief pitching time. Another first year player

TREVOR MCKEE has added utility value to catch and play OF as needed; shows good foot speed and range with a solid batting approach.

INFIELDERS

Around the horn: at 1B, returning Redleg JAYDON WHITE will start most games; shows strong defensive capabilities with good instincts, an improved bat to all fields. Bantam grad DREW HORTON will get shared time at 1B; shows good hands to play. For 2B and SS coverage, a rotation of players will compete; ZAC COMEAULT, an all round player with sound defensive skills, arm strength and a solid hitting approach; EVAN SOUTAR with quick actions, foot speed and line drive contact hitter; NICKOLAS PANOZZO with good athletic movements overall, along with a solid bat and positional utility at 3B and second year Redleg ROBERT KANDBORG at 2B and OF who continues to gain experience. 3B will also have ample coverage with returning 17 year old WARREN DUPASQUIER a strong hitter this year with improved arm strength and newcomer COLE NIGHTINGALE, a sound line drive hitter looking to upgrade his defensive game.

OUTFIELDERS

Redleg returning players AUSTEN BUTLER has good athleticism, arm strength, range and foot speed and ETHAN GUGLIOTTA, a solid hitter with some gap power and versatility lead a strong group. Alternate positional players will also challenge for playing time including first year Redleg SHOTA NAKASHIMADA, a sound hitter with a line drive swing and defensive assets (who also pitches), Bantam grads and pitchers KOLE BENARD, a solid bat with some gap power potential and arm strength, JARED CLARK and JOSH MICKELSON, both fleet footed and contact type hitters.

PITCHERS

A young staff of up to nine arms deep will be lead by RHers KOLE BENARD, ZAC COMEAULT, DREW HORTON, JOSH MICKELSON and lefty JAYDON WHITE as likely starters; all show sound mechanics, command of the strike zone and a good variety of pitches. WARREN DUPASQUIER, SHOTA NAKASHIMADA and JARED CLARK will have relief innings roles as well as their primary position playing time opportunities.