Joc Pederson, Zach Lee highlight Albuquerque Isotopes roster

ALBUQUERQUE -- The Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes announced their 2014 Opening Day roster on Tuesday, which is highlighted by top prospects Joc Pederson and Zach Lee.

Pederson, who turns 22 on April 21, was named the Dodgers top prospect by Baseball America and his average rank among all prospects in baseball by BA, Baseball Prospectus, MLB.com and ESPN was 40.25.

Lee, who like Pederson was a non-roster invitee in Dodgers camp this year and made the trip to Australia, makes the jump after 41 games and 38 starts in Double-A Chattanooga in parts of the last two seasons. The Dodgers aren't worried about sending Lee into the hitter-friendly environment of the Pacific Coast League.

"We sent [Stephen] Fife, [Matt] Magill, [Chris] Withrow and [Jose] Dominguez to Albuquerque last year," said director of player development DeJon Watson. "Whomever we send to there, they must execute quality pitches. It's another step in the players’ development."

Lee will join fellow NRI and Australia trip pitcher Red Patterson in the Isotopes rotation, along with Fife and Magill, both of whom pitched for the Dodgers last season, and Henry Sosa. Fife starts the opener on Thursday

Fife, Magill, Dominguez, Tim Federowicz, Nick Buss and Yimi Garcia are the six Isotopes currently on the Dodgers 40-man roster.

Catcher Miguel Olivo, who asked for his release in spring training but can't opt out until June 1, is still with the organization, and will backup Federowicz in Albuquerque.

Alex Guerrero isn't currently listed on Albuquerque's roster, as he is still recovering from a strained oblique suffered during last week's workout at Dodger Stadium.

With former manager Lorenzo Bundy now with the Dodgers as third base coach, the Isotopes in 2014 will be managed by Damon Berryhill, who was promoted after managing rookie level Ogden for the last five years.

Here is the 25-man Isotopes roster, which includes 13 pitchers but doesn't include catcher Griff Erickson, who opens the year on the DL: