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The rookie-level Ogden Raptors, the Dodgers’ short-season affiliate in the Pioneer League, starts its season on Monday night, beginning a 76-game schedule.
Ogden has a new manager in Mark Kertenian, a longtime college coach at Cal State Northridge, Nevada, and Florida International, who joined the Dodgers organization in December.
“Having players drafted and signed, and having them return and talk to me about their experiences, it was becoming evident ... that the Dodgers and how they’re developing their farm system and staffs was the best,” Kertenian told Brett Hein of the Standard Examiner in Ogden. “It’s a very holistic and amazing approach to development, so I pursued the Dodgers heavily.”
Several 2017 draft picks will eventually find their way to Ogden, but none are on the opening day roster.
Among the most intriguing Raptors is Matt Jones, the former first baseman and outfielder drafted by the Dodgers in 2014 who switched to pitching this offseason, back to where he started in college at Nebraska.
Little change of scenery, back on the bump pic.twitter.com/HWHe0b71SD
— Matt Jones ⚾️ (@who_mattjones_) April 2, 2017
Bobby Cuellar returns as the pitching coach, and a new hitting coach is 26-year-old Justin Viele, a minor league infielder who played 2013-14 in the Orioles system. Pedro Guerrero also returns as a hitting coach, and Tom Kunis is another coach on the staff.
The Raptors open their schedule on the road Monday night at the Orem Owlz (Angels) in a 6:05 p.m. PT start.
Ogden opening day roster
| Pos | Player | B/T | 2017 age* | 40-man? | 2016 highest level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos | Player | B/T | 2017 age* | 40-man? | 2016 highest level |
| RHP | James Carter | R/R | 23 | No | Rookie (Arizona) |
| LHP | Francis Cespedes | L/L | 22 | No | Rookie (Arizona) |
| RHP | Conor Costello | R/R | 24 | No | Ogden |
| RHP | Logan Crouse | R/R | 20 | No | Rookie (Arizona) |
| RHP | Matt Ditman | R/R | 24 | No | Class-A (Lexington) |
| RHP | Carlos Felix | R/R | 21 | No | Rancho Cucamonga (2017) |
| LHP | Austin French | R/L | 23 | No | Great Lakes (2017) |
| RHP | Zach Hartman | R/R | 25 | No | Class-A (Inland Empire) |
| RHP | Matt Jones | L/R | 23 | No | Class-A Great Lakes |
| RHP | Gregorio Miguel | R/R | 19 | No | Great Lakes (2017) |
| RHP | Jeremiah Muhammad | R/R | 22 | No | Rookie (Missoula) |
| LHP | Jairo Pacheco | L/L | 20 | No | Ogden |
| RHP | Jeff Paschke | R/R | 22 | No | Rookie (Arizona) |
| RHP | Adalberto Peña | R/R | 22 | No | Ogden |
| RHP | Osiris Ramirez | R/R | 21 | No | Ogden |
| RHP | Edwin Uceta | R/R | 19 | No | Dominican Summer Lg |
| RHP | Kam Uter | R/R | 21 | No | Great Lakes (2017) |
| C | Luis Paz | L/R | 21 | No | Great Lakes (2017) |
| C | Hendrik Clementina | R/R | 20 | No | Rookie (Arizona) |
| C | Garrett Hope | R/R | 23 | No | Rancho Cucamonga (2017) |
| 1B | Nick Yarnall | L/L | 22 | No | Class-A Great Lakes |
| 2B | Samuel Ortiz | S/R | 20 | No | Class-A Rancho |
| 3B | Brock Carpenter | R/R | 22 | No | Ogden |
| 3B/SS | Cristian Santana | R/R | 20 | No | Rookie (Arizona) |
| IF | Moises Perez | R/R | 19 | No | Class-A Great Lakes |
| IF | Kevin Lachance | R/R | 22 | No | DNP |
| OF | Romer Cuadrado | R/R | 19 | No | Rookie (Arizona) |
| OF | Michael Medina | R/R | 20 | No | Ogden |
| OF | Daniel Padilla | R/R | 20 | No | Dominican Summer Lg |