(Return to "The 2003 Altoona Curve" albumn)

 

Monday 31st March 2003
Reporter - Cory Giger


Curve Opening Day roster announced

(ALTOONA, PA) - 12 players who led Class-A Lynchburg to one of Minor League baseball’s best records and the Carolina League championship last season have earned spots on the Altoona Curve’s Opening Day 24-man roster, announced today by the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The Curve opens its 142-game Eastern League schedule on Thursday at Reading.
Among the 12 players, 10 will be making their Double-A debuts.
Of the remaining 12 players, seven will return from last year’s club.
Five minor league free agent signees will round out the club’s Opening Day roster.
Altoona will be led by third-year manager Dale Sveum, who has posted a 135-148 (.477) record in his previous two seasons as the club’s skipper.
He is joined by first-year bench coach John Wehner and veteran minor league pitching coach Jeff Andrews.

......and here are some comments about Brett made in this and earlier articles written during Spring Training

(1). and first baseman/outfielder Brett Roneberg were also signed to bolster the Curve’s roster.

(2). The rest of the infield includes......first baseman Brett Roneberg, the second Australian to play with the Curve.

(3). Brett Roneberg, who played 63 games for Harrisburg a year ago, has the inside track on the first base job.
A career .272 hitter, the 24-year-old Roneberg batted .294 with four homers and 36 RBIs for the Senators in 2002.
"Roneberg......should be good offensive players in the Eastern League," Pirates farm director Brian Graham said.