Monday 5th April 2004

The Boston Red Sox have announced the roster for their Double-A affiliate, the Portland Sea Dogs.

The 2004 roster consists of 17 returning players (five will open the season on the disabled list), including three who played in Portland when the team was affiliated with the Florida Marlins.

The Sea Dogs are scheduled to arrive in Portland tonight at approximately 5:30 PM at the Eastland Hotel.

The team opens the season on Thursday evening in Altoona, Pennsylvania.
The home opener is slated for Thursday, April 15th at 6:00 PM against the Binghamton Mets.

The 2004 roster features several familiar faces.

Jeff Bailey (2001), Brett Roneberg (2001), and Jesus Medrano (2002), who played with the Sea Dogs as Marlin farmhands, return to Portland after being signed during the off-season by the Red Sox.
Medrano was a Double-A All-Star with the Sea Dogs in 2002.

Charlie Weatherby, Raul Nieves, John Hattig, Eric Glaser, James Johnson and Juan Perez are among the players returning from last season’s team.
Perez led the Red Sox minor league system with 18 saves last season.
Hattig was named Single-A Sarasota’s Player of the Year in 2003 and was promoted to Portland in August.
Both Glaser and Johnson enjoyed a pair of stints with Triple-A Pawtucket.

The Sea Dogs starting rotation consists of some of Boston’s top pitching prospects, including Jerome Gamble, Charlie Zink, Abe Alvarez, and Chris Smith.
Gamble is a member of the Red Sox 40-man roster.
Zink was named Single-A Sarasota’s Pitcher of the Year in 2003.
The knuckleballer was promoted to Portland in July and came within one out of a no-hitter on August 31.
Alvarez was a second round draft pick of the Red Sox last year and is rated as Boston’s #7 prospect by Baseball America.
Smith was Boston’s third pick in the 2002 draft.
Ryan Cameron, who split last season with Portland and Triple-A Pawtucket, rounds out the rotation.

Among the new faces you’ll see at Hadlock in 2004 are outfielders Sheldon Fulse, Eric Johnson , Mike O’Keefe, Mike Campo and pitcher Joe Nelson.
Fulse was acquired in July from Seattle and Johnson recently spent two seasons on the practice squad of the NFL’s Chicago Bears.
Nelson, who has major league experience with the Atlanta Braves, was signed as a free agent.

Shortstop Kenny Perez, catcher Edgar Martinez, and pitcher Jason Howell are among the notable names that move up from Single-A Sarasota.