Seventeen players who spent time with the Altoona
Curve during the 2005 season are among the roster of twenty-six
players who broke Pirates’ Minor League camp and will start
the season in Altoona
New manager Tim Leiper will lead the Curve as they open the 2006
Eastern League schedule Thursday night at 6:35 PM against the
Trenton Thunder (New York Yankees) at Blair County Ballpark in
Altoona
In addition to seventeen players who contributed to the Curve’s
third consecutive playoff appearance in 2005, a total of twenty-three
players have previous experience at the Double-A level or higher
Only three players - pitchers Jonathan Albaladejo, Chris Hernandez
and Josh Shortslef - will be making their Double-A debuts
Among the prominent names returning to the Curve roster to open
the 2006 campaign include 2005 E.L. All-Star pitcher Brady Borner,
2005 Opening Day starting pitcher Mike Connolly, Pirates’
40-man roster pitcher Josh Sharpless, the double-play combination
of second baseman Craig Stansberry and shortstop Javier Guzman,
and outfielder Rich Thompson, who equaled a Curve franchise record
with 45 stolen bases last season
Other returnees from the 2005 Curve include pitchers Landon Jacobsen,
James Johnson, Matt Peterson, Jason Roach and Shane Youman; catcher
Carlos Maldonado; infielders Brandon Chaves and Taber Lee; and
outfielders Adam Boeve, Vic Buttler and Chaz Lytle
Six players who were signed by the Pirates as minor league free
agents during the off-season will open the season with the Curve,
including four with previous major league experience - pitchers
Brandon Knight (Yankees, 2001-02) and Jorge Vasquez (Braves 2005),
infielder Travis Chapman (Phillies 2003) and first baseman/outfielder
Simon Pond (Blue Jays 2004)
A pair of moves will be necessary before Thursday in order to
trim the Curve roster down to the Eastern League limit of twenty-four
players
| Catchers | |||||||
| No | Name | Pos | DOB | Height | Weight | Bats | Throws |
| 0 | Carlos Maldonado | C | 01/03/79 | 6' 1" | 249 lbs | R | R |
| 0 | Octavio Martinez | C | 07/30/79 | 6' 0" | 195 lbs | R | R |
| Infielders | |||||||
| No | Name | Pos | DOB | Height | Weight | Bats | Throws |
| 0 | Travis Chapman | INF | 06/05/78 | 6' 2" | 200 lbs | R | R |
| 0 | Brandon Chaves | INF | 08/05/79 | 6' 3" | 178 lbs | S | R |
| 0 | Javier Guzman | INF | 05/04/82 | 6' 0" | 170 lbs | R | R |
| 0 | Taber Lee | INF | 10/18/80 | 6' 1" | 188 lbs | S | R |
| 0 | Craig Stansberry | INF | 03/08/82 | 5' 11" | 184 lbs | R | R |
| 0 | Simon Pond | INF | 10/27/76 | 6' 1" | 190 lbs | L | R |
| Outfielders | |||||||
| No | Name | Pos | DOB | Height | Weight | Bats | Throws |
| 0 | Rafael Alvarez | OF | 01/22/77 | 5' 11" | 190 lbs | L | L |
| 0 | Adam Boeve | OF | 06/20/80 | 6' 1" | 216 lbs | R | R |
| 0 | Vic Buttler | OF | 08/12/80 | 6' 0" | 181 lbs | L | L |
| 0 | Chaz Lytle | OF | 10/27/80 | 6' 1" | 190 lbs | L | L |
| 0 | Rich Thompson | OF | 04/23/79 | 6' 1" | 183 lbs | L | R |
| Pitchers | |||||||
| No | Name | Pos | DOB | Height | Weight | Bats | Throws |
| 0 | Jonathan Albaladejo | P | 10/30/82 | 6' 5" | 254 lbs | R | R |
| 0 | Brady Borner | P | 04/12/79 | 5' 10" | 198 lbs | L | L |
| 0 | Mike Connolly | P | 06/02/82 | 6' 0" | 194 lbs | L | L |
| 0 | Chris Hernandez | P | 08/03/80 | 6' 0" | 213 lbs | R | R |
| 0 | Landon Jacobsen | P | 05/04/79 | 6' 3" | 223 lbs | R | R |
| 0 | James Johnson | P | 08/07/76 | 6' 1" | 180 lbs | S | L |
| 0 | Brandon Knight | P | 10/01/75 | 6' 0" | 190 lbs | L | R |
| 0 | Matt Peterson | P | 02/11/82 | 6' 4" | 222 lbs | R | R |
| 0 | Jason Roach | P | 04/20/76 | 6' 4" | 205 lbs | R | R |
| 0 | Josh Sharpless | P | 01/26/81 | 6' 5" | 235 lbs | R | R |
| 0 | Josh Shortslef | P | 02/01/82 | 6' 4" | 242 lbs | R | L |
| 0 | Jorge Vasquez | P | 07/16/78 | 6' 1" | 175 lbs | R | R |
| 0 | Shane Youman | P | 10/11/79 | 6' 4" | 219 lbs | L | L |