2013 Reno Aces Opening Day Roster Review

Following is a summary on each member of the 2013 Reno Aces as of Opening Day.

Starting Pitchers
Tyler Skaggs, LHP, 22 (#1 prospect)
Skaggs lost the battle for the 5th rotation spot on the Major League roster, mainly due to an ineffective Spring Training performance. He made six starts for the Dbacks last year with up and down results and starts the year in the Reno rotation. Skaggs is still just 21 pitching in AAA so there's plenty of time for him to work out whatever he was struggling with in the spring. He still ranks as the team's #1 prospect and there's nothing to be concerned about him going forward. It's only a matter of time.

Randall Delgado, RHP, 24
Delgado spent half of last year in the Braves' Major League rotation with pretty fair results. It was thought following the Upton trade that Delgado would likely slot into the #5 rotation spot. But Patrick Corbin was so good in Spring Training that Delgado got bumped to Reno. Not that Delgado pitched all that badly this spring. He's currently first in line for any Major League need for a starting pitcher.

Charles Brewer, RHP, 25 (#31 prospect)
Brewer made 24 starts for Reno last year with less than desirable results. He posted a 5.99 ERA and a .318 BAA. He'll need to do better if he wants to get into the conversation for a Major League job. He had a very good 2013 ST so the table's been set for a step forward.

Chase Anderson, RHP, 25 (#19 prospect)
Anderson had a very good year for Mobile in 2012 after missing most of 2011 with an elbow injury. He gets the jump to AAA and he ranks near the top of the second tier of Dbacks pitching prospects. Good ERA, K/BB and BAA last year. If he can do more of the same in tough hitting league of the PCL he'll get some notice. He needs to increase his innings this year as he threw just 104 last year.

Nelson Figueroa, RHP, 38
Grizzled veteran was terrific in the WBC for Puerto Rico earning a victory in the elimination game against the USA. This is his third stint in the Dbacks organization and provides veteran starting pitching depth should a rash of injuries arise. He sits behind several others though so things would have to go pretty badly for him to get the call.

Relief Pitchers
Matt Gorgen, RHP, 26 (#23 prospect)
Solid relief pitcher spent time between AA and AAA in 2012 with solid results in each. Is bucking for a Major League job and might earn one if one of the team's right handers goes down for any period of time. His entire minor league career has been pretty top notch except for 2011 when he missed the entire year due to injury. His peripherals look good across the board so he's not someone who would hurt you if you needed Major League innings from him.

Bryan Henry, RHP, 28
Currently on the disabled list Henry has bounced back and forth between relieving and starting with middling results throughout his six years in the organization. Not likely to get any Major League time and but a solid enough arm to provide necessary depth at AAA level.

Evan Marshall, RHP, 22 (#30 prospect)
Back of the bullpen prospect who many have projected as being on a fast track to the majors. Peripherals in 2012 in Mobile seem to project him being a little short of that. Needs to make a step forward with better K/9 and better BAA which were both subpar last year. Currently installed as Reno's closer at the start of the season. Huge developmental season for Marshall this year if he wants to get to the show.

Bo Schultz, RHP, 27
Schultz earned a minor league contract following an open tryout in 2011 off-season and has made the most of it with a good enough 2012 season. Now finds himself pitching for Reno just one step shy of the majors. Might be a tad short of enough talent to overtake other relievers but he's been taking forward steps so never say never.

Eury De La Rosa, LHP, 23 (#29 prospect)
Small left-hander has really emerged in the last year and is bucking for a Major League job. Terrific K/BB last year of 4.0 and is a key member of the Reno bullpen this year. Too many lefties ahead of him to get a promotion to the big club this year but might be a candidate for a lefty spot in 2014 or 2015.

Warner Madrigal, RHP, 29
Off-season free agent signing has gotten a few cups of coffee in the bigs without good results. Has put up some pretty good peripherals over the years in the minors but hasn't been able to do it at the highest level. Probably not a serious candidate to get any Major League time but should serve as a solid addition to the Reno bullpen this year.

Eddie Bonine, RHP, 31
Another off-season free agent signee that has mostly started during his minor league career and has gotten a few short tryouts in the majors with marginal results. Likely will see bullpen time initially for Reno but if Skaggs or Delgado get the call he could jump into the rotation in a pinch.

Garrett Mock, RHP, 29
Yet another off-season free agent acquisition to provide more depth for the Reno pitching staff. Like Madrigal and Bonine he has reached the majors for a few short stints with the same middling results. He's a depth guy who will be able to hold his own at the AAA level.

Joe Paterson, LHP, 26
Was a key cog in the Dbacks 2011 bullpen but was sent down to AAA following a rough beginning in 2012 and has been there ever since. Out-pitched Matt Reynolds and Tony Sipp during ST but still lands in Reno to start the season. Great depth loogy who will get the call quickly if either Sipp or Reynolds aren't cutting the mustard.

Infielders
Ed Easley, C, 27
Spent the last two years in Mobile with below average but not terrible offensive numbers. Will share the catching job with off-season acquisition Tuffy Gosewich. Could possibly get the call as a backup in a pinch if there are injuries at the ML level.

Tuffy Gosewisch, C, 29
Off-season free agent acquisition will share duties with Easley. Similar offensive abilities as Easley with a hair more power but a less OBP. Might be able to control opponent running game better. Is probably a little ahead of Easley to get the call-up in a pinch.

Chris McMurray, C, 26
Currently on the DL McMurray lacks a serious offensive component to his repertoire. Back-up depth only.

Kila Ka'aihue, 1B, 29
Serious power threat first baseman that just hasn't quite been able to put it all together to earn a full-time Major League job. Has spent time in the majors each of the last 4 years and hasn't done enough to stay there. Mans 1B for Reno this year as an insurance policy for a Paul Goldschmidt injury.

Taylor Harbin, 2B, 27
Pretty good year for Harbin last year in Reno, it's just not quite enough to be seriously considered for a Major League job. Solid infielder with a little power for the position. He makes for a fine AAA player.

Tyler Kuhn, INF, 26
Another solid minor league infielder who can hold his own at the AAA level. he just doesn't have enough to keep going beyond that.

Tyler Bortnick, 2B, 25 (#49 prospect)
Acquired mid-season from the Rays Bortnick struggled for Reno last year. Put up mid .800 OPS years up through High A but hasn't been able to do the same at AAA. Important year for him to recreate the magic if he wants to be seriously considered for a future Major League job.

Chris Owings, SS, 21 (#7 prospect)
Not a lot of 21-year-old shortstops in AAA which rates Owings as a top middle infield prospect. Somewhat surprised he didn't start again at Mobile after hitting a few bumps at that level but he's now just a short step from a Major League job. The question is whether he can get there with serious depth ahead of him now in Pennington and Gregorius. Plenty of time for him to work on things though so nothing to panic about with him.

Matt Davidson, 3B, 22 (#4 prospect)
Most consider Davidson the Dbacks third baseman of the future which may be as soon as next year if he puts together a solid season. Good season for Mobile last year with 23 home runs and an .836 OPS. The friendly confines of the PCL should mean some inflated stats coming for 2013.

Outfielders
Keon Broxton, OF, 22 (#21 prospect)
Broxton skips right over Mobile and lands in Reno to start the season, though he is currently on the DL. Has tremendous athletic ability though has been a problematic swing-and-miss guy throughout his minor league career. Started to solve some of that problem last year and finished with 19 home runs and a .763 OPS in Visalia. This will be a defining year to determine if he can make it all the way. Strikeouts must continue to come down if he's going to get there. All other stats pale in comparison to the value of that number for Broxton.

Evan Frey, OF, 28
Enters his 8th season in the Dbacks system and has become a team back-up of late. Can play various positions and is a good teammate which keeps him employed. But he's not going anywhere beyond where he's at.

Brad Snyder, OF, 30
Pretty solid minor leaguer who was signed as a free agent. Has had some fairly stout AAA seasons but hasn't been able to break through in the majors. Hit 20 home runs with .925 OPS last year in the International League. Extreme depth for outfield spot.

Mark Teahen, OF, 31
Veteran Major Leaguer who spent five seasons as an everyday outfielder and corner infielder for Kansas. Had some productive seasons but performance has tailed off of late. Spent most of 2012 in Syracuse and posted a meager .688 OPS. Needs a bounce back year to get a chance to return to the majors.

Tony Campana, OF, 25
Speedy outfielder who has had trouble getting on base enough to hold down a major league job. Was acquired in the off-season for two minor league pitchers. Would need injuries by both Eaton and Parra to get a shot with Arizona.