(Dickey-Stephens Park painting by Steve Spencer. Find his work at Spinadelic.com, buy on Etsy, or visit the Facebook page.)
Finally, the Travelers come home to the place beautifully depicted in the above painting. It will be the Central Arkansas introduction to the No. 2 prospect in Minor League Baseball, Mike Trout, who has already hit three home runs that included one grand slam. Including Arkansas' Trout, this home stand features three of the top prospects in Minor League Baseball with Midland multimillionaire shortstop Grant Green and Frisco's future MLB ace Martin Perez. What follows below is a brief guide to the promotions and top players to watch in this first home stand of the season.
Midland RockHounds (Oakland A's)
Schedule:
Thursday, April 14, 7:10 p.m. -- Opening night featuring Leonard Hamilton and D.J. Williams
Friday, April 15, 7:10 p.m. -- Magnet schedules to first 5,000
Saturday, April 16, 6 p.m. -- Magnet schedules to next 5,000
Players to watch:
9 Grant Green, shortstop -- No. 63 prospect in Minor League Baseball, A's No. 1 prospect, $2.75-million signing bonus, A's top draft pick in '09 out of USC, '10 Topps all star, '10 Futures Game, '10 California League all star
43 Fautino De Los Santos, relief pitcher -- A's No. 13 prospect, part of trade to White Sox for Nick Swisher
19 Steve Parker, third base -- A's No. 24 prospect, Mountain West co-freshman of the year with Stephen Strasburg in '07, '10 Topps all star, '10 California League all star
18 Michael Spina, first base -- Leads team in batting average
22 Shawn Haviland, starting pitcher -- '10 California League all star
11 Carlos Hernandez, starting pitcher -- '10 Texas League all star
27 Ethan Hollingsworth, starting pitcher -- '10 California League all star
21 Jared Lansford, relief pitcher -- '10 Texas League all star
33 Paul Smyth, relief pitcher -- '10 MLB.com short-season relief pitcher of the year
31 Yusef Carter, catcher -- nephew of former MLB star Joe Carter
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Frisco RoughRiders (Texas Rangers)
Schedule:
Sunday, April 17, 4 p.m. -- Reusable grocery bag to first 2,000
Monday, April 18, 11 a.m. -- Screaming Kids Day
Tuesday, April 19, 7:10 p.m. -- Exxon family night
Players to watch:
45 Martin Perez, starting pitcher -- No. 24 prospect in Minor League Baseball, Rangers' No. 1 prospect, 19 years old, signed for $580,000 out of Venezuela, potential MLB rotation ace
7 Engel Beltre, center field -- Rangers' No. 5 prospect, centerpiece of Eric Gagne trade with Red Sox
41 Miguel De Los Santos, starting pitcher -- Rangers' No. 10 prospect
47 Fabio Castillo, relief pitcher -- Rangers' No. 23 prospect, '10 AFL Rising Stars
18 Jose Felix, catcher -- Rangers' No. 26 prospect, '10 California League all star
49 Jacob Brigham, starting pitcher -- Rangers' No. 30 prospect
50 Jose Ruiz, first base -- Leads team in batting average and on-base percentage
33 Michael Bianuchi, left field -- Leads team in home runs
24 Tommy Mendonca, third base -- '08 College World Series MVP at Fresno State
13 Renny Osuna, shortstop -- '10 Texas League all star
