The Home Opener

The Asheville Tourists were able to snap a five game losing streak against the Rome Braves in their home opener winning 5-4 in ten innings in walk off fashion. The Tourists faced a 4-0 deficit going into the bottom of the seventh inning as they only managed two hits in six innings off of Rome starter Max Fried. The Tourists cut it to 4-3 heading into the bottom of the ninth inning and an infield pop fly from centerfielder Mylz Jones that fell between the Rome pitcher and the third baseman and plated Jonathan Piron with the tying run. In the bottom of the tenth inning, Sam Hilliard hit a one out double to left field, was moved over to third base on a fly ball to right by Piron, and scored on a fly ball by Max George that landed in between the Rome leftfielder and third baseman, just a few feet fair.

This was not the offensive explosion I was hoping for but the Tourists still got 11 hits, nine of those in the last four innings. Starter Jack Wynkoop gave up three runs (all in the first inning) in six innings and relievers Drasen Johnson and Juan Pena pitched two innings a piece and only gave up one run between them.

The Tourists really needed this win after losing six of seven on the road to begin the season and a walk off win is a great way to start a home stand.

The Asheville Tourists Opening Day Roster

The Asheville Tourists announced their Opening Day Roster and the Colorado Rockies are unlike most other major league baseball teams in that their top prospects are playing in the higher levels of their minor league system. Most of the Rockies top 30 prospects have already passed through Asheville at some point and time and played for the Tourists.

Mlb.com has shortstop Brendan Rogers as the #1 ranked prospect in the Rockies system and he will start the season in Asheville with the Tourists. The Tourists will have several other top prospects start the season with the team. Pitcher Peter Lambert (#16) and infielder Jonathan Piron (#29) also made the top thirty prospects list.

The Tourists will also have several top draft picks of the Rockies start the season with them. Pitchers David Hill (second round), Parker French (fifth round), Jack Wynkoop (sixth round), and Trey Killian (ninth round). Lambert and those four pitchers are expected to form the Tourists starting rotation to start the season.

The Tourists are going to carry 13 pitchers and 12 position players to open the season. They are also only going to carry three outfielders with middle infielder Mylz Jones also being able to play the outfield. Jones spent 2015 with Grand Junction in the Rookie League and he played every position except for pitcher, catcher, and first base. Jones has already filled the Rockies criteria for positional versatility.