The opening day roster for the Visalia Rawhide has been announced, highlighted by Diamondbacks prospects 3B Brandon Drury and RH closer Jimmy Sherfy. The Rawhide open the 2014 season on Thursday April 3 at Recreation Park against the Stockton Ports.
Drury is ranked by Baseball America as the Diamondbacks’ #10 prospect and played at loA South Bend in 2013. The right-handed hitting Oregon native hit .302/.362/.500 with 15 homers and 85 RBI. Drury was drafted out of high school by the Braves in the 13th round in 2010 and got to the Diamondbacks’ system as a part of the Justin Upton trade.
BA notes the improvements that Drury made once he came over from the Braves’ system and repeated loA ball. The offense was clearly much better but his defense at third took a step up as well.
Sherfy was a dominant closer at the University of Oregon, but his slight stature (5’10”, 160 lbs) and unconventional delivery figured in when he dropped to the 10th round of the 2013 draft. The righty spent last year with short-season Hillsboro and loA South Bend where he was solid over 18 games, 9 at each level. South Bend was more of a challenge, but Sherfy walked 3 and struck out 12 over 8 innings.
The rest of the roster can be seen at the Rawhide website.
First pitch for Visalia’s home opener on Thursday April 3 against the Stockton Ports (A’s) is 7:00PM.
