SaraSox open tonight; home debut Saturday

Six of the top 10 prospects in the Red Sox organization are on the Sarasota roster.

SARASOTA --There's plenty of optimism and enthusiasm as the Sarasota Red Sox get ready to take the field tonight at 7 in Fort Myers for the team's 11th season in the Class A advanced Florida State League.
In fact, the SaraSox appear to be legitimate contenders for an FSL championship this season.
Just how strong is Sarasota's roster? Six of the organization's top 10 prospects, according to Baseball America, will open the season in Sarasota.
The list includes top prospect shortstop Hanley Ramirez, center fielder David Murphy (No. 3), left fielder Matt Murton (No. 5), third baseman Chad Spann (No. 6), left-handed pitcher Jon Lester (No. 8) who is scheduled to start tonight, and lefty Juan Cedeno (No. 9).

Manager Todd Claus, 35, spent the past couple of seasons as manager of the Anaheim Angels' Class A Cedar Rapids (Iowa) Kernels of the Midwest League where he accumulated a 147-130 record.
Claus' field staff includes pitching coach Al Nipper, in his second year with the SaraSox, and hitting instructor David Howard, a former Riverview High and Manatee Community College standout and a nine-year major league veteran with Kansas City and St. Louis.

Sarasota's home opener will be Saturday night, the Herald-Tribune's Newspapers in Education Night, and the game will be followed by a fireworks show.
Sarasota's remaining 25-player roster: RHPs Mike Dennison, David Pahucki, Jonathan Papelbon, Luis Mendoza, Carlos Morla, Mat Thompson; LHPs Kason Gabbard, Brian Marshall, Shane Rhodes and Justin Sturge, catchers Dusty Brown, Jim Buckley and Alberto Concepcion; first basemen Stefan Bailie and Jeremy West; second baseman Greg Stone; utility infielder Pat Boran; and outfielders Ian Cronkhike and Chris Durban.

Tickets for SaraSox games are $5 for box seats and $4 for general admission. Season tickets are $87.50, or $1.25 per game.
For more information call 365-4460.