The 2010 Savannah Sand Gnats will have a comforting feeling of familiarity as they take the field under Manager Pedro Lopez. In a unique set of circumstance, the team will feature several players who donned Sand Gnat uniforms last season, as well as nine others who performed for Lopez last season with the Brooklyn Cyclones. For a franchise that has not visited the post season in quite some time, Sand Gnats fans are eager to embrace a winning team. By all indications, this could be the best Gnats team that Savannah has seen since the days the club operated as a Cardinals affiliate. “It’s an exciting group and that gets me excited,” said Lopez. “Not only did a lot of these guys play together or for me last season, but we had a great opportunity to come together in spring training. These guys are talented and they want to work. If we keep playing hard, it should be a good summer.” On the mound, nine of the 13 pitchers on the Gnats’ roster spent 2009 pitching for the Brooklyn Cyclones, who finished fourth in the New York-Penn League in ERA (3.05) and allowed the fewest walks (193) on the circuit. Among these hurlers who pitched for Lopez last season are Sterling Award winner Mark Cohoon (who went 9-2 with a 2.15 ERA and 70 strikeouts), Colin McHugh (8-2, 2.76 ERA and 70 strikeouts) and Brandon Moore (6-3, 2.09 ERA, 71 strikeouts). Moore, on August 23 of last season, threw the first no-hitter in Cyclones’ history in a 5-0 win over the Aberdeen Iron Birds. As if that wasn’t enticing enough, the Gnats were also assigned Dock Doyle, who was the Cyclones’ primary catcher last season, to join Kai Gronauer behind the plate this season. “That gives us a great advantage to begin the season,” said Lopez. “Having that type of familiarity is rare in minor league baseball.” At the plate, the Sand Gnats will also boast some faces that are familiar to one another. Shortstop Wilmer Flores and third baseman Jefry Marte, both just 18 years old, each return for their second season with the Sand Gnats. Baseball America ranked Flores as the #2 prospect in the Mets system while Baseball Prospectus ranked him #3 this winter, coming off a 2009 season with Savannah in which he hit .264 with 20 doubles and three homeruns in 125 games. Marte garnered a #13 ranking from Baseball America and a #14 ranking from Baseball Prospectus. The right side of the infield will feature a tandem that may be new to Savannah, but not to each other, as first baseman Jeff Flagg and second baseman Alonzo Harris suit up as teammates for the third season, after having terrific seasons for Kingsport. Flagg finished the season hitting .301 with 10 home runs and 59 RBI’s while Harris slammed 10 homers of his own to go along with a .279 average. One of the fastest players in the organization, Harris also swiped 15 bases and scored 49 runs. “I feel like this team is already really close and together,” said Harris. “We are like a family and we have come together quickly. Spring Training plays a big part in getting off to a good start. Especially when it comes to hitting and playing defense. It is always good to know your teammates’ strengths and weaknesses. Defensively it helps with timing. Since we have had a chance to play a little together, it helps with plays at second base with Wilmer and me. Flagg and I have been together for two years now and that really helps with how we can play on the right side of the infield. It just helps a lot when you know each other.” “It’s a nice advantage,” added Flagg. “I have played alongside Alonzo for two years and that really makes it easier for us to play better defense as far as getting to balls and communicating well on the field. It’s always good to have everyone who is on the same page and familiar with one another. Anytime that you have that, you have a better chance of playing well and winning.” In addition to the infield, the Sand Gnats also have a talented group of outfielders. Right fielder Cesar Puello, another Gnat who played for Kingsport last season, has perhaps the strongest outfield arm in the Mets organization. Baseball America ranked the 19-year old Puello as the 17th best prospect in the Mets system, while Baseball Prospectus had him ranked #13 following a 2009 season, when he hit .296 for Kingsport in the Rookie level Appalachian League. Joining Puello in the outfield are promising center fielder Pedro Zapata and Juan Lugares, who hit .274 in 47 games for Savannah last season. Lopez likes the make-up of his ballclub and is confident that his style of managing will pay big dividends this season as the Sand Gnats vie for a playoff spot. His direct approach to the game has drawn rave reviews from those who played for him last season as well as those whom he got to know in spring training this year. All of the Gnat players are thrilled to take the field for their skipper. “He’s a player’s manager,” stated Flagg. “He will sit you down and tell it like it is. That’s the way it should be. Like he says, we are going to be a family. It’s a grind. We are going to be together every day for the next six months so it’s good for us to know each other and to get along.” “It should be a fun season,” continued Flagg. “I’m looking forward to it.” So should the fans of the Savannah Sand Gnats.
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