Hey, baseball!

I'm kind of the minor leagues guy around here, and I've got two Lehigh Valley IronPigs items to mention.

First, I was checking out the IronPigs' Official Website for the first time in a few weeks and I see that the 'Pigs will host the Phillies in an exhibition game March 30. What an awesome way to kick off the franchise. No word on how to get tickets (UPDATE: Ticket information), but I'm very eager to get down to the Valley to check out the new team.

Second, Minor League Baseball has put up a site for the IronPigs that includes a preliminary roster. It includes six guys who finished the year at Triple-A Ottawa: pitchers Jason Anderson, Matt Childers, and Gary Knotts; second baseman Gookie Dawkins; third baseman Brennan King; and outfielder Javon Moran. There are three promotions from Double-A Reading: pitcher Zack Segovia, third baseman Joey Hammond, and first baseman Juan Tejeda.

Outfielder Luke Appert finished last year with the Double-A affiliate of the Oakland A's and was selected by the Phils in this year's Rule 5 Draft.

The Phillies seem to have quietly signed former Yankees and Royals pitcher Kris Wilson to a minor league contract. (EDIT: Here's a blog posting about Wilson and other minor-league free agents that the Phils signed last month.)

Jake Blalock (OF) was drafted by the Phils in 2002 and worked his way up to Clearwater before he was dealt away with Robinson Tejeda to the Texas Rangers for David Dellucci. Blalock peaked at Double-A with Texas and found his way to the Royals' Double-A affiliate.

Neil Sellers (3B) played last year for the Houston Astros' Double-A team. Others on the roster: pitchers Reymond Cruz (A- Batavia) and R.J. Swindle (A+ Clearwater).

Apparent departures due to minor-league free agency: Pitchers Landon Jacobsen, Eude Brito, and Ryan Cameron; infielders Gary Burnham, Danny Sandoval, and Joe Thurston (signed by Boston); and outfielders Matt Padgett, Jim Rushford, and Pedro Swann. Catcher Dusty Wathan retired and is now the manager at Class A (Short Season) Williamsport.

EDIT: Catcher Pete Laforest should be on the IronPigs' roster as well. That makes 16 'Pigs so far. There are obviously 15 guys on the Phillies' 40-man roster who won't make the active 25-man roster; expect the other eight 'Pigs to come from either them or from the non-roster spring training invitees.