Goldeyes open pre-season slate against Wesmen

Tickets: Tickets for today’s game are just $5 and available at the Shaw Park box office.

X Games: The Winnipeg Goldeyes begin their 2015 exhibition slate this afternoon against the University of Winnipeg Wesmen… It’s the fourth consecutive year the two teams have met in the spring… The Goldeyes welcome the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks later this week on Tuesday and Wednesday for a pair of exhibition games. Both games are slated to begin at 6 p.m… Following their workout on Thursday afternoon, the Goldeyes will depart for Kansas City, where they will meet the T-Bones for three games next weekend… Winnipeg’s exhibition schedule concludes next Tuesday in Wichita against the Wingnuts.

Today’s Starting Pitcher: 2014 American Association Pitcher of the Year Nick Hernandez will start this afternoon for the Goldeyes… A former farmhand of the Philadelphia Phillies, Hernandez went 12-2 with a 3.06 ERA in 20 starts last season.

Salamida Retires: The Goldeyes announced yesterday that five-year starting pitcher Chris Salamida has elected to retire from professional baseball… In 90 starts during five seasons, he went 40-25 with a 3.85 ERA.

Rotation Spots: With Salamida’s retirement, another spot in the starting rotation is available… Entering today’s game, the Goldeyes have Nick Hernandez, Kyle Anderson, Matt Jackson, Rob Nixon and Coby Cowgill on their starting staff.

About the Wesmen: The Wesmen have a 2-37 record in NAIA play this season… James Zamko leads the Wesmen with a .333 batting average, while Drake Pilat is batting .318 with a team-high nine extra-base hits… On the pitching staff, today’s starter Zach Campbell and Alain Andre have claimed the two wins.

Canadian Content: The CRTC will be happy to know that there are three Canadian arms looking for a role on the Goldeyes pitching staff this spring… Rob Nixon is looking land a spot in the starting rotation, while returnee Taylor Bratton and newcomer Jon Fitzsimmons are looking for a role in the bullpen… All three hurlers hail from Ontario… Additionally, transplanted Californian Brendan Lafferty now makes his home in Winnipeg.

Staff Intact: For the second consecutive season, the Goldeyes coaching staff remains intact from the previous season, as hitting coach Tom Vaeth and pitching coach Jamie Vermilyea return with manager Rick Forney… Vaeth has been with the organization since 2003, while Vermilyea returned to the organization in 2013 after serving as the team’s closer in 2011.

On the Airwaves: Steve Schuster returns as the Voice of the Goldeyes after taking over the headset last season from longtime voice Paul Edmonds… All Goldeyes games, including the exhibition games, will be broadcast on Jewel 101, which can be found at 100.7 FM, or online at www.jewel101.com.

Miscellanous:

Born on January 4, 1981, closer Jailen Peguero is the oldest player on the Goldeyes training camp roster at 34 years of age.

Born on November 29, 1991, reliever Jon Fitzsimmons is the youngest player on the Goldeyes training camp roster at 23 years of age.

Last season the Goldeyes had 12 returning players entering training camp. This year there are only nine returning players.

The Skipper: Manager Rick Forney is in his 10th season as the team’s manager, making him the fourth-longest serving manager in the American Association next to Fargo-Moorhead’s Doug Simunic (19 years), St. Paul’s George Tsamis (12 years) and Gary’s Greg Tagert (11 years)… Forney has a career 490-392 record, good for a .556 winning percentage.

Regular Season Awaits: The Goldeyes begin their 22nd season on Thursday, May 21 in Grand Prairie, Texas against the AirHogs… Following the opening series, the Goldeyes will play three games against the Wichita Wingnuts and three games against the expansion Joplin Blasters… The Goldeyes home opener is on Tuesday, June 2 against the Sioux Falls Canaries.