By CRAIG POTTER
Manager Mike Quade returns for his 3rd season, and welcomes 17 players who were on the roster a year ago.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Rochester Red Wings manager Mike Quade was pleased to be asked back for his third season at the helm of the International League affiliate of the Minnesota Twins.
“You’re always looking for a major league job in the off-season, and that didn’t happen so I’m excited to be back and thankful that I was asked to be back,” Quade said at Media Day on Tuesday at Frontier Field.
“It’s the perfect spot for me to do what I do with the right organization.”
Though the final roster is not yet set, 17 of the players currently on the roster played parts of last season with the Red Wings.
“I’m looking at a roster, from a regular standpoint, I’ve got 13, 14 guys who all deserve to play,” said Quade. “This might be the toughest year I’ve had to mix and match and do what I do. It’s very likely that fans may not see the same lineup twice all year.
“To start the season it’s going to be really interesting…We will not lack for competition here, that’s for sure.”
With power hitters Kennys Vargas and Dan Palka back, the addition of ByungHo Park, who led the Twins in spring training with 6 homers, and Matt Hague, who has led the IL in hitting three times, the middle of the Wings lineup will provide the power to start the season.
“We’ll have power, speed, and versatility defensively,” Quade said. “We have four or five infielders who are going to play all sorts of positions…Our two catchers (Mitch Garver and John Ryan Murphy) are both excellent.”
Hague, 31, played last season in Japan and decided to return to the USA this year. He played for the Buffalo Bisons and always was a tough out for the Wings to record. He also had some major league experience with the Pittsburgh Pirates (2012) and Toronto Blue Jays (2014 and 2015). He was named the IL 2015 MVP as he batted .338 with 11 homers and 92 RBI with the Bisons.
“I’m glad to be back and ready to go again,” Hague said. “I had a great time in Japan…The language barrier was the toughest, and the food, but everything was a good experience.”
The manager and players are eager for the season to start.
“It was a long spring, 50 days,” Quade said. “I’ve been doing this for almost 40 years and I don’t remember spring training being 50 days.”
Rochester is slated to open the season on Thursday in Syracuse against the Chiefs, weather permitting. A year ago, the weather did not permit the opener to take place in the Salt City, so the two teams traveled to Allentown, PA., and played in an empty stadium that the Lehigh Valley IronPigs call home.
“We’ll play Syracuse anywhere,” Quade said with a smile. “We just want to see a different uniform and get started.”
Jose Berrios will be the starting pitcher on opening day for the Red Wings.
“I’m excited about the start Thursday,” said Berrios. “I want to try and be consistent.”
“We expect Jose to anchor (the rotation),” said Quade. “He’s got great stuff. He’s just got to locate it and get it consistent. That’s a bad place to be up there if you can’t locate it and be consistent. Those guys are pretty good, and I think he found that out. I can’t wait to see him at Syracuse and where we’re at with his development.
“Last year we had so many pitchers in and out of here. The one thing you hope is that the big league club stays healthy and plays well…It can’t be as much movement as last year, I don’t think,” he added with a smile.
Links
Rochester Red Wings – redwingsbaseball.com
Videos
Agility drill – https://youtu.be/HaDutzd7BEc
Dan Palka interview – https://youtu.be/QBH16wuJJGU
Jose Berrios interview – https://youtu.be/IpU5YE_VNUU
Matt Hague interview – https://youtu.be/WJQpE2S0DXk
Mike Quade interview – https://youtu.be/hkMP1Yk0qoM