Exclusive: Bears Begin Adding Names To ’09 Roster

The Newark Bears may seem like they’re in hibernation mode, but they’re actually hard at work.  The team’s front office staff has begun assembling a roster filled with major-league talent.  While over the years we’ve learned that big names don’t translate into first-place finishes, it does help drum up excitement around the club, which is exactly what the Bears need this season.

I have your exclusive first look at how the Newark Bears’ roster is shaping up.

Tony Batista, 3B – Batista spent 11 seasons in the majors with seven clubs — Oakland, Arizona, Toronto, Baltimore, Montreal, Minnesota and Washington.  During that time, he was a .251 hitter with 221 home runs, 718 RBI and 625 runs scored.  The 35-year-old spent part of last season in Triple-A with the Nationals.

Ramon Castro, SS – The infielder received 15 at-bats with the Oakland Athletics in 2004.  He hasn’t been back to the majors since.  Castro spent the last two seasons in Newark and has been one of their most consistent offensive weapons.  Last year was the best statistical season of his career, as Castro batted .352 with 23 home runs, 102 runs scored and 84 RBI.

Julio Cordido, INF – Cordido spent 10 years in the San Francisco Giants organization before he was released after last season.  In 2008, he split time between Double and Triple-A.

Carl Everett, DH – This 14-year MLB veteran is already well known among Atlantic League fans.  Everett, who spent time in the bigs with Florida, New York (NL), Houston, Boston, Texas, Chicago, Montreal and Seattle, played the last two seasons for the Long Island Ducks.  During that time, he averaged hitting .320 with 99 RBI, 78 runs scored and 27 home runs.

Jose Garcia, P – Talk about a fast rise to the majors.  It took Garcia only two years to get a call from the Florida Marlins.  In fact, in 2006, he went from Single-A all the way to the majors, with stops at each level along the way.  During that five game stint, Garcia went 0-0 with eight strikeouts and a 4.91 ERA.  He missed all of 2007 after undergoing Tommy John surgery and made only three appearances for the Oakland Athletics’ Rookie League team in 2008.  Garcia’s minor league stats are impressive: 15-10, 2.72 ERA in 38 games with 53 strikeouts and just 14 walks.

Jose Herrera, OF – Herrera is perhaps best known for being traded for Rickey Henderson, another Bears alumni.  He’s played 14 seasons of professional baseball, two at the Major League level with the Athletics in 1995 and 1996.  During that stint, Herrera batted .264 with six home runs and 32 RBI.  He also has experience with the Orioles and Blue Jays organizations.  Herrera spent the last three seasons with Newark and hit over .300 in each of those campaigns.  Last year, he batted .331 with 93 RBI, 80 runs scored and seven home runs.

Bobby Hill, 2B – (Verbal Commitment) Hill started his career with the Bears and returned last season after stints in the Cubs, Pirates and Padres organizations.  Between 2002-2005, Hill spent time in the majors, where he hit .262 with 58 RBI and 67 runs scored.  The former second-round pick batted only .238 last season for the Bears.

Charlton Jimerson, OF – They should make a movie about Jimerson’s life.  I’ll spare you all the details, just check out his Wikipedia page.  This former walk-on at the University of Miami has big league experience with the Astros and Mariners.  Jimerson was called up over four different seasons, but only stepped into the batter’s box nine times.  During that time, he hit .444 with two home runs, including one in his first MLB at bat against Cole Hamels.

Shane Komine, P – Komine became the majors third American-born player of full Japanese ancestry when he was called up by the Athletics in 2006.  In four games, two of them starts, over the course of two years, he went 0-0 with a 4.86 ERA and two strikeouts (Lyle Overbay, Matt Stairs).  The first batter he faced was Toronto’s Reed Johnson, who homered off him.  In the minors, Komine has a career record of 29-30 with a 3.91 ERA and 418 strikeouts.

Ruben Mateo, OF – Mateo returns to the Bears for a third straight season.  He has major league time with the Rangers, Reds, Pirates and Royals, where he hit a combined .250 with 21 home runs and 89 RBI.  He joined the Bears in 2007 and was picked up by the Brewers after hitting .288 with five home runs and 15 RBI in just 24 games.  He re-signed with Newark last season and hit .298 with 16 home runs, 44 RBI and 35 runs scored.

Pete Rose Jr., DH – (Verbal Commitment) The son of the great Pete Rose is back for another season in the Atlantic League.  This time it’s not with the Long Island Ducks, but the Bears.  Rose joined the A.L. in 2005 after over a decade playing for the Orioles, White Sox, Indians, Reds and Pirates organizations.  He made an 11-game appearance in the majors with the Reds in 1997, but only hit .143.  Since 2004, Rose has played for the Ducks, with a stop in Bridgeport in 2006, and has always been consistently valuable.  Last year, he batted .289 with 15 home runs, 95 RBI and 65 runs scored.

Randall Simon, 1B – Simon rejoins the Bears after playing for the Netherlands in the World Baseball Classic.  He has major league experience with the Braves, Tigers, Pirates, Cubs, Devil Rays and Phillies.  Simon is a career .283 hitter.  Last season for Newark, the first baseman batted .321 with 11 home runs and 62 RBI.

Dustin Smith – Smith is the son of Hall of Fame shortstop Ozzie Smith and brother of Nikko, a finalist on last season’s American Idol.  He has limited minor league experience.