Earlier today, the Harrisburg Senators’ 2013 opening day roster was unveiled. Fans will be given an opportunity to check out the players on Monday at 5 pm for the team’s public workout. As of now, the roster stands at 26 so someone is bound to start the season on the disabled list.Let’s take a quick look at the roster by position:

Starting Pitchers

Photo courtesy Gary Dize / Potomac Nationals

Brian Broderick
Caleb Clay
Paul Demny
Nate Karns
Blake Treinen

Karns opened a lot of eyes last season as he combined to go 11-4 with a 2.17 ERA and 1.009 WHIP between Hagerstown and Potomac. For his efforts, the 6’5″ righthander was named the Nationals’ Minor League Pitcher of the Year.

Look for Treinen to break out this season and put 2012 behind him where he struggled in the offensively-minded California League. Reports from spring training have said the former A’s prospect has looked great and has the stuff to compete at a high level.

Relief Pitchers

Aaron Barrett
Marcos Frias
Trevor Holder
Neil Holland
Ian Krol
Pat Lehman
Matt Swynenberg
Rob Wort

Krol starts the year in Harrisburg after finding out a little over a week ago that he was the player to be named later in the three-team trade that sent Michael Morse to Seattle. Krol is also unique on the pitching staff as he’s the lone southpaw.

Wort is a strikeout machine as his 15.1 SO/9 ration in 2012 was best in the entire minor leagues.

Expect Lehman and Wort to both close games for the Senators until Lehman gets justifiably bumped back up to Triple-A. After that, it wouldn’t surprise me to see Barrett pick up saves for the club.

Catchers

Photo courtesy Kyle Mace

Sandy Leon
Jeff Howell
Kris Watts

After the Senators’ opening day in Bowie last season, I wrote that it would be a pleasure to watch Leon catch for the entire season. Unfortunately for Senators fans, Nationals’ catchers started dropping like flies and Leon was called up to the big club where he too got injured. If he can prove that his offensive numbers from last season weren’t a fluke, I’d expect him to be groomed for the #2 spot with the big club when Kurt Suzuki’s contract expires.

Infielders

Photo courtesy Hagerstown Suns

Justin Bloxom
Ricky Hague
Josh Johnson
Sean Nicol
Anthony Rendon
Matt Skole

After an impressive Arizona Fall League and major league spring training, Rendon returns to Harrisburg to start 2013. The Nats want him to play everyday and he’ll do that on City Island until his bat carries him to western New York. 

Skole was named the Nationals Minor League Player of the Year after tearing up the Sally League. Expect Skole to get time at both corner infield positions.

With the Senators’ roster stacked with four of the organization’s top five prospects, Hague is quietly flying under the radar as the club’s #16 rated player according to Baseball America.

Outfielders

Photo courtesy Cliff Welch / MiLB.com

Brian Goodwin
Destin Hood
Jose Lozada
Steven Souza

Hood returns to Harrisburg after a frustrating season caused by wrist and leg injuries. Despite the challenges in 2012, Hood will be better off for already having a season in the Eastern League under his belt.

Something clicked last season for the hard-working Souza in both his personal and professional life. After he was baptized in January, Souza stopped feeling the pressure and just went out and played the game he loved and the results were easily his best season in the organization.

Our guess at the opening day lineup:

CF Goodwin
2B Hague
3B Rendon
1B Skole
RF Souza
DH Bloxom
LF Hood
C Leon
SS Johnson