Manager Jamie Bennett has set the Opening Day Roster as the Schaumburg Boomers look to take the next step after finishing their Inaugural Season in 2012 with a 54-42 record and falling just one game short of the Frontier League playoffs.

“Camp was a lot more competitive this season,” Bennett said. “There was no one who didn’t belong here. It made the decisions for the last slots on the roster extremely difficult. I’m very happy with the roster and we have a good core group back from last season and lots of leadership in the clubhouse.”

The roster for 2013 will feature 24 players active and three opening the season on the Injured Reserve List. The Boomers have 13 players from the list who appeared as a member of the 2012 squad.

Highlighting the returners are All-Stars Chad Mozingo, Frank Pfister, Cameron Roth, and Sean Mahley. Mozingo was both a postseason and midseason All-Star in the outfield last year, finishing with a team-best .313 average. Pfister led the entire Frontier League with 121 hits and played in all 96 Boomers games in 2012. Roth will begin the season on the injured reserve list with a back injury after pacing the pitching staff with the most innings pitched last season.

Both catchers return in Mike Valadez and Ty Nelson. Valadez threw out over 30 percent of runners attempting to steal last season. Other returners include Steve McQuail, who slugged 20 homers in just 69 games last year. Gerard Hall is also back after being limited to just 21 games last season with a pair of shoulder injuries.

Bennett will utilize a four-man rotation this season, which will feature a pair of returners in Cody Griebling and Joe Parsons. Griebling joined the team mid-season and started nine games, posting a 6-2 record with a 2.48 ERA. Parsons was the most dependable reliever last season but slides into the rotation this year. Parsons struck out 56 in 51.1 innings last year with a miniscule 1.57 ERA. Joining the pair in the rotations will be a pair of local products in Mike Giovenco and Danny Jimenez. Giovenco, a Roselle, Ill. native who spent three seasons in the Royals system, will draw the start on opening night against Windy City to be followed by Jimenez, Griebling, and Parsons. Jimenez is the lone lefty in the rotation and hails from St. Charles, Ill.

“From top to bottom everyone on the starting staff has experience,” Bennett said. “I’m comfortable with a four man staff having pitched and coached in it and thought with the extra off days and this being the second year it would be a good idea.”

The most significant offensive addition will be Brian McConkey, formerly of the Marlins system. McConkey will plug into the middle of the lineup to provide support for Pfister, Mozingo, and McQuail. Mike Demperio is a versatile infielder who spent last season in the North American League and will open the season starting at second base. Bobby Martin, who played for Jamie Bennett in the California Winter League this offseason, will open the season in centerfield. Other position players include Craig Hertler and Alexi Colon.

“We have a lot of options with this year’s team,” Bennett said. “There is a lot of flexibility of what we can do with the lineup and in the field with a good core group in the middle of the order.”

James Jones and Dexter Price will open the season at the back end of the bullpen. A trio of returners who will be counted on in the bullpen in the Matt Kuna, Tony Delmonico, and Jose Rodriguez. Delmonico, the son of Jamie Bennett’s college coach, will begin the season on the 14-day Injured Reserve list with a right shoulder injury. Kuna appeared twice as a reliever last season before sliding into the rotation and could be used in a wide variety of roles on the staff this season. Rodriguez, the first round selection at the 2012 Frontier League Draft, was both a starter and reliever last year. The pitching staff will be rounded out with James Bierlein, Dan Lazzaroni, and Chris Phelan. Delvin Perez, the first round pick in the 2013 Frontier League Draft, opens in the bullpen as a second left-hander with Rodriguez. Daniel Petitti will open the season on the seven-day Injured Reserve List with a shoulder injury.

Tickets to the fun and excitement of Schaumburg Boomers Baseball are on sale now by calling 847.461.3695, visiting www.boomersbaseball.com or in person at the Boomers Box Office!