Biscuits set 'talented' roster for Friday's Opening Day

By GRAHAM DUNN

A few familiar faces dot the opening day roster for the Montgomery Biscuits.

Tampa Bay announced the 2025 opening day roster for their Double-A Affiliate on Wednesday, just ahead of Friday’s opener against Columbus (Ga.).

The roster features nine MLB Pipeline Top 30 prospects and 13 players who made at least one appearance for the Biscuits last season.

“I believe we will definitely have talent,” stated Kevin Boles, who returns for his second year as Biscuits manager. “Will there be production and performance? That remains to be seen. We had highly ranked players last year but there was an adjustment period.”

The Top 30 prospects include infielder Brayden Taylor (No. 3), pitchers Brody Hopkins (No. 8), Jackson Baumeister (No. 14), outfielder Homer Bush Jr. (No. 17), pitcher Ty Johnson (No. 21), infielder Cooper Kinney (No. 24), outfielders Colton Ledbetter (No. 26) and Matthew Etzel (No. 27) and firstbaseman Will Simpson (No. 30).

Taylor enters the season as Montgomery’s most highly rated prospect, ranked No. 66 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 prospect list. The 2023 first rounder played in 30 games for the Biscuits at the end of the 2024 season. Taylor played three collegiate seasons for Texas Christian University and holds the school record with 48 career home runs.

 Hopkins is the Rays top ranked pitching prospect. The 23-year-old was acquired from Seattle as part of the Randy Arozarena trade on July 26. The right-hander made seven starts for High-A Bowling Green and registered a 3.45 earned run in 31 and a third innings. Baseball America ranked Hopkins as the No. 57 prospect in all of baseball.

Boles was named the 2024 Southern League Manager of the Year after leading the club to 80 wins and a ninth consecutive playoff appearance. The club made it to the Southern League Championship Series for the first time since 2021 and second time since 2007.

 Hitting coach Paul Rozzelle (2024) and pitching coach Jim Paduch (2022) are back for a second season while Ronnie Richardson takes over as bench coach.

2025 Montgomery Biscuits Opening Day Roster

Pitchers (15): Keyshawn Askew, Jackson Baumeister, Jonny Cuevas, Ty Cummings, Duncan Davitt, JJ Goss, Dan Hammer, Jack Hartman, Brody Hopkins, Ty Johnson, Trevor Martin, Austin Vernon, Jacob Watters, Cole Wilcox, Alfredo Zarraga

Catchers (3): Ricardo Genoves, Kamren James, Tatem Levins

Infielders (6): Jalen Battles, Cooper Kinney, Will Simpson, Hunter Stovall, Brayden Taylor, Willy Vasquez

Outfielders (4): Homer Bush Jr., Matthew Etzel, Brock Jones, Colton Ledbetter

Opening Night is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. Friday as part of a three-game homestand at Riverwalk Stadium. For tickets, visit biscuitsbaseball.com.