2008 Birmingham Barons

The 2008 Birmingham Barons opened their 2008 campaign on April 3 with a Thursday-night home game against the Knoxville Smokies. The Barons compete in the South division of the Southern League along with the Jacksonville Suns, Mississippi Braves, Mobile BayBears and Montgomery Biscuits. They play their home games at Regions Park in Hoover. All games are broadcast on WYDE-FM "The Source" and are called by Director of Broadcasting Curt Bloom.

This marks the Baron's 23rd season as the Chicago White Sox AA affiliate, and their 21st year in Hoover. The minor league contract was extended by 4 years to 2010 on July 20, 2006. It is the second season under new owners Don Logan and his sons Jeff and Stan.Jonathan Nelson is the team's general manager. Carlos Subero was announced as the Barons new field manager on January 18, 2007, replacing Rafael Santana who managed for one season.

New for the 2008 season are uniforms with red accents and a solid-red alternate jersey, created as part of the team's new graphic identity. The team's home whites keep their trademark pinstripe while road grays reflect the design of the Negro American League champion 1948 Birmingham Black Barons uniforms. Regions Park also debuted a new 56' x 43' LED video scoreboard constructed by Daktronics, Inc.

Roster

Pitchers

• Gio Gonzalez (8-7, 3.27 ERA, 177 strikeouts, 1st in MiLB)
• Jack Egbert (12-8, 2.89 ERA, 158 strikeouts, 8th in MiLB)
• Wes Whisler (6-12, 5.16 ERA)
• Ryan Wing (6-6, 3.34 ERA), moved into starting rotation week of June 25
• Kyle McCulloch (1-1, 6.27 ERA), received from Winston-Salem August 3
• Kris Honel (2-2, 4.50 ERA), moved out of starting rotation week of June 25, retired July 31
• Adam Russell (7-9, 4.28 ERA)
• Tim Bittner
• Dewon Day, promoted to Chicago May 28
• Fernando Hernandez, Jr, placed on bereavement list August 24
• Oneli Perez
• Edwardo Sierra, promoted to Charlotte May 22
• Carlos Vazquez, promoted to Charlotte May 4
• Corwin Malone, received from Charlotte May 15
• Carols Torres, received from Winston-Salem May 30
• Josh Fields, received from Charlotte July 20, placed on DL August 2, activated August 24
• John Wesley, received from Winston-Salem August 8

Catchers

• Eric Hollis, activated from DL May 4, returned to DL May 15. Activated May 28 and returned to DL July 18
• Donny Lucy, promoted to Charlotte August 3
• Jeremy Frost
• Cole Armstrong, received from Winston-Salem August 3

Infielders

• Jason Bourgeois, promoted to Charlotte June 1
• Chris Getz, on DL May 30 - July 31
• Chris Kelly
• Michael Myers
• Micah Schnurstein
• Robert Valido, assigned to Winston-Salem June 25
• Victor Mercedes, received from Winston-Salem June 1
• Jeremy West, retired June 25
• Kenny Perez, received from Charlotte June 25, promoted to Charlotte July 31
• Shawn Garrett, signed as free agent June 26

Outfielders

• Cory Aldridge
• Thomas Collaro, promoted to Charlotte August 3
• David Cook, received from Winston Salem August 3
• Ricardo Nanita
• Adam Shabala signed as free agent June 25
• Sean Smith

Coaches and trainers

• Carlos Subero, manager
• Wes Clements, hitting coach
• J. R. Perdew, pitching coach
• Joe Geck, athletic trainer
• Raymond Smith, conditioning coach

Notable games

The Barons partnered with the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute and the Alabama Negro League Association to sponsor a "Tribute to the Negro Leagues" night during their April 15 game against the Mississippi Braves. The Barons wore Birmingham Black Barons caps, which were part of a larger charity auction to benefit the co-sponsors. Several Negro Leagues veterans participated in the event.

The 2008 Rickwood Classic is scheduled for May 28 against the Jacksonville Suns. The Barons will wear throwback uniforms honoring the 1951 and 1952 teams which were affiliated with the Boston Red Sox. Jimmy Piersall, a veteran of those teams, will attend. The Suns will wear 1967-era uniforms honoring the year Nolan Ryan pitched for Jacksonville.