Top draft picks and stadium renovations: Here's what you need to know at the start of the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers season

GRAND CHUTE – The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers are scheduled to open the Minor League Baseball season on the road Friday at Beloit.

The Timber Rattlers, the Class High-A Midwest League affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers, will have their home opener at 6:40 p.m. Tuesday against Peoria at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium.

Here’s what you need to know as the Timber Rattlers prepare to embark on a 132-game season:

Opening day roster set

Infielders Eric Brown Jr. and Robert Moore, two of Milwaukee’s top picks in the 2022 draft, will begin the season with the Timber Rattlers along with three other top 30 prospects in the organization.

Brown, the first-round pick by the Brewers last year, is ranked as the ninth-best prospect in the organization by MLB Pipeline. Moore, who was drafted in the Competitive Balance Round B, is rated as the 11th-best prospect.

Other top-30 prospects slated to open the season with the Timber Rattlers are outfielder Hendry Mendez (No. 17), infielder Eduardo García (No. 23) and pitcher Joe Hernandez (No. 30), who was acquired from Seattle in January in a trade that sent pitcher Justin Topa to the Mariners and is slated to be Friday’s starter at Beloit.

Three other draft picks from last season — pitcher Tyler Woessner (sixth round), infielder Ben Metzinger (seventh round) and pitcher Cam Wagoner (11th round) — also will start the season in Wisconsin.

Here is the initial roster, which includes 18 players who spent time with the Timber Rattlers during the 2022 season.

Pitchers (16): Luis Amaya, Bo Bowman, Ryan Brady, Alexander Cornielle, Stiven Cruz, Taylor Floyd, Joe Hernandez, Brannon Jordan, Justin King, Max Lazar, Joey Matulovich, Karlos Morales, Russell Smith, Michele Vassalotti, Cam Wagoner, Tyler Woessner.

Catchers (3): Alex Hall, Darrien Miller, Jose Sibrian.

Infielders (7): Jose Acosta, Eric Brown Jr., Jesús Chirinos, Eduardo García, Ernesto Martínez Jr., Ben Metzinger, Robert Moore.

Outfielders (5): Micah Bello, Terence Doston, Joe Gray Jr., Hendry Mendez, Je’Von Ward.

“I would say a good blend of everything,” manager Joe Ayrault said of the roster before Wednesday’s workout at Fox Cities Stadium. “In the outfield we have a few returners you guys will recognize — Joe Gray, Je’Von Ward, Bello, Doston. The newcomer being Mendez out there in the outfield. We’ve got some guys with a lot of potential out there.

“In the infield is mainly the young guys, the newly drafted guys, along with Eduardo Garcia. Defense in the outfield and infield (is) really good. Behind the plate the returners of Darrien Miller, Alex Hall back there with Sibrian. It’s going to be a solid defense and offensive group. The pitching is a good mix of a few veteran guys in the bullpen and some newbies on the bump starting for us.”

New coaches join staff

Ayrault is back for his second season as manager of the Timber Rattlers after guiding the team to a 69-60 record last season.

Ayrault’s staff includes pitching coach Drew Thomas, hitting coach Ken Joyce, bench coach David Tufo and development coach Bryan Delgado, who are all new to the Timber Rattlers this season.

Thomas and Joyce were with the Carolina Mudcats last season, the Brewers’ Low-A team in the Carolina League. Tufo managed one of the Brewers’ affiliates in the Arizona Complex League. Delgado and athletic trainer Benny Arroyo are new to the Brewers organization.

“We spent this spring together. We’re already jelling and on the same page, so it’s going to be a fun year with the staff,” Ayrault said.

CBA gives players salary bump

The Minor League Baseball Players Association and Major League Baseball last week reached the first collective bargaining agreement for minor league players. The deal is for five years and, among other things, drastically increases salaries for minor leaguers at all levels.

The pay for Triple-A players goes from $17,500 to $35,800, for Double-A players from $13,800 to $30,250, for High-A players from $11,000 to $27,300, for Low-A players from $11,000 to $26,200, and for rookie league players from $4,800 to $19,800.

“It’s exciting to see them take care of all the other players,” said Brown Jr., who as a first-round pick last year received a reported signing bonus of $2.05 million. “Yes, I was taken in the first round but it’s also just understanding where those guys come from and how much they get. It’s really cool to see that they’re getting taken care of as well.”

What’s new at Fox Cities Stadium?

Fox Cities Stadium underwent major renovation during the offseason, with the highlight for fans expected to be the new outfield slide.

Capital Credit Union is the presenting sponsor of the slide. The 30-foot slide will be open to the public during games and is located beyond the wall in left field as part of the new 360-degree concourse.

However, team president and CEO Rob Zerjav said Wednesday the slide is not ready for the start of the season and likely will not open until late May or early June due to supply issues.

“Quite a bit of work to do still in the left field area,” Zerjav said. “Feel good about the progress and pretty much the only thing we know is not going to be available (for the home opener) is the slide. But everything else should be ready to go.”

When it opens, fans of all ages will be able to take a trip down the slide for $2 per ride. Children ages 12 and younger can have unlimited slides and play all games in the Kids’ Zone if they purchase a wristband for $7 on the day of the game.

The stadium also will feature a new premium seating area located behind home plate. There is room for up to 68 fans in the Johnson Financial Group Diamond Seats. Fans sitting in that section will receive a ticket to the game, an all-you-can-eat buffet and two drinks.

Groups of 20 or more can reserve seats in the Johnson Financial Group Diamond Seats for $45 per person. Fans can purchase individual tickets in the Diamond Seats area for $48 based on availability.

As part of the renovation, Timber Rattlers players have moved into a new clubhouse on the first-base side of the stadium. There is also a new lounge and eating area for the players, a larger weight room, new indoor batting cages and other upgrades.

“Just seeing guys’ reactions when they came here, I had one player ask if he could sign a 10-year contract with the Timber Rattlers,” Zerjav said. “Obviously their goal is to move up the ladder, but the fact that the guys are saying, ‘Hey, I’m glad I’m here,’ tells us we’re doing something right. We’re just going to continue to treat the players how we want to be treated and treat them even better than that, and make their experience great when they’re here.”

This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Wisconsin Timber Rattlers prepare to start the 2023 baseball season