By P.J. Harmer

Staff Writer

ONEONTA — With many new players to the professional ranks this season, the Oneonta Tigers could have quite a bit of juggling in the lineup on a daily basis.

Oneonta visits Stedler Division rival Tri-City at 7 tonight for the New York-Penn League opener for both teams.

Second-year manager Tom Brookens said the team likely will need time to jell but seems like a strong offensive unit on paper.

The following is a position-by-position look at the 2006 Oneonta Tigers.

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Oneonta starts the season with 14 pitchers, including three lefties. That’s three more lefties than the O-Tigers had at the beginning of 2005.

Brookens said he’ll go with a six-man rotation, led by returning 6-foot-3 righty Matt O’Brien, who is slated to start tonight. O’Brien went 6-3 with a 3.34 ERA last season.

Brendan Wise, a 6-2 righty, is the only other starter with minor league experience. Wise went 2-4 with a 4.87 ERA for the Gulf Coast Tigers (Rookie League) last year.

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The remaining starters — lefties Chris Cody (6-1), Tom Thornton (6-6) and Zach Piccola (6-4), and righty Jeff Gerbe (6-3) — are 2006 draft picks.

"The guys who are new, I think they have a two-inning limit their first outing," Brookens said. "They’ll go two and then someone else will come in. Then they’ll work into whatever. Wise is an extended spring guy and will go as long as he can go. O’Brien, too, will go as long as he can go."

Detroit picked Cody out of Manhattan College in the eighth round. Piccola went in the ninth round (University of South Alabama), Gerbe in the 16th round (Michigan State), and Thornton in the 21st round (Notre Dame).

Phillip Napolitan (6-1) and Brett Jensen (6-7) are vying for the closer role, Brookens said.

Napolitan pitched one inning for the GCL Tigers last year, walking one and striking out two. Detroit drafted Jensen earlier this month in the 14th round out of Nebraska.

Returners Jose Fragoso (6-0) and Tim Robertson (6-2) will come out of the bullpen. Fragoso went 6-2 with a 2.25 ERA in 13 games — including four starts — for the 2005 O-Tigers. Robertson finished 1-1 with a 2.65 ERA and a save in 16 games.

Randon Bierd (6-4) highlights the remaining relievers. He pitched for Single-A West Michigan, Single-A Lakeland and Double-A Erie last season. Brookens said Bierd has had arm troubles and is essentially on an extended rehabilitation assignment with the O-Tigers.

Casey Fien (6-2, 20th round, California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo); Chris Krawczyk (6-1, 22nd round, Missouri State); and Derek Witt (6-1, 28th round, Ohio University) round out the bullpen.

"It will be pretty much how they perform as to what their roles are," Brookens said of his relievers. "We pretty much have guys we want to start. The rest of the guys ... they’ll be evaluated and fall into different roles."

One of Oneonta’s three catchers has professional experience.

James Skelton (5-11, 165 pounds) batted .182 (6-for-33) in 17 games with the 2005 GCL Tigers. He played one game for Single-A Lakeland last season as well but struck out in his only at-bat. Skelton also batted .140 (6-for-43) as a rookie with the 2004 GCL Tigers.

"We probably had about five catchers down there in extended (spring training) and to me, he won the job out of those guys and that’s why he’s here with us," Brookens said. "He’s a left-handed hitting catcher and he’s improving. He’s steadily improving."

Detroit selected Jeffrey Kunkel (5-11, 200) out of Michigan in the 37th round of the 2005 draft, but he didn’t sign until days before the start of the 2006 draft.

Detroit picked Jordan Newton (5-10, 195) in the sixth round out of Western Kentucky this year.

Brookens said the three will rotate starts throughout the season.

With five players competing for four starting spots, Brookens said each of his infielders should see ample playing time. Two of Detroit’s top-five draft picks will start in Oneonta’s infield.

Second-round pick Ronnie Bourquin will be at third base. Bourquin, a 6-3, 210-pound left-handed hitter, was the Big Ten’s Player of the Year for Ohio State this past season. Detroit picked him 50th overall.

"It’s very comfortable for a manager to look down and see your No. 2 pick is a third baseman and you can pencil him into the lineup every day," Brookens said. "I expect him to be successful here. The reports coming to us are that he’s an excellent ballplayer, good arm, good glove and a good bat."

Detroit’s fifth-round pick, Scott Sizemore (6-0, 185), will start at shortstop. Angel Reyes (6-3, 180), who hit .225 for the GCL Tigers last season, will start at first base. He had nine homers and 25 RBIs in 44 games last season. Second baseman Louis Ott batted .231 for the GCL Tigers last year.

Santo DeLeon (6-2, 175) is the odd man out at the moment, but should see time at third, shortstop and first. DeLeon hit .239 for the GCL Tigers last year.

Five players will compete to start in the O-Tigers’ outfield this season, including three 2006 draft picks.

Brookens said Brandon Timm, Brennan Boesch and Diek Scram will start tonight but was unsure of their specific positions as of Monday.

Timm (6-2, 200) batted .260 (44-for-169) in 50 games for the O-Tigers last season. Third-round pick Boesch (6-6, 210, University of California-Berkeley) signed Monday. Scram (6-0, 170) went in the 18th round out of Oklahoma State.

Schenectady native Casper Wells (6-2, 210) hit .220 in the GCL last year. Brookens slated Wells as the opening-day designated hitter for O’Brien.

"I’m really excited about going (to Tri-City) this year," Wells said. "I’m nervous because everyone (I know) is like, ’I’m going.’ Hopefully, I can give them a good showing up there."

Joe Tucker (5-11, 170), selected in the 24th round this year out of Kent State, rounds out the outfield. Brookens said Tucker could also see time at shortstop.

"We have a lot of good outfielders," Brookens said. "It will be a matter of rotating them around to get everyone enough playing time."

P.J. Harmer can be reached at mailto:pharmer@thedailystar.com">pharmer@thedailystar.com or 607-432-1000, ext. 229.