PORTLAND — The Portland Sea Dogs in conjunction with the Boston Red Sox have announced the 2017 Preliminary Roster. Rafael Devers, who ranks as the No. 2 prospect in the Red Sox system according to Baseball America,highlights this year’s roster. 

Portland’s roster is currently at 27 players and will need to make two roster moves prior to Thursday’s opener.

Devers is also ranked by Baseball America at the No. 18 prospect in the entire minor leagues, and having the best infield arm in the organization. The 20-year old has been named an All-Star in each of his first three professional seasons, earning year-end selections in 2014 (GCL Red Sox) and 2016 (High-A Salem Red Sox) and a mid-season selection in 2015 (Low-A Greenville Drive). Last year in High-A Salem, Devers hit .282 (142-for-503), 11 homers, 71 RBI, 32 doubles and 8 triples in a career-best 128 games.

The Sea Dogs have 6 of 30 Top Prospects in the organization according to Baseball America: Devers, INF Nick Longhi, LHP Trey Ball, RHP Jake Cosart, LHP Luis Ysla and RHP Jamie Callahan.

In addition, the roster consists of 14 players who saw action in Portland last season, including Sea Dogs 10th Player Award-winner INF Ryan Court and last year’s leading hitting OF Aneury Tavarez. The roster features seven players from High-A Salem. C Jake DePew, INF Heiker Meneses, INF Mike Olt and OF Jose Rosario were signed as minor league-free agents. LHP Josh Smith was taken in the minor-league phase of the 2016 Rule 5 Draft. Olt is the lone player on the roster with Major League Experience, appearing in 135 games with Texas and both Chicago teams in 2012, 14-15.

Breakdown of the 27-player roster: 17 drafted by the Boston Red Sox, five minor league free agents, two international free agents, one trade, one Rule 5 draft pick and one player (Tavarez) returned from Rule 5.

The pitching staff features four players who spent the entire 2016 season with Portland. RHP Ty Buttrey began the year as a starter, but excelled in his transition to the bullpen, compiling a 3.00 ERA in 24 relief outings and a 1.67 ERA (5 ER/27.0 IP) in 16 appearances. LHP Williams Jerez led team with 40 appearances and was named a mid-season Eastern League All-Star. RHP Kevin McAvoy and RHP Teddy Stankiewicz represent two returning starting pitchers. 

Ball will be part of Portland’s rotation, making his Double-A debut, after spending the last two seasons in Salem. Last year, he ranked sixth in the Carolina League in ERA (3.84) and also ranked second on the team in innings pitched (117.1) and strikeouts (86). 

Portland’s infield has some familiar names, including Heiker Meneses, who spent parts of four seasons with the Sea Dogs from 2011-14. Court hit .277 in 103 games between the Sea Dogs and Triple-A Pawtucket, including a career-high five RBI on Aug. 10th at Erie. Tzu-Wei Lin begins his second full season in Portland, after being ranked among team leaders in games (second, 108), stolen bases (second, 10), at-bats (third, 372), walks (third, 34), and triples (T-third, five) in 2016. 

The Sea Dogs outfield has two players making their Double-A debuts in Danny Mars and Joseph Monge. Mars spent 2016 with High-A Salem, finishing seventh among Red Sox minor leaguers with a .293 average (120-for-409). Monge combined with Low-A Greenville and High-A Salem to hit .293 (138-for-471) in 109 games, which ranked eigth among Red Sox minor-leaguers. 

Cole Sturgeon made his Double-A debut in 2015 with Portland, appearing in 40 games. Last season, Sturgeon hit .267 (114-for-427) with the Sea Dogs, reaching base in 89 of 117 games. Over three games (April 14-16) in his Triple-A debut with Pawtucket, Sturgeon went 3-for-9 with an RBI and 2 doubles.

Tavarez led the 2016 Sea Dogs in the following categories: average (.335), on-base percentage (.379), slugging percentage (.506), hits (129), runs (59), total bases (195), and stolen bases (18). In addition, Tavarez set the franchise record with 13 triples, and was named a mid-season Eastern League All-Star.

Jose Rosario is no stranger to the Eastern League, spending parts of the last two seasons with Double-A Trenton.  Rosario hit a combined .284 (75-for-264) in 71 games across three levels in the Yankees system, appearing in 45 games with Trenton.

Danny Bethea, DePew and Jordan Procyshen make up the three catchers on the roster. Bethea played in 31 of his 33 games with Portland last season, hitting both Double-A homers over the Maine Monster (July 2nd vs. Hartford and August 4th vs. Erie). Last year at Double-A Montgomery, DePew set career bests in games (86), runs (26), hits (61), doubles (10), homers (nine), RBI (42), and walks (26). Procyshen is making his Double-A debut after spending last season with High-A Salem; making 56 starts at catcher (two stints on the disabled list). 

Manager Carlos Febles returns for his second season as Portland’s skipper. Febles is joined by: Pitching Coach Kevin Walker, Hitting Coach Lee May Jr., Coach Mickey Jiang, Trainer Scott Gallon, Strength Coach Chris Messina.