The Orioles' Gulf Coast League roster

The Orioles' entry in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League begins a new season this afternoon playing against the GCL Rays in the season opener.

The GCL Orioles' opening day roster (with round noted for 2014 draft picks):

Pitchers:
Almonte, Jefferies - 22
Alvarado, Cristian - 19
Aquino, Wilmer - 22
Ayers, Daniel - 19
Fermin, Yeraldo - 22
Floranus, Wendell - 19
Grendell, Kevin - 20
Homick, Max - 22
Isenia, Jonatan - 21
Jimenez, Francisco - 19
Lin, Yi-Hsiang - 21
McAdams, Sean - 20
Novak, Jan - 20
Pinales, Elias - 21
Pintar, Jake - 20

Catchers:
Fajardo, Daniel - 19
Labrador, Alexander - 19
Soto, Ronald - 19

Infielders:
Juvier, Alejandro - 18 (Round 15)
Ledesma, Ronarsy - 21
Lee, Alexander - 21 (Round 36)
Pfeiffer, Austin - 23 (Round 27)
Reyes, Jomar - 17
Rona, Pita - 19
Salas, Guillermo - 20
Vargas, Yariel - 19
Vasquez, Oscar - 20

Outfielders:
Aguilar, Andres - 20
Franco, Daniel - 19
Grim, Gerrion - 20 (Round 14)
Mercedes, Alex - 22
Olesczuk, T.J. - 22 (Round 40)
Rifaela, Ademar - 19

Major league rehab:
Almanzar, Michael - 23

Almanzar is beginning a rehab assignment with this team and doesn't count against the roster.

This team has a huge international flavor. Of the 33 current members of this roster, 22 players are foreign-born. They come from the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Curacao, Taiwan, Czech Republic, New Zealand and Guatemala.

Four players that were playing this year in the Orioles' Dominican Summer League program have been moved to this roster.

They include switch-hitting shortstop Guillermo Salas, who was batting .340 in 12 DSL games. Francisco Jimenez was 3-0 with an ERA of 0.00 in four starts. Over 24 2/3 innings in the DSL, he gave up 13 hits and one run (unearned) with five walks and 26 strikeouts.

Also added from the Dominican program to this team are pitchers Wendell Floranus and Cristian Alvarado. Floranus is 1-1 with a 2.20 ERA in three games. Alvarado went 3-0 with an ERA of 0.38 in four games. Over 24 innings he gave up 14 hits and just one run with three walks and 12 strikeouts.

Jomar Reyes was signed by the Orioles out of the Dominican in January and Reyes is expected to start at third base for the team.

The O's top three draft picks are expected to be added to this team. They are pitchers Brian Gonzalez (round 3), Pat Connaughton (round 4) and David Hess (round 5). They are going through throwing programs that when completed will lead to them being activated for the GCL team. Other draft picks could also join this team later.

Orlando Gomez, who managed Single-A Frederick to the 2011 Carolina League championship, is in his second season at the GCL manager. He led the team to a 30-30 record last year.

The GCL hitting coach is former big leaguer Milt May and former big league hurler Wilson Alvarez is the squad's pitching coach. Ramon Sambo is the club's field coach.

Taylor note: Single-A Frederick pitcher Matt Taylor remains on the disabled list. He recently had an epidural injection for disc irritation in his back. He is undergoing rehab in Florida and is not ready to resume throwing yet.

Taylor is 5-1 with a 1.94 ERA over eight Frederick starts but has not pitched since May 14. The Orioles' fifth-round pick out of Middle Georgia College in 2011 made the Carolina League All-Star team, but did not play due to the injury. The Orioles can't set a timetable right now for his return, but expect him back before the end of the minor league season.