Tacoma, WA – The Tacoma Rainiers released their opening day roster for the 2009 Pacific Coast League schedule.  Tacoma will open their season on April 9th when they begin a four game series against defending Triple-A Champion Sacramento River Cats at Raley Field in Sacramento.  
 
This year’s Opening Day roster is full of returning Rainiers and players with Major League experience.  Eight players (Andy Baldwin, Randy Messenger, Denny Stark, Justin Thomas, Sean White, Jeff Clement, Bryan LaHair, and Prentice Redman) are returning Rainiers from last season.  Eighteen of the 24 players on this season’s Opening Day roster also have Major League experience.   Six of those players have spent time with the Seattle Mariners.
 
Catcher Jeff Clement will once again start the season with the Rainiers.  Last season Clement was named the Mariners Triple-A Player of the Year after batting .337 (58x172) with 40 runs, 17 doubles, 14 homers and 43 RBI in 47 games with Tacoma.
 
Pitcher Denny Stark also will be back in a Rainiers uniform in 2009.  Last season, Stark went 3-0 with a 3.00 ERA in 10 games.  In 2001 with Tacoma, Stark led the PCL with 14 wins (14-2) and was named the PCL Pitcher of the Year.
 


 
The Tacoma Rainiers home opener will be on April 17th at 7:00 pm versus the Sacramento River Cats.  
 
The entire 2008 Rainiers coaching staff consisting of Manager Daren Brown (3rd season), Pitching Coach Dwight Bernard (4th season) and Hitting Coach Alonzo Powell (2nd season) will be back in Tacoma this year.

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Tacoma Rainiers 2009 Roster