By: Brandon Apter, contributor 
While the majority of minor league affiliates across the country are already halfway into their season, the Short Season 'A' teams begin their 2016 campaign this week. For the Phillies, that means Opening Night for the Williamsport Crosscutters. Located just under three and a half hours north west of Citizens Bank Park inside the confines of Historic Bowman Field, the Crosscutters 72-game season begins tonight at home. Last season, they went 46-30 and lost in the New York-Penn League Semifinals
The third oldest minor league ballpark in the United States, Bowman Field was completed in 1926 to host the city's entry as an original team in the New-York Pennsylvania League called the Williamsport Grays, named after Thomas Gray, one of the integral people in the ballpark's funding. The Grays hosted their first game at Bowman Field on April 22nd, 1926 against Bucknell University. The stadium has a seating capacity of 4,200.
Here's a quick look at Williamsport's roster:
Pitching Staff
- Seranthony Dominguez - The 21-year-old right-hander has played on the Phillies Dominican Summer League team in 2012 and 2013 before joining the GCL team in 2014. In 45 games between the two leagues, Dominguez is 11-13 with a 3.15 ERA. 26 of his 46 games have been starts.
- Bailey Falter - Selected in the fifth round of the 2015 draft by the Phillies, Falter, 19, went 1-2 with a 3.45 ERA last season in 28.2 innings with the GCL Phillies.
- Scott Harris - The 23-year-old southpaw was picked in the 27th round of the 2014 draft by the Phillies. He has had some injury issues over his first two seasons with the organizations. Harris has pitched as high as Class 'A' Lakewood, but returns to Williamsport after two starts with the Blueclaws. In 51 minor league games, he's 3-2 with a 4.15 ERA.
- Carlos Indriago - He played in the Phillies Venezuelan Summer League in 2013 and 2014 before appearing in 12 games for the GCL Phils last season. In 34 games between the VSL and GCL, he's 10-6 with a 3.41 ERA.
- Kenny Koplove - A 17th round pick of the Phillies last year, Koplove has appeared in 10 games already with Class 'A' Lakewood, but has not had good results, posting a 15.43 ERA in 11.2 innings. He pitched for the Cutters last season, going 2-3 with a 4.50 ERA.
- Adonis Medina - One of the more highly-regarded prospects on the team, Medina played in the DSL in 2014 and the GCL in 2015. He's 5-5 with a 2.31 ERA between the two levels in 21 games, 10 of which were starts. He's ranked as the Phillies 16th best prospect by MLB.com.
- Jose Nin - The 20-year-old Dominican has played in the Summer League for the Phillies the last two years, going 2-4 with a 3.09 ERA and a 1.51 WHIP, holding hitters to a .273 average against.
- Geury Ortiz - In 13 games with the Phillies DSL team last summer, Ortiz has posted a 4-4 record and a 2.59 ERA, striking out 37 and walking 10 in 76.1 innings.
- Felix Paulino - He's played 24 games between the DSL and the GCL over the past two years, going 6-10 with a 3.20 ERA, striking out 92 and walking 12.
- Jeff Singer - The 22-year-old out of Rutgers is entering his first professional season. He went 4-2 with a 3.82 ERA last season in college.
- Gandy Stubblefield - Quite the name. Picked in the 28th round in 2015 by the Phils, Stubblefield went 0-1 with a 3.44 ERA in 14 games, spanning 18.1 innings, last year in the Gulf Coast League
- Ranger Suarez - The 20-year-old left-hander has played three summers with the Phillies VSL and one with the GCL. In 31 games combined, he's 8-4 with a 1.52 ERA, holding opposing hitters to a .209 average. He's struck out 115 and walked eight.
Catchers
- Rodolfo Duran - In 36 games with the GCL Phillies last season, Duran, 18, hit .185 with three doubles, a triple and 10 RBI's.
- Gregori Rivero - The switch-hitting catcher spend his 2015 season with Williamsport, hitting .219 in 31 games with eight doubles, three homers and 18 RBI's.
Infield
- Jose Antequera (SS) - Last season, Antequera played 41 games with the GCL Phils and two games with Advanced 'A' Clearwater, hitting .241 with eight doubles, a homer and 10 RBI's.
- William Cuicas (SS) - He played 37 games with the Crosscutters in 2015 and even played three games with Class 'A' Lakewood. He hit a combined .186 between the two levels with 40 strikeouts.
- Luis Encarnacion (1B) - Encarnacion is only 18 years old and has played the last two seasons with the GCL Phils. In 94 games between 2014 and 2015, he's hitting .253 with 13 doubles, two triples, six homers and 51 RBI's.
- Luis Espiritu Jr. (SS) - The 19-year-old infielder played in Williamsport, Lakewood and with the GCL Phils last year. He hit a combined .200 with four doubles and 11 RBI's.
- Arquimedes Gamboa (SS) - The 18-year-old switch hitter played in 50 games with the GCL Phillies last season, hitting .189 with seven doubles, three triples and 16 RBI's.
- Enmanuel Garcia (1B) - The 23-year-old first baseman has played on the Phillies DSL team over the last three years, hitting a combined ..260 with 32 doubles, 15 triples, three homers and 87 RBI's.
- Lucas Williams (SS) - Drafted by the Phillies in the third round last year, Williams hit .288 in 118 at-bats with the GCL Phils in 2015, stealing nine bases/
Outfield
- Jesus Alastre - The 19-year-old outfielder has played one year with the VSL Phillies team and one in the Gulf Coast League. He has a respectable .301 average in 85 games with 11 doubles, three triples, 30 RBI's and 16 stolen bases.
- Juan Luis - The 6-foot-4 outfielder out of the Dominican played in 39 games with the GCL Phillies last season, hitting .244 with five doubles, three triples, two homers and 10 RBI's.
- Jake Sweaney - Selected in the fourth round of the 2013 draft by the Phillies, Sweaney has played 56 games over the last two years in the Gulf Coast League. He has a .203 batting average, striking out 46 times to just 11 walks.
For more information on the 2016 Williamsport Crosscutters, click here.
