Goldeyes cut two from roster

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The Goldeyes have released left-handed rookie pitcher Cody King. (MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS ARCHIVES) Photo Store

Winnipeg Goldeyes manager Rick Forney reduced his baseball team's roster by two players on Saturday as he released left-handed rookie pitcher Cody King and right-handed pitcher Dustin Northcott.

The remaining 24 players, 11 pitchers and 13 position players, boarded a bus this afternoon embarking on a 17-day road trip that will include three pre-season games and a nine-game series in three Texas cities to open the 2012 American Association regular season.

The Goldeyes will meet the Saints in St. Paul on Sunday and Monday followed by a game Tuesday in Kansas City against the T-Bones. All three games can be heard live on TSN 1290 radio.

The 24 players still with the team includes Anthony Friesen of Somerset, Man. who received permission from the team to drive to St. Paul.

"We're going to take one more look at him," Forney said after Saturday morning's training session at Shaw Park.

The Goldeyes must declare a maximum of 23 players on their active roster by Tuesday at noon.

From Kansas City, the Goldeyes team will head to Amarillo, Texas which is about an eight-hour bus trip. The season-opening series beginning Friday in Texas includes three games in Amarillo, three games in Laredo and three games in El Paso.

When the team returns, it is approximately 27 hours by bus from El Paso to Winnipeg.

The Goldeyes' home opener is May 29 at Shaw Park against the Amarillo Sox.