20 confirmed players headed north to Biscuits

The Rays say their minor league rosters won't be ready until early next week, but there are two dozen players on their way to Montgomery right now.

We've confirmed 20 of the players who are driving north and are supposed to be in uniform Saturday when the Biscuits face the Rays in an exhibition game.

The Southern League has a 25-player roster limit and the Rays usually send extra players who won't be on the active roster. (Last year, the Rays sent 27 players with an extra pitcher and catcher.)

Half of the 20 were with the Biscuits last season, including Victor Mateo, who threw a no-hitter in his last home start.

There's also catcher Curt Casali, who hit .383 with 31 RBIs in 35 games after a late-season promotion to Montgomery.

The other (confirmed) returnees are pitchers Andrew Bellatti, Michael Colla, Braulio Lara, Jimmy Patterson and Jake Thompson, and infielders Ryan Brett, Cameron Seitzer and Riccio Torrez.

The newcomers include two recent first-round draft picks and a supplemental first-rounder.

Shortstop Jake Hager was the 32nd overall pick in 2011, while third baseman Richie Shaffer went 25th overall in 2012. Both were at high-Class A Charlotte last year.

Left-handed pitcher Grayson Garvin, a former Vanderbilt teammate of Casali's, threw 28 1/3 innings last year after returning from an elbow injury. He added 26 1/3 innings in the Arizona Fall League.

Dylan Floro, who was Tampa Bay's minor league pitcher of the year last season, is also headed to the Biscuits.

Floro was a combined 11-2 with a 1.77 ERA between low-Class A Bowling Green and Charlotte.

Catcher Luke Maile, after playing at Bowling Green last year, hurdles Charlotte and will be with the Biscuits. He hit .283 for the Hot Rods last year.

The other (confirmed) newcomers are pitchers Matt Lollis, Jared Mortensen and Matt Ramsey, catcher Luke Bailey, and outfielder Willie Argo.