A look at the Sky Sox’s projected lineup for today’s season opener against Las Vegas at Security Service Field:

ERIC YOUNG JR., 2BBats: S Throws: R Age: 23 Ht: 5-10 Wt: 180

Sky Sox manager Tom Runnells was tight-lipped about the lineup he was drawing up for this season – with one exception.

“You can probably guess that Eric Young Jr. will be leading off,” he said.

Secrets just aren’t a luxury Young ever has enjoyed in baseball. As a young player, he always shared a name with his famous father, a veteran of 15 seasons in the majors. As a player moving through the minor leagues he’s dealt with the transparency provided by his exceptional speed.

Teams know he’s running.

Still, they can’t stop him.

Young has averaged nearly 70 stolen bases over the past three seasons. Now he’s in Triple-A, where the pitchers are craftier and the catchers stronger.

It’s no secret – his approach isn’t changing.

“They told me to continue what I’ve been doing,” he said. “The more repetition, the more experience I get, the better I’m going to get, so it’s just a matter of me playing every day and getting those repetitions.”

Young’s game is built on speed, but there’s more to it. He is a career .292 hitter in the minors and, while the power still is developing, he did manage 48 extra-base hits in 130 games in 2007.

As for that famous dad – an All-Star as a member of the Rockies in 1996 – he’s still in the picture.

“He sees what I’m doing and he seems to be happy with it,” Young said. “He just says keep doing what I’m doing, be consistent and don’t stray too far from my routine.”

That plan so far has helped Young advance one level each of the past five seasons.

One more and he’ll be in Coors Field.

“If I stay consistent with what I’ve been doing,” he said. “I should get a phone call eventually.”

JONATHAN HERRERA, SSB/T: S/RAge: 24Ht: 5-9Wt: 150

A great glove man at both second and short, he got a call to the major leagues for that very reason last year. Hits like you might expect for a guy who weighs 150 – slapping it around but with little power.

CHRISTIAN COLONEL, 3BB/T: R/R Age: 27 Ht: 6-2 Wt: 210

Played right, left, first, second and third for the Sky Sox a year ago. From Idaho, he says the cold temperatures at Security Service Field in April are a pain, but something he knows how to deal with.

DAN ORTMEIER, 1BB/T: R/LAge: 27Ht: 6-4Wt: 230

Former third-round pick briefly played as a regular with the Giants in 2007, batting .287 with a .497 slugging pct. in 62 games. But playing time fell off in ’08 after he missed time with a fractured left middle finger.

EDWIN BELLORIN, CB/T: R/RAge: 27Ht: 5-9Wt: 225

Established as the franchise’s emergency catcher, he finished third in the PCL in throwing out runners last year. Also drove in 65 while hitting .293 – but his eye (just 15 walks) needs to improve.

GREG REYNOLDS, SPB/T: R/RAge: 23Ht: 6-7Wt: 225

Right shoulder problems limited the former No. 2 overall pick over the past five years mentally as much as physically, he says. “I really wasn’t right last year and I’m looking forward to this year and getting back.”

MATT MILLER, LFB/T: R/RAge: 26Ht: 6-2Wt: 210

Won last year’s Texas League (Double-A) batting title with a .344 average in 106 games at Tulsa – then he hit .331 in 33 games at Colorado Springs. Owns career .309 minor-league mark over five seasons.

CARLOS GONZALEZ, CFB/T: L/LAge: 23Ht: 6-1Wt: 215

Though his first stint in the major leagues was a struggle, his run-producing potential is undeniable with three seasons of 86 or more RBIs in the minors. Only question is why have two clubs already let him go?

MATT MURTON, RFB/T: R/RAge: 27Ht: 6-1Wt: 220

Played in 144 games, hitting 13 home runs with 62 RBIs and a .297 average with the Cubs in 2006. Since then, he was dealt to Oakland in a trade for Rich Harden and eventually to Colorado for a minor leaguer.

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