We're just under a week away from the start of the Moose Jaw Miller Express season with the home opener next Thursday.

This year's team will feature five returning players from last year's squad with Adam Cook, Travis Edgar, Jesse Marks, Scott Platt and Mitchell Robinson all coming back to Ross Wells Park for the simmer.

Head coach Michael Hunt said those five players are a solid group for them to build their team around, “They're good people on and off the field, so that's a good place to start,” he said.

In Robinson, the Miller Express have an ace for the top of their rotation after he won the team's Pitcher of the Year award in 2017. He finished last season with a 2.88 earned run average over 50 innings with 38 strikeouts compared to just 10 walks.

"He's UNK's all-time winningest everything and he's a quality, quality starter and we're very fortunate that we could convince him to come back to us after this senior year," said Hunt.

Robinson just completed his senior season with the University of Nebraska-Kearney. The right-hander leaves the school as the team’s all-time leader in starts by a pitcher and innings pitched over his four-year career.

He made a team-high 14 starts this season, posting a 4-4 record with a 5.09 ERA and 66 strikeouts in 86 2/3 innings.

Joining Robinson on the Miller Express' pitching staff will be Marks and Edgar.

Marks his entering his third season with the Millers and has seen time as both a starter and reliever. In 2017, he appeared in 11 games, starting five, and in 28 innings, he posted seven strikeouts, 11 walks and a 7.39 ERA.

The Millers will be counting on Edgar to close out games again in 2018 after the six-foot-seven fireballer struck out 18 over 17 1/3 innings in 18 appearances during the 2017 season. 

"Jesse is able to do both things and do it in a moments notice as well, so he's experienced which will help narrowing that learning curve, and Edgar threw some big innings for us (last season) and we're expecting the same thing this year," said Hunt.

Platt and Cook will bring experience and a hard nosed style to the infield for the Millers this season.

Platt had six doubles, one home run, 16 RBI, a .276 average and eight stolen bases in 46 games last season with the Millers, while the Longmont, Colorado product also played strong defence across the infield.

Cook is a corner infielder that is coming off a season with Colby Community College. The Cambridge, Ont. product had five doubles, a triple, 13 RBI and a .253 average in 37 games last summer. He also hit two home runs in three playoffs games for the Millers.

"They're both versatile and can play several different positions, so it makes it a little bit easier to give guys some time off when they need it, it’s not going to be as big of a stretch because there's somebody else that can fill that spot," said Hunt.

The Miller Express will open the 2018 Western Major Baseball League season next Thursday when they host the Yorkton Cardinals at Ross Wells Park.