News release from the TinCaps:
TinCaps Ties to Giants and Royals in 2014 World Series
Fort Wayne Feel to Fall Classic
(October 21, 2014) — From the Summit City to the pinnacle of baseball.
When the Giants and Royals meet tonight in Game 1 of the World Series, several players can trace their path to Kauffman Stadium back to Northeast Indiana. Former Fort Wayne ace Jake Peavy headlines a list of 18 Midwest League alums in the 2014 Fall Classic.
Peavy, who’s scheduled to start Game 2 for San Francisco on Wednesday, pitched for the Wizards in 2000. Then a 19-year-old, the right-hander turned in one of the best seasons in Fort Wayne franchise history.
Peavy struck out 164 batters that year, which still stands as the second most ever by a Wizard or TinCap (behind only LaTroy Hawkins’ 179 in 1993). His 13 wins rank fourth in the Fort Wayne record book. The Alabama native led the Midwest League in strikeouts, was third in wins, and also finished eighth in ERA (2.90). Peavy was named a 2000 Midwest League All-Star.
“You could tell Jake was a special talent 14 years ago,” TinCaps President Mike Nutter said. “He didn’t pitch like a 19-year-old. He also didn’t act like one. I’d say Jake is one of the top three classiest players we’ve ever had come through Fort Wayne — just a great guy.”
Now 32, Peavy was traded to the Giants by the Red Sox in July. He began his major league career as a 21-year-old in 2002 with the Padres. Peavy pitched for San Diego until ’09, when he was traded to the Chicago White Sox.
A year ago, Peavy was dealt to Boston and helped lead the Red Sox to a World Series title. His championship ring goes along with the 2007 NL Cy Young Award, a 2012 AL Rawlings Gold Glove Award, and three MLB All-Star Game selections (2005, 2007, 2012).
“It’s always great to see guys who played here go on and have success,” Nutter said. “And not many pitchers in baseball over the last decade or so have had more than Jake.”
While Peavy is the only active former Fort Wayne player on either the Giants or Royals, 17 others have competed against the Wizards and TinCaps in the Midwest League. (See list below.) Among them, three current Royals (Jarrod Dyson, Eric Hosmer, and Salvador Perez) played for Burlington during the 2009 season. That year the TinCaps beat the Bees for the Midwest League title, although none of those three participated in the MWL Championship Series.
Said Nutter: “It goes to show you that baseball’s stars of tomorrow came through Memorial Stadium and are now coming through Parkview Field.”
Midwest League Alums in 2014 World Series
San Francisco Giants
- LHP Jeremy Affeldt (Lansing, 1998)
- INF Joaquin Arias (Battle Creek*, 2003)
- RHP Santiago Casilla (Kane County, 2003-04)
- LHP Javier Lopez (South Bend, 1998-99)
- RHP JAKE PEAVY (FORT WAYNE, 2000)
Note: The Giants are currently affiliated with Class A Augusta in the South Atlantic League. San Francisco was affiliated with multiple Midwest League clubs from 1963-96.
Kansas City Royals
- OF Lorenzo Cain (Wisconsin, 2009)
- LHP Tim Collins (Lansing, 2008)
- RHP Wade Davis (Southwest Michigan*, 2006)
- LHP Danny Duffy (Burlington, 2008)
- OF Jarrod Dyson (Burlington, 2007, 2009)
- RHP Jason Frasor (West Michigan, 1999-2000)
- RHP Kelvin Herrera (Burlington, 2008-10)
- INF Eric Hosmer (Burlington, 2009)
- INF Omar Infante (West Michigan, 2000, 2013)
- INF Mike Moustakas (Burlington, 2008)
- C Salvador Perez (Burlington, 2009)
- RHP Yordano Ventura (Kane County, 2011)
- OF Josh Willingham (Kane County, 2001)
Note: The Royals are currently affiliated with Class A Lexington in the South Atlantic League. Kansas City was affiliated with Kane County from 2011-12 and Burlington from 2001-10. For 20 out of 30 years between the franchise’s inception in 1969 and 1998, the Royals had a Midwest League affiliate.
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