News release from the TinCaps:
40 Former Fort Wayne Players Appeared in Majors in 2016
TinCaps/Wizards MLB Alumni List Up to 150
(October 5, 2016) — Forty former Fort Wayne TinCaps and Wizards played in the Major Leagues during the 2016 season. The list includes six players who made their MLB debuts this year, raising the total number of Fort Wayne alums who’ve reached the big leagues to 150.
“We pride ourselves on offering affordable, family-friendly entertainment,” TinCaps President Mike Nutter said. “But hopefully it’s not overlooked that when you come out to Parkview Field, you’re also getting a chance to see budding big league talent. And that not only goes for our TinCaps, but the guys in the other dugout, too.”
Among the former Fort Wayne players in the majors were All-Star pitchers Corey Kluber (2008) of the Cleveland Indians and Brad Brach (2009) of the Baltimore Orioles. Washington Nationals middle infielder/center fielder Trea Turner (2014) was the National League’s Player of the Month in August and San Diego Padres rookie right fielder Hunter Renfroe (2013) was the NL Player of the Week the final week of the season.
Atlanta Braves 39-year-old catcher A.J. Pierzynski (1995-96) was the most veteran Fort Wayne alum in the majors and the only one to have played with the Wizards during their Minnesota Twins affiliation. Fort Wayne has been affiliated with the Padres since 1999.
Of the 40 ex-TinCaps and Wizards in the show this year, eight appeared with Fort Wayne’s parent club, San Diego. Overall, the group featured 22 pitchers and 18 position players across 20 different MLB teams.
The next wave of players to make it from Fort Wayne to fruition isn’t far off. The Padres’ Triple-A affiliate, the El Paso Chihuahuas, won the Pacific Coast League championship in September. More than half of El Paso’s roster, and coaching staff, came through Fort Wayne.
(Note: Fort Wayne changed team name from Wizards to TinCaps in 2009.)
See below for full list of former Fort Wayne players who appeared in Majors in 2016.
Player Name (Year in Fort Wayne) – 2016 MLB Team
- RHP Johnny Barbato* (2012) — New York Yankees
- RHP Brad Brach! (2009) — Baltimore Orioles
- RHP Matt Bush* (2005, 2006, 2007) — Texas Rangers
- RHP Leonel Campos (2013) — San Diego Padres
- OF Jaff Decker (2009) — Tampa Bay Rays
- RHP Steve Delabar (2006, 2007, 2008) — Cincinnati Reds
- RHP Zach Eflin* (2013) — Philadelphia Phillies
- INF Cole Figueroa (2009) — Pittsburgh Pirates
- INF David Freese (2006) — Pittsburgh Pirates
- RHP Trevor Gott (2013) — Washington Nationals
- RHP Tayron Guerrero* (2013, 2014) — San Diego Padres
- INF Jedd Gyorko (2010) — St. Louis Cardinals
- 3B Chase Headley (2005) — New York Yankees
- C Austin Hedges (2012) — San Diego Padres
- C Nick Hundley (2005, 2006) — Colorado Rockies
- OF Cedric Hunter (2007) — Philadelphia Phillies
- OF Travis Jankowski (2012) — San Diego Padres
- RHP Brandon Kintzler (2005) — Minnesota Twins
- RHP Corey Kluber (2008) — Cleveland Indians
- RHP Mat Latos (2008, 2009) — Chicago White Sox, Washington Nationals
- LHP Wade LeBlanc (2006) — Pittsburgh Pirates, Seattle Mariners
- C Jose Lobaton (2005, 2006) — Washington Nationals
- LHP Cory Luebke (2007, 2008) — Pittsburgh Pirates
- RHP Jake Peavy (2000) — San Francisco Giants
- LHP Oliver Perez (2001) — Washington Nationals
- INF/OF Jace Peterson (2012) — Atlanta Braves
- C A.J. Pierzynski (1995, 1996) — Atlanta Braves
- RHP Kevin Quackenbush (2011) — San Diego Padres
- LHP Cesar Ramos (2005) — Texas Rangers
- RHP Colin Rea (2012, 2013) — San Diego Padres, Miami Marlins
- RF Hunter Renfroe* (2013) — San Diego Padres
- OF Daniel Robertson (2009) — Seattle Mariners
- RHP Joe Ross (2012, 2013) — Washington Nationals
- RHP Keyvius Sampson (2011) — Cincinnati Reds
- RHP Joakim Soria (2006) — Kansas City Royals
- OF Mallex Smith* (2013, 2014) — Atlanta Braves
- 2B Cory Spangenberg (2011) — San Diego Padres
- INF/CF Trea Turner (2014) — Washington Nationals
- OF Will Venable (2006) — Los Angeles Dodgers
- RHP Matt Wisler (2012) — Atlanta Braves
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