Omaha Alums' Playoff Contributions

For the first time since 2013, the Kansas City Royals are not in the Major League Baseball postseason. That does not mean the Omaha Storm Chasers will not be represented in October, however, with 14 players who have worn an Omaha uniform a member of playoff teams.

 

Player Current Team Years With Omaha Mike Montgomery Chicago Cubs 2011-12 Spencer Patton Chicago Cubs 2014 Joe Blanton Los Angeles Dodgers 2015 Jesse Chavez Los Angeles Dodgers 2011 Louis Coleman Los Angeles Dodgers 2010-15 Gregor Blanco San Francisco Giants 2011 Will Smith San Francisco Giants 2012-13 Gorkys Hernandez San Francisco Giants 2013-14 Clint Robinson Washington Nationals 2011-12 Brian Duensing Baltimore Orioles 2016 Paul Janish Baltimore Orioles 2014 Francisco Pena Baltimore Orioles 2014-15 Adam Moore Cleveland Indians 2012-13 Blaine Hardy Detroit Tigers 2010-12 Carlos Beltran Texas Rangers 2000

Two National League clubs (Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants) and one American League club (Baltimore Orioles) boast three former Storm Chasers each, while the Chicago Cubs and San Francisco Giants both have multiple alums as well. Nine Omaha alums are on National League teams, while five are on American League squads.

Of the ten teams to make the postseason, seven have Omaha alums who helped their respective clubs to a postseason berth. The only squads without a former Omaha player are the Boston Red Sox, New York Mets and Toronto Blue Jays.

The Omaha alums stretch a period of 16 seasons, starting with outfielder Carlos Beltrán in 2000 and spanning to the 2016 campaign with left-handed reliever Brian Duensing. The list is also split evenly between seven position players and seven pitchers.

The seven position players have recorded a total of 644 games played, batting .276 (629-2281), adding 337 runs scored, 140 doubles, four triples, 93 homers and 355 RBI. Those batters have also compiled a .351 on-base percentage and .463 slugging percentage.

Infielder Clint Robinson participated in 265 contests over parts of two seasons with the Storm Chasers in his career, posting a .309 average (306-990) with 156 runs, 72 doubles, one triple, 36 homers and 167 RBI. Of those seven players, catcher Francisco Pena has slammed the most longballs with 40, while driving in 109 RBI, the second-most of the group.

The six pitchers have combined for a 45-44 record and 3.83 ERA (332 ER/779.2 IP) in 302 appearances (77 starts) in their Omaha careers. Those hurlers have also racked up 62 saves and 772 strikeouts over those 779.2 innings of work, adding 141 games finished.

In that group, Louis Coleman has pitched in the most games, tallying an 18-10 record and 2.38 ERA (57 ER/215.1 IP) in 128 outings in his career for Omaha. The sidewinding right-hander also notched 28 saves and finished 75 games, while recording 258 punchouts and a 1.12 WHIP.

Beltrán is known as one of the best postseason performers in baseball, having recorded a career .332 batting average (61-184) in 52 playoff games, adding 45 runs, 13 doubles, one triple, 16 homers and 40 RBI.

Major League Baseball's postseason begins on Tuesday evening with the American League Wild Card Game pitting the Baltimore Orioles against the Toronto Blue Jays. Wednesday night features the National League's Wild Card Game as the New York Mets square off against the San Francisco Giants.

The full schedule can be found by clicking here.