Former Aces Leaving Mark In 2017 Postseason

October 16, 2017

36 former Aces were eligible to make a 25-man active roster in the 2017 playoffs. The MLB Championship Series' hosts two former Aces on active rosters, Didi Gregorius and Will Harris. The Houston Astros employ 2013 Aces reliever Tony Sipp and 2014 reliever Will Harris. Unfortunately for Sipp, only Harris remained on their active roster for the ALCS against the New York Yankees. Houston squares off against the New York Yankees for the American League Championship. The Yankees rely on one former Aces player, Didi Gregorius. Gregorius put up career numbers as the Yankees shortstop in 2017, finishing with 25 home runs in the regular season and adding two more in the winner-take-all game five against the Cleveland Indians in the ALDS.
In the National League, the Los Angeles Dodgers saw veteran help out of former Aces starter Brandon McCarthy throughout the regular season but did not call on the tall right-hander in the NLDS or NLCS. McCarthy could be added for starting pitching help if the Dodgers move on to the World Series. The Dodgers face the reigning World Series Champion Chicago Cubs. 2015/2016 infielder Mike Freeman is on the Chicago Cubs 40-man roster, but will not likely find his way onto the loaded Cubs active roster in the playoffs. Freeman played in 15 games for the Cubs in 2017 and hit .160 in 25 at bats.

Who Are They
National League
Brandon McCarthy - Los Angeles Dodgers

The 6'7 right-hander out of Glendale, California played in just two games for the Aces in 2013. McCarthy was a staple in the Big Leagues, starting 22 games for the D-backs and finishing with a 5-11 record.
McCarthy started both games for the Aces, one against the Las Vegas 51's and another against the Tacoma Rainiers.
McCarthy has been in the big leagues since 2005 and has a career record of 63-72 in 182 starts.

Mike Freeman - Chicago Cubs

Freeman is the most recent Reno Aces player (not on the D-backs) to make the playoffs in 2017.
Freeman played bits of three seasons in Reno, (71 games in 2014, 113 games in 2015 and 88 games in 2016).
The infielder batted over .300 in each of his three seasons with the Aces.
As a member of the Cubs, Freeman has appeared in 15 games and is batted .160

American League
Didi Gregorius - New York Yankees

The Yankees shortstop played in the D-backs organization in 2013 and 2014.
In 64 games with the Aces, Gregorius batted .319 with 16 doubles and 64 games played.
Gregorius has put up monster numbers in the Big Apple this season (.287, 25 home runs and 27 doubles).
In the winner-take-all Game 5 of the American League Division Series, Gregorius blasted two homers in the first three innings to chase Cleveland starter Corey Kluber out of the game and provided the Yankees with the runs they needed to advance to the American League Championship Series.

Will Harris - Houston Astros

Harris played in 12 games for the Aces in 2013 and 43 in 2014, all out of the bullpen.
The right-handed reliever out of LSU had a career year in '14 with Reno. Harris threw 45.2 innings and ended the season with a .99 ERA while allowing opponents to bat just .207.
Will Harris has a 2.30 ERA over three seasons with the Astros but missed all of July and August because of a shoulder issue. He did return to fan 13 batters in 10⅔ innings down the stretch, and his fastball velocity was right at his season average of 91.6 mph, so he seems healthy. He made one appearance against the Red Sox, giving up two hits in two-thirds of an inning.

Tony Sipp - Houston Astros

Sipp played for the Aces in 2013, appearing in nine games before his call-up to Arizona.
The 34-year-old reliever has appeared in 46 games with Houston in 2017 and holds a 5.79 ERA entering the American League playoffs.