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Record Number of Former TinCaps, Wizards in Majors in 2015

54 Fort Wayne Alumni Played in Big Leagues This Year
October 5, 2015

FORT WAYNE, Ind. - A record number of former Fort Wayne Wizards and TinCaps played in the big leagues in 2015. During the regular season, 54 Fort Wayne alums were on major league rosters, as the total number of Fort Wayne alums ever to have appeared in Major League Baseball rose to 144. (See list below.)

"It never gets old turning on the TV or looking in the newspaper, and seeing our former guys succeeding at the highest level," TinCaps President Mike Nutter said. "Sometimes you can see their big-league ability while they're here, and other times it's not as obvious. That's all part of the fun of watching Minor League Baseball."

While 12 former Fort Wayne players appeared with the San Diego Padres - with whom Fort Wayne has been affiliated since 1999 - Fort Wayne was represented with at least one player on 25 of Major League Baseball's 30 teams. The only exceptions were the Mariners, Phillies, Red Sox, Royals, and White Sox.

"Parkview Field is a great modern facility for our players," said Padres Director of Player Development Sam Geaney. "And with the great crowds in Fort Wayne, our players at this level get the opportunity to have a small preview of what the big leagues are like, helping to set them up for future success." 

Fort Wayne has been a member of the Class A Midwest League since 1993. Though hard to believe, one member of the inaugural Wizards team is still pitching, and will be in the playoffs. At 42, LaTroy Hawkins of the Toronto Blue Jays is the oldest player in the majors. Over his 21-year MLB career, Hawkins ranks 10th all-time in games pitched (1,042). 

The Wizards were affiliated with the Minnesota Twins from '93-98. In addition to Hawkins, Torii Hunter '94 (Twins), A.J. Pierzynski '95-96 (Braves), and Michael Cuddyer '98 (Mets) are the only remaining active former Fort Wayne players who came up with the Twins. 

From a more contemporary standpoint, in 2015, 13 former TinCaps made their debut in The Show, including Washington Nationals shortstop Trea Turner, who was in Fort Wayne just last year. Only 2008 has seen more former Fort Wayne players debut in a single season. That year 14 former Wizards broke through to the big leagues.

On the list of 54, 13 were members of the 2009 TinCaps who won the Midwest League title. In total, 19 players from '09 have reached the majors, which is an all-time record for a Class A team.

Perhaps no former Fort Wayne player had a better 2015 season than Corey Kluber '08 (Indians), the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner. The right-handed starting pitcher finished second in the AL in strikeouts with 245 and fourth in Wins Above Replacement at 5.6.

The previous record for most Fort Wayne alums to play in a major league season was 51 in 2014.

Former Wizards/TinCaps in MLB in 2015

  1. INF Dean Anna '09-10 (Cardinals)
  2. RHP Dylan Axelrod '07-08 (Reds)
  3. RHP Anthony Bass '09 (Rangers)
  4. OF Mike Baxter '05-06 (Cubs)
  5. INF Kyle Blanks '06 (Rangers)
  6. RHP Brad Brach '09 (Orioles)
  7. RHP Leonel Campos '13 (Padres)
  8. RHP Simon Castro '09 (Rockies)
  9. OF Michael Cuddyer '98 (Mets)
  10. INF Cody Decker '09 (Padres)
  11. OF Jaff Decker '09 (Pirates)
  12. LHP Jose De Paula '10 (Yankees)
  13. RHP Steve Delabar '06-08 (Blue Jays)
  14. INF Allan Dykstra '09 (Rays)
  15. INF Cole Figueroa '09 (Yankees)
  16. INF David Freese '06 (Angels)
  17. RHP Ernesto Frieri '06-07 (Rays)
  18. C Rocky Gale '11 (Padres)
  19. LHP Frank Garces '12 (Padres)
  20. RHP Brandon Gomes '07-08 (Rays)
  21. RHP Trevor Gott '13 (Angels)
  22. LHP Nick Greenwood '09-10 (Cardinals)
  23. INF Jedd Gyorko '10 (Padres)
  24. RHP LaTroy Hawkins '93 (Rockies/Blue Jays)
  25. INF Chase Headley '05 (Yankees)
  26. C Austin Hedges '12 (Padres)
  27. C Nick Hundley '05-06 (Rockies)
  28. OF Torii Hunter '94 (Twins)
  29. LHP Colt Hynes '08-09 (Blue Jays)
  30. OF Travis Jankowski '12 (Padres)
  31. RHP Brandon Kintzler '05 (Brewers)
  32. RHP Corey Kluber '08 (Indians)
  33. RHP Mat Latos '08-09 (Marlins/Dodgers/Angels)
  34. C Jose Lobaton '05-06 (Nationals)
  35. OF Rico Noel '11 (Yankees)
  36. INF Andy Parrino '08-09 (Athletics)
  37. RHP Jake Peavy '00 (Giants)
  38. LHP Oliver Perez '01 (Diamondbacks/Astros)
  39. INF Jace Peterson '12 (Braves)
  40. C A.J. Pierzynski '95-96 (Braves)
  41. RHP Kevin Quackenbush '11 (Padres)
  42. LHP Cesar Ramos '05 (Angels)
  43. RHP Colin Rea '12-13 (Padres)
  44. OF Daniel Robertson '09 (Angels)
  45. RHP Joe Ross '12-13 (Nationals)
  46. RHP Keyvius Sampson '11 (Reds)
  47. INF Eric Sogard '07 (Athletics)
  48. RHP Joakim Soria '06 (Tigers/Pirates)
  49. INF Cory Spangenberg '11 (Padres)
  50. RHP Matt Stites '12 (Diamondbacks)
  51. RHP Dale Thayer '03 (Padres)
  52. INF Trea Turner '14 (Nationals)
  53. OF Will Venable '06 (Padres/Rangers)
  54. RHP Matt Wisler '12 (Braves)

Former TinCaps to Debut in MLB in 2015

  1. INF Cody Decker '09 (Padres)
  2. LHP Jose De Paula '10 (Yankees)
  3. INF Allan Dykstra '09 (Rays)
  4. C Rocky Gale '11 (Padres)
  5. RHP Trevor Gott '13 (Angels)
  6. C Austin Hedges '12 (Padres)
  7. OF Travis Jankowski '12 (Padres)
  8. OF Rico Noel '11 (Yankees)
  9. RHP Colin Rea '12-13 (Padres)
  10. RHP Joe Ross '12-13 (Nationals)
  11. RHP Keyvius Sampson '11 (Reds)
  12. INF Trea Turner '14 (Nationals)
  13. RHP Matt Wisler '12 (Braves)