The Lansing Lugnuts' All-Time Starting Lineup
This is going to be debatable. We invite that. Here's what we did: We chose a five-man starting rotation and a starting nine plus a designated hitter out of the 804 total players who've ever suited for the Lugnuts dating back to 1996. Caveat: With one big exception, these players
This is going to be debatable. We invite that.
Here's what we did: We chose a five-man starting rotation and a starting nine plus a designated hitter out of the 804 total players who've ever suited for the Lugnuts dating back to 1996.
Caveat: With one big exception, these players were not chosen based on how they played in Lansing. The Lugnuts serve the important purpose of being a Minor League affiliate, preparing and developing players for Major League success. How a player ends up succeeding figures mightily into how they're perceived.
Still, we welcome all disagreements! Send in your own all-time Lugnuts lineups to jgoldstrass@lansinglugnuts.com.
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Catcher: Danny Jansen, 2015. Danny's time was limited in Lansing to 46 games due to a couple of injuries, but he has since blossomed as the Blue Jays hoped. He enters 2020 as the Jays' No. 1 catcher.
Worth arguing for: Yan Gomes, Matt Treanor, Robinson Chirinos (infielder in Lansing, catcher in the Majors)
First Base: Brian Dopirak, 2003-2004. Brian is the only player on this list never to make the Major Leagues... but on the other hand, his 39 home runs in 2004 remains the Midwest League's single season record. He still owns the Lugnuts' single season records for most games (137), hits (166), RBIs (120), total bases (321), and extra-base hits (77).
Worth arguing for: Hee-Seop Choi, 2015 MWL MVP Ryan McBroom, Rowdy Tellez
Second Base: Ryan Theriot, 2002-2003. The Riot began the 2003 season with the eventual Midwest League champions. He ended his nine-year Major League career with the 2011 World Series Champion St. Louis Cardinals and 2012 World Series Champion San Francisco Giants, scoring the championship-winning run in his final tour around the bases in the Major Leagues.
Worth arguing for: Carlos Febles, Ryan Goins, Cavan Biggio - but we'll get to him later.
Third Base: Vladimir Guerrero, Jr., 2017. At the age of 18, Vladdy Jr. reached base in his first 29 games, caught a first pitch from his dad on Father's Day, put on a memorable show in the Midwest League All-Star Game Home Run Derby, excelled in the MLB Futures Game, and is now (along with Bo) the future of the Toronto Blue Jays.
Worth arguing for: Maybe Casey McGehee? Probably not, though.
Shortstop: Bo Bichette, 2017. Bo put forth one of the great half-seasons for any player in Midwest League history, collecting 40 hits in 22 games in June before he was promoted to the Florida State League in July with a .384 batting average and a 1.071 OPS. Last year he reached the Major Leagues and promptly doubled in his first nine games to set a new MLB record.
Worth arguing for: You really want to argue against Bo?
Outfield: Carlos Beltran, 1996. A member of the inaugural Lugnuts Opening Day lineup, Carlos played only 11 games in Lansing before an injury sent him back to camp. Three years later, he was the American League Most Valuable Player, on his way to nine All-Star Games, three Gold Gloves, and two Silver Sluggers awards.
Outfield: Jake Marisnick, 2010-2011. The heart of the 2011 Eastern Division champions, Jake excelled offensively and defensively for the Lugnuts, hitting .320 with 47 extra-base hits and 37 steals. Then he was traded to the Marlins, traded to the Astros, and most recently, traded to the New York Mets, where he has the opportunity for a full-time role this season.
Outfield: Kevin Pillar, 2012. Pillar went from being a 32nd-round pick out of Division II Cal State Dominguez Hills to Midwest League Most Valuable Player to a highlight magnet nicknamed "Superman" in the Major Leagues -- what a rise! He enters his first year in Boston this season.
Worth arguing for: Corey Patterson, Travis Snider.
Utility: Cavan Biggio, 2016. Want to impress your friends? Ask them to name the first game that Cavan, Bo Bichette, and Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. were in the same starting lineup. The answer: The 2016 Crosstown Showdown between the Lugnuts and the Michigan State Spartans.
Worth arguing for: Tim Locastro, Jon Berti, Ronny Cedeño, Jeremy Giambi.
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*Pitcher: Rich Hill, 2003.** There aren't too many Michigan Wolverines to play for the Lugnuts, but the man nicknamed -- well, you know his nickname -- was one of them. Hill struck out 50 batters in 29 1/3 innings with the Nuts, en route to a 15-year Major League career entering 2020.
Pitcher: Noah Syndergaard, 2011-2012. The man now called Thor was a dominating teenage presence at Cooley Law School Stadium. Traded to the Mets after the 2012 season, he was a National League All-Star in 2016 and then started on back-to-back Opening Days in 2017 and 2018.
Pitcher: Carlos Zambrano, 1999. A teenage workhorse in Lansing, Big Z pitched 12 years in the Major Leagues and was named to three National All-Star teams and won three Silver Sluggers as one of the best hitting pitchers of his generation. (He belted 24 career homers in the Majors!)
Pitcher: Matthew Boyd, 2013. Matt joined the Nuts for his pro debut after the Blue Jays drafted him out of Oregon State. He gave up one run in 14 innings and was promptly promoted. After breaking out in 2014 and 2015, he was traded to the Detroit Tigers, where he was the best starter in their rotation last year.
Pitcher: Aaron Sanchez, 2011-2012. Aaron allowed just two earned runs in his first 38 innings in 2012. Four years later, he went 15-2, led the league with a 3.00 earned run average and a 0.7 HR/9-IP rate, and was named an American League All-Star.
Worth arguing for: Anthony DeSclafani, Ryan Borucki, Jason Simontacchi, Henderson Alvarez.
The Lugnuts are home! June 24-29 vs. Dayton
LANSING, Mich. – The Lansing Lugnuts (1-2, 37-32), High-A affiliate of the Athletics, open a six-game series with the Dayton Dragons (1-2, 22-46), High-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds, from Tuesday, June 24, through Sunday, June 29, at Jackson® Field™. Gates open to the public one hour before first pitch
Locos hit three homers, lose slugfest to Dayton
LANSING, Mich. – CJ Rodriguez, Casey Yamauchi and Tommy White homered – an inside-the-park home run for Yamauchi – but it was not enough to overcome a 17-hit barrage from the Dayton Dragons (2-2, 23-46), who defeated the Lansing Locos (1-3, 37-33), 13-8, on Tuesday evening at Jackson® Field™. Coming
Nuts welcome prospect tandem Lin and Sha
The Lansing Lugnuts (1-2, 37-32) announced the following roster changes, in conjunction with the Athletics: - Pitcher Nathan Dettmer is transferred to Stockton (Single-A – California League), - Pitchers Wei-En Lin and Tzu-Chen Sha received from Stockton. The updated Lansing roster now has 28 active players. A native of Kueishan,
Nuts romp behind Quad Cities' quintet of errors
DAVENPORT, IA – Jake Garland went seven innings, Davis Diaz slugged his first professional home run, and the Lansing Lugnuts (1-2, 37-32) took advantage of five errors to roll the Quad Cities River Bandits (2-1, 41-28), 10-3, on Sunday afternoon at Modern Woodmen Park. The Lugnuts piled up 16 base
Avant excels, but Bandits best Lugs in 10
DAVENPORT, IA – Corey Avant set a professional high with seven strong innings, but the Quad Cities River Bandits (2-0, 41-27) scored three runs in the bottom of the 10th inning to rally past the Lansing Lugnuts (0-2, 36-32), 4-3, on Saturday night at Modern Woodmen Park. Avant, drafted in
Green homers, Lugs drop 2nd half opener
DAVENPORT, IA – Rodney Green, Jr. ended a homerless drought with a towering roundtripper toward the Mississippi River, but the Quad Cities River Bandits (1-0, 40-27) quieted the Lansing Lugnuts (0-1, 36-31) otherwise, 8-2, on Friday night at Modern Woodmen Park. The game marked the official start to the 66-game
Nuts close out first half, beat Bandits in 10
DAVENPORT, IA – Native Iowan Grant Judkins turned in a quality start before his Lansing Lugnuts (36-30) turned in a quality finish, outlasting the Quad Cities River Bandits (39-27), 5-4, in 10 innings to close out the first half of the Midwest League season on Thursday night at Modern Woodmen
Bandidos use doubles to double up Lugs
DAVENPORT, IA – Playing as their Copa identity, los Bandidos del Río de las Ciudades Cuádruples, the Quad Cities River Bandits (39-26) used a pair of late two-run doubles to top the Lansing Lugnuts (35-30), 8-4, on Wednesday night at Modern Woodmen Park. The win kept Quad Cities alive for
Dickey, Garland play spoiler in 3-0 win
DAVENPORT, IA – Jared Dickey drove in a pair of crucial runs against his former team, Jake Garland tossed 6 2/3 scoreless innings in a combined four-hit shutout, and the Lansing Lugnuts (35-29) silenced the Quad Cities River Bandits (38-26), 3-0, on Tuesday night at Modern Woodmen Park. The result
MDARD Teams Up with Lansing Lugnuts, VFW National Home to Plant Native Garden at Jackson® Field™
LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD), Lansing Lugnuts, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars National Home (VFWNH), in collaboration with the Eaton Conservation District, proudly celebrates the successful installation of a native garden at Jackson® Field™. Veterans participating in the Veteran Regenerative Agriculture Demonstration,
Whitecaps blast Lugnuts, 13-1
LANSING, Mich. – Luke Gold smashed a grand slam to cap an eight-run ninth inning, and the West Michigan Whitecaps (43-20) completed a dominant six-day stretch with a 13-1 victory over the Lansing Lugnuts (34-29) in front of a Father’s Day crowd of 7,379 on Sunday afternoon at Jackson® Field™.
Imperial Whitecaps march past Lugnuts, 3-2
LANSING, Mich. – In front of 7,896 on Star Wars Night, the West Michigan Whitecaps (42-20) quelled the Lansing Lugnuts (34-28), 3-2, on Saturday evening at Jackson® Field™. The Whitecaps clinched a series victory, winning their fourth of five games played in the six-game set. Lansing starter Nathan Dettmer scattered
'Caps score 13 in 3rd on Friday the 13th, clinch division title
LANSING, Mich. – In three hours and 13 minutes, the West Michigan Whitecaps (41-20) used a 13-run third inning to rout the Lansing Lugnuts (34-27), 20-6, on Friday the 13th at Jackson® Field™. The Whitecaps clinched the first half East Division title with the win. All nine Whitecaps collected at
McGonigle, 'Caps top Nuts, 7-1
LANSING, Mich. – Ben Malgeri homered for the second straight day, Kevin McGonigle went 4-for-4 with two doubles and a homer, and the West Michigan Whitecaps (40-20) coasted past the Lansing Lugnuts (34-26), 7-1, on Thursday night at Jackson® Field™. The Whitecaps’ magic number to clinch the East Division shrank
Lugs wallow in 4-3 wild walk-off over Whitecaps
LANSING, Mich. – CJ Rodriguez rushed home on a Jared Dickey RBI fielder’s choice in the bottom of the ninth inning, and the Lansing Lugnuts (34-25) walked off the West Michigan Whitecaps (39-20), 4-3, on Wednesday night at Jackson® Field™. The Lugnuts pulled within five games of the Whitecaps for
West Michigan tops Lansing, 6-2, closes in on playoffs
LANSING, Mich. – In a Copa de la Diversión game, las Calaveras de West Michigan (39-19) scored four runs in the seventh inning and defeated the Lansing Locos (33-25), 6-2, on Tuesday night at Jackson® Field™. With the win, West Michigan opened its East Division lead to six games with
Lugs demolish Dragons as Whitecaps series looms
DAYTON, OH – Supported by a season-high 19-hit barrage, Nathan Dettmer fired six innings of one-hit ball, and the Lansing Lugnuts (33-24) steamrolled the Dayton Dragons (18-39), 12-6, on Sunday afternoon at Day Air Ballpark. The Nuts won five of six games in the series, including the last three games.
Judkins, Schofield-Sam serve up series win
DAYTON, OH – Grant Judkins delivered seven commanding innings, T.J. Schofield-Sam cracked three extra-base hits, and the Lansing Lugnuts (32-24) clinched a road series victory with a 3-1 win over the Dayton Dragons (18-38) on Saturday night at Day Air Ballpark. The Lugnuts have won four of five games in
Echavarria sooths Dragons, 5-1
DAYTON, OH – Steven Echavarria added the latest chapter in a breakthrough season, hurling five scoreless innings to drive the Lansing Lugnuts (31-24) past the Dayton Dragons (18-37), 5-1, on a rainy Friday night at Day Air Ballpark. The Lugnuts have won three of the first four games of the
Dragons walk off Nuts in 10, 3-2
DAYTON, OH – On a rainy Thursday night, the Dayton Dragons (18-36) snapped a 10-game home losing streak, walking off the Lansing Lugnuts (30-24) 3-2 in 10 innings at Day Air Ballpark. The Lugnuts had tied the game in the eighth on a two-out bases-loaded walk drawn by center fielder
Nuts' five-run 9th stuns Dayton, 6-3
DAYTON, OH – With two outs in the ninth inning, the Lansing Lugnuts (30-23) rallied for five runs to shock the Dayton Dragons (17-36), 6-3, on Wednesday night at Day Air Ballpark. The Lugnuts have won four straight games, including two straight in Dayton thanks to comebacks against the Dragons’
Green rallies Lugs in Dayton opener
DAYTON, OH – Rodney Green, Jr. lashed a three-run go-ahead double in the seventh inning, and the Lansing Lugnuts (29-23) edged the Dayton Dragons (17-35), 5-4, on Tuesday evening at Day Air Ballpark. The Lugnuts have won three consecutive games, allowing only seven combined runs over that span. A two-run
Catching Transaction: Conn promoted, Diaz arrives
The Lansing Lugnuts (28-23) announced the following roster changes, in conjunction with the Athletics: - Catcher Cole Conn is promoted to Midland (Double-A – Texas League) - Infielder/catcher Davis Diaz is received from Stockton (Single-A – California League) The updated Lansing roster now has 28 active players and three players
Lugs handle error-prone Carp, 4-1
LANSING, Mich. – Grant Judkins pitched 5 2/3 scoreless innings, and the Lansing Lugnuts (28-23) earned a series split with a 4-1 victory over the Beloit Sky Carp (27-24) on Sunday afternoon at Jackson® Field™. The Nuts had lost three straight games against Beloit from Wednesday through Friday, but won
Schofield-Sam slams Sky Carp, 8-2
LANSING, Mich. – The Lansing Lugnuts loaded the bases in the first inning, fourth inning, fifth inning and sixth inning, yet were unable to push a run across. In the seventh inning? A different story. The Midwest League’s leading hitter, T.J. Schofield-Sam, swatted a g0-ahead grand slam off the right