Fish Out of Water: Who are the Best Prospects to Ever Play for Pensacola?

There is usually a correlation between a Major League team’s on-field success and depth of their minor league system’s. Winning at the Major League level usually equates to a lack of blue-chip prospects.

Pensacola first became an affiliated team in 2012 with the Cincinnati Reds, and that partnership lasted all the way up to 2018. This was around the time that Cincinnati’s reign as an NL Central Division powerhouse was coming to an end. The Reds won the division in 2010 and 2012, and then made the playoffs again in 2013 as a wildcard.

However, after that one-game defeat to the Pirates that ended the 2013 season, the Reds would enter one of the most difficult stretches in franchise history, finishing under .500 in every season until 2020, where they went 31-29 in the abbreviated campaign.

In the AL Central, the Minnesota Twins also experienced several trying seasons in the mid 2010s. From 2012 through 2016, the Twins finished fourth or worst in every season except a surprising 2015 campaign that saw the Twins finish second in the Central with an 83-79 record.

Miami’s struggles in the NL East have been well-documented for over a decade. The Marlins made they playoffs in the COVID-shortened season for the first time since 2003. Prior to that, there had been more than a handful of disappointing, last-place finishing for the Marlins.

All of this is to say that when you look through Pensacola’s rosters, you will find a slew of top tier prospect that are beginning or already begun etching their careers in the Majors.

And as we are about to embark on the newest season of Blue Wahoos baseball, it should come as no surprise that the Wahoos will once again field another highly competitive team (at least on paper). After speculating in last week’s FOW article about who might be on the 2021 Opening Day Roster, Wahoos and Marlins fans alike now know that both JJ Bleday, Max Meyer, and Jerar Encarnacion—all top 30 players—will begin the year in Pensacola. All indications suggest that these three players (and potentially more) have the potential to be meaningful, impactful Major Leaguers at some point in the near future. Some players need time to become acclimated to the speed and difficulty or Double-A while others simple take the level by storm.

This idea had FOW thinking: what is the greatest starting nine in Wahoos history? More specifically, if I went through every position and could select any player from any Pensacola season and put them on a Super All-Star Team, who would made the cut?

I want to acknowledge that any activity like this is clearly subjective. Let me define my criteria. This list takes into account a player’s prospect ranking around the time of his arrival to Pensacola. It also takes into account the current or future impact that player is making in the Majors. It is NOT about who had the best minor league season that year, nor it is about a hidden gem who defied the odds to become a Major Leaguer.

So here’s a look at the (arguably) greatest starting lineup in Wahoos history.

Catcher - Ryan Jeffers

The 2019 Blue Wahoos season was the only year in which the club was affiliated with the Minnesota Twins. Regardless, Jeffers is the first of several Twins farmhands to crack the list. He was the 59th overall pick in 2018 out of UNC-Wilmington and quickly rose through the minor league ranks.

Entering the 2019 campaign, both Baseball America and MLB.com had Jeffers as a Top 10 prospect in Minnesota’s system. He joined made his Double-A debut with Pensacola on July 25th and immediately provided an offensive impact.

Jeffers hit safely in 10 of his first 13 games (.313; 16-for-51) with three doubles, four homers, and eight RBI. He also homered in the SL Playoffs against the Shuckers despite the Wahoos first-round exit.

After the 2019 season, Jeffers would go on to make his MLB debut with the Twins on August 20th, 2020 before ultimately being selected for the Twins 2020 Postseason roster. He is currently on the Twins 40-man roster. In his MLB career he has appeared in 37 games and hit .225.

He edges out Wahoo fan-favorite Tucker Barnhart on this list on the basis that Barnhart was never really touted as a high-value prospect. There’s no denying that up to this point, Barnhart has had the substantially better MLB career. Barnhart has played eight years in the majors, won two Gold Gloves and has a lifetime average of .250. However, Barnhart never cracked a Top-20 list as a prospect with the Reds by either major publication.

That doesn’t mean that Barnhart wasn’t an amazing story, nor does it take away from the many fantastic contributions he’s provided to the Reds for last eight-plus seasons.

First Base - Lewin Diaz

Diaz initially signed with the Twins back in 2013 and spent five seasons in the lower part of the minors due to a series of minor injuries. When he finally reached Double-A, the impact was immediate.

The power tool jumped off the charts. Diaz roped 16 doubles, eight homers, and 26 RBI in his first 33 games with the Blue Wahoos. He was producing an extra-base hit seemingly every other game.

Scouts caught eye of what Diaz was capable of, and ultimately the Marlins struck a deal with the Twins that sent Sergio Romo to the Twins and Diaz back to the Marlins. Even crazier, the trade happened in Jacksonville when the Twins were playing the Marlins Double-A affiliate.

After the trade, the was a dip in Diaz’s offensive production, but that was probably due to the surprise of being traded by Twins. In the next two seasons, Diaz was considered a Marlins top prospect in a system that was considered to be one of the best in MiLB. Like Jeffers, Diaz made his MLB debut in 2020 and will undoubtedly return to the Marlins 25-man roster at some point in 2021.

While it’s only been two games, Diaz is off to a flying start in 2021 with Triple-A Jacksonville. He’s registered two doubles, two home runs and seven RBI in in nine at-bats. To those who haven’t watched him closely may be surprised by such offensive production. However, those who’ve had the pleasure of watching him demolish baseballs in person, this is par for the course.

Second Base - Luis Arraez

In terms of pure prospect rankings, Arraez generated the buzz that Alex Kirilloff, Robert Stephenson, or Royce Lewis produced. However, Arraez is arguably one of the best pure hitters to ever play for the Wahoos, which is no surprise he’s already the every day player for a really good Minnesota ball club.

Entering the 2019 season Baseball America had Arraez just outside the Twins top 10 list. This was a little surprising given the fact that Arraez hit over .300 in almost every professional season in his career (he did miss one season due to a torn ACL).

That legacy would continue for the Blue Wahoos. Arraez was the Opening Day second baseman for Pensacola and wasted no time becoming the SL leader in batting average. He was hitting so well that he only played in 38 games before being called up to Triple-A Rochester. He produced a .342 average (50-for-146) In Double-A that season and then hit .348 with Rochester (23-for-66) before being called up by the Twins.

There’s a reason why his Wahoos teammates referred to Arraez as “The Goat.” It’s because of his “streak” of hitting above .300 at every level he’s played at. Even when reaching the Majors, Arraez hit .334 (109-for-326) in 92 games for the Twins. He played in every postseason game that year against the Yankees, and unsurprisingly hit .455 (5-for-11).

Shortstop - Didi Gregorius

Of all the prospects that have come through Pensacola, Gregorius has arguably been the most successful Wahoo in the majors.

He spent only a handful of games with the Reds before being traded to Arizona in 2013. After a two seasons in the desert, Gregorius was traded once again to the Yankees. In New York, he became the heir apparent to Derek Jeter. The offense exploded, and from 2016-19 Gregorius had three consecutive 20+ homer run seasons.

In the Wahoos inaugural season, Gregorius was Pensacola’s inaugural star. He recorded the franchise’s hit and was named to the 2012 Southern League All-Star. By the time he left Pensacola, Gregorius hit .278, recorded 8 triples and 11 doubles in 81 games. The Wahoos have yet to see similar production from the shortstop position.

While he wasn’t a top prospect in the way the Billy Hamilton, Robert Stephenson, or Nick Senzel was, Gregorius was still considered by scouts as a fringy prospect with the chance to potentially be an off the bench, role player.

Clearly, Gregroius shattered those expectations.

Third Base - Nick Senzel

I’m not going to pretend that I am a baseball expert who has the same knowledge as a scout who’s been covering prospects for 20 years. I’m not, nor do I pretend to be.

But since I started covering the Blue Wahoos in 2017, Nick Senzel is the best player I ever saw play for the Wahoos. He was the second overall pick in the 2016 Draft out of Tennessee, and was immediately considered one of the best prospects in baseball.

When he arrived in Pensacola in the middle of 2017, he took the Southern League by storm. Senzel hit .340 with 14 doubles, a triple, 10 home runs, and 26 walks in 57 games. Almost 36% of his hits went for extra bases, and his OBP was .413.

The hit tool was off the charts. He not only had power to all fields but could finesse line drives down the first base and third base lines on a consistent basis.

The only downside about Senzel came towards the end of the season, when a bout with Vertigo prematurely ended his year. This was almost a foreshadowing of Senzel’s future. The former Volunteer has picked up almost a half-dozen injuries since leaving Pensacola that can’t help us wonder, what if?

Don’t get me wrong, he’s still an every day player for the Reds when he’s healthy. It’s just staying healthy that has been the issue for Senzel. Regardless, his performance with the Blue Wahoos will forever be one of the best 60 game stretches ever produced by a Wahoo.

Left Field - Alex Kirilloff

Like Arraez, Kirilloff was one of the best hitters to ever come through the Southern League. He was a first round pick by the Twins In 2016 out of High School and has never been ranked lower than fifth by in the Twins system by Baseball America.

In his first professional summer, his was the Appalachian League MVP. Unfortunately, he felt inflammation in his elbow shortly after and required Tommy John Surgery. He returned in 2018 playing a total of 130 games across both Cedar Rapids and Fort Myers where he slashed .348/.392/.413.

In truth when he arrived in Pensacola, there was much fanfare but not in terms of early production. He was slowed down a nagging wrist injury, meaning his Double-A debut was pushed back to May 2nd. After his first 16 games, he was hitting just .206 (13-for-63).

Quickly after, Kirilloff regained the form that elevated to him top-tier prospect status, and by the end of June he raised his average by 60 points. By the time the season ended, Kirilloff was leading the Blue Wahoos in doubles (18), second in hits (106) and triples (2) and fourth in HRs (9).

Arguably Kirilloff’s greatest feat came in the first round of the SL Playoffs against the Shuckers. He homered in each of the first four games, including a game-tying grand slam in the ninth inning of game one. Even though the Wahoos didn’t advance to the championship round, his status in Wahoos lore was cemented.

Center Field - Billy Hamilton

The first time I ever heard about Billy Hamilton was from an Oriole farmhand named Mike Planetta, who told me there was a guy in the minors who had stolen “like, 100 bases last season.”

That season was 2012, and Hamilton stole 155 bases in total.

That’s not just a colossal number of steals, it’s almost unimaginable. If Hamilton played in the 1940s or 50s, there would be so many stories about his speed that would’ve sounded impossible “he bunted a ball to third and was standing on second before the third baseman picked it up!”

Professional scouts grade players and their tools using the 2-8 grading system, and someone who registers an 8 has a tool that’s the best of the very best. Barry Bonds had 8 power, Aroldis Chapman has an 8 fastball, and Hamilton had 8 speed.

Part of the reason he was able to steal so many bases (51 with Pensacola and 104 in Class-A Bakersfield) was because of his ability to hit for average. He tallied 50 hits in 50 games with Pensacola (.286 average) and walked almost as often as he struck out.

I acknowledge that his MLB success did not translate the way many were hoping as the hitting just never came around; however, Hamilton was a must-watch prospect no matter which team you supported and was undoubtedly the easiest selection to the all-time lineup.

Right Field - Aristides Aquino

Blue Wahoos fans had plenty of time to watch Aquino grow into “The Punisher” in his two seasons with the ‘Hoos.

Aquino spent two full seasons with Pensacola before earning a late callus towards the end of the 2018 season. Aquino was an intriguing, albeit frustrating prospect during his Double-A tenure.

He had the tools you dreamed of when crafting a quality outfielder: big arm, decent speed, and tremendous power. In the 2017 season he set the franchise record for most home runs in a single season (20) and finished with 37 career Wahoos home runs.

What Aquino did lack in Pensacola was consistency. After a disappointing season in which he hit just .216 and struck out 106 more times than he walked, Aquino improved slightly the following season hitting .240.

Ultimately, things clicked for “The Punisher” once he reached the majors. He homered 19 times in 56 games in 2019 and became an instant story across the national landscape. As I said before, Aquino has all of the tools to become a fascinating Major League outfielder, and if he can remain consistent he could be regarded as one of the most successful Wahoos ever.

Starting Pitcher - Luis Castillo

Entering the 2017 season, Cincinnati Reds fans were curious about their most recent acquisition from the Miami Marlins. On January 19th, the Reds sent Dan Straily to Miami for Castillo and RHP Austin Brice. When Castillo joined the Reds farm system he was instantly deemed a top pitching prospect.

In the beginning, the results weren’t exactly matching the tools, which was odd since Castillo threw high 90s with ease, regularly touching 100 mph. However, after his first 10 starts Castillo was 1-3 with an ERA over 3.10.

But after making some adjustments with pitching coach Danny Darwin, Castillo exploded into one of the best pitchers in the Southern League. In his 4 starts in June of 2017, Castillo went 3-1 with a 1.42 ERA, striking out 36 in 25.1 innings of work. This dominant stretch earned Castillo a call up to the bigs where he stayed for the rest of the season.

He would go onto finish the season with a 3.12 ERA despite going 3-7. Despite the record, he solidified his position as the Reds ace in the rotation. In 2019 he went 15-10 and was selected to his first National League All-Star appearance. In 2020 he helped lead the Reds to their first postseason berth since the 2013 season. “La Piedra” found his way during his time in Pensacola and has proven to be one of the most elite and successful pitchers to pitch for the franchise.

Honorable Mention - Royce Lewis

It’s hard to argue there’s been a bigger prospect to play for the Blue Wahoos than Royce Lewis. Never before had Pensacola had a number one overall pick on their team. He was selected first overall by Minnesota out of JSerra Catholic High School in 2017.

Entering the 2019 season, Lewis was the Twin’s number top prospect according to MLB.com and Baseball America. He was the fourth-best shortstop in the minors behind Fernando Tatis Jr., Wander Franco, and Bo Bichette. Entering the 2021 season with the Twins, he has swapped places with Alex Kirilloff as the second-best prospect in the Twins system.

So despite the fact that Lewis never put up huge numbers in his 33 games with the Wahoos, the consensus is that he will be a significant contributor in the majors in the near future. The upside is still as high as it’s ever been. Had he produced more, he could’ve usurped Gregorius for the starting spot at short.

Honorable Mention - Brusdar Graterol

Few pitchers have made 100 miles per hour look so effortless.

Entering the 2019 season, Graterol was the #3 pitching prospect in the Marlins system. His fastball routinely touched triple digits and he had a slider that sat between 91-93 mph. He was one of the few pitchers that Blue Wahoos fans called and asked when he would be pitching, just so they could watch the radar gun flash 100 or 101 mph.

Graterol began his Blue Wahoos tenure in the starting rotation. In April, he made five starts and went 2-0 with a 2.30 ERA, striking out 28 and walking 12. In May, he was even better going 3-0 with a 1.33 ERA in four starts. That month he struck out 18 while only walking seven. One scout who watched Graterol pitch in 2019 described his dominance by saying "he looks almost bored by how easily he's overpowering hitters."

Injuries later that season forced Graterol to transition from the starting rotation into the bullpen, though that may have been the plan with Graterol all along. He eventually debuted with Minnesota on September 1st, 2019 against Detroit. That was the first of 11 appearances in total (one appearance in the ALDS against New York), in which the flamethrower posted scoreless outings in eight of 10 regular season relief appearances, and one scoreless inning in the ALDS against New York.

His tenure in the Minnesota was short lived; however, as Graterol was dealt to Los Angeles for Kenta Maeda in February of 2020. It's never easy seeing talented prospects (especially former Wahoos) traded away when they appear to be on the brink of greatness. However, watching Graterol win a World Championship with Los Angeles--even in a condensed season--only adds to the fondness so many of us felt towards the amiable twenty-one year old. It also meant that the Wahoos had World Champions in back-to-back seasons (Washington's Tanner Rainer, 2019). To see a player in Double-A one year, and then dog-piling with one the mound with legends like Clayton Kershaw and Justin Turner affirms one of the subtle joys of working in the minor leagues.

One day, a player could leave our team--our town--and become a baseball champion of the world.

In Conclusion

Perhaps over the next decade, Wahoos fans will look at the names on the list and wonder how so many talented players suited up for one team located in the Northwest panhandle of Florida. How did so many former Wahoos defy the odds and not only reach the Majors but thrive in the Majors?

Rather than wonder about how lucky we were to soak up so much talent, I choose to look forward and simply ask, “who’s next?”