Former Blue Wahoos Players Part Of Opening Day Rosters On 10 Different MLB Teams

There were enough former Pensacola Blue Wahoos players on Thursday’s Opening Day active rosters to nearly fill an entire Major League team.

Led by the Cincinnati Reds with nine players, 23 former Wahoos players were in dugouts on 10 different teams for season-opening games. Additionally, three other players were part of teams’ injured reserve list.

Luis Castillo, who played in the 2017 season for the Blue Wahoos, was the Reds starting pitcher Thursday in their 4:10 p.m. game against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Former Blue Wahoos manager Delino DeShields, who worked two seasons in Pensacola (2013-14), is the Reds’ first base coach this season.

All 30 MLB teams had to finalize their 2021 Opening Day rosters by 11 a.m. Thursday, just hours before teams faced a first pitch in season-openers.

Between the Reds and Minnesota Twins, who were the Blue Wahoos Double-A affiliate in the 2019 season, a combined 14 former Wahoos players were on the two teams’ opening day roster.

Two other pitchers, Reds reliever Michael Lorenzen and Dodgers’ reliever Brusdar Graterol – a Blue Wahoos starting pitcher in 2019 – were on injured lists.

Second baseman Shed Long, a Blue Wahoos player in 2017-18 was on the Seattle Mariners injured list.

The Blue Wahoos new affiliate, Miami Marlins, opened their season Thursday against Tampa Bay with shortstop Miguel Rojas – a member of the Blue Wahoos first team in 2012 – in the starting lineup.

Marlins catcher Chad Wallach played for Pensacola in 2016 and emerged from a four-way battle to be the team’s backup catcher behind starter Jorge Alfaro.

Several former Blue Wahoos players battled their way in spring training to make Opening Day rosters. One of those was outfielder Billy Hamilton, who set the minor league stolen base record in 2012 at Blue Wahoos Stadium.

Now with the Chicago White Sox, Hamilton is playing for his sixth different MLB team since making his MLB debut in 2013 with the Reds. He earned a spot after several other outfielders were injured.

Robert Stevenson, a former Reds’ first round draft pick and starting pitcher, made the Colorado Rockies roster as a reliever.

Josh Van Meter impressed in spring training and with his versatility. He can play left or right field, or third base, second base or first base.

Meanwhile, the past two Blue Wahoos managers, will begin new roles in the minor leagues. The Reds’ Pat Kelly is now manager of Triple-A Louisville, after spending the 2019 season managing the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts.

Ramon Borrego, the Blue Wahoos manager as Twins affiliate in 2019, will manage the team’s Double-A affiliate, Wichita (Kan.) Wind Surge. Cibney Bello, who was part of the Twins’ coaching staff in 2020, is now pitching coach for Triple-A St. Paul Saints.

Here are the former Blue Wahoos players on MLB Opening Day rosters.

CINCINNATI REDS (Affiliate from 2012-18) – Pitchers – Luis Castillo, Tyler Mahle, Amir Garrett, Sal Romano. Catcher Tucker Barnhart, Infielder Alex Blandino, Outfielders: Nick Senzel, Jesse Winker and Aristides Aquino.

MINNESOTA TWINS – (Affiliate in 2019-20) – Pitchers Jorge Alcala, Randy Dobnak, Cody Stashak. Catcher Ryan Jeffers. Infielder Luis Arraez.

MIAMI MARLINS – (New affiliation) – Shortstop Miguel Rojas, Catcher Chad Wallach.

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS – Infielder Josh Van Meter

CHICAGO WHITE SOX – Outfielder Billy Hamilton.

COLORADO ROCKIES – Pitcher Robert Stevenson

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES – Shortstop Didi Gregorious.

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS – Pitcher Wandy Peralta

TAMPA BAY RAYS – Pitcher Cody Reed.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS – Pitcher Tanner Rainey

In addition, Shed Long (Seattle Mariners), Brusdar Graterol (Dodgers), Michael Lorenzen (Reds) are on injured reserve.