Where are they now: Aces all-time list

With the calendar year flipping over into 2022, RenoAces.com decided to flip back through the record book and look at the team’s record book. Specifically, the all-time leaders in games played, and what they’ve been doing since their time in the Biggest Little City.

1. Cole Gillespie (374 games)

Before Ildemaro Vargas took over the top spot in career hits in 2019, Gillespie had owned the record since 2012. Gillespie’s final season in Reno was the 2012 Triple-A National Championship season, but the outfielder went on to play for five different big league teams. From 2013-16, Gillespie appeared in 171 games for the Chicago Cubs, San Francisco Giants, Seattle Mariners, Toronto Blue Jays and Miami Marlins.

Gillespie went on to play in Mexico in 2017, as well as 47 games with the Sugar Land Skeeters (while the team was still independent).

2. Ildemaro Vargas (371 games)

Vargas is the most recent player on this list to suit up for the Aces, appearing in 57 games for Reno in 2021. In his fifth season with Reno, Vargas hit .313 as he extended his franchise-record career hit total. A September call up to Arizona wrapped up his season just three games short of the record for games played with Reno, but the infielder still put up a strong season in the Biggest Little City.

3. Mike Jacobs (318 games)

Jacobs had one of the most accomplished offensive careers in Aces history. The power-swinging first baseman led the team in homers for three straight seasons (2012-14) en route to the second-most career homers in team history (55). The Aces all-time leader in RBIs is third in walks (135), runs (191), hits (343), doubles (69) and total bases (577).

After his playing career Jacobs managed the Batavia Muckdogs in 2017 and 2018, and the Clinton Lumberkings in 2019 before serving as the Beloit Snappers skipper in 2021.

4. Jack Reinheimer (311 games)

Reinheimer is the only player on this list to play against the Aces in 2021. The infielder appeared in 91 games for the Tacoma Rainiers in 2021. After leaving Reno, Reinheimer appeared in 21 games for the New York Mets in 2018, picking up his first big league hit and runs scored in the process.

5. Zach Borenstein (280 games)

Borenstein lands in the top five of this list after appearing with the Aces in the 2015, 2016 and 2017 seasons. After Reno, the outfielder went to play for the Las Vegas Aviators and Iowa Cubs before joining the Sugar Land Skeeters in 2020. Playing in the Constellation Energy League, Borenstein and the Skeeters were among the very few players outside MLB to play in 2020. This winter, Borenstein appeared in 10 games in the Mexican Pacific Winter League.

6. Mike Freeman (272 games)

Ildemaro Vargas is joined by Freeman as the only two on this list to suit up in the show during the 2021 season. Freeman appeared in 37 games for the Cincinnati Reds, going 11-for-59 with six runs scored. Since 2016, Freeman has appeared in 193 big league games, owning a career .225 average. In his time with the Aces, Freeman tripled 18 times – good for the third most in team history.

7. Socrates Brito (265 games)

At the end of December, Brito signed with the KIA Tigers of the KBO in Korea. After three seasons in Reno from 2016 to 2018, Brito spent time with the Buffalo Bisons and Scranton-Wilkes-Barre RailRiders in 2019 and 2021, appearing in 107 games during the 2021 season.

8. Taylor Harbin (250 games)

Harbin only appeared for the Aces in three seasons, and his first season (2009) he only played in six games. But in 2012 and 2013, the infielder was a cornerstone in the lineup with 127 and 117 games played. After the 2014 season, Harbin joined the college ranks as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Furman.

9. Kristopher Negron (238 games)

The fan favorite in 2017 and 2018 came back to Greater Nevada Field in 2021 – with the opponent. The former infielder led the Tacoma Rainiers to a Triple-A West crown last season. In his first season as a manager, Negron was named the league’s Manager of the Year after a 78-52 campaign.

After the standout season, Negron enters 2022 as the first base coach for the Seattle Mariners in the big league.

10. Peter O’Brien (236 games)

O’Brien is one of just five players ever to hit 50 home runs in his Aces career, thanks to a massive 2015 season. O’Brien’s 270 total bases set a new team record, which now sits in third. His 107 RBIs were also a then-record, and sit third now as well. O’Brien’s last game action in the United States came in 2019, when he appeared in 14 games for the Miami Marlins. Since then, the first baseman has appeared in the Dominican Winter League and the Mexican League, including this most recent winter where he hit two homers for the Toros del Este.