One of my favorite things to do in March is try to guess the 2016 opening day roster. There is no science involved, it’s basically all guess work. A lot can happen between now and opening day. Players could tear it up down in Tempe and jump a level, struggle and be held back for extended spring training or get injured. But why not take a shot and see what the 25 man roster could look like.

Pitchers:

Starters

Joe Gatto RHP – Was the Angels second round pick in 2014 and was the ace of the Orem Owlz staff in 2015. Still just 20 years old. Went 2-3 with a 4.31 ERA in hitter friendly Pioneer League.

Jared Ruxer RHP – Missed all of 2014 after having Tommy John Surgery following his junior season at the University of Louisville. Ruxer was 12th round pick by the Angels in 2014 and made 11 starts for Orem in 2015.

Hunter Green LHP – The 2nd round draft pick from 2013 hasn’t pitched in two years after a pair of injuries. Green had a good instructional league showing this fall and is still young, just 20 years old.

Grayson Long RHP – This one is tricky because I could see the Angels doing what they have done with other college arms like Jordan Kipper and Chris Ellis  and skipping him up to Inland Empire. Long, a 2015 third rounder out of Texas A&M made 12 starts with a 0-0 record and a 5.03 ERA.

Jose Rodriguez RHP – The Venezuelan native was a work horse for Orem in 2015, going 3-3 with a 4.79 ERA in 62 innings.

Bullpen

Adam Hofacket RHP – 10th Rounder who excelled in the Orem Owlz bullpen going 4-0 with a 3.77 ERA with 8 saves in 10 opportunities.

Ronnie Glenn LHP – 22nd rounder out of Penn went 6-1 with a 3.73 ERA out of the bullpen and struck out 54 in 41 innings.

Aaron Cox RHP – Another college arm, struck out 35 in 38 innings, went 4-0 with a 3.08. 19th rounder in 2015 out of Gannon.

Arjenis Ferenandez RHP – Ended the 2015 season with the Burlington Bees and could make his fourth tour of duty in the Midwest League but is still young at 22 years old.

Adam McCreery LHP – Was a 22nd rounder in 2014 and spent the last two seasons in the AZL but could make the jump due to his age, 23

Connor Lillis-White LHP – Another college guy, drafted in the 32nd round in 2015 out of British Columbia. Spent 2015 in Tempe with the AZL Angels going 0-1 with a 2.93 ERA, striking out 18 in 15.1 innings.

Ariel Ovando LHP – Was selected in the Rule 5 draft by the Angels from the Chicago Cubs. Spent 2015 with the AZL Cubs and was 4-0 with a 0.43 ERA. Was in the MWL with the QC River Bandits when he was an outfielder in the Astros system.

Tyler Watson LHP – Pitched in 24 games for Orem in 2015. Was a 38th rounder in 2014.

Catchers

Tanner Lubach – Drafted in the 9th round of the Nebraska, took over the starting spot in Orem after the promotion of Taylor Ward.

Angel Genao – Split the 2015 season between AZL and Orem. Will be 23 by opening day.

Infield

Nick Flair 1B/3B – Nick Flair was one of the 2015 draft picks who provided an impact at the end of the season for the Bees. With Zach Houchins up in IE, Nick will see more time at 3rd.

David Fletcher SS – The Angels have a little bit of a log jam at shortstop right now so it could be possible for Fletcher, who hit .311 between Orem and Burlington, to start the season back in Burlington. The 6th rounder is young being a draft eligible sophomore at 21 years old.

Sam Koenig 1B/OF – Sam begun his pro career with the Bees after being selected in the 27th round. Koenig played in 9 games for the Bees and ended the season with Orem, hitting .271 with the Owlz.

Juan Moreno SS/2B – Spent time at three levels in 2015, playing in eight games for the Bees. His age (21) could be the reason why he starts in Burlington in 2016.

Hutton Moyer 2B – The son of Jamie Moyer was a seventh round pick in 2015 out of Pepperdine. Moyer heated up after a slow start in Orem. Solid glove up the middle.

Kenny Towns 3B – Depending on where they want Nick Flair to get the majority of time, Towns could make his way to Burlington in 2016. Towns shined defensively in the CWS with Virginia. Ended the 2015 season on a high note in Orem.

Outfield

Alex Abbott – The sixth rounder from 2014 still has age on his side (21). Abbott appeared in four games with the Bees before joining the Orem Owlz on their opening day roster. Alex hit eight home runs for the Owlz.

Ranyelmy Alberto – Formerly known as Ranyelmy Mendoza, Alberto had a bounce back season in Orem after a rough 2014 with the Bees.

Trever Allen – The former Sun Devil showed flashes in 2015 with the Bees, smacking five homers. Allen was a 25th rounder in 2015.

Michael Hermosillo – Was a member of the Bees opening day roster in 2015 but finished the season in Orem. Hermosillo is young still at 21 years old and can get on base.

There is my guess of the 2016 roster and i’m sure i’ll be way off, we’ll see in a few weeks.

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim announced their minor league coaching staffs on Monday afternoon, naming former MLB catcher Adam Melhuse as the new Burlington Bees manager. Adam Melhuse joins the Angels organization after working as an advanced scout for the Chicago Cubs after retiring from playing in 2009.

Here is a list of managers who made their debut with the Bees along with their record while in Burlington:

Chad Tracy (2015)- 63-76

Lorenzo Bundy (1993-94)- 119-153

Tim Tolman (1991)- 67-70

Rudy Jaramillo (1984)-51-88

Marty Scott (1982)-63-75

Terry Bevington (1981)- 54-81

Duane Espy  (1979-80)-123-155

Lee Sigman (1978)-69-69

Dennis Menke (1977)-71-68

Rene Lacheman (1973-74)-115-123

Jim Hughes (1968)-48-68

Dennis Menke of course won the Midwest League title in his first year as a manger with the 1977 Burlington Bees, then a Milwaukee Brewers affiliate.

Out of the 13 manager who made their debut with the Bees, Terry Bevington was the youngest at 24 years old.

Lorenzo Bundy went on to manage the Bees for two seasons and most recently was the Dodgers third base coach.

A fan brought in some old programs to add to our collection the other day. The first one I picked up was the 1982 Burlington Rangers program. I’ve always been drawn to the look of the 70’s and 80’s Rangers logo. The 1982 Burlington Rangers went on to finish 63-75 in Midwest League play and featured eight future big leaguers. A 21 year old Curt Wilkerson played 56 games for the Rangers in 1982, batting .253 with 13 runs batted in.

Tony Fossas pitched in 25 games with an 8-9 record and a 3.10 ERA and threw 10 complete games…10! Of course Tony went on to pitch in 12 major league seasons and has since been back in the Midwest League on a few occasions as a pitching coach in the Reds organization.

There is a lot happening on the first page of the 1982 Burlington Rangers program. A quick message from Rangers GM Lawrence Avery and his family as well as President Rolland Richardson and his wife Donna. First year manager Marty Scott has quite the life in baseball since his managerial debut in Burlington in 1982. Scott now is the VP of Player Development for the Miami Marlins.

I always scored games when I went to them so I loved seeing the scorecard filled out in this program. The Rangers hit back-to-back homers in the first inning and look who is on the mound, it’s Tony Fossas!

The Rangers played the Quad City Cubs and as you can see there was a lot of offense with the Cubs coming out on top 13-8.

The 1982 schedule, yummmm Pabst! Back when the Midwest League had three divisions.

A look back at the 1981 all-stars, look at some of those names! Harold Reynolds, Henry Cotto, Jim Eisenrich, Darnell Coles, and Randy Ready! The two Burlington Players were from the last year as a Milwaukee Brewers affiliate who shifted their affiliation to Beloit in 1982.

Lots of programs to sift through and lots of time to do so, we are still 86 days away from opening day. Stay tuned more to come!

For the second consecutive fall, outfielder Chad Hinshaw performed well in the Arizona Fall League, batting .349 in 15 games for the Mesa Solar Sox. The 2014 Burlington Bee doubled four times and homered twice, while driving in 12 runs. Hinshaw’s great fall showing came off the heels of a season plagued by injury. Hinshaw spent a majority of the season on the disabled list for Class-AA Arkansas, playing in 79 games thanks to a thumb injury. Hinshaw still managed to hit .279 for Manager Bill Richardson and the Arkansas Travelers.  The Bloomington, Illinois native is currently rated as the 12th best prospect in the Angels’ system according to MLB.com. The end of MLB.com’s prospect profile on Hinshaw reads: A torn thumb ligament cost Hinshaw 10 weeks from the 2015 season, but his second straight strong AFL campaign has him ready to knock on the big league door soon. He may be a fourth outfielder when all is said and done, but he’s one who could help on both sides of the ball.

Hinshaw also had the advantage of joining former college teammate and fellow Angels’ prospect, Eric Aguilera in the Arizona Fall League as well as working with former hitting coach, current Inland Empire 66ers hitting coach, Brent Del Chiaro, who worked in the same capacity with the Mesa Solar Sox in the Arizona Fall League.

First timers 

Hinshaw’s college teammate, Eric Aguilera also put together impressive numbers in what was his first Arizona Fall League. The first baseman who had a breakout season with Inland Empire. Aguilera played in 18 games for Mesa, batting .275, belting a pair of homers and driving in 11 runs.

Former Bees’ catcher, Stephen McGee enjoyed a taste of life in AAA, ending the 2015 season with the Salt Lake Bees. McGee carried over his strong season which included a trip to the California/Carolina League All-Star game, by batting .250, slugging two homers and driving in eight runs in 13 games.

Caleb Adams was the only 2015 Burlington Bee to appear in the Arizona Fall League. Adams, who was a Midwest League All-Star, was on the Mesa Solar Sox’s taxi squad, playing in 10 games, batting .229 with two home runs and drove in five runs. Adams has found his way into the Angels’ top 30 on MLB.com, rated at number 26. Most see Adams as a left fielder in the future, or perhaps a fourth-outfielder type. If he can rein in the strikeouts, he has the chance to be an offensive contributor in either role. Reads Adams’ report on MLB.com. 

Just over a week left in the year 2015. Time to countdown the top 10 games of 2015. As usual, there were plenty of great games to choose from this season, here is the list, followed by a quick recap why each game made our top 10 list.

List of top 10 games in order by date:

• 4/10 – Iowa native Jake Yacinich walk off single vs Wisconsin
• 4/12 – Ryan Seiz walk off homer, giving Bees 4-0 record
• 5/7 – Bees score 7 runs in second inning after argument over lights
• 5/12 – Bees’ offense erupts for 8 runs in 4th inning at Kane County
• 5/26 – Andrew Daniel drives in a career high 7 runs in win over Beloit
• 5/28 – Wade Wass ends tension filled series with Beloit with walk off homer
• 6/7 – Bees homer four times in one inning in loss at Great Lakes
• 6/18 – Bees out last Cedar Rapids 2-0 in 11 innings.
• 8/5 – Anderson throws 7.2 scoreless innings in win over Fort Wayne
• 9/6 – Taylor Ward ties game in 9th with homer, Mateo walk off double vs Wisconsin.

Now on to the countdown, starting with number 10!

10. You get a home run, you get a home run, and you get a home run!

Let’s start with the only loss on the list, June 6th at Great Lakes. The Burlington Bees went into the top of the third inning trailing by the score 2-0 after the Loons scored two runs in the first inning. The reason this game found it’s way onto the list is because the Bees went on to hit four home runs in the inning. With the wind whipping out to left field all afternoon long, Brandon Gildea started the inning with his first home run of the season, putting the Bees on the board. Jake Yacinich soon fallowed suit with his first homer of the season. After Natanael Delgado homered, Ryan Seiz capped off the inning slugging the Bees’ fourth long ball of the frame.

Fran Whitten added the Bees’ fifth homer of the game later on, but the Bees were out slugged by the Loons, losing 9-8.

Box Score

9. No lights, no problem!

Early in the season the Bees seemed to score their runs in bunches. On May 7th against the Peoria Chiefs, the Burlington Bees put seven on the board in the second inning at Community Field. What made this game memorable was the lights! After what turned out to be a cloudy evening, the lights were turned on in the middle of the inning. After Peoria Manager, Joe Kruzel, argued the lights should not be turned on mid inning, thus potentially giving the Bees an advantage at the plate in the bottom half of the inning, the lights were turned back off. The Bees didn’t seem to mind, scoring seven runs in the inning on their way to a 9-0 win over the Chiefs.

Box Score

8. Swinging away in Chicago land

This Bees’ big inning came on the road, as the Bees scored eight fourth inning runs at Kane County on the morning of May 12th in a Bees 13-6 win over the Cougars. The Bees knocked out 19 hits in the game, earning a much needed victory of the defending Midwest League Champion Kane County Cougars. Michael Hermosillo and Erick Salcedo both led the way for the Bees, each picking up four hits in the win. Overshadowed by the offense that day was Jake Jewell who threw four innings of relief, striking out seven, allowing just one run, earning the save.

Box Score

7. Anderson holds down Caps

Bees’ starting pitcher Justin Anderson just seem to get stronger as the season wore on. On August 5th, Anderson threw 7.2 scoreless innings against the Fort Wayne Tin Caps. Anderson struck out five batters walking just one, earning his seventh win of the season. Anderson went on to throw and eight inning outing later in the season but received a no decision.

Box Score

6. Andrew Daniel has a day!

Bees’ second baseman Andrew Daniel drove in a career high seven runs in a Bees 15-6 win over the Beloit Snappers on May 26th at Community Field. Daniel went 3-for-5 with a triple and a home run. Zach Houchins also helped the Bees with a pair of home runs.

Box Score

Daniel breaks Bees out with seven RBIs

5. Someone has to score eventually

It took until the top of the eleventh for a team to score on June 18th in Cedar Rapids, as the Bees scored two runs in the top of the 11th inning, on their way to a 2-0 win over the Kernels. Andrew Daniel gave the Bees the lead in the top of the frame with a bases loaded bloop single and then Jake Yachinich added an insurance run, scoring a wild pitch. Bees’ pitchers Jake Jewell, Alex Klonowski, Jordan Piche, Eduardo Paredes and Tyler Carpenter combined for the 11 inning shutout.

Box Score

4. Wass has last laugh

In a heated series with the Beloit Snappers, Wade Wass got the last word, smacking a walk off home run, to lead off the bottom of the ninth inning, giving the Bees a 6-5 win over the Snappers. Wade also a drew a walk in the Bees’ win.

Box Score

3. Iowa boy does good

Former Iowa Hawkeye and Des Moines, Iowa native, Jake Yacinich was the hero for the Bees back on April, 10th. Yacinich drove home the winning run in the ninth inning, with a line drive single to center, scoring Caleb Adams, giving the Bees a 4-3 win over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. It turned out to be the first of two walk off wins in the season opening six game home stand for the Burlington Bees.

Box Score

2. Seiz goes yard twice, Bees stay perfect

After opening the 2015 season with a three game sweep of the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, the Burlington Bees had to come from behind against the Kane County Cougars on Sunday April 12th at Community Field. After taking a 3-0 lead in the third inning, the Bees saw the lead vanish thanks to a five spot by the Cougars in the fourth inning. After tying the game, with a pair of runs in the sixth inning, the Bees went on to win in the ninth inning thanks to Ryan Seiz’s second home run of the day, giving the Bees a 6-5 win, upping their season opening win streak to four games.

Box Score

1. Ward, Mateo, ballgame

With both teams eliminated from post season contention, the Burlington Bees and the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers played their second to last game of the season on Sunday, September 6th at Community Field. The Bees and Timber Rattlers played a scoreless game until the ninth inning when Wisconsin scored two runs to take a 2-0 lead. The Bees got the bats going in the bottom half of the ninth. With one out, Ayendy Perez launched a triple to center and then came home to score when Taylor Ward launched his first home run with the Bees, tying the game at two. After back-to-back singles, Steven Mateo gave the Bees a walk-off winner, lacing to double off the wall in left center, giving the Bees a 3-2 win.

Box Score

There are our picks for top 10 games of 2015, can’t wait to see what next year has in store!

The Arizona Fall League can be a difficult place for pitchers, combining the high altitude and the fatigue pitchers can face by the time October and November roll around, the AFL can be a hitters paradise. 2014 Midwest League All-Star Harrison Cooney was looking to rebound after a rough start to his season in the California League with the Inland Empire 66ers. Cooney rebounded in Mesa, throwing in nine games for the Solar Sox, making one start. The right-hander went 0-1 with a 4.26 ERA, throwing in 12.2 innings. Cooney struck out 10, allowing just six hits.

Relief pitcher Greg Mahle has moved up the Angels ladder quickly, finishing the 2015 season in AA Arkansas. Mahle threw in nine games out of the bullpen for the Mesa Solar Sox, striking out 14 batters in 10.1 innings. The side arm reliever went 0-1 with a 9.58 ERA and was selected to play in the Fall-Stars game. Mahl, who spent the end of 2014 with the Burlington Bees, is currently rated as the 12th prospect in the Los Angeles Angels top 30, according to MLB.com. Mahle’s MLB.com prospect report reads:  Mahle will pitch with an average fastball that will touch 92-93 mph on occasion, an average slider and a curve that will be better than average at times. He can even turn his changeup over against right-handed hitters. He’ll drop down to sidearm, making it even tougher to have a comfortable at-bat against him. 

After starting the season in the rotation with AA Arkansas, Alan Busenitz returned to the rotation to finish off the season. In the AFL, Busenitz pitched in 10 games for the Mesa Solar Sox. Busenitz posted a 1-0 record and an 8.74 ERA, throwing 11.1 innings.

Ryan Etsell was a late addition to the Mesa Solar Sox, appearing in four games, making four starts, going 1-3 with a 12.19 ERA. The Philadelphia native struck out five batters in 10.1 innings.

Yesterday we focused on the Arizona Winter League, today we take a look at current Bees’ players plying their trade the Caribbean leagues.

Venezuelan Winter League

Aguilas de Zuilia

INF Erick Salcedo (’14-’15): 20 Games; 0 HR, 1 RBI; .232/.264/.261

C Juan Graterol (’09-’10): 15 Games; 0 HR, 4 RBI; .225/.244/.250

Navengantes del Magallanes

P Seth Frankoff (’11): 5 Games; 0-1, 15.00 ERA, 3 IP, 2 K

P Lorenzo Barcelo (’96-’99): 5 Games, 5 Starts; 2-1, 4.18 ERA, 28 IP, 12 K

P Zack Thornton (’11): 14 Games; 0-0, 4.85 ERA, 13 IP, 6 K

INF Mario Lisson (’05-’06): 23 Games; 0 HR, 6 RBI; .230/.412/.297

Leones del Caraces

C Yorvit Torrealba (’96): 8 Games; 0 HR, 1 RBI; .200/.259/.280

Mexican Winter League

Charros De Jalisco

INF Max Muncy (’12): 7 Games; 1 HR, 2 RBI; .320/.370/.480

Tomateros de Culiacan

OF Nick Van Stratten (’08-’09): 3 Games; 0 HR, 0 RBI; .273/.429/.364

Mayos de Navojoa

P Danny Gutierrez (’07-’08): 3 Games, 3 Starts; 0-2, 7.94 ERA. 11.1 IP, 5 K

Puerto Rico Winter League

Criollos de Caguas

INF Angel Rosa (’13-’14): 1 Games; 0 HR, O RBI; .000/.000/.000 (0-FOR-2)

Its the first week of November which means that all winter leagues are currently in full swing. In our last post we listed where former Burlington Bees are spending their winters. Let’s take a loo at each players stat lines through the first few weeks of play in the Arizona Fall League.

Arizona Fall League

Mesa Solar Sox:

OF Chad Hinshaw (’14): 8 games; 1 HR, 8 RBIs; .375/.444/.531

Hinshaw is spending his second season in the Arizona Fall League once again got off to a hot start. The former Illinois State Redbird hit safetly in his first five games with the Solar Sox this fall. While in Burlington in 2014, Hinshaw batted second in the lineup for Manager Bill Richardson but has been the Solar Sox primary lead off batter. Last season, Hinshaw batted .284 in 20 games for the Mesa Solar Sox in first taste of Arizona Fall League.

OF Caleb Adams (’15): 6 games; 2 HR, 4 RBI; .304/..320/.609

2015 Midwest League All-Star Caleb Adams has performed well in his first tour of duty in the Arizona Fall League. The 2014 draft pick collected a season high three hits on October 28th against Surprise. Adams has played all six of his games in left field for the Solar Sox.

INF Eric Aguilera (’14): 10 games; 1 HR, 6 RBI; .282/.349/.462

Coming off a career season which saw the first baseman advance to Double-A Arkansas, Aguilera has played in 10 games for the Mesa Solar Sox and was the team’s representative in the Bowman Hitting Challenge.

C Stephen McGee (’14): 7 games; 2 HR, 4 RBI; .273/..370/.591

Coming into the Fall League, Stephen McGee has hit just five career home runs in three seasons of professional baseball. McGee is just seven games has a pair of homers, including his very first Arizona Fall League at-bat back on October 14th.

P Ryan Etsell (’14): 3 games/3 starts; 1-2, 10.80 ERA, 8.1 IP, 4 K

Etsell was a late edition to the Mesa Solar Sox roster after having a breakout season with the Inland Empire 66ers of the California League. Etsell’s best outing of the fall came in his last start against Surprise, allowing just one run in three innings of work.

P Harrison Cooney (’14): 6 Games; 0-1, 6.43 ERA, 7 IP, 8 K.

After a disappointing 2015 season in Inland Empire, Cooney has rebounded after a slow start with the Mesa Solar Sox. Cooney has not allowed a run in his last three outing, spanning four innings.

P Alan Busentiz (’14): 8 Games; 1-0, 8.53 ERA, 6.1 IP, 4 K.

Busenitz started the 2015 season as a starter with Double-A Arkansas but has now returned to the bullpen. After giving up five runs in his last two outings, Busenitz worked a 1-2-3 inning yesterday against Peoria.

P Greg Mahle (’14): 7 Games; 0-1-0, 11.37 ERA, 6.1 IP, 10 K.

Greg Mahle continues to move quickly through the Angels system after being selected in the 2014 draft. Mahle allowed seven of his eight runs in the first two appearances of the fall but has only allowed one since. Mahle was named to the AFL Fall Stars Game.

Keep track of all the former Burlington Bees playing in various Winter Leagues.

Arizona Fall League

Mesa Solar Sox:

• OF Chad Hinshaw (’14)
• OF Caleb Adams (’15)
• INF Eric Aguilera (’14)
• C Stephen McGee (’14)
• P Ryan Etsell (’14)
• P Harrison Cooney (’14)
• P Greg Mahle (’14)
• P Alan Busenitz (’14)

Venezuelan Winter League

Aguilas de Zuilia

• INF Erick Salcedo (’14-’15)
• INF Juan Graterol (’09-’10)

Navengantes del Magallanes

• P Seth Frankoff (’11)
• INF Mario Lisson (’05-’06)
• P Lorenzo Barcelo (’96-’99)
• P Zack Thornton (’11)

Leones del Caraces

• C Yorvit Torrealba (’96)

Liga Mexicano del Pacifico

Charros De Jalisco

• INF Max Muncy (’12)

Tomateros de Culiacan

• OF Nick Van Stratten (’08-’09)

Mayos de Navojoa

• P Danny Gutierrez (’07-’08)

Puerto Rico Winter League

Criollos de Caguas

• INF Angel Rosa (’13-’14)
• Trainer Matt Morrell (’15)

Weekly stat update coming in the next few days.

Now that the World Series has concluded we can now officially start the off season. Let’s take a look at how all active Burlington Bees’ Major League alum fared in 2015.

SP Mark Buehrle (’99)—Won 15 games for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2015 and posted 3.81 ERA, helping lead the Blue Jays to the American League East Division title. Holds a career record of 214-160 in 16 big league seasons.

C Humberto Quintero (’00)—Spent the entire 2015 season in Pawtucket, AAA affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, hitting .257 in 81 games. Last appeared in 3 MLB games with the Mariners in 2014.

P Gary Majewski (’00)—Pitched in 12 games for Sapaperos de Saltillo of the Mexican League. Majewski last pitched in the Major Leagues for the Houston Astros in 2012.

IF Ruben Gotay (’02)—Played in three games for Sapaperos de Saltillo of the Mexican League in 2015. Gotay last played in the Mjaors in 2008, batting .235 for the Atlanta Braves.

IF Donnie Murphy (’02-’03)—Spent his 14^th season of professional baseball with the Milwaukee Brewers AAA club the Colorado Springs Sky Sox, batting .257 in 55 games. Murphy played in 45 games for the Texas Rangers in 2014, while hitting .196 with a career high 4 HR and 14 RBI before being released.

IF Kila Ka’aihue (’03)—Returned to North America after playing the past two seasons in Japan, playing in 105 games combined between Miami’s AAA club, New Orleans, and Washington’s AAA team, Syracuse. Ka’aihue spent four seasons in the Major Leagues with the Kansas City Royals and the Oakland A’s.

OF Mitch Maier (’04)—Spent 2014 with the Northwest Arkansas Naturals, Double-A affiliate of Kansas City. Played in 25 games with a batting average of .233. Re-signed with the Kansas City Royals this offseason.

IF/OF Ed Lucas (’04)—After spending the past two seasons with the Miami Marlins, Ed Lucas was signed by the Texas Rangers in 2015. Lucas spent the season in AAA with Round Rock hitting .251 in 69 games. Lucas made his Major League debut in 2013 with Miami.

P Carlos Rosa (’04)—Finished his fourth season pitching for the Chiba Lotte Marines of the Japan Pacific League. Rosa last pitched for the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2010, appearing in 22 games.

INF Irving Falu (’05)—Spent 2015 season with the Louisville Bats, Triple-A affiliate of the Reds. Hit .270 in 121 games. Falu played in 22 games for the Brewers and Padres in 2014.

P Billy Buckner (’05)—Won eight games as a starting pitcher for the Long Island Ducks of the independent Atlantic League. Bucker most recently pitched in one game with the San Diego Padres in 2014.

P Luke Hochevar (’06)—Pitched in 49 games for the Royals, posting a 1-1 record with a 3.79 ERA. Hochevar tossed two scoreless innings to pick up the win in game five, clinching the World Series title.

P Erik Cordier (’06)— Started the 2015 season in the minors with the San Francisco Giants organization before getting released in August. Cordier was signed by the Miami Marlins in August and pitched in eight games out of the bullpen for Miami.

INF Jeff Bianchi (’07)—Appeared in three games with the Boston Red Sox after batting .262 in 42 games for the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox.

P Everett Teaford (’07)—After spending the 2014 season with the LG Twins of the Korean Baseball Organization, Teaford was signed by the Tampa Bay Rays. After starting the season in AAA with the Durham Bulls, Teaford pitched in four games in relief for the Rays.

OF Jarrod Dyson (’07, ’09)—Played in 90 games for the World Series champion Kansas City Royals. Dyson batted .250 with 18 runs batted in and stole 26 bases in 29 opportunities.

OF Derrick Robinson (’07)—Split the 2015 season between AA Harrisburg and AAA Syracuse in the Washington Nationals organization. Robinson spent the entire 2013 season in the Major Leagues with the Cincinnati Reds.

P  Blake Wood(’07)—After spending times at four different levels, including pitching seven games for the Cleveland Indians, and two different organizations in 2014, Blake Wood pitched in 57 games for the Pittsburgh Pirates Triple-A affiliate the Indianapolis Indians.

3B Mike Moustakas (’08)—Batted .284 in 147 games for the Royals in 2015. Moustakes slugged a career high 22 home runs and also drove in a career best 82 runs, helping the Kansas City Royals to their second World Series championship in franchise history.

OF David Lough (’08)—Once again serving as the Baltimore Orioles fourth outfielder, Lough played in 84 games, batting .201.

2B Johnny Giavotella (’08)—After being traded from the Kansas City Royals to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Giavotella played in 129 games and batted .272.

1B Clint Robinson (’08)—In his first full season in the Major Leagues, Clint Robinson batted a career high .272 in 126 games for the Washington Nationals. Robinson smacked 10 home runs and drove in 34 runs.

SP Danny Duffy (’08)—Went 7-8 with a 4.21 ERA in 30 games, 24 starts, for the Kansas City Royals in 2015. Duffy pitched in 136.2 innings, striking out 102 batters.

C Salvador Perez (’08-’09)—Hit .260 for the second straight season, homering 21 times while driving in 70 runs for the Royals. Went 8-for-22 with two RBIs in the fall classic against the New York Mets, earning World Series MVP honors.

RP Kelvin Herrera (’08-’10)—Pitched in 72 games for the Kansas City Royals, four shy of his career high set back in 2012. Herrera posted a 4-3 record for the second straight season while owning a 2.71 ERA, striking 64 batters in 69.2 innings.

1B Eric Hosmer (’09)—Had a rebound season in 2015, hitting .297 for the Royals in 158 games. Hosmer slugged 18 home runs and 33 doubles, while driving in 93 runs, a career high. Hosmer scored the game tying run in the top of the ninth inning, sending game five of the World Series to extra innings.

RP Louis Coleman (’09)—Spent majority of the 2015 seasons with the Royals’ Triple-A affiliate the Omaha Storm Chasers. Coleman went 8-2 as a reliever, throwing in 38 games before earning a September call-up. Coleman pitched four scoreless outings for the Royals but was not on the postseason roster.

P Blaine Hardy (’09)—Pitched in a career high 70 games for the Detroit Tigers, working in 32 more games than the previous season. Hardy went 5-3 with a 3.08 ERA, striking out 55 in 61.1 innings pitched.

P Mike Montgomery (’09)—Split the 2015 season between Triple-A Tacoma and the Seattle Mariners. Montgomery went 4-6 with the Mariners in 16 games, all starts, posting a 4.90 ERA.

OF Wil Myers (’10)—Returned mid-season from an injury that occurred at the end of the 2014 season. Myers played in just 60 games for the San Diego Padres, batting .253 with eight home runs and 29 RBIs.

P Ryan Dennick (’10)—After pitching in eight games with the Cincinnati Reds in 2014, Dennick was placed on waivers in April and claimed by the Los Angeles Dodgers. Dennick split times between Double-A Tulsa and Triple-A Oklahoma City.

P John Lamb (’10)—Started the 2015 season in the Kansas City Royals
organization but was traded to Cincinnati in the Johnny Cueto deal. Lamb made his Major League debut in 2015 with the Reds, pitching in 10 games and going 1-5 with a 5.80 ERA.

P Sugar Ray Marimon (’10)—Mariomon signed with the Atlanta Braves as a free agent in November of 2014. Marimon pitched in 16 games for the Braves, posting a 0-1 record with a 7.36 ERA.

SP A.J. Griffin (’11)—After missing the 2014 season following Tommy John Surgery, Griffin pitched in a total of four games, rehabbing with the Stockton Ports and the Nashville Sounds. Griffin went 0-1 with a 3.77 ERA in limited innings.  Griffin won 14 games with the Oakland A’s in 2013.

P Blake Treinen (’12)—Went 2-5 with a 3.86 ERA in 60 games for the Washington Nationals. Treinen pitched in five games for the Nationals’ Triple-A affiliate the Syracuse Chiefs before joining the Nationals in DC.

SS Addison Russell (’12)—Made his Major League debut in 2015, playing in 142 games for the Chicago Cubs. Russell started the season in Triple-A with the Iowa Cubs before batting .242 with 54 runs batted in, smacking 13 home runs. Russell season ended after suffering a hamstring injury in the NLDS.

INF Mac Muncy (’12)—Made his Major League debut in 2015, batting .206 in 45 games for the Oakland A’s. Muncy hit three home runs and drove in nine. Batted .264 in 60 games, in Nashville before being promoted.

P AJ Cole (’12)—Pitched in three games for the Washington Nationals, making his first big league start. Cole spent the majority of the season with Triple-A Syracuse, going 5-6 with a 3.15 ERA, striking out 76 in 105.2 innings.

P Cam Bedrosian (’13)— Split time between Triple-A Salt Lake and the Los Angeles Angels, pitching in 34 games for Anaheim, going 1-0 with a 5.40 ERA. Bedrosian struck out 34 in 33.1 innings.

P Jairo Diaz (’13)— After being traded to the Colorado Rockies for infielder Josh Rutledge, Diaz went 0-1 with a 2.37 ERA, fanning 18 batters in 19 innings of work for the Rockies.