MWL Fort Wayne TinCaps

Record Number of Alumni Appear in MLB During 2023 Season

Published on October 4, 2023 under Midwest League (MWL)
Fort Wayne TinCaps News Release


FORT WAYNE, Ind. - A record number of former Fort Wayne TinCaps appeared in Major League Baseball during the 2023 season, as 62 alumni were in The Show. Fort Wayne's previous franchise high for alums in a big league season was 58 in 2021.

Since Fort Wayne's Minor League Baseball franchise was established in 1993, there've been 219 players who've ascended from playing in the Summit City to the majors. (The club was known as the Wizards through 2008 before rebranding as the TinCaps in '09.)

"We're proud to offer affordable, family fun at Parkview Field," said TinCaps President Mike Nutter, who's been with the organization since 1999. "We know a lot of fans come to Parkview Field to simply enjoy the entertainment, the food and drinks, and the overall atmosphere, but don't forget there are also future big leaguers on the field. Not to mention the prospects on the visiting team. We're so happy to see our old friends achieve their dreams of playing in The Show."

Padres outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr. was the top performing TinCaps alum in 2023. After setting Fort Wayne's single-season home run record in 2017 as an 18-year-old, Tatis crushed 25 homers and stole 29 bases this year. Meanwhile, Pirates closer David Bednar (2016-17) made the National League All-Star team for the second consecutive year. He led the NL with 39 saves. Phillies shortstop Trea Turner (2014) and Braves starting pitcher Max Fried (2013-14) have been All-Stars previously as well. A's outfielder Esteury Ruiz (2018) set an American League rookie record for stolen bases with 67, which also led all players in the AL. Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams (2019) ranked fifth in the majors in stolen bases with 47. Cardinals starting pitcher Miles Mikolas (2010) led the bigs in starts with 35. Rays starting pitcher Zach Eflin (2013) had the second lowest WHIP among all pitchers. Other notable performers included MacKenzie Gore (2018, '21) leading the Nats in strikeouts, Jack Suwinski leading the Pirates in homers, Luis Campusano emerging as San Diego's primary catcher, and Tom Cosgrove setting a Padres record for consecutive scoreless appearances to begin his career.

This year also saw 10 recent alumni make their MLB debuts, including Padres pitchers Jackson Wolf, Jose Espada, and Alek Jacob after they pitched for the TinCaps at the High-A level just last year. (Wolf was later traded to the Pirates.)

Over the course of the campaign, former TinCaps appeared with 26 of MLB's 30 teams. (The only clubs without a former 'Cap were the Cubs, Dodgers, Giants, and Orioles.) Fifteen alums played for the Padres, Fort Wayne's parent club since 1999. San Diego's coaching staff also included four former TinCaps: catching coach Brian Esposito (2022), hitting instructor Morgan Burkhart (2013-14), athletic trainer Ricky Huerta (2013-15), and strength coach Jay Young (2017).

There are now 13 TinCaps alums playing in the Postseason, plus 2014 manager Michael Collins, who's a coach with the Astros.

Note: The total of 62 doesn't include Blake Snell of the Padres, who made a rehab appearance for the TinCaps at Parkview Field in 2022. Snell led all MLB pitchers in ERA (2.25) and batting average against (.181), while ranking third in strikeouts (234). He's the favorite to win the NL Cy Young Award.

TinCaps MLB Alumni in 2023

INF CJ Abrams (2019), Washington Nationals

INF Gabriel Arias (2017-18), Cleveland Guardians

RHP Pedro Avila (2017), San Diego Padres

RHP Anthony Bass (2009), Toronto Blue Jays

OF Jake Bauers (2014), New York Yankees

RHP David Bednar (2016-17), Pittsburgh Pirates

RHP Caleb Boushley (2018), Milwaukee Brewers*

RHP Matt Brash (2019), Seattle Mariners

RHP Matt Bush (2005-07), Texas Rangers** / Milwaukee Brewers

C Luis Campusano (2018), San Diego Padres

LHP José Castillo (2015-16), San Diego Padres

RHP Dylan Coleman (2018-19), Kansas City Royals

OF Franchy Cordero (2014-15), New York Yankees

LHP Tom Cosgrove (2018), San Diego Padres*

RHP Enyel De Los Santos (2016), Cleveland Guardians

INF Xavier Edwards (2019), Miami Marlins* **

RHP Zach Eflin (2013), Tampa Bay Rays**

RHP Jose Espada (2022), San Diego Padres*

INF Ty France (2016), Seattle Mariners

LHP Max Fried (2013-14), Atlanta Braves**

LHP MacKenzie Gore (2018, '21), Washington Nationals

RHP Trevor Gott (2013), New York Mets / Seattle Mariners

C Austin Hedges (2012), Texas Rangers** / Pittsburgh Pirates

RHP Alek Jacob (2022), San Diego Padres*

OF Travis Jankowski (2012), Texas Rangers**

RHP Michael Kelly (2012-13, '15), Cleveland Guardians

RHP Brett Kennedy (2016), Cincinnati Reds

RHP Corey Kluber (2008), Boston Red Sox

RHP Reiss Knehr (2018), San Diego Padres

OF Taylor Kolhwey (2016), San Diego Padres*

RHP Dinelson Lamet (2015), Boston Red Sox / Colorado Rockies

LHP Eric Lauer (2016), Milwaukee Brewers

LHP Joey Lucchesi (2016), New York Mets

INF Tucupita Marcano (2019), Pittsburgh Pirates

RHP Adrián Martínez (2018-19), Oakland A's

RHP Phil Maton (2016), Houston Astros**

RHP Miles Mikolas (2010), St. Louis Cardinals

INF Owen Miller (2018), Milwaukee Brewers**

LHP Adrian Morejon (2017), San Diego Padres

RHP Andrés Muñoz (2017), Seattle Mariners

RHP Chris Paddack (2016), Minnesota Twins**

RHP Luis Patiño (2018), Chicago White Sox / Tampa Bay Rays

INF Jace Peterson (2012), Arizona Diamondbacks** / Oakland A's

RHP Cal Quantrill (2016), Cleveland Guardians

RHP Colin Rea (2012-13), Milwaukee Brewers**

OF Hunter Renfroe (2013), Cincinnati Reds / Los Angeles Angels

RHP Gerardo Reyes (2016), Los Angeles Angels

OF Franmil Reyes (2014-15), Kansas City Royals

INF Eguy Rosario (2017), San Diego Padres

OF Esteury Ruiz (2018), Oakland A's

RHP José Ruiz (2015), Arizona Diamondbacks / Chicago White Sox

RHP Jesse Scholtens (2016-17), Chicago White Sox*

C Chandler Seagle (2017-19), San Diego Padres*

OF Jack Suwinski (2017-18), Pittsburgh Pirates

OF Fernando Tatis Jr. (2017), San Diego Padres

RHP Mason Thompson (2017-18), Washington Nationals

INF Trea Turner (2014), Philadelphia Phillies**

INF Luis Urías (2015), Boston Red Sox / Milwaukee Brewers

RHP Matt Waldron (2021), San Diego Padres*

LHP Ryan Weathers (2018-19), Miami Marlins** / San Diego Padres

RHP Trey Wingenter (2016), Detroit Tigers

LHP Jackson Wolf (2022), San Diego Padres*

* MLB debut

** Postseason

Check out the Fort Wayne TinCaps Statistics

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Midwest League Stories from October 4, 2023


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