PCL1 Omaha Storm Chasers

Storm Chasers Announce 2000-10 All-Decade Team

May 25, 2018 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Omaha Storm Chasers News Release


Alex Gordon with the Omaha Storm Chasers
Alex Gordon with the Omaha Storm Chasers
(Omaha Storm Chasers, Credit: Minda Haas Kuhlmann)

PAPILLION, NE - The Omaha Storm Chasers have announced the second of five "All-Decade Teams", as chosen by members of the local media, as well as current and former Storm Chasers front office staff. With the 2018 squad set to don 2010 Omaha Royals jerseys on Friday, May 25, here are the 16 members of the 2000-2010 All-Decade Team, comprised of one player at each fielding position, five pitchers, one utility player, one designated hitter and one manager.

Catcher: Paul Phillips

First Base: Kila Ka'aihue

Second Base: Jed Hansen

Shortstop: Mike Aviles

Third Base: Kit Pellow

Outfield: David DeJesus

Outfield: Alex Gordon

Outfield: Aaron Guiel

Pitcher: Bruce Chen

Pitcher: Chris George

Pitcher: Zack Greinke

Pitcher: Luke Hochevar

Pitcher: Greg Holland

Designated Hitter: Calvin Pickerin

Utility Player: Billy Butler

Manager: Mike Jirschele

11-year Major League veteran and Nebraska native Alex Gordon headlines the group of outfielders. A first round selection by Kansas City out of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Gordon played in Omaha over two seasons in 2009 and 2010 before playing at Werner Park as part of Major League Rehab Assignments in 2015, 2016 and 2018. He earned Pacific Coast League All-Star honors in 2010 before garnering three American League All-Star selections, in addition to being tabbed a Gold Glove Award winner five times and winning the 2015 World Series with Kansas City.

2003-06 Omaha Royals outfielder David DeJesus joins Gordon on the 2000-10 All-Decade Team. He would go on to play 13 seasons in the Major Leagues, including his first eight with Kansas City. Over 1,472 Big League games he hit .275 (1434-5220) along with 740 runs, 288 doubles, 65 triples, 99 homers and 573 RBI, in addition to 66 steals. DeJesus finished sixth in American League Rookie of the Year voting in 2004.

Rounding out the Omaha outfield for the 2000-10 All-Decade squad is Aaron Guiel. He played with the Omaha franchise for seven seasons from 2000-06, and ranks first all-time in club history in runs driven in (350), in addition to second in runs scored, fourth in games played and fifth in hits. Guiel also earned a Pacific Coast League Mid-Season All-Star selection during the 2002 campaign.

Second baseman Jed Hansen leads off the All-Decade squad's infield, having played in the most games in Omaha franchise history at 724. He is also the team's all-time career leader in at-bats, runs and doubles, in addition to ranking second in hits and third in RBI. He won Division titles with Omaha in 1996 and 1999, and also participated in parts of three Major League seasons with the Kansas City Royals as well between 1997-99.

Ten-year Major League veteran Mike Aviles joins Hansen as a middle infielder on the 2000-10 All-Decade Team at shortstop. He played with Omaha during parts of five seasons (2006-08, 2010-11), and paced the team in several offensive categories over the course of the 2007 campaign, including hits, runs scored, triples and RBI. Between 2008-17 he played in 915 Major League contests between five teams, accumulating a .261 average (786-3009) with 380 runs, 139 doubles, 13 triples, 60 homers and 306 RBI.

2004-07 Omaha Royals catcher Paul Phillips earned Pacific Coast League Mid-Season All-Star honors in 2006. He combined to play in 322 contests with the O-Royals, posting a career average of .267 (318-1190) along with 149 runs, 56 doubles, three triples, 24 homers and 136 RBI. He played parts of seven Major League seasons, including four with Kansas City between 2004-07.

2008-11 Omaha first baseman Kila Ka'aihue ranks fifth all-time in franchise history in home runs (74), as well as tenth in runs batted in (221). He would go on to win the 2011 Pacific Coast League Championship with Omaha, which included the series-winning walk-off home run in the 2011 Pacific Coast League Division Series. He made his Major League debut with Kansas City on September 4, 2008, in addition to appearances in Major League contests with the Royals during the 2010 and 2011 campaigns.

Fellow corner infielder Kit Pellow represents the 2000-10 All-Decade Team at the third base position. No player has hit more home runs in an Omaha uniform than Pellow, who blasted 106 roundtrippers in his five seasons between 1998-2002. He also ranks second in franchise history in runs driven in (337), as well as fourth in runs scored and seventh in hits. He earned Pacific Coast League Post-Season All-Star honors in 1999 after ranking second in the circuit with 35 longballs.

Representing the 2000-10 All-Decade Team at the Designated Hitter position is Calvin Pickering. Picking earned Pacific Coast League Mid-Season and Post-Season All-Star honors during the 2004 campaign after blasting 35 home runs that year, which is tied for the second-most by an Omaha player in franchise history. His 58 longballs over the course of his Omaha career also rank tied for seventh.

2007-08 Omaha Royals player Billy Butler is the squads Utility Player. Butler went on to play ten seasons in the Major Leagues, including eight with Kansas City. He earned an American League All-Star nod during the 2012 season, along with a Silver Slugger honor. Over 1,414 Big League contests he compiled a .290 average (1479-5105) with 592 runs, 322 doubles, five triples, 147 homers and 728 RBI.

2004 Omaha Royals pitcher Zack Greinke headlines the 2000-10 All-Decade Team pitching staff. Entering the 2018 season, Greinke has earned four All-Star selections, in addition to four Gold Glove honors and the 2009 American League Cy Young Award. Currently in his 15th Major League campaign, Greinke has accumulated a 175-110 record and 3.41 ERA (953-2,516.1 IP) with 2,303 strikeouts in 432 games (391 starts).

2009-11 Omaha hurler Greg Holland is also a member of the 2000-10 All-Decade squad. Over his eight Major League seasons, Holland has posted a 21-20 record and 2.80 ERA (121 ER/389.1 IP) with 186 saves and 509 strikeouts. He has earned selections to three MLB All-Star Games and won the 2015 World Series with the Kansas City Royals.

2007-10 and 2015 Omaha right-hander Luke Hochevar is also a member of the 2000-10 All-Decade team's pitching staff. A first round draft pick in 2006, Hochevar went on to pitch in parts of nine Major League seasons, posting a 46-65 record and 4.98 ERA (514 ER/929.1 IP) in 279 games (128 starts) with Kansas City. He was also a member of the 2015 Kansas City Royals' World Series winning squad.

2000-05 O-Royals hurler Chris George has recorded more strikeouts than any other player in franchise history with 410 punchouts. His 39 victories are also good for third all-time in club history. George also earned Pacific Coast League Mid-Season All-Star honors during the 2001 campaign. He made his Major League debut with the Royals in 2001, ultimately pitching in parts of four seasons in the Big Leagues.

Rounding out the 2000-10 All-Decade pitching staff is southpaw Bruce Chen. He pitched with Omaha during the 2009-11 and 2014 seasons, recording 20 appearances. A 17-year Major League veteran, Chen pitched with the Kansas City Royals for six campaigns between 2009-14. In 227 career Big League appearances, including 227 starts, Chen recorded a 82-81 mark and 4.62 ERA (786 ER/1,532.0 IP) with 1,140 strikeouts.

Longtime Omaha manager Mike Jirschele is the 2000-10 All-Decade team skipper. Jirschele managed the franchise for 14 seasons and is the all-time winningest manager at 995 victories. Over his tenure he won four Division titles, two Pacific Coast League titles and a Triple-A National Championship. He would go on to become Kansas City's third base coach, winning the 2015 World Series with the squad.

The Storm Chasers franchise will celebrate the 2011-Present Era of the organization's history by wearing the second of five uniforms that are part of the First National Bank Flashback Jersey Series on Friday, May 25. Omaha players and coaches will be wearing the white 2010 Omaha Royals jerseys in commemoration of the team's final season at Rosenblatt Stadium.

Tickets are still available for tonight's game and all remaining Storm Chasers home dates in 2018, and may be purchased at www.omahastormchasers.com/tickets as well as by calling the Werner Park Ticket Office at (402) 738-5100.

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Images from this story

Mike Jirschele with the Omaha Royals
Mike Jirschele with the Omaha Royals
 Jed Hansen with the Omaha Royals
Jed Hansen with the Omaha Royals
 Alex Gordon with the Omaha Storm Chasers
Alex Gordon with the Omaha Storm Chasers
(Minda Haas Kuhlmann)



Pacific Coast League Stories from May 25, 2018


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