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Former Fort Wayne Players In National Spotlight

The 2016 TinCaps season ended in September, but former Fort Wayne players remain in baseball’s limelight in October and beyond.

MLB Postseason

Eight former Fort Wayne TinCaps/Wizards players, and one manager, have appeared so far in the 2016 MLB Postseason.

Player (Time in Fort Wayne) – MLB Team

· RHP Brad Brach (2009) — Baltimore Orioles

· RHP Matt Bush (2005-07) — Texas Rangers

· RHP Corey Kluber (2008) — Cleveland Indians

· C Jose Lobaton (2005-06) — Washington Nationals

· RHP Jake Peavy (2000) — San Francisco Giants

· LHP Oliver Perez (2001) — Washington Nationals

· RHP Joe Ross (2012-13) — Washington Nationals

· INF/CF Trea Turner (2014) — Washington Nationals

· 3B Coach Gary Jones (2003) – Chicago Cubs

Arizona Fall League

The Arizona Fall League, which consists of six teams, serves as a “graduate school” for Minor League Baseball’s top prospects. San Diego Padres prospects are teamed up with prospects from the Cincinnati Reds, Tampa Bay Rays, Baltimore Orioles, and Seattle Mariners to form the Peoria Javelinas. All seven of the Padres representatives on the team have come through Fort Wayne, including 2013 Norwell High School alumnus Josh VanMeter.

The Fall League starts on Oct. 11 and concludes on Nov. 19. Select games can be seen on MLB Network.

Player (Time in Fort Wayne)

· OF Franchy Cordero (2014-15)

· OF Michael Gettys (2015-16)

· RHP Jason Jester (2014)

· RHP Phil Maton (2016)

· LHP Kyle McGrath (2015)

· INF Josh VanMeter (2014-15)

· LHP Brad Wieck (2015)

Minor League Baseball Awards

Minor League Baseball is allowing fans to decide its end of season awards by voting on MiLB.com. Right fielder Hunter Renfroe, who played for the TinCaps in 2013 and debuted with the Padres in late September,is on the ballot for “Top Offensive Player,” while left-handed pitchers pitchers Kyle McGrath and Brad Wieck are both up for “Top Relief Pitcher.”

Padres Prospects of the Year

MLB.com named right fielder Hunter Renfroe San Diego’s Hitting Prospect of the Year and right-handed pitcher Dinelson Lamet, a 2015 TinCap, as the Padres’ Pitching Prospect of the Year.

Baseball America Top 20 Prospects

Baseball America ranked TinCaps outfielder Michael Gettys as the No. 8 prospect in the Midwest League in 2016. Starting pitcher Anderson Espinoza, who was acquired by the Padres in a mid-season trade with the Red Sox, was slotted as the No. 4 prospect in the Class A South Atlantic League, where he pitched for more than half the season with the Greenville Drive.

Gettys, who was promoted by the Padres midway through the season to Advanced-A Lake Elsinore, also was recognized as the No. 6 prospect in the California League. Joining him on the list was second baseman Luis Urias (2015) at No. 3. Urias was named the Cal League’s Player of the Year as well. Righty Dinelson Lamet finished at No. 9 on the prospect list and outfielder Franchy Cordero was No. 17. Cordero, who was called up to Double-A San Antonio in the second half of the year, was tabbed as No. 14 prospect in the Texas League.

Meanwhile, former TinCaps left-handed pitcher Max Fried (2013-14), who’s now in the Braves organization, was ranked as the No. 6 prospect in the South Atlantic League. Dustin Peterson (2014), a TinCap third baseman turned Atlanta outfield prospect, was selected as the No. 12 prospect in the Double-A Southern League. First baseman/corner outfielder Jake Bauers (2014), now in the Tampa Bay Rays farm system, was pegged as the No. 5 prospect in the Southern League.

Looking ahead to who could potentially be in Fort Wayne in 2017, four Padres prospects were ranked at levels below the Midwest League:

· No. 7 – INF Hudson Potts (Peoria Padres – Arizona League)

· No. 10 – INF Fernando Tatis Jr. (Peoria Padres – Arizona League)

· No. 11 – LHP Joey Lucchesi (Northwest League – Tri-City Dust Devils)*

· No. 20 – OF Buddy Reed (Northwest League – Tri-City Dust Devils)

* Lucchesi made one appearance with the TinCaps in the final week of the season