42 Former Fort Wayne Players in Majors in First Half of 2018
FORT WAYNE, Ind. - As the Major League Baseball season has reached its All-Star break, 42 former Fort Wayne TinCaps and Wizards have played in the big leagues so far in 2018. Of the 42 players, nine have made their MLB debuts this season, raising the total of Fort Wayne alums
"As an organization, we pride ourselves on offering affordable family-friendly entertainment," Team President Mike Nutter said, "But when fans come to Parkview Field, they get a chance to see future big-league players. It's not only for the TinCaps, but for the guys in the other dugout too."
Among the former Fort Wayne players, two were tabbed as 2018 MLB All-Stars.
The most recent player to make his big-league debut is pitcher Enyel De Los Santos (2016) of the Philadelphia Phillies. De Los Santos was also one of four players who came through Fort Wayne that earned the honor of being selected for the 2018 Futures Game on Sunday at Nationals Park. De Los Santos was joined by Padres prospects shortstopFernando Tatis Jr. (2017), second baseman Luis Urías (2015), and center fielder Buddy Reed (2017).
The most veteran Fort Wayne alum is left-handed pitcher
Of the 42 former TinCaps and Wizards, 13 have appeared with Fort Wayne's parent club, the San Diego Padres, in 2018.
Meanwhile, more players from Fort Wayne are on their way to the big leagues. In March, the Padres farm system was ranked as the best in baseball by MLB Pipeline (MLB.com). Among the Padres top 30 prospects, 27 have appeared in a TinCaps uniform, including nine current players.
(Note: Fort Wayne changed its name from Wizards to TinCaps before the 2009 season. The Fort Wayne franchise has been a Midwest League member since 1993.)
Player Name (Year in Fort Wayne) 2018 MLB Team
Johnny Barbato 2012 Detroit Tigers
Anthony Bass 2009 Chicago Cubs
Jake Bauers 2014 Tampa Bay Rays
Brad Brach 2009 Baltimore Orioles
Matt Bush 2007 Texas Rangers
Jose Castillo 2015-16 San Diego Padres
Franchy Cordero 2014-15 San Diego Padres
Enyel De Los Santos 2016 Philadelphia Phillies
Zach Eflin 2013 Philadelphia Phillies
Tim Federowicz 2015 Houston Astros
David Freese 2006 Pittsburgh Pirates
Max Fried 2013-14 Atlanta Braves
Trevor Gott 2013 Washington Nationals
Jedd Gyorko 2010 St. Louis Cardinals
Tayron Guerrero 2013-14 Miami Marlins
Justin Hancock 2012-13 Chicago Cubs
Chase Headley 2005 San Diego Padres
Austin Hedges 2012 San Diego Padres
Nick Hundley 2005-06 San Francisco Giants
Travis Jankowski 2012 San Diego Padres
Brandon Kintzler 2005 Washington Nationals
Corey Kluber 2008 Cleveland Indians
Eric Lauer 2016 San Diego Padres
Wade LeBlanc 2006 Seattle Mariners
Jose Lobaton 2005-06 New York Mets
Joey Lucchesi 2016 San Diego Padres
Phil Maton 2016 San Diego Padres
Kyle McGrath 2015 San Diego Padres
Miles Mikolas 2010 St. Louis Cardinals
Oliver Perez 2001 Cleveland Indians
Dustin Peterson 2014 Atlanta Braves
Jace Peterson 2012 Baltimore Orioles
Kevin Quackenbush 2011 Cincinnati Reds
Hunter Renfroe 2013 San Diego Padres
Franmil Reyes 2014-15 San Diego Padres
Mallex Smith 2013 Tampa Bay Rays
Eric Sogard 2007 Milwaukee Brewers
Joakim Soria 2006 Chicago White Sox
Cory Spangenberg 2011 San Diego Padres
Trea Turner 2014 Washington Nationals
Matt Wisler 2012 Atlanta Braves
For a complete list of alumni who've gone from the 260 to "The Show," click here.