Flying Squirrels in the 2020 MLB Postseason

The 2020 MLB Postseason is officially under way, and five former Richmond Flying Squirrels players have landed on playoff rosters.

The American League Wild Card Series began on Tuesday. With the National League Wild Card Series starting up this afternoon, a full slate of eight games is happening today. All playoff teams who have Flying Squirrels players have now announced their postseason rosters.

If your favorite big league team missed out on this year’s playoffs, we’ve got a handful of former Flying Squirrels for you to cheer on over the next few weeks.

Adam Duvall (Atlanta Braves)

Duvall spent the 2013 season with the Flying Squirrels and is in his seventh season in the majors. Duvall saw time in 57 games for the Atlanta Braves this year, mostly in left and right field. He found a hot streak in the beginning of September, batting .414 over eight games from Sept. 2-9 with eight homers and 16 RBIs. Duvall had a pair of three-homer games on Sept. 2 and Sept. 9. Last season, Duvall came through with some clutch hits for Atlanta in the playoffs.

With the Flying Squirrels, Duvall clubbed 17 homers back in 2013, which is tied for the third-most in a season in franchise history.

Charlie Culberson (Atlanta Braves)

Culberson played for the Flying Squirrels in 2011 before reaching the majors the following May with the Giants. He has hopped around a few different cities in his eight-year MLB career, seeing time in the big leagues with the Giants, Rockies, Dodgers and Braves. Now in his third season with Atlanta, Culberson was limited to just nine regular-season games this year, but he was added to Atlanta's postseason roster today.

While in Richmond, Culberson played a big part in leading the Flying Squirrels to their first-ever playoff appearance in 2011 and eventually an apearance in the Eastern League Championship Series. That year, he led the team in batting average (.259), hits (143), doubles (34), games played (137) and at-bats (553). He still ranks in the top-four in single-season hits, doubles, total bases and is tied for the most games played in a season in franchise history. His performance that year got him a nod as an Eastern League All-Star.

Ray Black (Milwaukee Brewers)

Black pitched for the Flying Squirrels in 2016 and 2018. The right-hander was traded from the Giants to the Brewers at the deadline in 2019. He missed most of this season while battling a rotator cuff strain, but he rejoined Milwaukee two weeks ago and appeared in three regular-season games.

Over his two seasons with the Flying Squirrels, Black appeared in 45 games. Fueled by a triple-digit fastball, he posted 15.9 SO/9 IP ratio during his time with Richmond.

Ehire Adrianza (Minnesota Twins)

Adrianza was an infielder for the Flying Squirrels in 2012 and 2013 before debuting in the majors with San Francisco in September 2013. He is now in his eighth MLB season and his fourth as a member of the Twins. This year, Adrianza played in 44 games for Minnesota, mostly as a third baseman.

In 2013, Adrianza led the Flying Squirrels in triples (5) and posted the highest fielding percentage by a shortstop in franchise history (.982).

Joe Panik (Blue Jays)

Panik played for the Flying Squirrels during the 2013 season before debuting in the majors with the Giants the following year. After six seasons with the Giants and an NL All-Star selection in 2015, Panik joined the Mets to finish out the 2019 season. He signed with the Blue Jays as a free agent prior to the 2020 season and was used all around the infield with Toronto this season. While with the Giants, Panik played a big part in their World Series title run in 2014.

As a member of the Flying Squirrels in 2013, Panik tied a franchise record with 137 games played.

Josh Osich, who pitched for the Flying Squirrels from 2013-2016 is currently on the 10day injured list, but he is on the Chicago Cubs’ “Additional Postseason Eligible Players” list.

There you have it. Keep an eye out for these former Flying Squirrels players throughout this year’s MLB playoffs.