Each season at Fifth Third Field gives fans another chance to experience exciting action, eat great food and watch the rising stars of baseball play — but some of those future household names aren’t playing for the hometown Mud Hens.
The 14-team International League (IL) is full of talent from top to bottom and ready to entertain area fans who visit Downtown Toledo this year.
Thirteen teams, including the Hens, will be looking to dethrone the Durham Bulls, last season’s Governors’ Cup champions.
Here is a look at the IL’s Western Division teams and how they stack up.
Indianapolis Indians
Major League Club: Pittsburgh Pirates
Record Last Year: 80-64
The back-to-back Western Division title winner are in a phenomenal situation: not only do they have some legitimate talent on the team itself, but the players from the Pirates system are really going to help this team as well. OF Gregory Polanco is considered the top prospect in the system after spending last year mostly with AA Altoona. He played in 44 games in the Dominican Winter League and hit for .331, leading the league in both RBI (28) and on-base percentage (.428). RHP Jameson Taillon returns for another go with the Indians: he made his first appearance with the team on Aug. 5, and managed to strike out 37 batters in 37 innings.
Columbus Clippers
Major League Club: Cleveland Indians
Record Last Year: 71-73
Despite 227 roster moves last year, the Clippers managed to finish second in the division thanks to first year manager Chris Tremie, who returns for his second season in the dugout. Names like Preston Guilmet, Trevor Bauer, T.J. House were the stalwart pitchers who kept the Clip Show above water, and they’ll be called upon to do it again. Interestingly enough, their IL All-Star catcher Omir Santos now plays with the Indianapolis Indians. If the name sounds familiar: he played with the Hens in 2012. Dude loves him some Western Division.
Louisville Bats
Major League Club: Cincinnati Reds
Record Last Year: 69-75
The Bats will be missing more than a few big parts of last year’s roster: Billy Hamilton has a lot of hype surrounding him (despite only decent numbers with the Bats last year), and it’s looking like he’ll be the leadoff guy for the Redleggers. Their best pitcher, Greg Reynolds, has decided to go throw in Japan instead. And Mike Hessman is once again back in a Hens uniform. Still, they’ve already decided that Henry Rodriguez, Felix Perez and Neftali Soto will be back in Louisville, which means they’ll have some punch.
Other teams in the International League include:
- Buffalo Bisons (Major League Club: Toronto Blue Jays)
- Lehigh Valley IronPigs (Major League Club: Philadelphia Phillies)
- Pawtucket Red Sox (Major League Club: Boston Red Sox)
- Rochester Red Wings (Major League Club: Minnesota Twins)
- Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (Major League Club: New York Yankees)
- Syracuse Chiefs (Major League Club: Washington Nationals)
- Charlotte Knights (Major League Club: Chicago White Sox)
- Durham Bulls (Major League Club: Tampa Bay Rays)
- Gwinnett Braves (Major League Club: Atlanta Braves)
- Norfolk Tides (Major League Club: Baltimore Orioles)
— Matt Culbreath
