Weekly Notes 040717
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MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL WEEKLY NOTES FRIDAY, APRIL 7, 2017 OPENING DAY ROSTERS FEATURE RECORD 259 PLAYERS BORN OUTSIDE THE U.S. A record total of 259 players on 2017 Opening Day 25-man rosters and inactive lists were born outside the 50 United States, Major League Baseball announced on Monday. The 259 players born outside the U.S. (29.8 percent) came from the pool of 868 players (749 active 25-man roster players and 119 disabled, suspended or restricted Major League players) on April 2nd rosters and represent a record-high 19 countries and territories outside the U.S. Previously, there were 18 countries and territories represented on Opening Day rosters in 1998 and 2016. The 259 foreign-born players and the percentage of 29.8 are both the highest fi gures in history, eclipsing the previous record totals of 246 players on 2007 Opening Day rosters and 29.2 percent of players on 2005 Opening Day rosters. As it has each year since MLB began releasing this annual data in 1995, the Dominican Republic again led the Major Leagues with 93 players born outside the United States. Venezuela ranked second with 76 players, the country’s highest total in history, far eclipsing its previous high of 66 (2012). Cuba placed third with 23 players, matching the record total set in 2016. Rounding out the totals are Puerto Rico (16); Mexico (9); Japan (8); Canada (6); South Korea (5); Curaçao (4); Nicaragua (4, surpassing previous high of three in 2012 and 2014); Panama (4); Australia (2); Brazil (2); Colombia (2); Aruba (1); Germany (1); Netherlands (1); Taiwan (1); and the U.S. Virgin Islands (1). Minnesota’s Max Kepler, a native of Berlin, Germany, is the fi rst German-born product of MLB’s European Elite Camp to appear on an Opening Day roster in Major League history. Didi Gregorius of the New York Yankees is the fi rst player from the Netherlands to appear on three consecutive Opening Day rosters. The Texas Rangers have the most foreign-born players with a total of 14 on a roster that spans six diff erent countries and territories outside the U.S. Texas is followed by the San Diego Padres (12), Seattle Mariners (12), Chicago White Sox (11), Cleveland Indians (11), Los Angeles Angels (11) and Philadelphia Phillies (11). The Kansas City Royals and Seattle Mariners have players from eight diff erent countries and territories outside the U.S., marking the most in the Majors. They are followed by the Los Angeles Dodgers (7). The Indians, Pittsburgh Pirates and Rangers each have six players from the Dominican Republic, while the Colorado Rockies, Detroit Tigers, Phillies and Padres each have six players hailing from Venezuela. ANNUAL OPENING DAY FOREIGN-BORN PLAYER PERCENTAGE (1995-PRESENT) YEAR PERCENTAGE YEAR PERCENTAGE YEAR PERCENTAGE 1995 16.9% (141 of 830) 2003 27.7% (229 of 827) 2011 27.7% (234 of 846) 1996 17.0% (132 of 773) 2004 27.3% (227 of 830) 2012 28.4% (243 of 856) 1997 18.9% (147 of 774) 2005 29.2% (242 of 829) 2013 28.2% (241 of 856) 1998 20.3% (174 of 841) 2006 27.4% (223 of 813) 2014 26.3% (224 of 853) 1999 21.2% (178 of 841) 2007 29.0% (249 of 849) 2015 26.5% (230 of 868) 2000 23.6% (198 of 839) 2008 28.0% (239 of 855) 2016 27.5% (238 of 864) 2001 25.2% (215 of 854) 2009 28.0% (229 of 818) 2017 29.8% (259 of 868) 2002 26.1% (222 of 849) 2010 27.7% (231 of 833) FROM THE MANAGER’S OFFICE Twenty-fi ve of the current 30 Major League managers previously played in the Majors. The fi ve managers to not appear in a Major League game include Terry Collins, Joe Maddon, Bryan Price, Buck Showalter and Brian Snitker. Fourteen of the managers were primarily catchers during their professional careers (Brad Ausmus, Jeff Banister, Bruce Bochy, Kevin Cash, John Gibbons, Joe Girardi, A.J. Hinch, Maddon, Mike Matheny, Bob Melvin, Mike Scioscia, Scott Servais, Snitker and Ned Yost); four were outfi elders (Dusty Baker, Clint Hurdle, Dave Roberts and Showalter); fi ve were second basemen (Craig Counsell, Andy Green, Torey Lovullo, Pete Mackanin and Rick Renteria); two were pitchers (John Farrell and Price); two were fi rst basemen (Terry Francona and Don Mattingly); one was a third baseman (Paul Molitor); and one was a shortstop (Collins). Other notes about baseball’s current managerial crop: • The average age of a Major League manager as of Opening Day was 54.4, nearly two years older than last year’s Opening Day average of 52.8. New York Mets manager Terry Collins is the oldest at 67 years of age (Dusty Baker is also 67), while the youngest is Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash at 39 years old (Andy Green is also 39). • The longest tenured managers with their current clubs are Mike Scioscia of the Los Angeles Angels (2000); San Francisco’s Bruce Bochy (2007); Joe Girardi of the Yankees (2008); Baltimore’s Buck Showalter (2010); and Kansas City’s Ned Yost (2010). • Twenty-seven of the 30 Major League managers (90.0 percent) began managing their current club in 2010 or later. • • Three managers (Black, Lovullo, Renteria) are in their fi rst year with their current team, including one (Lovullo) that is making his Major League managing debut (full-time). Note: Atlanta’s Brian Snitker began managing the Braves in May 2016. • • Ten of the 30 Major League managers at one time played in the organizations for which they now manage (Ausmus – DET; Cash – TB; Francona – CLE; Girardi – NYY; Matheny – STL; Molitor – MIN; Mackanin – PHI; Roberts – LAD; and Snitker – ATL). In addition, nine of the 10 (except Snitker) played a game in the Major Leagues with the team they now manage. • • Thirteen of the 30 skippers are managing a Major League club for the fi rst time; the other 17 held a Major League managerial post prior to joining their current team, including Gibbons, who previously managed his current Club, the Toronto Blue Jays, from 2004-2008. • • Fifteen managed in the Minor Leagues prior to becoming a Major League skipper. The 15 exceptions include: Ausmus, Baker, Black, Cash, Counsell, Farrell, Girardi, Hinch, Matheny, Mattingly, Melvin, Molitor, Price, Roberts and Servais. • • Six managers made the All-Star team at least once as a player (Ausmus, Baker, Girardi, Mattingly, Molitor and Scioscia). 2017 ROOKIE OUTLOOK Ninety-eight (98) rookies were featured among the 868 players (11.3 percent) on Opening Day active rosters, disabled lists, suspended lists and restricted lists. Last season, 93 of the 864 players (10.8 percent) on Opening Day rosters were rookies. The Cincinnati Reds feature a Major League-high of 10 rookies on their 2017 Opening Day roster, followed by the San Diego Padres (7), Seattle Mariners (7) and Colorado Rockies (6). The Chicago Cubs and Miami Marlins are the only Major League Clubs to not feature any rookies on their Opening Day roster. Arizona (2) – Sócrates Brito, OF (DL); Steven Hathaway, LHP (DL) Atlanta (5) – Micah Johnson, 2B (DL); Jacob Lindgren, LHP (DL); Armando Rivero, RHP (DL); Dansby Swanson, SS; Daniel Winkler, RHP (DL) Baltimore (4) – Oliver Drake, RHP; Donnie Hart, LHP; Trey Mancini, 1B; Anthony Santander, OF (DL) Boston (1) – Andrew Benintendi (OF) Chicago Cubs (0) Chicago White Sox (5) – Dylan Covey, RHP; Matt Davidson, 3B; Jacob May, OF; Juan Minaya, RHP (DL); Charles Tilson, OF (DL) Cincinnati (10) – Barrett Astin, RHP; Austin Brice, RHP (DL); Rookie Davis, RHP; Amir Garrett, LHP; Pat Kivlehan, OF; Nefi Ogando, RHP (DL); Wandy Peralta, LHP; Robert Stephenson, RHP; Nick Travieso, RHP (DL); Randy Turner, C Cleveland (2) – Shawn Armstrong, RHP; Yandy Díaz, SS Colorado (6) – Stephen Cardullo, SS; Jairo Díaz, RHP (DL); Kyle Freeland, LHP; German Márquez, RHP; Tom Murphy, C (DL); Antonio Senzatela, RHP. Detroit (2) – JaCoby Jones, SS; Dixon Machado, SS Houston (3) – Yulieski Gurriel, 3B; Jandel Gustave, RHP; David Paulino, RHP (DL) Kansas City (3) – Hunter Dozier, 3B (DL); Terrance Gore, OF; Matt Strahm, LHP L.A. Angels (1) – Vicente Campos, RHP (DL) L.A. Dodgers (4) – Grant Dayton, LHP; Josh Ravin, RHP (DL); Brock Stewart, RHP (DL); Andrew Toles, OF Miami (0) Milwaukee (2) – Jesús Aguilar, 2B; Manny Piña, C Minnesota (2) – Justin Haley, RHP; Adalberto Mejía, LHP New York Mets (5) – Robert Gsellman, RHP; Ty Kelly, 2B; Brandon Nimmo, OF (DL); T.J. Rivera, SS; Josh Smoker, LHP New York Yankees (3) – Tyler Austin, OF (DL); Jonathan Holder, RHP; Aaron Judge, OF Oakland Athletics (4) – Raul Alcantara, RHP; Jharel Cotton, RHP; Frankie Montas; Joey Wendle, 2B (DL) Philadelphia (3) – Andrew Knapp, C; Joely Rodríguez, LHP; Brock Stassi, 1B Pittsburgh (3) – Josh Bell, 1B; Tyler Glasnow, RHP; Alen Hanson, SS San Diego (7) – Buddy Baumann, LHP (DL); Allen Cordoba, SS; Miguel Diaz, RHP; Manny Margot, OF; Hunter Renfroe, OF; Luis Torrens, C; Jose Torres, LHP San Francisco (2) – Tyson Blach, LHP; Chris Marrero, 1B Seattle (7) – Dan Altavilla, RHP; Mitch Haniger, OF; Guillermo Heredia, OF; Dillon Overton, LHP; James Pazos, LHP; Robert Whalen, RHP (DL); Tony Zych, RHP (DL) St. Louis (2) – José Martínez, OF; Alex Reyes, RHP (DL) Tampa Bay (3) – Kevin Gadea, RHP (DL); Austin Pruitt, RHP; Daniel Robertson, SS Texas (4) – Michael Hauschild, RHP; Jose Leclerc, RHP; Brett Nicholas, C (DL); Drew Robinson, SS Toronto (1) – Glenn Sparkman, RHP (DL) Washington (2) – Koda Glover, RHP; Jose Marmolejos, 1B (DL) AGING GRACEFULLY During the Opening Week of the season, the average age of Major League players was recorded at 29.13 years old, slightly up from last year’s Opening Week average of 29.04.