High-A Affiliate OFFICIAL GAME INFORMATION Lake County Captains (3-3) vs. Fort Wayne TinCaps (3-2) Tuesday, May 11th • 6:35 p.m. • Classic Park • Broadcast: WJCU.org Game #7 • Home Game #1 • Season Series: 0-0, 18 Games Remaining RHP Hunter Gaddis (0-1, 12.00 ERA) vs. LHP Ethan Elliott (0-0, 0.00 ERA) SUNDAY: The Captains lost the finale of a six-game series against the Lansing Lugnuts at Jackson Field, 5-2. Three home runs propelled the Lansing offense. Jake Suddleson hit a leadoff homer off of Captains starter Mason Hickman in the third. Shane Selman hit a two-out, two-run homer off of High-A Central League Hickman in the fourth, which was the final pitch Hickman threw in his pro debut. Michael Guldberg led off the eighth with a home run off of Captains reliever Jared Janczak.The Captains’ runs came in the fifth and sixth innings. Will Brennan singled home Joe Naranjo in the fifth. Raynel Delgado singled to score George Valera in the sixth. Hickman took the loss with a final line of 3.2 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 6 K. Lansing reliever Bryce Nightengale Eastern Division W L GB pitched 2/3 of an inning of scoreless baseball for the win. Jack Weisenburger set down the Captains in order in the ninth for the save. Dayton (Cincinnati) 5 1 -- LAST SERIES: The Captains split a three-game road series with the Lansing Lugnuts at Jackson Field to open the 2021 season. After the Lugnuts took game one, 8-1, the Captains won three in a row by final scores of 3-1, 7-6 and 6-2. Lake County’s 7-6 win on Thursday was the team’s first come-from- behind win of the season, keyed by a four-run seventh inning. Brayan Rocchio delivered the go-ahead single and right fielder Jonathan Engelmann Fort Wayne (San Diego) 3 2 1.5 made a game-saving basket catch in the right-centerfield gap, for the final out of the contest, with the tying run on third base. The Captains lost the last two games of the series, 2-0 and 5-2. LAKE COUNTY (Cleveland) 3 3 2.0 YOUNGSTERS: The Captains have five of the 10 youngest players in the High-A Central League – 1B Joe Naranjo (20), INF Aaron Bracho (20), INF Lansing (Oakland) 3 3 2.0 José Tena (20), INF Brayan Rocchio (20) and OF George Valera (20). Naranjo, Bracho and Tena are the three youngest players in the league. Naranjo, who turns 20 today, is the youngest player in all of High-A. Bracho (born 4/21/00) is the second-youngest in all of High-A. The Captains have eight players West Michigan (Detroit) 2 3 2.5 who are age 21 or younger. ON THE GROUND: Captains hitters consistently put the ball on the ground in their season-opening series. Lake County’s offense leads the High-A Great Lakes (Los Angeles - NL) 1 5 4.0 Central League with a 2.73 ground out-to-air out ratio (GO/AO). The next-highest GO/AO belongs to Peoria Chiefs (St. Louis) at 1.51. The Captains’ pitching staff also produced the league’s third-highest GO/AO at 1.41. Western Division W L GB IN THE WIN COLUMN: Wednesday was the Captains’ first win in 608 days, since their victory in game two of the 2019 Midwest League Quarterfinals on September 5, 2019. It was also their first regular season victory in 611 days, since defeating the Great Lakes Loons on September 2, 2019. Cedar Rapids (Minnesota) 5 1 -- LONG AWAITED: The Captains will return to Classic Park for their home opener on May 11, which will mark Lake County’s first home game in 615 days. On September 4, 2019, the Captains hosted the first game of the Midwest League quarterfinals against the Great Lakes Loons and lost, 6-4. Wisconsin (Milwaukee) 4 2 1.0 HIGH-A: The 2021 season marks the Captains’ first as the High-A Affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. Lake County had been Cleveland’s Low-A Affiliate for Quad Cities (Kansas City) 3 2 1.5 17 seasons (2003-2019) and 18 years (2003-2020). South Bend (Chicago - NL) 2 3 2.5 NEW LEAGUE: The Captains begin 2021 playing in a brand new league. As part of the restructuring of the minor leagues, the Captains are now members of the High-A Central League (HA-C). This marks the third different league in the Captains’ 19-year history. Lake County was a member of the South Atlantic League (SAL) from 2003-2009 (11 seasons) and the Midwest League from 2010-2020 (10 seasons; 11 years). Beloit (Miami) 2 4 3.0 NEW SKIPPER: Greg DiCenzo was named the Captains’ manager before the eventually-canceled 2020 season. DiCenzo spent the previous 12 seasons Peoria (St. Louis) 1 5 4.0 as the head baseball coach at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA. During his time at the helm, DiCenzo was twice named Patriot League Coach of the Year (2008 and 2013). Prior to his time at Holy Cross, DiCenzo was the pitching coach and recruiting coordinator at Northeastern University for five seasons. He also served as a coach for the Falmouth Commodores in the Cape Cod Baseball League and at his alma mater, St. Lawrence University. DiCenzo enters his second year and first season as a coach in Cleveland’s organization. CAPTAINS AGAIN: 14 players on the Captains’ Opening Day roster played for Lake County previously: RHP Nick Gallagher (2018-19), LHP Tim Herrin (2019), RHP Thomas Ponticelli (2018-19), LHP Kellen Rholl (2019), RHP Alex Royalty (2019), LHP Matt Turner (2019), C Gianpaul Gonzalez (2018- Top Prospects 19), C Bryan Lavastida (2019), INF Raynel Delgado (2019), INF Daniel Schneemann (2018-19), OF/1B Jonathan Engelmann (2019), OF Quentin The Cleveland farm system enters 2021 as the 13th best farm system in Holmes (2019), OF George Valera (2019) and OF Austen Wade (2018) baseball according to MLB.com. Below are current Captains and their ranking in Cleveland’s system, according to various publications. NOW IN THE DUGOUT: Grant Fink returns to Lake County in his first year as Captains Hitting Coach. Fink was a Captains infielder in 2014 and 2015, and was the team’s starting third baseman in 2014 when the Captains reached the Midwest League Championship Series. The 2021 season is Fink’s fifth season coaching in the Cleveland organization. Former Captains outfielder Jordan Smith also returns to Lake County in his second season as Bench FanGraphs Baseball America MLB.com Coach. Smith led the Captains with a .316 batting average in 2012 and led the Captains to a playoff berth. Smith was the Captains Bench Coach in 2019 #3 George Valera #6 George Valera #4 George Valera and is entering his third season coaching in Cleveland’s organization. #4 Brayan Rocchio #8 Brayan Rocchio #7 Brayan Rocchio #8 Aaron Bracho #11 Aaron Bracho #8 Aaron Bracho 2020 DRAFT: The Captains have three players on their Opening Day roster who were selected by Cleveland in last year’s draft. RHP Tanner Burns (Competitive Balance Round A), LHP Logan Allen (2nd Round), and RHP Mason Hickman (5th Round). #20 Tanner Burns #16 Tanner Burns #15 Tanner Burns #21 Logan Allen #21 Logan Allen #23 Logan Allen 2017 INTERNATIONAL CLASS: There were four Captains acquired by Cleveland in the 2017 International free agent class, led by OF George Valera. #29 Hunter Gaddis #24 Jose Tena According to Baseball America, Valera was the sixth overall international prospect that year. Also now on the Captains from that class are INF Aaron #30 Bryan Lavastida #27 Bryan Lavastida Bracho , INF Brayan Rocchio and INF Jose Tena. Brach received the highest signing bonus of Cleveland’s 2017 international signees at $1.5 million. #32 Jose Tena SWITCH IT UP: Only 1/3 of Captains’ position players are true right-handed hitters. The Captains have three (3) switch-hitters, seven (7) left-handed hitters and five (5) right-handed hitters. CAPTAINS FAMILY TIES: Captains 1B Joe Naranjo has a close connection with former Captains SS Tyler Freeman. Naranjo, who is from Whittier, CA, CURRENT SERIES SCHEDULE,grew up RESULTS as close friends with & Tyler’s PROBABLE younger brother Cody, PITCHING an infielder who MATCHUPSwas drafted in the 4th round by Texas in 2019. Naranjo remains close with Tyler, Cody and the Freeman family. Date Opp. Time/Result Captains Starter Opponent Starter Broadcast 5/11 vs. FW 6:35 p.m. Hunter Gaddis, RHP (0-1, 12.00) Ethan Elliott, LHP (0-0, 0.00) WJCU.org 5/12 vs. FW 6:35 p.m. Logan Allen, LHP (1-0, 0.00) Anderson Espinoza, RHP (0-0, 0.00) WJCU.org 5/13 vs. FW 6:35 p.m. Raymond Burgos, LHP (0-0, 0.00) Edgar Martinez, RHP (0-0, 3.00) WJCU.org 5/14 vs. FW 6:35 p.m. Tanner Burns, RHP (0-0, 0.00) Moises Lugo, RHP (0-0, 2.25) WJCU.org 5/15 vs. FW 6:35 p.m. Matt Turner, LHP (0-1, 4.50) Brandon Komar, RHP (1-0, 0.00) WJCU.org 5/ 16 vs. FW 1:30 p.m. Mason Hickman, RHP (0-1, 7.36) Ethan Elliott, LHP (0-0, 0.00) WJCU.org Classic Park 35300 Vine St. Eastlake, OH 44095 | 440-975-8085 | CaptainsBaseball.com | @LCCaptains | Media Contact: Andrew Luftglass; [email protected] LAKE COUNTY CAPTAINS GAME NOTES PAGE 2 TODAY’S CAPTAINS STARTING PITCHER 2021 Game -By-Game #44 HUNTER GADDIS RHP Date Opp Dec IP H R ER HR SO BB Result Born (Age): April 9, 1998 (23) 05/4 at LAN L 3+ 7 7 4 1 0 2 L, 8-1 Total 0-1 3.0 7 7 4 1 0 2 Hometown: Canton, GA School: Georgia State University HT: 6’5” │WT: 202 lbs │ Bats: R │Throws: R * Relief Appearance Acquired: 2019 Draft – 5th Round Pitch Selection: Fastball, Changeup, Curveball, Slider 2021 Statistics Team W L ERA G GS CG SHO IP H R ER HR HBP BB SO LC 0 1 12.00 1 1 0 0 3.0 7 7 4 1 2 2 0 Total 0 1 12.00 1 1 0 0 3.0 7 7 4 1 2 2 0 Career Statistics Year Team W L ERA G GS CG SHO IP SO BB WHIP 2019 AZL Blue 1 2 3.12 7 5 0 0 17.1 26 3 0.95 2019 MV 0 1 2.30 6 6 0 0 15.2 27 4 0.92 2021 LC 0 1 12.00 1 1 0 0 3.0 0 2 3.00 Total 3 Teams 1 4 3.50 14 12 0 0 36.0 53 9 1.11 LAST TIME OUT: Gaddis took the loss in the 2021 season-opener at Lansing.