Johnny Cueto was absolutely stellar in the Royals’ clincher over the Astros Wednesday night. (AP Photo-Charlie Riedel)
Numerous former Louisville Bats have been making their marks on the 2015 MLB Postseason with their current clubs. With the Division Series round wrapping up tonight in Los Angeles, let’s take a look at how they’ve done so far.
Johnny Cueto (8 games with Louisville in 2007 and 2011)
Last night, Johnny Beisbol finally gave the Royals the outing they dreamt about when they acquired him from the Reds at the trade deadline. In the ALDS’ decisive Game 5 Wednesday night at The K, he allowed just two runs on two hits with no walks and eight whiffs in eight innings as the Royals eliminated the upstart Astros with a 7-2 win. The performance was much better than his start in Game 2, where he allowed four earned runs over six innings and took the no-decision in the Royals’ 5-4 win. The win last night was the first of his Postseason career after three winless starts for the Reds in 2010, 2012 and 2013.
Edwin Encarnacion (110 games from 2005-07 and in 2009)
What else can you say about Edwin besides he crushes baseballs? The Blue Jay went 6-for-18 (.333) against the Rangers in the ALDS, including multi-hit performances in three of the five games. He scored three runs and drove in three, including one each on a monster solo homer to tie Game 5 at 2-2 in the bottom of the 6th. (A lot of stuff happened after that and the Blue Jays defeated the Rangers 6-3 to advance to the ALCS, but we won’t go into too much detail. There was weird stuff, a long delay, stuff thrown on the field, a bunch of errors, benches clearing a couple of times and a very manly three-run homer by Joey Bats that included an epic bat toss… yeah, toss, not flip.) Encarnacion also walked five times in the ALDS, three of them intentionally, and struck out just once. 2015 marks his first career Postseason appearance.
Josh Hamilton (11 games in 2011)
The 2010 AL MVP struggled in his return to the Postseason with the Rangers, going just 3-for-18 without scoring or driving in a run in the ALDS. He struck out five times and recorded just one walk. Despite five straight All-Star years that included three Postseason berths in his first stint with Texas, Hamilton is now just a .202 career hitter in 42 total Postseason games.
Edinson Volquez (17 games in 2010 and 2011)
Volquez started for the Royals suffered the loss in Game 3 of the ALDS against the Astros, surrendering three runs on five hits and four walks despite striking out eight in 5 2/3 innings. He is now 0-3 in three career Postseason starts (one each the with Reds, Pirates and Royals) with a 8.76 ERA, but he will start Game 1 of the ALCS against the Blue Jays Friday at Kauffman.
Travis Wood (34 games from 2009-11)
Wood made three appearances for the Cubs out of the pen in the NLDS against the Cardinals, two of them scoreless. In all, he allowed one earned run in 3 2/3 innings with no walks and four strikeouts and earned the win in Game 2. 2015 is Wood’s second appearance in the Postseason after also appearing in one game and throwing 3 1/3 scoreless innings for the Reds in the 2010 NLDS against the Phillies.
Didi Gregorius (48 games in 2012)
Gregorius went 1-for-3 in the Yankees’ AL Wild Card Game loss to the Astros at Yankee Stadium on October 6, the first and only Postseason game of his young career.
Chris Denorfia (174 games in 2005 and 2006)
Denorfia came off the bench for the Cubs in the NL Wild Card Game and all four NLDS games against the Cardinals. He went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts and a walk at the plate. 2015 marks his first career Postseason action.
Yasmani Grandal (4 games in 2011)
Grandal is 1-for-8 with a pair of RBI in two starts for the Dodgers against the Mets in the NLDS. Grandal is battling a sore shoulder and the Dodgers say he is “50-50” to start the decisive Game 5 tonight at Chavez Ravine. 2015 marks his first career Postseason action.
Dioner Navarro (62 games in 2012)
The 2012 Bats All-Star registered one start and one pinch-hit appearance for the Blue Jays in the ALDS. In his Game 3 start at Globe Life Park, he went 1-for-4 with a double and run scored in Toronto’s 5-1 win. 2015 marks his third trip to the Postseason after helping the Rays advance to the World Series in 2008 (where he went 6-for-17) and appearing in two games for the Reds in 2012.
David Ross (12 games in 2007 and 2008)
Ross earned the start in Game 1 for the Cubs against the Cardinals’ John Lackey, but went 0-for-2 at the plate in the Cubs’ 4-0 loss. This is Ross’ sixth time in the Postseason (Dodgers in 2004, Red Sox in 2008, Braves in 2010 and 2012 and Red Sox in 2013 when he earned a World Series ring).
Drew Stubbs (126 games in 2008 and 2009)
Stubbs saw limited action for the Rangers in the ALDS, appearing as a defensive replacement in three games and striking out as a pinch hitter in Game 4 in his only plate appearance.
Also of note: Delino DeShields
Not a former Bat, but the son of current Bats manager Delino DeShields, Junior went 7-for-24 (.292) in his first career Postseason action for Texas, scoring four times and knocking in a pair. Three of his seven hits were doubles and he also stole a base before the Rangers before they fell at the hands of the Blue Jays.