The Lake County Captains are a Minor League Baseball team in Eastlake, Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland,[3][4][5] that plays in the Midwest League as the High-A affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians.
| Lake County Captains | |||||
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| Minor league affiliations | |||||
| Class | High-A (2021–present) | ||||
| Previous classes | Class A (1991–2020) | ||||
| League | Midwest League (2010–present) | ||||
| Division | East Division | ||||
Previous leagues | South Atlantic League (1991–2009) | ||||
| Major league affiliations | |||||
| Team | Cleveland Indians / Guardians (1991–present) | ||||
| Minor league titles | |||||
| League titles (2) |
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| Division titles (3) |
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| First-half titles (9) |
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| Second-half titles (7) |
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| Team data | |||||
| Name | Lake County Captains (2003–present) | ||||
Previous names |
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| Colors | Navy blue, light blue, gold, red, white | ||||
| Mascots | Skipper, Horatio, Skippy, Captain Clipper, Captain Kenny, and the Baseball Bug[1] | ||||
| Ballpark | Classic Auto Group Park (2003–present) | ||||
Previous parks | Golden Park (1991–2002) | ||||
Owner(s)/ Operator(s) | Alan Miller, Jon Ryan and Collide NEO | ||||
| General manager | Jen Yorko[2] | ||||
| Manager | Omir Santos | ||||
| Media | MiLB.TV, WFUN 970 AM, and WINT 1330 AM | ||||
| Website | milb.com/lake-county | ||||
The Captains joined the Class A Midwest League following the 2009 season in a shuffle caused by the Columbus Catfish's move to Bowling Green, Kentucky, for the 2009 season.[6] The move alleviated travel costs and time, as it was the South Atlantic League's northernmost team.
Before the 2003 season, the club was based in Columbus, Georgia, and known as the Columbus RedStixx. The Captains play their home games in Classic Auto Group Park, which has a capacity of 6,157 and opened in 2003 as Eastlake Stadium. The current stadium name results from a naming rights arrangement; the sponsor is Classic Automotive Group, a significant area chain of auto dealerships. Classic Auto Group Park hosted the South Atlantic League All-Star Game on June 20, 2006.
In conjunction with Major League Baseball's restructuring of Minor League Baseball in 2021, the Captains were organized into the High-A Central.[7] In 2022, the High-A Central became known as the Midwest League, the name historically used by the regional circuit before the 2021 reorganization.[8]
Franchise regular season win–loss records
editColumbus Indians (73–69)
- 1991: 73–69
Columbus RedStixx (823–711)
- 1992: 77–62 (1st Half Southern Division Champions – SAL)
- 1993: 86–56
- 1994: 87–51 (1st Half Southern Division Champions – SAL)
- 1995: 80–62 (2nd Half Southern Division Champions – SAL)
- 1996: 79–63 (2nd Half Southern Division Champions – SAL)
- 1997: 62–76
- 1998: 59–81
- 1999: 70–71 (1st Half Southern Division Champions – SAL)
- 2000: 67–70 (1st Half Southern Division Champions – SAL)
- 2001: 77–59
- 2002: 79–60 (2nd Half Southern Division Champions – SAL)
Lake County Captains (853–810 entering 2016)
- 2003: 97–43 (1st & 2nd Half Northern Division Champions – SAL) (Best regular season record in pro baseball in 2003, min 120 games)
- 2004: 73–66
- 2005: 72–66
- 2006: 64–74
- 2007: 64–74
- 2008: 75–65 (1st Half Northern Division Champions – SAL)
- 2009: 71–66
- 2010: 77–62 (1st Half Eastern Division Champions – MWL & Midwest League Champions)
- 2011: 53–86
- 2012: 71–68 (2nd Half; Clinched MWL Wild Card - Lost in Semifinal Round)
- 2013: 54–83
- 2014: 65–74 (2nd Half; Clinched MWL Wild Card - Lost in Championship Round)
- 2015: 71–66
- 2016: 72–68
- 2017: 54–85
- 2018: 60–79
- 2019: 74–64 (1st Half; Clinched MWL Wild Card - Lost in Quarterfinal Round)
- 2020: Season Suspended due to COVID-19 Pandemic
- 2021: 65–55
- 2022: 76–53 (2nd half East Division Champions - MWL Runner-up)
- 2023: 65–64
- 2024: TBD (1st half East Division Champions)
Franchise records
edit- Win–loss record entering 2024:
- 2215–2058 (.518) overall
- 1373–1361 (.502) as the Lake County Captains
- Longest winning streak: 13 games (May 27 – June 8, 2003)
- Longest losing streak: 10 games (June 8–18, 2011) & (April 10–19, 2012)
- Pitcher with most wins in a season: Steve Kline, 18 in 1994 (also league leader that year)
- Hitter with most home runs in a season: Russell Branyan, 40 in 1996 (also league leader that year)
Playoffs (since 2005)
edit- 2008: Lost to West Virginia 2–1 in semifinals
- 2010: Defeated West Michigan 2–1 in quarterfinals; Defeated Great Lakes 2–1 in semifinals
- 2012: Defeated Bowling Green 2–0 in quarterfinals; lost to Fort Wayne 2–0 in semifinals
- 2014: Defeated South Bend 2–0 in quarterfinals; defeated Fort Wayne 2–0 in semifinals; lost to Kane County 3–0 in finals
- 2019: Lost to Great Lakes 2–1 in quarterfinals
Roster
edit| Players | Coaches/Other | |||
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Pitchers
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Catchers
Infielders
Outfielders
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Manager
Coaches
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Notable franchise alumni
editThis list of "famous" or "notable" people has no clear inclusion or exclusion criteria. Please help improve this article by defining clear inclusion criteria to contain only subjects that fit those criteria. (November 2021) |
- Chris Archer (2007–2009) 2x MLB All-Star
- David Bell (1991)
- Tanner Bibee (2022)
- Russell Branyan (1995–1996)
- Roberto Hernandez[9] (2003, 2008–2009, 2012) MLB All-Star
- Einar Diaz (1993–1994)
- Alan Embree (1991)
- Maicer Izturis (1999–2000)
- Steve Kline (1994)
- Ted Kubiak (2010–2011, MGR)
- Tim Laker (2002)
- Francisco Lindor (2012) 2x MLB All-Star
- Albie Lopez (1992)
- Torey Lovullo (2002, MGR) 2017 NL Manager of the Year
- Ángel Martínez (2022)
- Víctor Martínez (2000) 5x MLB All-Star
- Dave Mlicki (1991)
- Eli Morgan (2018)
- Jhonkensy Noel (2021–2022)
- Jhonny Peralta (2000) 3x MLB All-Star
- Scott Radinsky (2005, coach)
- Jose Ramirez (2012) MLB All-Star
- CC Sabathia (1999) 6x MLB All-Star; 2007 AL Cy Young Award
- Danny Salazar (2009–2010) MLB All-Star
- Marco Scutaro (1996) MLB All-Star
- Richie Sexson (1994) 2x MLB All-Star
- Kelly Stinnett (1991)
- Eric Wedge (1998, MGR) 2007 AL Manager of the Year
- Jaret Wright (1995)
- Steven Wright (2007, 2011) MLB All-Star
Captains Call-Up Club
editThe names of all Captains players and franchise alumni who have advanced to play Major League Baseball are enshrined in the Lake County Captains Call-Up Club at Classic Auto Group Park. The Call-Up Club includes former Captains, coaches, and managers who've made it to the Major League Baseball coaching staff. A new wall of bronze plaques was installed at the main entrance of Classic Auto Group Park in August of the 2017 season. The previous "Walk of Fame" started in the outfield of Classic Auto Group Park and was moved to an interior wall of the ballpark near the right-field corner of the stadium.
References
edit- ^ "Catch the Buzz: The Baseball Bug Takes Center Stage with the Lake County Captains". MiLB.com. February 6, 2024.
- ^ "Jen Yorko Named Lake County Captains GM". Ballpark Digest. August Publications. October 1, 2019. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
- ^ Hill, Benjamin (January 12, 2022). "Explore Classic Park, home of the Lake County Captains". MLB.com.
- ^ Zontini, Kirstie (June 11, 2019). "WATCH: ODOT cameras shake violently as earthquake rattles Cleveland suburb". WHIO-TV.
- ^ "Former Eastlake mayor becomes target of investigation". WOIO. Associated Press. January 31, 2005.
- ^ Czerwinski, Kevin T. (September 2, 2008). "Lake County, Bowling Green shifting to MWL". Milb.com. Archived from the original on July 14, 2011. Retrieved March 28, 2011.
- ^ Mayo, Jonathan (February 12, 2021). "MLB Announces New Minors Teams, Leagues". Major League Baseball. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
- ^ "Historical League Names to Return in 2022". Minor League Baseball. March 16, 2022. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
- ^ Known as Fausto Carmona during his tenure with Lake County