Breaking down the talent each Texas League team produces for MLB

May I direct your attention to a new feature along the right column of this web site. I've taken the Texas League alumni section that has been a feature of this blog almost since its inception in January 2006 and changed it up a little bit.

Instead of one long list of every Major League player (other than former Travelers) who've spent time in the Texas League, I've now broken it down by team. Now you can see what players from all eight teams in the Texas League are currently playing in MLB on any given day. I've also included and will be keeping track of the alumni lists from former TL teams Wichita, El Paso, Round Rock (back in its Double-A days), Jackson, and Shreveport. If you haven't figured this out by now, note that the highlighted names are those that are new to the list, meaning they are the most recent call-ups.

Why do I entertain this time-consuming venture on this blog? Because I think most people, even us regular Travs fans, don't have a good grasp of just how many MLB players pass through the Texas League, and I think it surprises a lot of people and shows the kind of product that is on the field night after night. And I hope fans from around the Texas League will find this a useful resource (except NWA Naturals fans -- of course, I kid).

Also, it's interesting some of the things you can glean from these lists, such as what farm systems may be producing the most MLB talent, and what MLB teams are able to retain their home-grown players. For instance, poor Wichita. They really had a good thing going for the Royals. It's too bad they didn't get more support at home and had to lose the Wranglers to NWA.

Tulsa seems to be the most successful when it comes to former players reaching the Majors, but Midland is not far behind and has produced the likes of Eric Byrnes, Jim Edmonds, Andre Ethier, Troy Glaus, Tim Hudson, Huston Street, Nick Swisher, and Barry Zito. Not bad, except that only nine of 41 players are still with the A's. Frisco seems to lead the league in rehab assignments.

Below is a breakdown of the number of players each current and former Texas League team has in the Majors, as well as the number of players still with the parent club. Note that San Antonio changed affiliations last season, so two parent clubs are counted.

44 - Tulsa Drillers (17 with Rockies)
41 - Midland Rockhounds (only 9 still with A's)
38 - San Antonio Missions (13 with Padres or Mariners)
34 - Wichita Wranglers (9 with Royals)
31 - Arkansas Travelers (16 with Angels)
31 - Frisco Roughriders (15 with Rangers)
31 - El Paso Diablos (10 with Diamondbacks)
18 - Round Rock Express (4 with Astros)
12 - Corpus Christi Hooks (6 with Astros)
12 - Jackson Generals/Mets (2 with Astros)
10 - Shreveport Captains/Swamp Dragons (1 with Giants)
8 - Springfield Cardinals (all with Cardinals)
0 - NWA Naturals (insert Simpsons laugh here)

One thing that jumps out at me is how few players the Springfield Cardinals have sent to St. Louis since becoming an affiliate in 2005. I really thought there would have been more by now, and I expect that to change with the organization's new emphasis on developing home-grown talent and you can see it in that every Springfield player who has gone on to MLB is still in the Cardinals organization. But unfortunately for Springfield fans, many home-grown players who are in St. Louis now were already in Memphis by 2005.

It's interesting to see what players missed Springfield and went on to St. Louis not only for Springfield fans, but also for Travelers fans to see what current Cards we missed while they were playing in New Haven in '01-'02 and then Tennessee in '03-'04.

And here they are -- Chris Carpenter, Anthony Reyes, Tyler Johnson, Josh Kinney, Brad Thompson, Yadier Molina, Chris Duncan, Skip Schumaker, Rick Ankiel (as an outfielder), and in a rehab appearance, Jason Isringhausen. Personally, I think it would have been fun to follow some of these future Cardinals in Little Rock, but that's just me.

Comments

[Drew]

So you're telling me that players who come through the Cardinals system hardly ever make it to the major leagues? That's quite the revelation. You're pretty quick.

[The Travelerocity reporter]

That's incorrect. Many of the better players in the farm system have been traded for established veterans who helped the Cardinals win their division six times in the last eight years including two 100-win seasons and a World Series title. Dan Haren comes to mind as one example. What is at issue here is the Cardinals new philosophy of developing more of the home-grown talent rather than trading it away while they are still in the Minors. Money says the Angels are in the process of veering more toward the Cardinals' past philosophy under new GM Tony Reagins.

And if there is any validity in what you say about the Cardinals system hardly ever producing Major Leaguers, well then they've been pretty brilliant in managing that and fooling everyone they deal with.

Huh?

[Porter's Girlfriend]

Huh?

[David Gates kids]

do wha?

[Ankmus]

Can't wait for a Colby Rasmus-Jamie Garcia-Chris Perez for washed up pitcher x blockbuster later this summer.

[Pedro G]

Ankmus... Jocketty is gone, so that's unlikely to happen.

[The Travelerocity reporter]

Daric Barton is another good example.

[Walt Jocketty]

Let's not forget the Bud Smith's and Joe McEwing's of this brave, world gentlemen.

I can't wait to get started on this farm slate with the Reds organization.

[Cracker]

You time consuming effort is appreciated Mr. Travelerocity. You put a lot of work in that for sure. Kudos.

"we are two or three players away from being one of the best teams in this division...."
-- Bill Valentine

True, but right now that's like saying you're the nicest guy in prison. And isn't every team in the North probably 2 or 3 players from being one of the best teams? There's only 4 teams for Jeebus' sake.

[Ankmus]

Who cares about Barton. The Cardinals have a decent 1B last time I checked.

[The Travelerocity reporter]

And a decent catcher. Trading Barton was a great move.

[Pedro G]

Trading Barton would've been a great move... if they'd received something in return better than the oft-injured Mark Mulder.

[Pedro G]

Remember they gave up Dan Haren in that deal too.

Horrible, horrible swap for the cards.

[The Travelerocity reporter]

I'm not a big Mulder fan, so I'll have to agree only because Haren was part of the deal. If it had been just Barton and Kiko Calero, OK. However, the Cards did win a World Series after making that trade so you can't really argue with it.

[Ankmus]

What did Mulder's 7.14 ERA have to do with the Cards winning the World Series?

[Pedro G]

... absolutely nothing.

The late acquisition of Jeff Weaver had WAAAAAYYYY more to do with the World Series.

[VOR]

One thing is for certain. This is a truly flawed team offensively. The pitching is fine, actually the bullpen is pretty good. This team is going to win some low scoring games, but there isn't much talent at the plate or on the bases. Fielding is a major problem at third with Corey Smith.

Thing is that BV is right. A couple more hitters (especially in the outfield) would make this a dangerous team.

"Thing is that BV is right. A couple more hitters (especially in the outfield) would make this a dangerous team."

David Gates, baby!

[Deysi]

hey, i am really ieretnsted in seeing if there is going to be any try outs for the team please leave me a e-mail message. thank you creighton