Wednesday, October 26, 2016

LITTLE LEAGUE® GRADS COMPETING IN THE 2016 MLB POSTSEASON

(L-R) Jonathan Schoop (2004), Michael Conforto (2004), Devon Travis (2003), and Jurickson Profar (2004)
Nearly every child who has stepped onto a Little League® field has dreamed of one-day playing Major League Baseball. For countless Little League grads, that dream has come true – from Allen “Sonny” Yearick, who played on one of the very first Little League teams in 1939 and went on to play professionally in the Boston Braves organization, to last year’s National League Rookie of the Year, Kris Bryant, who is on his way to his second-straight MLB postseason.
From Hall of Famers to Home Run Derby champions, Little League grads have had great success in the Major Leagues and many have even had the chance to play in the Little League Baseball World Series growing up.
With the MLB Postseason now upon us, it’s time to take a look at the confirmed Little League graduates who will be taking the field in the playoffs this October.NOTE: If you know of a player that we have missed, please e-mail the information, including name, current Major League team and the name of the city or town where they played Little League, to media@LittleLeague.org.

Baltimore Orioles

Pedro Alvarez
Michael Baum
Jonathan Schoop (Pabao LL; Willemstad, Curacao. Played in the 2004 Little League Baseball World Series)
Matt Wieters

Boston Red Sox

Xander Bogaerts (Aruba South LL; Savaneta, Fla. Played in the 2009 Senior League Baseball World Series)
Dustin Pedroia (Woodland LL; Woodland, Calif.)
Special Assistant to the GM, Jason Varitek (Almonte Springs National LL; Almonte Springs, Fla. Played in the 1984 Little League Baseball World Series)

Chicago Cubs

Jake Arrieta (Plano Baseball Association; Plano, Texas)
Kris Bryant (Peccole LL; Las Vegas, Nev.)
Manager, Joe Maddon (West Hazleton LL; Hazleton, Pa.)
Anthony Rizzo (Parkland LL; Parkland, Fla.)

Cleveland Indians

Rajai Davis (Willimantic LL; Willimantic, Conn.)
Giovanny Urshela
Guillermo Quiroz (Coquivacoa LL; Maracaibo, Venezuela. Played in the 1994 Little League Baseball World Series)

Los Angeles Dodgers

Austin Barnes (Magnolia Center LL; Riverside, Calif.)
Andre Ethier (Clarendon LL; Phoenix, Ariz.)
Adrian Gonzalez (Otay LL; Tijuana, Mexico and San Ysidro LL; Bonita, Calif.)
Kenley Jansen (Pabao LL; Willemstead, Curacao. Played in the 2003 Senior League Baseball World Series)
Howie Kendrick (Callahan LL; Callahan, Fla.)
Assistant to President and CEO, Vance Lovelace (Belmont Heights LL; Tampa, Fla. Played in the 1975 Little League Baseball World Series)
Former MLB player and one of the current LAD color commentator, Rick Monday
Joc Pederson (Palo Alto LL; Palo Alto, Calif.)
Chase Utley

New York Mets

Jay Bruce
Gavin Cecchini (South Lake Charles LL; Lake Charles, La. Played in the 2006 Little League Baseball World Series)
Manager, Terry Collins (Fraternal Northwest LL; Midland, Mich.)
Michael Conforto (Redmond North LL; Redmond, Wash. Played in the 2004 Little League Baseball World Series) Curtis Granderson
Matt Harvey (Mystic LL; Mystic, Conn.)
David Wright (Green Run LL; Chesapeake, Va.)

San Francisco Giants

Brandon Crawford (Pleasanton LL; Pleasanton, Calif.) Chris Heston
Angel Pagan
Ramiro Pena
Ruben Tejada (Activo 20-30 LL; Santiago, Panama. Played in the 2001 Little League Baseball World Series; 2005 Senior League Baseball World Series)

Texas Rangers

Carlos Beltran (Jose Maria Rodriguez LL; Manati, Puerto Rico)
Prince Fielder (Grosse Pointe Woods Shores LL; Grosse Pointe, Mich.)
Rougned Odor (Luz Maracaibo LL; Maracaibo, Venezuela)
Jurickson Profar (Pabao LL; Willemstead, Curacao. Played in the 2004 Little League Baseball World Series)

Toronto Blue Jays

Edwin Encarnacion
Jeff Francis (Little Mountain LL; Vancouver, Canada)
Aaron Sanchez (West Barstow LL)
Michael Saunders (Gordon Head LL; Victoria, British Columbia. Played in the 1999 Little League Baseball World Series)
Justin Smoak
Devon Travis (East Boyton Beach LL; Boyton Beach, Fla. Played in the 2003 Little League Baseball World Series)
Troy Tulowitzki (Sunnyvale LL; Santa Clara, Calif. Played in 1997 Little League Baseball West Regional Tournament)

Washington Nationals

Mark Melancon
Yusmiero Petit (Coquivacoa LL; Maracaibo, Venezuela. Played in the 1994 Little League Baseball World Series)
Jhonatan Solano
Ryan Zimmerman (Virginia Beach LL; Washington, N.C.)
Credit: http://www.littleleague.org/media/llnewsarchive/2016/September-December/Little-League-Grads-Competing-in-the-2016-MLB-Postseason.htm?utm_source=Little%20Leaguer%20October&utm_campaign=Little%20Leaguer%20October&utm_medium=MLB%20grads%20story