The Blue Wahoos’ Southern League championship season also contained an impressive feat with former Pensacola players in 2022 making Major League debuts.
There were 18 former players, representing all three affiliations in Blue Wahoos franchise history, who reached the big leagues in 2022. That number matched 2017 for the most in the team’s 10-year history. And 2017, of course, was also special with the Blue Wahoos becoming Southern League co-champions in the five-year anniversary of the ballclub.
These two seasons have contributed more than one-fourth of the Blue Wahoos 121 players in the first 10 seasons who reached the Major Leagues.
The class of 2022 is led by Minnesota Twins relief pitcher Jhoan Duran, who wowed Blue Wahoos fans as a starting pitcher in 2019 – the only season as a Twins affiliate.
Just as he did in Pensacola, Duran routinely recorded fastball velocity at 100-plus mph with the Twins, including a pitch clocked at 103.2 mph in September that was the fastest recorded pitch in Minnesota Twins history.
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Duran dazzled Twins fans with a 1.86 earned run average in 52 games with eight saves. He earned two Twins’ post season awards as the team’s most outstanding rookie and the Twins pitcher of the year.
“I think we knew he was going to go out there and throw hard. That is basically just a small part of what he does, though,” said Twins manager Rocco Baldelli, speaking to Minneapolis area media members late in the 2022 season.
“And we knew we had a big guy with a good arm and a pretty good head on his shoulders,” Baldelli said. “His ability to pitch and his ability to spin the breaking ball and command his pitches and the presence and all those things, I had no concept of that, of what was to come. He has been nothing but impressive.”
The 24-year-old Duran first created a story with a 102 mph fastball on April 11, three days after making his MLB debut for the Twins.
“I’m glad I’m not hitting it, I’ll tell you that,” said Baldelli that night to Twins media. “And I know every coach in the dugout is sitting there thinking the same thing, and maybe a few players , too, all over the field.
“But I haven’t seen 102 too many times. I know guys throw hard these days, but that’s some next-level stuff.”
Duran is one of four pitchers in Twins history since 2008 to record pitches at 100-plus mph. Two others, Brusdar Graterol, now with the LA Dodgers and Jorge Alcala, also pitched for the Blue Wahoos and wowed fans in 2019.
There was also some sadness with former Blue Wahoos players in 2022 after they made their MLB debuts. Infielder Royce Lewis, a former Twins No. 1 draft pick who played in Pensacola in 2019, sustained a torn anterior cruciate ligament after appearing in 12 games for the Twins.
“That broke my heart, really,” said Twins outfielder Trevor Larnach, another former Blue Wahoos player, speaking to Minneapolis media when the injury occurred. “That dude, he changes the atmosphere on the ball field and the dugout, off the field.
“Even though he’s hurt, he’s still doing that. He’s still upbeat. He’s still positive. I think he knows the whole process. Don’t be surprised if he comes back even stronger than before.”
And pitcher Max Meyer, the Miami Marlins’ top pick in 2020, who pitched in the entire Blue Wahoos’ 2021 season, sustained a season-ending elbow injury after making two starts for the Marlins.
Meyer is expected back for the start of spring training in February. Lewis has a full-year timetable of rehab, which means he could return to playing in June 2023.
The Blue Wahoos are in full-planning for the 2023 season with season-ticket, mini-plans going on sale Thursday for as low as $50 for five games. The Blue Wahoos are offering six different mini-plan packages for 2023, including every Saturday home game and each trio of weekend homestands during the season.
Go to www.bluewahoos.com for more information.
Here are the former Blue Wahoos players who made MLB debuts in 2022.
CINCINNATI REDS CONNECTIONS
Brennan Bernadino (P) – Former Reds draft choice made MLD debut July 31 with Seattle Mariners. Appeared in two games, both in relief. Played for Blue Wahoos in 2017, 2018 seasons as Reds minor league player, a combined 59 games and all in relief, collecting 3-4 record. Playing this winter in the Mexican Pacific League.
Narciso Crook (OF) – Former Reds draft choice made MLB debut June 30 with Chicago Cubs. Appeared in 4 games, collected 2 hits. Played for Blue Wahoos in 2018 in final season as Reds affiliate. Batted .286 in 63 games. On Nov. 24, signed with Boston Red Sox organization.
Chris Okey (C-LF) – Made MLB debut June 10 with Reds. Played in 7 games, collecting 2 hits and scoring 3 runs. He played in 78 games for the Blue Wahoos in 2018 batting .198. Uncertain status for 2023 after being released in August by Louisville Bats, the Reds Triple-A affiliate.
MINNESOTA TWINS CONNECTIONS
Mark Contreras (OF) – Made MLB debut with Twins on May 11. Played in 28 games, collecting 7 hits. Played in 85 games for Blue Wahoos in 2019, batting .210.
John Duran (P) – Made MLB on April 8 with Twins and emerged among top rookie relief pitchers in MLB during 2022 season. Appeared in 57 games, getting 8 saves, 2-4 record, 1.86 ERA. Pitched in 7 games for Blue Wahoos in 2019, all starts with 4.86 ERA.
Caleb Hamilton (C-1B) – Made MLB debut with Twins on July 12. Played in 22 games, getting 1 hit in 23 at-bats. Played in 88 games with Blue Wahoos in 2019, batting .226 with 6 HR, 38 RBI. Was selected off waivers by the Boston Red Sox in October.
Royce Lewis (SS-CF) – Made MLB debut with Twins on May 6. Played in 12 games, collecting 5 hits. Missed final four months of season with ACL tear. Played in 33 games for Blue Wahoos in 2019 as former No. 1 draft pick (2017) had a .231 average with the Blue Wahoos.
Jose Miranda (1B-3B) – Made MLB debut with Twins on May 2. Played in 125 games, batting .268 with 15 HR, 66 RBI. Played in 1 game for Blue Wahoos in 2019 season.
Cole Sands (P) – Made MLB debut with Twins on May 1. Was 0-3 in 3 starts, 11 overall games with 5.87 ERA. Pitched in 1 game for Blue Wahoos in 2019. Played at Florida State, North Florida Christian HS.
MIAMI MARLINS CONNECTIONS
Jason Alexander (P) – Made MLB debut June 1 with Milwaukee Brewers. Appeared in 18 games, 11 starts with a 2-3 record and 5.40 ERA. Pitched in 1 game for Blue Wahoos in 2021 while a Miami Marlins prospect, working 3 innings.
JJ Bleday (OF) – Made MLB debut July 23 with Marlins. Played 65 games with a .167 average, 5 HR, 15 RBI. Played 110 games for Blue Wahoos in 2021 with .212 average, 12 HR, 54 RBI. Former No. 1 pick by Marlins (2019).
Peyton Burdick (OF) – Made MLB debut Aug. 6 with Marlins. Played in 32 games, batting .207 with 4 HR, 11 RBI. Played in 106 games for Blue Wahoos in 2021 with team record 23 home runs, plus 52 RBI and .231 average.
Jerar Encarnacion (OF) – Made MLB debut June 19 with Marlins. Played in 23 games, collecting 14 hits, 3 HR, .182 average. Played a total of 94 games for Blue Wahoos in 2021, 2022 seasons. Batted .358 with 8 HR, 18 RBI for Blue Wahoos in 2022 season before being promoted May 17 to Triple-A Jacksonville.
Bryan Hoeing (P) – Made MLB debut Aug. 20 with Marlins. Pitched in 8 games, 1 start with a 1-1 record. Pitched in 4 games, all starts, for Blue Wahoos in 2022 with 2-1 record and 0.35 ERA.
AJ Ladwig (P) – Made MLB debut Aug. 13 with Marlins in a starting role. Pitched 1 game. Pitched in 16 games for Blue Wahoos in 2022, 15 starts with 8-5 record, 4.13 ERA. Has elected free agency and status is uncertain for 2023 season.
Max Meyer (P) – Made MLB debut July 16 with Marlins. Started 2 games before injury. Also pitched in 13 games in Triple-A Jacksonville. Pitched in 20 games for Blue Wahoos in 2021, all starts with 6-3 record, 2.41 ERA. Was Marlins No. 1 pick in 2020.
Andrew Nardi (P) – Made MLB debut Aug. 16 with Marlins. Pitched in 13 games, all in relief, with a 1-1 record, 9.82 ERA. Pitched in a total of 24 games for Blue Wahoos in 2021, 2022. In 2022, he was 2-2 with a 1.40 ERA in 13 games. Was added to Marlins 40-man MLB roster in November.
Aneurys Zabala (P) – Made MLB debut June 12 with Marlins. Pitched in 2 games, both in relief with no runs allowed. Pitched in 3 games for Blue Wahoos in 2022, all in relief. Elected for free agency and 2023 status is uncertain.
Bill Vilona is a retired Pensacola News Journal sports columnist and now senior writer for Pensacola Blue Wahoos. He can be reached at [email protected].