Former Cape Leaguers Fill Major League Opening Day Lineups

PHOENIX, AZ – You’re never too old to dream.

At age 31, the 2003 and 2004 seasons with the Bourne Braves and Cotuit Kettleers may seem like a lifetime ago, but for San Francisco Giants outfielder Justin Maxwell, this spring marks the hopeful payoff for nearly a decade of bouncing back and forth between the minor leagues and The Show.

San Francisco Giants outfielder Justin Maxwell hopes his name will be in the starting lineup tomorrow on Opening Day against the Arizona Diamondbacks. He’s seen here at Lowell Park (left) in June 2004 when he played for the Cotuit Ketleers.
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Maxwell made a name for himself when he stuffed his lanky 6’5” frame into his parents’ Toyota Prius and made the eight-hour trek from Maryland to the Cape League’s late-May 2003 invitiational tryout and immediately found himself being offered a rare spot on a coveted roster with the Bourne Braves. He proceeded to shatter all expectations by being named a starting all-star, leading the Bourne Braves to the Western Division championship title and was awarded the Manny Rebello 10^th Player Award as well as being named to the All-League team.

Maxwell was signed last week to the Giants and made the defending World Champions’ 25-man roster after spending time with the Kansas City Royals, Houston Astros, New York Yankees and Washington Nationals since the 2007 season. Maxwell staged a superlative spring and caught the attention of Giants’ Manager Bruce Bochy, so much so that the strong-armed, fleet-footed outfielder started in rightfield Saturday against the Oakland A’s and helped the Giants to their last pre-season win with an RBI-double in a 2-1 win. There’s a good chance he’ll be in the starting lineup for the Giants at Chase Field Monday when the defending World Champions face the Arizona Diamondbacks, another team loaded with former Cape Leaguers (see list below).

Maxwell played Saturday alongside former Y-D Red Sox star (2006-07) Buster Posey and against former Hyannis Mets’ star Sam Fuld who started in centerfield for Oakland and batted in the two-spot. Both Maxwell and Fuld shared starting outfield spots in the 2003 Cape League All-Star Game and both were named to the All-League team after the season. Fuld finished number two (.361) and Maxwell finished number seven (.307) that season as two of only seven players in the league to bat over .300.

Also on the Giants’ roster on Opening Day tomorrow is former Harwich Mariner Brandon Belt first baseman (Harwich 2006), shortstop Brandon Crawford (Orleans 2007), reserve infielder Matt Duffy (Orleans 2011), reserve infielder Joe Panik (Y-D Red Sox 2010), right-handed pitcher George Kontos (Harwich 2005), southpaw reliever Javier Lopez (Falmouth 1997), and of course, righty ace Tim Lincecum (Harwich 2005).

Playing against Maxwell on the Oakland A’s Saturday was the aformentioned former Hyannis Mets’ all-star Sam Fuld (Stanford), outfielder Billy Burns (Harwich 2011), first baseman Nate Freiman (Orleans 2007-08), southpaw Sean Doolittle (Harwich 2005),

The Boston Red Sox have a new catcher this season – former Orleans Cardinals backstop Ryan Hanigan, seen here at Eldredge Park in 2002.
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Last year saw the most former Cape Leaguer’s ever listed on Big League rosters in Major League Baseball history – 276.

Maxwell  was a non-roster invitee to Spring Training and he completed his ascent this week when Giants manager Bruce Bochy and assistant general manager Bobby Evans informed him that he had made the Opening Night roster and gave him his 2015 contract to sign, according to various published reports. Maxwell received this reward after going 3-for-3 and driving in three runs to help the Giants outlast Colorado, 4-3, in a Cactus League game.

The Giants cleared 40-man roster room for Maxwell by designating outfielder Gary Brown for assignment. Brown, 26, was San Francisco’s No. 1 pick (24th overall) in the 2010 First-Year Player Draft. He was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento on Sunday after hitting .154 (6-for-39) in 22 Cactus League games. Brown hit .277 with 141 stolen bases in five Minor League seasons. Brown played for the Orleans Cardinals in 2008 and 2009.

Maxwell’s best Major League season came in 2012 when he belted 18 home runs and drove in 53 runs for the Astros.

The Boston Red Sox have a new catcher this season – Ryan Hanigan – who made a name for himself in 2002 with the Orleans Cardinals. He’s seen here with Cleveland Indians outfielder Dave Murphy, sliding into home at Spillane Field as a member of the Wareham Gatemen. Murphy and Hanigan battled it out against each other for the Cape League title that season.
Sean Walsh/Capecod.com Sports

But Maxwell isn’t the only success story this spring as far as former Cape Leaguers making a real name for themselves in The Show.

When Boston Red Sox fans turn on their flat screens, radios and computers tomorrow for Opening Day, the new man behind the plate at Fenway Park will be none other than former Orleans Cardinals’ catcher Ryan Hanigan, an Andover, Massachusetts native who batted .292 in 2002 for the then Cardinals (now Firebirds), good enough for 10^th best on the Cape that summer.

Hanigan, like Maxwell and Fuld the next season (2003), was named to the Cape League’s All-League team and was the recipient of the prestigious Daniel J. Silva Sportsmanship Award. He had 35 hits in 37 games for the Cardinals that season and battled in one of the most exciting championship series in Cape League memory against the Wareham Gatemen.

Hanigan graduated from Andover High School in 1999, the last time Fenway Park played host to the Major League All-Star game and he went to Division II Rollins College in Florida to play his collegiate ball before latching onto the Orleans Cardinals and making a name for himself on the Cape.

Hanigan got his first taste of The Show, like Maxwell, in 2007 with the Cincinnati Reds and he stayed with the Reds through 2012 before joining the Tampa Bay Rays and then last year the San Diego Padres before being traded for Will Middlebroooks to his beloved hometown Red Sox late last fall.

Hanigan’s best Major League season, like Maxwell’s came in 2012 when he caught 112 games and batted .274 for the Reds.

Former Cape Leaguers joining Hanigan on this season’s Red Sox roster are outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. (Hyannis 2009), right-handed pitcher Justin Masterson (Wareham 2005), left-handed picher Wade Miley (Wareham 2007), right-handed pitcher Steven Wright (Orleans 2005), right-handed pitcher Anthony Varvaro (Harwich 2004) and right-handed pitcher Matt Barnes (Wareham Gatemen 2009-10).

Chatham Anglers’ field manager John Schiffner (right) with baseball guru Peter Gammons. “Schiff” has had hundreds of former players reach The Show.
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The list of Cape Leaguers who’ve made tomorrow’s Opening Day active Major League rosters is extensive and includes but is not limited to such stars as:

Baltimore Orioles’ catcher Matt Wieters (Orleans 2006)
New York Yankees’ centerfielder Jacoby Ellsbury (Falmouth 2004)
New York Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira (Orleans Cardinals 1999)
New York Yankees infielder Chase Headley (Cotuit 2004)
New York Yankees pitcher Chris Capuano (Cotuit 1997-98, Bourne 1999)
Seattle Mariners leftfielder Dustin Ackley (Harwich 2008)
Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop Nick Ahmed (Bourne 2010)
San Diego Padres 1^st baseman Yonder Alonso (Brewster 2007)
Detroit Tigers Catcher Alex Avila (Harwich 2007)
Cleveland Indians 3^rd Baseman Mike Aviles (Brewster 2002)
Chicago White Sox 2^nd baseman Gordon Beckham (Y-D Red Sox 2007)
Colorado Rockies outfielder Charlie Blackmon (Cotuit 2005)
Cleveland Indians centerfielder Michael Bourn (Y-D Red Sox 2002)
Milwaukee Brewers rightfielder Ryan Braun (Brewster 2004)
Los Angeles Angels catcher Drew Butera (Orleans 2004)
Houston Astros catcher Jason Castro (Y-D Red Sox 2007)
Chicago Cubs leftfielder Chris Coghlan (Chatham 2005)
Los Angeles Angels rightfielder Collin Cowgill (Brewster Whitecaps 2006/Y-D Red Sox 2007)
Los Angeles Angels 1^st baseman C.J. Cron (Cotuit 2010)
Oakland A’s 1^st baseman Ike Davis (Wareham 2007)
Tampa Bay Rays Leftfielder David DeJesus (Bourne 1998/Chatham 1999)
Toronto Blue Jays 3^rd baseman Josh Donaldson (Harwich 2006)

Come June, every Cape Leaguer hopes he’ll open the eyes of pro scouts.
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Washington Nationals 2^nd baseman Danny Espinosa (Chatham 2006)
Baltimore Orioles 3^rd baseman Ryan Flaherty (Hyannis 2006)
Cincinnati Reds 3^rd baseman Todd Frazier (Chatham 2005-2006)
Los Angeles Angels 2^nd baseman Johnny Giavotella (Harwich 2006-2007)
Chicago White Sox 3^rd baseman Conor Gillaspie (Falmouth Commodores 2007)
Cleveland Indians catcher Yan Gomes (Cotuit 2007/Chatham 2008)
Atlanta Braves 2^nd baseman Phil Gosselin (Harwich Mariners 2008)
Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal (Brewster Whitecaps 2008)
Tampa Bay Rays leftfielder Brandon Guyer (Harwich 2006)
San Diego Padres 2^nd baseman Jedd Gyorko (Brewster Whitecaps 2009)
Pittsburgh Pirates 2^nd baseman Josh Harrison (Cotuit 2007)
Arizona Diamondbacks 2^nd baseman Aaron Hill (Wareham 2001)
Colorado Rockies catcher Nick Hundley (Y-D Red Sox 2003)
Los Angeles Angels catcher Chris Iannetta (Chatham 2002)
Atlanta Braves 3^rd baseman Chris Johnson (Hyannis 2005)
Baltimore Orioles catcher Caleb Joseph (Cotuit 2007)
Cleveland Indians 2^nd baseman Jason Kipnis (Cotuit 2008)
Chicago Cubs 2^nd baseman Tommy La Stella (Bourne 2010)
Los Angeles Angels 3^rd baseman Jake Lamb (Y-D Red Sox 2011)
Colorado Rockies 2^nd baseman DJ LeMahieu (Harwich 2008)
Milwaukee Brewers 1^st baseman Adam Lind (Wareham 2003)
Tampa Bay Rays 3^rd baseman Evan Longoria (Chatham 2005)
New York Mets leftfielder John Mayberry Jr. (Y-D Red Sox 2003)
Detroit Tigers cacher James McCann (Cotuit 2010)
Texas Rangers 1^st baseman Mitch Moreland (Bourne 2006-2007)

The glory days of summer are on the near horizon once again.
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Cleveland Indians rightfielder Dave Murphy (Wareham Gatemen 2001-2002)
Chicago Cubs 3^rd baseman Mike Olt (Orleans 2008-2009)
Arizona Dimaondbacks catcher Jordan Pacheco (Y-D Red Sox 2006)
Baltimore Orioles outfielder Steve Pearce (Cotuit 2004)
Arizona Dimaondbacks shortstop Cliff Pennington (Falmouth 2004)
Oakland A’s catcher Josh Phegley (Wareham 2007)
Arizona Diamondbacks centerfielder A.J. Pollock (Falmouth 2008)
St. Louis Cardinals 1^st baseman Mark Reynolds (Harwich 2003)
Minnesota Twins rightfielder Shane Robinson (Hyannis 2004)
Detroit Tigers shortstop Andrew Romine (Brewster Whitecaps 2006)
Chicago Cubs catcher David Ross (Brewster Whitecaps 1996)
Philadelphia Phillies leftfielder Darin Ruf (Falmouth 2008)
Philadelphia Phillies catcher Cameron Rupp (Cotuit 2009)
Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Tony Sanchez (Y-D Red Sox 2008)
Chicago White Sox outfielder J.B. Shuck (Cotuit 2007)
Toronto Blue Jays 1^st Baseman Justin Smoak (Cotuit 2006)
Houston Astros outfielder George Springer (Wareham 2009-2010)
Cleveland Indians 1^st baseman Nick Swisher (Wareham 2000)
Atlanta Braves rightfielder Joey Terdoslavich (Chatham 2009)
Toronto Blue Jays 2^nd baseman Steve Tolleson (Brewster 2004)
Los Angeles Dodgers 3^rd baseman Justin Turner (Y-D Red Sox 2005)
Philadelphia Phillies 2^nd baseman Chase Utley (Brewster 1998-Cotuit 1999)
Toronto Blue Jays 3^rd baseman Danny Valencia (Orleans 2006)
St. Louis Cardinals 2^nd baseman Kolten Wong (Orleans 2010)
Seattle Mariners catcher Mike Zunino (Y-D Red Sox 2011)
Cleveland Indians pitcher Austin Adams (Hyannis 2010)
Oakland A’s pitcher R.J. Alvarez (Bourne 2010-2011)
Cleveland Indians pitcher Scott Atchison (Wareham 1996)
Colorado Rockies pitcher John Axford (Hyannis 2002/Cotuit 2003)
Minnesota Twins pitcher Tim Stauffer (Chatham 2002)
New York Mets pitcher Vic Black (Bourne 2008)
Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Brad Boxberger (Orleans 2007/Chatham 2008)
Baltimore Orioles pitcher Brad Brach (Cotuit 2007)
Colorado Rockies pitcher Brooks Brown (Chatham 2005)

Kansas City Royals pitcher Chris Young (left) gets the ball from former Big League star and Bourne Braves third baseman Kevin Youkilis when Young and “Yuke” played for the Cape League All-Star team at Veterans Field against Team USA on July 29, 2000.
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Philadelphia Phillies pitcher David Buchanan (Brewster Whitecaps 2010)
Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Brett Cecil (Orleans 2006)
Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Andrew Chafin (Orleans 2011)
St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Randy Choate (Hyannis 1996)
Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Josh Collmenter (Hyannis 2006)
Cleveland Indians pitcher Kyle Crockett (Orleans 2012)
Miami Marlins pitcher Aaron Crow (Falmouth 2007)
Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Brandon Cumpton (Cotuit 2008-2009)
Cincinnati Reds pitcher Anthony DeSclafani (Y-D Red Sox 2010)
Texas Rangers Pitcher Ross Detwiler (Falmouth 2006)
Seattle Mariners pitcher Danny Farquhar (Harwich 2007)
Colorado Rockies pitcher Christian Friedrich (Falmouth 2007)
Seattle Mariners pitcher Charlie Furbush (Hyannis 2005-2006)
Baltimore Orioles pitcher Kevin Gausman (Harwich 2011)
Minnesota Twins pitcher Kyle Gibson (Falmouth 2007)
New York Mets pitcher Erik Goeddel (Brewster 2009)
Oakland A’s pitcher Kendall Graveman (Wareham 2012)
Atlanta Braves pitcher Jason Grilli (Brewster Whitecaps 1996)
Chicago Cubs pitcher Justin Grimm (Cotuit 2009)
Oakland A’s pitcher Jesse Hahn (Chatham 2009)
Colorado Rockies pitcher David Hale (Chatham 2008)
Seattle Mariners pitcher J.A. Happ (Harwich 2003)
Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Aaron Harang (Cotuit 1998)
Houston Astros pitcher Will Harris (Y-D Red Sox 2004)
Chicago Cubs pitcher Kyle Hendricks (Brewster 2010)
Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Mario Hollands (Y-D Red Sox 2009)
Cincinnati Reds pitcher J.J. Hoover (Harwich 2008)
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher J.P. Howell (Bourne Braves 2002/Wareham 2003)
Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Daniel Hudson (Harwich 2007)
Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Jared Hughes (Chatham 2005)
Chicago White Sox pitcher Dan Jennings (Cotuit 2008)
Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Nathan Karns (Falmouth 2008)
Houston Astros pitcher Dallas Keuchel (Wareham 2007-2008)
Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Aaron Loup (Falmouth 2008)

Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Brad Ziegler has enjoyed a fine Major League career after an all-star season with the Harwich Mariners in 2002.
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St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Seth Maness (Bourne Braves 2009)
Texas Rangers pitcher Nick Martinez (Falmouth 2011)
Houston Astros pitcher Collin McHugh (Wareham 2007)
New York Yankees pitcher Andrew Miler (Wareham 2004-2005)
Minnesota Twins pitcher Tommy Milone (Chatham 2007)
Los Angeles Angels pitcher Mike Morin (Bourne Braves 2010-2011)
San Diego Padres pitcher Brandon Morrow (Y-D Red Sox 2004-2005)
Houston Astros pitcher Pat Neshek (Wareham 2001)
Colorado Rockies pitcher Adam Ottavino (Harwich 2004)
New York Mets pitcher Bobby Parnell (Chatham 2004)
Miami Marlins pitcher David Phelps (Falmouth 2007)
Chicago White Sox pitcher Zach Putnam (Chatham 2007)
Los Angeles Angels pitcher Garrett Richards (Bourne 2007)
Chicago White Sox pitcher David Robertson (Y-D Red Sox 2006)
Chicago White Sox pitcher Chris Sale (Y-D Red Sox 2009)
Cleveland Indians pitcher Bryan Shaw (Chatham 2007)
Houston Astros pitcher Tony Sipp (Cotuit 2004)
Washington Nationals pitcher Drew Storen (Cotuit 2008)
Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Marcus Stroman (Orleans 2010-2011)
Chicago White Sox pitcher Eric Surkamp (Orleans 2006-2007)
Houston Astros pitcher Joe Thatcher (Bourne Braves 2003)
Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Tyler Thornburg (Brewster 2009)
Texas Rangers pitcher Shawn Tolleson (Chatham 2009)
New York Yankees pitcher Adam Warren (Chatham 2008)
Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Tony Watson (Harwich 2006)
Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Vance Worley (Chatham 2006)
Kansas City Royals pitcher Chris Young (Chatham 2000)
Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Brad Ziegler (Chatham 2001/Harwich 2002)
Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Matt Andriese (Cotuit Kettleers 2010)

— Sean Walsh is the sports editor for www.capecod.com. His email is [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @coachwalshccbm