Founded on my research for the “Minors vs Majors” chapter in my book, “Hardball Retroactive” paired with complementary articles “Minors vs. Majors: The Top Minor League Batters in the Expansion Era” and “Minors vs. Majors: The Top Minor League Pitchers in the Expansion Era“, the ensuing series will reveal the Minor League All-Star rosters for every MLB franchise based primarily on single-season statistics in Runs Created / 140 Games (batters) and Fielding Independent Pitching (pitchers).

Selection Criteria

• individual seasons in the Expansion Era (1961 – 2017)
• levels A through AAA
• ages 24 or younger (A and A+)
• age 25 seasons (AA and AAA)
• age 26 seasons (AAA)

Terminology

RC – Runs Created – using the basic formula devised by Bill James:

((H + BB) * TB) / (AB + BB)

Note: I utilized the basic formula as opposed to the Technical Version due to incomplete GIDP and IBB data.

RC/140 – Runs Created per 140 Games as Minor League ballplayers

RC / (G / 140)

FIP – Fielding Independent Pitching – “Fielding Independent Pitching converts a pitcher’s three true outcomes into an earned run average-like number. The formula is (13*HR+3*(HBP+BB)-2*K)/IP, plus a constant (usually around 3.2) to put it on the same scale as earned run average.

FIP is a component ERA inspired by the work of Voros McCracken on defense-independent pitching statistics, but has become more widely used because of the ease of computation – it requires only four easily-found box score stats, uses only basic arithmetic operations and has four easily-memorized constants. It was conceived of by both Tom Tango and Clay Dreslough, the latter of who called it Defense-Independent Component ERA.” (definition courtesy of Baseball Prospectus Glossary).

((13*HR+3*(HBP+BB)-2*K)/IP)+3.2)

Assessment

The Chicago White Sox

Ron Kittle secured 1983 AL Rookie of the Year honors after destroying opposition offerings over the two previous minor league campaigns. Following a breakout 1981 season for Glen Falls (AA) in which he clubbed 40 long balls and hit .326, Kittle tallied 50 circuit clouts, 144 ribbies, 121 runs scored while accruing 169.9 RC/140 and batting .345 for the Edmonton Trappers (AAA). Pat H. Kelly pilfered 74 bags for the expansion Royals (1969-1970), but found himself back in triple-A for the first half of the 1971 season. Hitting .355 with 130.1 RC/140 for the Tucson Toros (AAA) at the end of June, Kelly punched his return ticket to the Majors where he achieved a 15-year career. Frank E. Thomas (#1, 1989) slashed .323 / .487 / .581 as a member of the Birmingham Barons (AA) in 1990. “The Big Hurt” was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2014 after claiming back-to-back AL MVP awards (1993-94), coaxing at least 100 bases on balls in 11 seasons and swatting 521 big-flies as a big-leaguer. Three-time Gold Glove winner Mike Cameron (.300/28/77) slugged .600, registered 120 tallies and nabbed 39 bags with Birmingham (AA) in ’96. Marcus Semien drilled 32 two-base knocks and scored 110 runs in the upper minors during the 2013 season. Ray Durham rapped 33 doubles and swiped 33 bases for the Nashville Sounds (AAA) in 1994. Jeremy Reed toiled through parts of 8 MLB seasons subsequent to posting a .373 BA with 35 two-baggers and 45 stolen bases for Winston-Salem (A+) and Birmingham (AA) in 2003. Greg Walker (.321/22/86) laced 33 two-base hits and logged 117 runs for Glen Falls (AA) in 1981. Joe Crede mashed 30 taters in ’06 while manning the hot corner for the Pale Hose after combining to slam 36 round-trippers and drive in 100 baserunners between Charlotte (AAA) and Chicago four years prior.

Bart Johnson notched 12 wins and 14 saves in a variety of roles with the Sox in 1971 following a dominant effort in the Midwest League two years earlier. “Toys in the Attic” whiffed 200 batters and crafted a 16-4 mark with a 2.17 ERA for the Appleton Foxes (A). Daniel Hudson quickly ascended the organizational ladder in ’09. Beginning the season in the South Atlantic League (A), “Huddy” reached the Majors by September after accumulating 14 victories along with a 2.32 ERA, 0.943 WHIP and 10.1 SO/9. Addison Reed amassed a career-high 40 saves in 2013 with Chicago subsequent to fashioning an ERA of 1.26, WHIP of 0.743 and striking out 111 batsmen in just 78.1 innings across four minor league outposts two years prior. Scott Radinsky (7-5, 1.75) saved 31 contests and struck out 12.1 batters per nine innings at South Bend (A) during the 1989 season.

Starting Lineup	Age	Year	Teams	Levels	POS	RC140	BA	HR	RBI	OBP	SLG
Jeremy Reed*	22	2003	BIR,WSM	AA,A+	LF	121.1	0.373	11	95	0.453	0.537
Pat H. Kelly	26	1971	TUC	AAA	RF	130.1	0.355	6	43	0.445	0.522
Frank E. Thomas	22	1990	BIR	AA	1B	127.9	0.323	18	71	0.487	0.581
Ron Kittle	24	1982	EDM	AAA	DH	169.9	0.345	50	144	0.442	0.752
Mike Cameron	23	1996	BIR	AA	CF	126.6	0.300	28	77	0.402	0.600
Dick Kenworthy	23	1964	LBG	AA	3B	108.8	0.312	29	97	0.358	0.530
Marcus Semien	22	2013	BIR,CHR	AA,AAA	SS	100.8	0.284	19	66	0.401	0.479
Ray Durham#	22	1994	NVL	AAA	2B	96.8	0.296	16	66	0.363	0.495
Tyler Flowers	23	2009	BIR,CHR	AA,AAA	C	96.6	0.297	15	56	0.423	0.516
Bench	Age	Year	Teams	Levels	POS	RC140	BA	HR	RBI	OBP	SLG
Lorenzo Gray	24	1982	EDM	AAA	OF	120.1	0.358	16	79	0.410	0.547
Ken Hottman	23	1971	AVL	AA	OF	115.2	0.302	37	116	0.391	0.621
Ossie Blanco	24	1970	MOB,TUC	AA,AAA	1B	114.5	0.336	13	55	0.415	0.547
Lamar Johnson	24	1975	DEN	AAA	1B	114.2	0.336	20	101	0.398	0.540
Mario Valdez*	23	1998	CGY	AAA	1B	111.9	0.330	20	81	0.420	0.536
Greg Walker*	21	1981	GLF	AA	1B	111.8	0.321	22	86	0.412	0.524
Gary Holle	26	1981	EDM	AAA	1B	111.5	0.327	26	88	0.397	0.592
Jeff Inglin	21	1997	HCK	A	OF	110.3	0.334	16	102	0.388	0.509
Daryl Boston*	21	1984	DEN	AAA	OF	109.5	0.312	15	82	0.390	0.533
Joe Crede	24	2002	CHR	AAA	3B	108.3	0.312	24	65	0.359	0.571
Carlos May*	20	1968	LBG	A	OF	108.7	0.330	13	74	0.435	0.516
Joseph Talley*	25	1974	IWA	AAA	OF	108.2	0.326	18	66	0.469	0.535
Curtis Fontenot	23	1968	APP,HAW	A,AAA	OF	107.8	0.307	16	55	0.420	0.532
Tyler Saladino	21	2011	WSM	A+	SS	96.4	0.270	16	55	0.363	0.501
Ron Karkovice	22	1986	BIR	AA	C	94.7	0.282	20	53	0.394	0.517

 

Starters	Age	Year	Teams	Levels	FIP	WLSV	ERA	WHIP	BB9	SO9
Bart Johnson	19	1969	APP	A	2.22	16-4	2.17	1.071	3.1	10.6
Daniel Hudson	22	2009	BIR,WSM	AA,A+	2.28	14-5	2.32	0.945	2.1	10.2
Gil Downs	22	1963	SAR,LBG	A,AA	2.30	13-3	1.37	0.984	2.3	8.2
Dylan Axelrod	24	2010	WSM,BIR	A+,AA	2.22	8-4	2.06	1.082	1.2	7.6
Alec Hansen	22	2017	KAN,WSM	A,A+,AA	2.36	11-8	2.81	1.169	3.3	12.2
Relievers	Age	Year	Teams	Levels	FIP	WLSV	ERA	WHIP	BB9	SO9
Dan Remenowsky	23	2009	KAN	A	1.27	24	2	0.887	2.3	15.5
Matt Cooper	23	2015	KAN,WSM	A,A+	1.47	12	1.55	0.825	2.1	13.1
Addison Reed	22	2011	WSM,CHR	A+,AAA	1.51	5	1.27	0.73	1.6	12.8
Ryan Kussmaul	24	2011	WSM	A+	1.73	6	2.52	0.946	3.3	13.9
Scott Radinsky*	21	1989	SBN	A	1.88	31	1.76	0.948	2.8	12.2
Bench	Age	Year	Teams	Levels	FIP	WLSV	ERA	WHIP	BB9	SO9
Andre Rienzo	21	2010	KAN	A	2.38	8-4	3.65	1.257	2.9	11.1
Jack Egbert	24	2007	BIR	AA	2.40	12-8	3.07	1.129	2.5	9.2
James Dykstra	23	2014	KAN,WSM	A,A+	2.42	9-11	3.43	1.249	0.9	7.6
Santo Luis	24	2008	KAN,WSM	A,A+	1.91	4	3.82	1.217	2.8	13.2
Jeff Pierce	23	1992	SBN,SAR	A,A+	1.92	30	2.05	0.913	2.3	11.4
Ian Hamilton	22	2017	WSM,BIR	A+,AA	2.06	7	2.65	1.053	2	9.4

 

Honorable Mention

Don Buford (.336/9/53) eclipsed the 200-hit plateau, ripped 41 doubles and scored 114 runs while swiping 42 bags for the Indianapolis Indians (AAA) in ’63. Chris B. Young was included in a deal for Diamondbacks’ SP Javier Vazquez in December 2005 following a fine campaign in which he collected 41 two-base hits, 26 jacks, 32 steals and 100 runs against Southern League (AA) opponents. Gail Hopkins (.312/20/79) reached the century mark in walks while striking out only 27 times for Lynchburg (A) in ’67.

Batter	Age	Year	Teams	Levels	POS	RC140	BA	HR	RBI	OBP	SLG
Terrell Merriman*	21	1999	BUR	A	CF	105.2	0.306	15	85	0.411	0.518
Jeff Liefer*	25	2000	CHR	AAA	1B	105.1	0.281	32	91	0.356	0.566
Chris B. Young	21	2005	BIR	AA	CF	104.8	0.277	26	77	0.377	0.545
Randy S. Johnson*	21	1980	GLF,IWA	AA,AAA	OF	104.7	0.274	26	78	0.389	0.550
Russ Morman	23	1985	GLF,BFL	AA,AAA	1B	104.7	0.309	24	95	0.406	0.537
David Cook	23	2005	KAN	A	LF	104.3	0.283	24	65	0.403	0.552
Jimmy Terrell*	20	1998	HCK,WSM	A,A+	3B	103.9	0.341	13	66	0.405	0.483
Joe Borchard#	22	2001	BIR	AA	OF	103.8	0.295	27	98	0.384	0.509
Don Buford#	26	1963	INA	AAA	3B	103.5	0.336	9	53	0.406	0.457
Gail Hopkins*	24	1967	LBG	A	1B	103.2	0.312	20	79	0.439	0.513

 

 

Pitcher	Age	Year	Teams	Levels	FIP	WLSV	ERA	WHIP	BB9	SO9
Jerome Rozmus	22	1963	CLI	A	2.45	17-5	1.44	0.955	2.5	8.8
Ravelo Manzanillo*	24	1988	TAM	A	2.47	10-6	3.04	1.091	3.4	9.7
Stephen Sauer	22	2009	KAN	A	2.53	6-5	3.36	1.282	1.2	7.8
Kyle Kubat*	24	2017	KAN,BIR	A,AA	2.12	4	1.7	0.836	1.5	9.3
Al Jones	24	1983	APP	A	2.13	22	0.97	0.912	3.4	10.9
Adam Lopez	23	2013	KAN	A	2.14	3	2.54	1.201	3.2	11.7

 

References and Resources

Baseball-Reference

Bill James Baseball Abstract

Seamheads – Baseball Gauge

 

About the Author

I am a New Jersey native with a passion for baseball, statistics, computers and video games who enjoys spending quality time with his family.

“Hardball Retroactive”, published in June 2018, is available in paperback and digital (Kindle) format at Amazon.com along with digital eBook format at GooglePlay.com. 

“Hardball Retrospective” is available in digital format on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, GooglePlay, iTunes and KoboBooks. The paperback edition is available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and CreateSpace. Supplemental Statistics, Charts and Graphs along with a discussion forum are offered at TuataraSoftware.com.

Don Daglow (Intellivision World Series Major League Baseball, Earl Weaver Baseball, Tony LaRussa Baseball) contributed the foreword for Hardball Retrospective. The foreword and preview of my book are accessible here.

“Hardball Retrospective – Addendum 2014 to 2016” supplements my research for Hardball Retrospective, providing retroactive standings based on Wins Above Replacement (WAR) and Win Shares (WS) for each “original” team over the past three seasons (2014-2016). Team totals from 2010 – 2013 are included for reference purposes. “Addendum” is available in paperback and digital formats through Amazon, Barnes and Noble and CreateSpace.