American Association alumni continue to perform in affiliated baseball, with 14 alums in the major leagues in 2015, over 35 in affiliated minor leagues, and 12 player contracts purchased by big-league organizations.
The Baseball America Top Independent Prospects list was loaded with American Association players in 2015, with five of the ten players on the list coming from the league, including three of the top five.
#2: RHP John Brebbia, Laredo
In 2015, Brebbia set a Laredo franchise record with 19 saves, tied for fifth-most in the league, to go along with a 7-2 record and a miniscule 0.98 ERA. He was also named the MVP of the league championship series, earning the save in the Lemurs’ wins in Games 2 and 3. Opposing batters hit just .149 against the Sharon, Mass., native, who joined the Lemurs after spending 2014 with Sioux Falls. He was sold to the Arizona Diamondbacks’ organization after the season.
#4: SS Noah Perio, Sioux City (pictured)
Perio started all 100 of his team’s games at shortstop, helping the Explorers to a league-record 74 wins. He led the league with 129 hits, a Sioux City franchise record, and finished second with 29 doubles, to go along with a .316 average and seven home runs.
#5: RHP Patrick Johnson, Sioux City
In 20 starts for the Explorers, Johnson put together one of the most impressive seasons in league history, going 15-1 with a 2.08 ERA, third-best in the AA, and 132 strikeouts, second-most in the loop. The 15 wins and 132 K’s were also Sioux City franchise records. Opponents hit a meager .194 off of Johnson, who walked just 40 hitters in 134 innings of work.
#7: OF Logan Vick, Amarillo
Vick’s speed turned heads in 2015, as he finished sixth with 39 stolen bases and tied for second with eight triples. He also led the Thunderheads with a .308 average and 70 runs scored in his first season in the American Association.
#9: RHP Kevin Cravey, St. Paul
After playing four seasons in the Miami Marlins’ organization, Cravey missed all of 2014 due to injury and did not join the Saints until late in the 2015 season, where he went 1-0 with a 2.57 ERA in four appearances.
