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  • 21 Aug, 2019

  • By, Wikipedia

Nashville Xpress All-time Roster
The Nashville Xpress Minor League Baseball team played two seasons in Nashville, Tennessee, from 1993 to 1994 as the Double-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. In those seasons, a total of 60 players competed in at least one game for the Xpress. The 1993 roster included a total of 35 players, while 38 played for the team in 1994. There were 13 players who were members of the team in both seasons. Of the 60 all-time Xpress players, 22 also played in at least one game for a Major League Baseball (MLB) team during their careers.

After the 1992 baseball season, Charlotte, North Carolina, home of the Double-A Southern League's Charlotte Knights, acquired a Triple-A expansion team in the International League, leaving the Southern League franchise in need of a new home. Larry Schmittou, president of the Triple-A Nashville Sounds, offered Herschel Greer Stadium as a temporary home for the displaced team until owner George Shinn could find a permanent home for his club. Upon the league's approval, the franchise relocated to Nashville and became the Nashville Xpress. In order to accommodate two teams at Greer, the Xpress' games were scheduled for during the Sounds' road trips.

As no other solution could be reached for 1994, Schmittou allowed the franchise to remain at Greer for a second season. Meanwhile, in October 1993, Dennis Bastien purchased the Xpress with the intention of moving the club to Lexington, Kentucky, for the 1995 season, but those plans fell through when he was unable to broker a financial deal with the city to build a ballpark. Bastien later arrived at terms to relocate to Springfield, Missouri, in 1997. The Xpress left Nashville after the 1994 campaign to play on an interim basis in Wilmington, North Carolina, where they were known as the Port City Roosters in 1995 and 1996. The team, however, never made it to Springfield after the city was unable to secure federal funding for a ballpark. The forlorn franchise was subsequently sold and placed in Mobile, Alabama, as the Mobile BayBears in 1997.

Nashville pitcher Oscar Múñoz and outfielder Rich Becker were selected for the 1993 Double-A All-Star Game. Becker was also named to the Southern League's postseason All-Star team. Múñoz was chosen to receive the 1993 Southern League Most Outstanding Pitcher Award. In 1994, Xpress pitchers LaTroy Hawkins and Marc Barcelo were selected for the Double-A All-Star Game, and right-hander Brad Radke was named to the league's postseason All-Star squad.

Three players went on to be selected to play in Major League Baseball All-Star Games after their stints in Nashville: Eddie Guardado (2002 & 2003), Damian Miller (2002), and Brad Radke (1998). In 1995, Marty Cordova was voted the American League Rookie of the Year. Three Xpress players also played for the Nashville Sounds: LaTroy Hawkins (2010–11), Todd Ritchie (1999), and Scott Cepicky (1993—one season before playing for the Xpress).

Table key

Position(s) The player's primary fielding position(s)
Notes Statistics shown only for playing time with the Xpress
MLB Indicates that a player played in at least one game for a major league team
† Player was an MLB award winner or All-Star after playing for the Xpress

Players

A man standing on the pitcher's mound wearing a gray baseball uniform with "New York" written across the chest in navy blue letters and a navy blue cap with a white "NY" on the front in the midst of pitching a baseball.
LaTroy Hawkins, who pitched for the 1994 Xpress, went on to appear in 1,042 big league games over his 21-year MLB career.
A man wearing a black jacket and baseball cap, both bearing a red and white "G", smiles in a baseball dugout.
After retiring as a player, catcher Scott Stricklin of the 1994 Xpress began coaching college baseball in 1998.
A man wearing a blue sleeveless T-shirt and blue shorts smiles while holding a bobblehead depicting himself in a white baseball uniform.
Rich Garcés led the 1994 Xpress pitching staff with a 1.000 fielding percentage in 40 appearances.
Name Season(s) Position(s) Notes MLB Ref.
Marc Barcelo 1993–1994 Pitcher No
Rich Becker 1993 Outfielder Yes
Jayson Best 1993 Pitcher No
Anthony Byrd 1994 Outfielder No
Scott Cepicky 1994 First baseman/designated hitter No
Ted Corbin 1993–1994 Shortstop No
Marty Cordova 1993 Outfielder Yes
Mike Daniel 1994 Catcher No
Adell Davenport 1994 First baseman/third baseman No
Javy DeJesus 1994 Pitcher No
Rex De La Nuez 1993 Outfielder No
Andres Duncan 1994 Shortstop No
Steve Dunn 1993 First baseman Yes
Mike Durant 1993 Catcher Yes
Mike Fernandez 1994 Third baseman No
Gus Gandarillas 1994 Pitcher Yes
Rich Garcés 1994 Pitcher Yes
Sean Gavaghan 1993–1994 Pitcher No
Ed Gerald 1994 Outfielder No
Pedro Grifol 1993–1994 Catcher No
Eddie Guardado 1993 Pitcher Yes
LaTroy Hawkins 1994 Pitcher Yes
Steve Hazlett 1994 Outfielder No
Jon Henry 1993–1994 Pitcher No
Denny Hocking 1993 Shortstop Yes
Tom Houk 1993 Third baseman No
Greg Johnson 1993 Pitcher No
Jason Klonoski 1993 Pitcher No
Dom Konieczki 1993 Pitcher No
Andrew Kontorinis 1994 First baseman No
Jeff Mansur 1993–1994 Pitcher No
Dan Masteller 1993 First baseman/outfielder Yes
Bob McCreary 1993 Pitcher No
Mike McDonald 1993 Outfielder No
Damian Miller 1993–1994 Catcher Yes
Travis Miller 1994 Pitcher Yes
Mike Misuraca 1993–1994 Pitcher Yes
Tim Moore 1994 Outfielder No
William Mota 1993 First baseman No
Scott Moten 1994 Pitcher No
Oscar Múñoz 1993–1994 Pitcher Yes
Dan Naulty 1994 Pitcher Yes
Alan Newman 1993 Pitcher Yes
Joe Norris 1994 Pitcher No
Brian Raabe 1993 Second baseman/third baseman Yes
Brad Radke 1993–1994 Pitcher Yes
Todd Ritchie 1993–1994 Pitcher Yes
David Rivera 1993 Second baseman No
Brett Roberts 1994 Pitcher No
Bob Robinson 1993 Pitcher No
Paul Russo 1994 Third baseman No
Erik Schullstrom 1993–1994 Pitcher Yes
Mitch Simons 1994 Second baseman No
Scott Stahoviak 1993 Third baseman Yes
Scott Stricklin 1994 Catcher No
Dennis Sweeney 1994 Pitcher No
Kenneth Tirpack 1994 First baseman/designated hitter No
Ricky Ward 1994 Second baseman No
Scott Watkins 1993–1994 Pitcher Yes
Bill Wissler 1993 Pitcher No