2019 Toledo Baseball Roster

The Toledo Mud Hens are a Minor League Baseball team based in Toledo, Ohio. The Mud Hens compete in the National League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers of the Major League Baseball They play their home games at Fifth Third Field.

Players on the 2019 Toledo Mud Hens roster include:
Pitchers
-Robbie Ray
-Matt Boyd
– Daniel Norris
– Michael Fulmer
– Blaine Hardy
Catchers
-John Hicks
Infielders
– Jeimer Candelario
Outfielders
-Dixon Machado
Manager Doug Mientkiewicz

2019 Season Preview

The 2019 Toledo Mud Hens season is the 119th season for the Toledo Mud Hens and their tenth as the Triple-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers They play their home games at Fifth Third Field in Toledo, Ohio. The team is managed by Doug Mientkiewicz, with Mike Rojas serving as hitting coach and Glenn Ezell serving as pitching coach.

The Mud Hens entered the season as defending champions of the National League West division, having won the division in 2018. They opened the season with a Home game against the Indianapolis Indians on April 4.

5 Reasons to be Excited for the 2019 Season

The Toledo Mud Hens are back for the 2019 baseball season and there are plenty of reasons to be excited! Here are just a few:

1. The return of Michael Fulmer
After missing all of 2018 while recovering from Tommy John surgery former American League Rookie of the Year Michael Fulmer is back and healthy. The young right-hander will give the Mud Hens a much-needed boost in the starting rotation.

2. The addition of Connor Joe
The Mud Hens beefed up their infield by adding top prospect Connor Joe in the offseason. Joe was ranked as the #8 prospect in the Detroit Tigers organization by MLB Pipeline and should provide some much-needed power at the plate.

3. A revamped bullpen
Toledo’s bullpen was one of the worst in baseball last season, but it looks like things will be different in 2019. The Mud Hens added some veteran arms in the offseason, including former All-Star Trevor Rosenthal, who should help anchor a unit that will be looking to rebound in a big way.

4. A strong core of prospects
The Mud Hens roster is loaded with top prospects who could make an impact at any time. Guys like Parker Meadows, Zac Shepherd, and Wladimir Pinto will all be looking to make their mark this season and help Toledo contend for a playoff spot.

5. A chance to see history made
With just a few more wins, Dusty Baker will become the winningest manager in Mud Hens history. Baker is already one of the most accomplished managers in baseball history and he’s just a couple wins away from adding another feather to his cap. Be sure to catch Baker and the Mud Hens in action this season as they try to make some history!

2019 Roster Breakdown

The 2019 Toledo Mud Hens baseball team featured a mix of veterans and young talent. The roster included six players who had significant Major League experience, as well as a Number of players who were looking to make their mark at the minor league level.

The team was led by veteran catcher James McCann, who had played in the majors with the Detroit Tigers McCann was joined by fellow major leaguers Daniel Stumpf,Willie Bosque, and Ryan Strausborger.

The pitching staff was anchored by ace Michael Fulmer, who made a rehab start with Toledo before returning to the majors. Fulmer was joined by fellow major leaguers Blaine Hardy and Drew VerHagen.

The rest of the roster was made up of players who were looking to advance their careers in the minors. Some of the standouts included infielder Dawel Lugo, outfielders Christin Stewart and Derek Hill, and pitchers Spencer Turnbull and Matt Manning

Position Battles to Watch

The Toledo Mud Hens will have several position battles during spring training as they try to finalize their roster for the 2019 season.

The most contested position will be at second base, where the Hens have three players vying for the starting spot. Matt Tolbert, Willi Castro, and Kody Eaves are all experienced second basemen who bring different skill sets to the table. Toledo manager Doug Mientkiewicz will have a tough decision to make when choosing his starting second baseman.

Another position battle to watch will be in the outfield, where the Hens have several players vying for two spots. Mikie Mahtook and Jacoby Jones are both experienced Major League outfielders who are looking to make a comeback with Toledo. They’ll be competing with veteran minor leaguers like Mike Gerber and Jason Krizan for playing time

The Hens also have several young prospects who will be fighting for roster spots this spring. Players like infielder Jeimer Candelario and pitcher Michael Fulmer will be looking to impress the Coaching Staff and earn a spot on the Opening Day roster.

Key Additions and Subtractions

Trevor Bauer was the biggest name added to the roster this season. The former Indian will join forces with Matt Boyd to create a lethal 1-2 pitching punch at the top of the rotation.

On the offensive side, Daniel Robertson will provide a much-needed boost in the middle of the lineup. The young slugger is expected to hit for a high average and provide some power in the heart of the order.

The team will also be without two key contributors from last season. All-Star second baseman Jonathan Schoop was lost to Free agency while star outfielder Nick Castellanos was traded away in mid-season.

The Farm System

Below are the Minor League baseball players in the Toledo Mud Hens’ farm system

Pitchers
-Ariel Miranda
-Bryson Carey
-Enderson Franco
-Hector Santiago
-Jairo Labourt
-John Schreiber
-Kyle Funkhouser
-Mike Gerber
-Paul Richan
-Sandy Baez

Catchers
-Jake Rogers farm director (Class A West Michigan Whitecaps)
-Connor Smith* hitch and run play coordinator (Class A Lakeland Flying Tigers) hitting coach (Short Season Connecticut Tigers)

The Coaching Staff

The coaching staff of the 2019 Toledo Baseball Team consists of Manager Nathan Perry, Pitching Coach Blake O’Neill, Hitting Coach Willie Glen, and Defensive Coach J.D. Arcega.

The Broadcast Team

The Toledo Mud Hens will have a new television broadcast team in 2019, as Jon Shield returns for his second season in the play-by-play booth and is joined by Jim Weaver, who will provide color commentary.

Shield, who also serves as the Director of Broadcasting & Media Relations for the Mud Hens, spent four seasons calling games for the Single-A West Virginia Power before coming to Toledo. Weaver comes to the Mud Hens after serving as an analyst on University of Toledo men’s Basketball Radio broadcasts for 12 seasons.

Toledo’s History

Toledo has a long and storied history in baseball, with the Mud Hens being one of the most iconic minor league teams in America. The Mud Hens have been affiliated with several different Major League teams over the years, but they are currently affiliated with the Detroit Tigers The Mud Hens play their home games at Fifth Third Field, which opened in 2002 and seats just over 10,000 fans.

While the Mud Hens are the only professional baseball team in Toledo, that doesn’t mean that there isn’t a rich history of baseball in the city. Toledo was once home to the Toledo Blue Stockings, a minor league team that played in the early days of professional baseball The Blue Stockings were founded in 1883 and played in the Northwestern League. The team was made up mostly of local players, with a few players from other parts of Ohio and Pennsylvania. The Blue Stockings only played for one season, 1883, and they finished with a record of 20-16.

While there is no longer a Minor League team in Toledo, there is still a rich history of baseball in the city. If you’re ever in Toledo, be sure to check out Fifth Third Field and learn more about the Mud Hens and their long history in baseball.

2019 Toledo Baseball Roster