CT Baseball Players
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by user Tylersarticles
Baseball Players born or raised in CT that have the chance to make a big league roster this spring
I spent the majority of my life as a resident in the Constitution State, Connecticut. Connecticut is best known for having the highest per capita income of any state in America and not for it's national baseball prowess. However, there are a number of outstanding high school baseball programs in the state that have produced several players that are currently competing for spots on major league rosters. Today, my cousin Andrew and I were discussing this, but could not name more than a few players. So, I have decided to create a more complete list.
Jeff Bagwell:
Killingworth native and Xavier High School product, Jeff Bagwell, recently retired as one of the greatest Houston Astros players of all time. He is also a strong candidate for the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Current players:
Brad Ausmus- Houston Astros: New Haven, but grew up in Cheshire
Ausmus and former NHL star, Brian Leetch, led Cheshire High School to a CT State baseball championship in 1984 before Leetch started going to Avon Old Farms. Ausmus, a standout at Dartmouth, is currently the starting catcher for the Houston Astros and has been considered one of the best defensive catchers in the game for many years.
Craig Breslow- Boston Red Sox: New Haven
Breslow was 0-2 with a 3.75 ERA and 12 strikeouts for the Boston Red Sox in 2006. He is currently on the Red Sox 40 man roster.
Rajai Davis- Pittsburgh Pirates: Norwich
Davis attended UCONN-Avery Point and is currently on the Pirates 40 man roster. Davis was recently optioned to AAA Indianapolis. Chris Denorfia- Cincinnati Reds: Bristol, raised in Southington and attended Choate Rosemary Hall
Denorfia is currently competing for the final outfield spot on the Cincinnati Reds roster.
Jason Grabowski- Tampa Bay Devil Rays: New Haven, former standout at the University of Connecticut
Grabowski was recently sent to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays minor league camp.
Adam Greenberg - Kansas City Royals: New Haven, former standout at the University of North Carolina
John McDonald- Toronto Blue Jays: New London
McDonald is currently the backup shortstop for the Toronto Blue Jays. He played his collegiate baseball at Providence, a school that no longer has a baseball program.
Carl Pavano- New York Yankees: Southington, born and raised
Pavano, the Connecticut High School Gatorade Player of the Year in 1994, is projected to the be the 4th stater for the New York Yankees in 2007 if he can stay healthy. He earned a World Series ring with the Florida Marlins in 2003.
Earl Synder- Cincinnati Reds: New Britain
Snyder appeared in one game during the 2004 season for the Boston Red Sox and earned a World Series ring. He is currently in the Reds minor league system.
For a list of every player in history that was born in CT and appeared in a major league game, click here to visit Baseball Almanac.
More players to come soon. If you can think of any other players from Connecticut, send me an e-mail at TylerHissey@gmail.com.
The future:
Matt Harvey, a Mystic native and Fitch High School senior, is currently one of the top right handed pitching prospects in the high school draft class of 2007. Harvey is a member of the US Junior National Team and is projected as a top ten pick in the first round of the 2007 MLB First Year Player Entry Draft.
