These Arizona Wildcats are on MLB 60-man rosters in 2020

Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images

Sunday was the deadline for all 30 Major League Baseball clubs to submit their spring training players pools, which can include as many as 60 players.

A player must be in the pool in order to be MLB eligible in 2020, though teams will only carry 30 players for the first two weeks of the season, 28 players for the next two weeks, and then drop to 26 players the rest of the season.

As of now, players are expected to report for spring training by July 1 and Opening Day is scheduled for July 23 or 24.

Here are the former Arizona Wildcats on 60-man rosters. If we missed one, let us know!

Kevin Ginkel, RP, Arizona Diamondbacks

A strikeout machine, Ginkel made his MLB debut in 2019 and immediately thrived in a setup role for the Diamondbacks. The 26-year-old right-hander allowed just four earned runs in 24.1 innings, fanning 28 batters. Before being promoted to the big leagues, Ginkel was logging a video-game-like 19.4 strikeouts per nine innings in AAA Reno.

Mark Melancon, RP, Atlanta Braves

The veteran reliever was dealt by the San Francisco Giants to the Braves at the trade deadline last July and posted a 3.68 ERA in 21 innings. The 35-year-old right-hander used to be an elite reliever but has not posted an ERA under 3.23 since 2016. He is in the final year of a four-year, $62 million contract.

Scott Kingery, UT, Philadelphia Phillies

Kingery, 26, is entering his third season in the majors after being selected in the second round of the 2015 draft. His 2019 campaign was his best yet after he slashed .258/.315/.474 with 19 homers, 34 doubles, 15 stolen bases and 55 RBI in 126 games. He can play virtually every position on the diamond.

Kevin Newman, INF, Pittsburgh Pirates

The best player on this list, Newman slashed .308/.353/.446 last season with 12 homers, six triples, 20 doubles, and 16 stolen bases in 130 games. It was his second season in the bigs after he was the 19th overall pick in the 2015 MLB Draft.

Jared Oliva, OF, Pittsburgh Pirates

The 24-year-old has had a solid track record in the minors so far, hitting .274/.348/.403 in over 1,000 career at-bats. But he has never made it past AA and is listed on the Pirates’ “taxi squad” meaning he’ll likely only make his debut in the majors in an emergency situation.

Bobby Dalbec, 3B, Boston Red Sox

The 25-year-old has yet to make his MLB debut, but he has been one of the best power hitters in the minor leagues over the last few years. The former fourth-round pick spent most of the 2019 season in AA Portland, hitting .234/.371/.454 with 20 homers before promoted to AAA Pawtucket, where he hit .257/.301/.478 with seven homers in 30 games. The Red Sox have a borderline All-Star at the hot corner already in Rafael Devers, so it will be difficult for Dalbec to crack the active roster.

Jett Bandy, C, Boston Red Sox

Bandy spent the 2019 season in AAA but before that split his first four seasons in the majors with the Angels and Brewers. Mostly a backup, he’s hit .218/.282/.365 in 444 career at-bats.

Brandon Dixon, 1B/OF, Detroit Tigers

A member of the 2012 national championship team, Dixon is entering his third season in the big leagues (assuming he makes Detroit’s Opening Day roster). In 2019, he hit .248/.290/.435 with 15 homers, 20 doubles and 52 RBI.

Joey Rickard, OF, San Francisco Giants

Another member of the 2012 title team, Rickard is entering his fifth season in the majors and his second with the Giants. Previously with the Orioles, Rickard has more or less been a replacement-level player, hitting .247/.301/.373 in 343 career games.

Robert Refsnyder, UT, Texas Rangers

The MVP of that national championship run, Refsnyder has not appeared in the majors since 2018. He played for three AL East teams—Yankees, Blue Jays, Rays—in four seasons, slashing .218/.308/.302 in 367 at-bats. Refsnyder has played first, second and both corner outfield spots in the majors.

Willie Calhoun, OF, Texas Rangers

We’re applying the term “former Wildcat” lightly here since Calhoun was kicked off the UA baseball team after one season, but he’s been a solid hitter for the Rangers. In 2019, the 25-year-old slashed .269/.323/.524 with 21 homers, 14 doubles and 48 RBI in 83 games.

Daniel Ponce de Leon, SP, St. Louis Cardinals

Another hardly-an-Arizona-Wildcat, Ponce de Leon pitched three innings as a freshman before transferring to Cypress Junior College. He’s been a solid, albeit infrequent, starter for the Cardinals the last two seasons, posting a 3.31 ERA in 24 games (12 starts).

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