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Usually when discussing the prominent players in MAC history, Toledo has a bunch of players at the top. But when it comes to pro baseball ... compared to others it's a surprisingly thin herd. Scott Fletcher, a light-hitting first basemean, played 15 seasons for the White Sox and Rangers, among others, and picked up some MVP votes in 1986. Pitcher Denny Start finished ninth in the National League Rookie of the Year voting in 2002 with the Colorado Rockies, and ... well, that's about it for the former players.
In terms of those in the minors, Maier has a very good chance at helping out the Red Sox this year, and Hoying's got a shot. Beyond them, it's a thin bunch. In terms of the players they do have, they turned a corner with their first career MAC West title last season, but have never won the MAC tournament.
| Toledo Rockets draft history at Baseball-Reference | |||||
| Last MLB Player: Mitch Maier, 2012, Royals | |||||
| P | Name | Drafted | 2012 Team | 2013 Team | Comments |
| OF | Mitch Maier | 2003, 1st rd | Kansas City Royals | Red Sox Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox | Maier is the only active Rocket to have played in the majors, which he did with the Royals for six seasons, flipping between there and Triple-A. Ultimately the young Royals looked elsewhere for outfielders and Maier is officially a journeyman in an organization of promising young outfielders. He's currently listed on the 7-day disabled list. |
| OF | Jared Hoying | 2010, 10th rd | Rangers Double-A Frisco RoughRiders | Same | Hoying made a splash onto some prospect lists after a terrific short season in 2010, then leveled off a bit. Now in his first full year at Double-A, he seems to have regained his power and slugged .543 this past month. That's one way to get back everybody's attention. |
| RHP | Justin Collop | 2009, 6th rd | White Sox High-A Winston-Salem Dash | Same | Collop turns 25 this month, and A-ball isn't where you want to be when you're 25. This might be a make-or-break year. |
| RHP | Michael Hamann | 2012, 16th rd | Cubs Short Season-A Boise Hawks | ? | |
| RHP | Lincoln Rassi | UDFA | Royals Rookie League Burlington Royals | ? | Rassi signed after the draft the Royals but had a very uninspiring 7.71 ERA in over 20 innings with their rookie league team. |
| RHP | Matt Kuna | N/A | Ind. League Schaumburg Boomers | Same | |
| C | Jim Vahalik | N/A | Ind. League Washington WildThings | Same | |