For some, October may mean pumpkin spice lattes and fall leaves, but for baseball fans, October only means one thing โ postseason baseball.
Despite the Arizona Diamondbacks not making the postseason, a part of Arizona is still represented throughout the season's final few weeks.
Here are nine players and coaches with Tucson ties in this yearโs MLB postseason. (This list includes players and coaches from all teams that made the 2024 postseason, some of which have already been eliminated.)
Players
Alex Verdugo, New York Yankees
Sahuaro's Alex Verdugo (11) eyes his base hit in the fourth inning during the Sahuaro vs. Bradshaw Mountain Division II high school playoff baseball game on Friday, May 9, 2014, at Tempe Diablo Stadium in Tempe, Ariz. Sahuaro won 8-7 on a walk-off in the ninth inning after giving up 4 unanswered runs in the seventh.
Tucson native Alex Verdugo is currently an outfielder for the New York Yankees. Verdugo attended Sahuaro High School and was drafted from the school during the 2014 MLB Draft by the Los Angeles Dodgers.
He joined the Yankees in 2023 after playing for the Boston Red Sox and the Los Angeles Dodgers.
His batting average this season is .233, with 13 home runs and 61 RBIs.
Austin Wells, New York Yankees
Now-New York Yankee catcher Austin Wells (16) tosses his bat as he watches his blast chase home three Arizona Wildcat runs against Albany in the second inning of their season opener at Hi Corbett Field on Feb. 14, 2020.
Alex Verdugo isnโt the only Yankee with Tucson ties. Former Arizona Wildcat Austin Wells is catching for New York this season. Wells played for the UA from 2019 to 2020 and was drafted out of college during the 2020 MLB Draft by the Yankees.
He made his MLB debut on Sept. 1, 2023.
His batting average this season is .229, with 13 home runs and 55 RBIs.
Cรฉsar Salazar, Houston Astros
Catcher Cesar Salazar doesn't need an actual bat to picture a pitch during Arizona Wildcats baseball practice at Hi Corbett Field on Feb. 13, 2018, in Tucson.
Whether youโre talking about the Houston Astros, Arizona Wildcats or the Naranjeros de Hermosillo (a staple in the annual Mexican Baseball Fiesta in Tucson), Cรฉsar Salazar is a familiar name. Salazar attended Sahuaro High School and the University of Arizona, where he played three seasons as a catcher.
He was drafted from the UA by the Astros during the 2018 MLB Draft. Salazar made his MLB debut on April 2, 2023.
His batting average this season is .320.
Tylor Megill, New York Mets
Arizona Wildcats pitcher Tylor Megill (36) is the starting pitcher in a game against the NC Dinos at Hi Corbett Field on Tuesday February 28, 2017.
Pitcher Tylor Megill is a former Arizona Wildcat who played two years at the UA in 2017 and 2018. He was drafted by the New York Mets during the MLB Draft in 2018.
He made his MLB Debut on June 23, 2021.
His 2024 ERA is 4.04, while his career ERA is 4.56.
Coaches
Anthony Sanders, Baltimore Orioles
Anthony Sanders taking batting practice when he was with the Toronto Blue Jays in the 1990s.
Baltimore Orioles first base coach Anthony Sanders is a Santa Rita High School grad. Sanders was drafted from out of high school during the 1992 MLB Draft by the Toronto Blue Jays.ย
He made his MLB debut on April 26, 1999. During his three-year playing career he played for the Blue Jays and the Seattle Mariners.
Sanders played baseball for Team USA during the 2000 Sydney Olympics where he earned a gold medal. He became a coach for the Orioles in 2020.
Keoni DeRenne, Kansas City Royals
Arizona shortstop Keoni DeRenne tries to put a the tag on New Mexico's Brad Larsen on an steal attempt of second base during a 1996 college baseball matchup.
Kansas City Royals assistant hitting coach Keoni DeRenne is a former Arizona Wildcat. He was a shortstop for the Wildcats in the late 1990s.
DeRenne was drafted from the UA during the MLB Draft in 2000 by the Atlanta Braves and played in the minors for numerous teams including the Arizona Diamondbacks.
He became the Royalsโ assistant hitting coach in 2022.
Kevin Long, Philadelphia Phillies
Former Arizona Wildcat Kevin Long is now a hitting coach for the Philadelphia Phillies. Long was a player for the Wildcats during their 1986 season, which ended with them winning the Men's College World Series.
He eventually became a hitting coach for the New York Yankees, New York Mets and Washington Nationals before taking the same role with the Phillies in 2022.
Pat Murphy, Milwaukee Brewers
Tucson Padres manager Pat Murphy talks in the dug out during a game against Fresno at Kino Stadium in Tucson on May 29, 2013.
Former Tucson Padres manager Pat Murphy is the current manager of the Milwaukee Brewers. He took the helm after former Arizona Diamondbacks infielder Craig Counsell took a manager job with the Chicago Cubs last year.
During his first year as manager, the Brewers finished first in the NL Central with a record of 93-69.
Pat Roessler, New York Yankees
New York Yankees assistant hitting coach Pat Roessler is a former Arizona Wildcat. He played with the Wildcats when they won the College World Series in 1980.
Before coaching in the majors, Roessler was an assistant coach with Pima Community College in the early 1980s.
He began his MLB coaching career in 2000 with the Montreal Expos and eventually coached for the New York Mets and Washington Nationals before landing a gig with the Yankees earlier this year.
