Major League Baseball’s annual Cactus League Spring Training season begins Tuesday, with the Reds playing the Indians and the Diamondbacks playing University of Arizona. While dozens of former Sun Devils have gone on to play in the MLB over the years, here are the seven top players you can see this month in the Cactus League:
Kole Calhoun – Anaheim Angels
This Angels outfielder attended ASU in 2009 and 2010, and is coming off a season where he won a Gold Glove Award playing next to Mike Trout. The slugger is entering his fifth season in the big leagues, hitting .264 with 51 home runs in less than 400 games in the show.
Calhoun and company can be found at Tempe Diablo Stadium near Interstate 10 and Broadway Road.
Andre Ethier – Los Angeles Dodgers
Ethier has become a staple of Los Angeles Dodgers baseball since he drafted out of ASU after playing from 2002 to 2003. Heading into his 11th season in Dodger blue, the .286 career hitter has appeared in two All-Star games, and has won both a Gold Glove Award and a Silver Slugger Award.
You can watch the veteran outfielder at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, a facility the Dodgers share with the Chicago White Sox.
Ike Davis – Texas Rangers
After six major-league seasons with the Mets, Pirates and Athletics, ESPN reported this month that first baseman Ike Davis had signed a minor league pact with the Texas Rangers. He’s had an up-and-down career since he left ASU in 2008, but showed promise when he drove in 90 runs and corked 32 home runs in 2012.
As long as Davis holds his own and avoids early cuts from the team, you can see him at Surprise Stadium in the northwest valley.
Tuffy Gosewisch – Arizona Diamondbacks
Gosewisch spent parts of nine seasons playing in the minor leagues before finally debuting with the Diamondbacks in 2013 after he left ASU in 2005. He was awarded the starting catcher position with the D-backs last year. However, he tore his ACL, which kept him from finishing his first full big league season.
While Gosewisch is far from being a household name, his defensive prowess behind the dish made him a promising option for the hometown team. He’s regained his health coming into this year, and will be fighting for the starting catching job again at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale.
Jason Kipnis – Cleveland Indians
Kipnis was a Sun Devil from 2008-09, and debuted in the majors just two years later with the Cleveland Indians. He’s played with the Tribe since then, hitting .303 last year to make his second All-Star appearance.
The second baseman will play in a storied Indians middle infield when he takes the diamond Tuesday at Goodyear Ballpark in Goodyear, Arizona.
Eric Sogard – Oakland Athletics
Sogard was born in Phoenix and attended Thunderbird High School before playing at ASU from 2005 to 2007. The 2016 season will mark his seventh major league campaign as an infielder for the A’s. Last season, Sogard took the field with the aforementioned Davis, with whom Sogard played at ASU.
Sun Devil baseball now occupies Phoenix Municipal Stadium, the former home of the Oakland A’s. Now, you can see Sogard and the Athletics at the renovated Hohokam Stadium in Mesa.
Brett Wallace – San Diego Padres
Wallace played as a Sun Devil from 2006 to 2008, winning Pac-10 Player of the Year and the Triple Crown in 2007 (.404, 16 HR, 78 RBI). In five major league seasons with the Astros and Padres, Wallace has played first and third base with a .247 career average.
See Brett and the Friars at Peoria Sports Complex off Bell Road and the west end of State Route 101.
Other than the teams above, there are more Major League clubs to see in the Cactus League. For a full schedule of Cactus League games, visit their online schedule. To see the whole list of Sun Devils who made it to the big leagues, click here.
Related Links:
Pac-12 baseball power rankings: Early-season shakeup
ASU baseball loses series to Long Beach State
Reach the reporter at matt.layman@asu.edu or follow @Mattjlayman on Twitter.
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