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SALT LAKE CITY — With the baseball postseason coming up soon, here's a look at some current MLB players with Utah ties.
Mike Trout (Salt Lake Bees, Los Angeles Angels)
The four-time All-Star and American League MVP played for the Salt Lake Bees during the 2012 season. As a Bee, Trout led the team with a .402 batting average before being called up. In his rookie season, Trout won rookie of the year and is regarded around the league as the Major League Baseball's best player.
David Ortiz (Salt Lake Buzz, Boston Red Sox)
David Ortiz made his mark in Utah playing for the Salt Lake Buzz in the late 1990s. His best year came in 1999 when he hit 30 home runs and hit .315. Last week, Ortiz became the fifth player from the Dominican Republic to hit 500 home runs. The future Hall-of-Famer has won three World Series titles and is at the age of 39 is still hitting home runs and driving in runs.
Torii Hunter (Salt Lake Buzz, Minnesota Twins)
Torii Hunter played for the Salt Lake Buzz in 2000 where he hit a team-best .368. In the majors, he was known more for what he does on defense, winning nine gold gloves. Hunter has also appeared in five MLB All-Star Games, and has won two Silver Slugger awards — the award given to the player who is the best offensive player at his position.
Prince Fielder (Ogden Raptors, Texas Rangers)
Prince Fielder made his debut for the Ogden Raptors in 2002. In just 41 games Fielder batted .390 and had 40 RBIs. Since being called up to the big leagues, Fielder has played in six all-star games and hit. He's won two Home Run Derby's (2009, 2012). He has always been able to hit baseballs out of the park, but he is probably the largest man to ever get an inside the park home run.
Joc Pederson (Ogden Raptors, Los Angeles Dodgers)
Joc Pederson is one of baseball's brightest young stars. Pederson played for the Raptors during the 2011 season and batted a team-best .353. Back in July, Pederson had a busy All-Star weekend when he finished second in the MLB Home Run Derby and became the first-ever Dodger rookie to start in the All-Star Game.
C.J. Cron (University of Utah, Los Angeles Angels)
C.J. Cron spent a lot of time in Salt Lake City playing baseball. Not only did he play ball for the Salt Lake Bees, but he also starred at the University of Utah. In 2011 while playing for the Utes, Cron led the nation in slugging percentage and was a baseball All-American. Since being drafted 17th overall in the 2011 draft, he has become a staple in the Angels' lineup, batting .272 this year.
Jeremy Guthrie (BYU, Kansas City Royals)
Jeremy Guthrie played for Brigham Young University in 1998, he later transferred to Stanford University before being drafted 22nd overall in the 2002 MLB draft. Guthrie has been in the league for 12 years and was a key component in the Kansas City Royals' World Series run last year.
Other notables include, Howie Kendrick, Eric Aybar, Scott Kazmir, Jared Weaver and Russell Martin.
