Best Ogden Raptors, other major league players to play at Lindquist Field
In this Aug. 26, 2001, photo, Ogden Raptors right fielder Corey Hart takes a diving attempt at a fly ball at Lindquist Field in Ogden, Utah.
In this June 19, 2002, photo, Prince Fielder (53) of the Ogden Raptors makes a catch at first base to force out David Olson of the Idaho Falls Padres in the home opener at Lindquist Field in Ogden.
In this Aug. 9, 2011, photo, Ogden Raptors left fielder Joc Pederson bunts against Orem Owlz at Lindquist Field in Ogden.
Lindquist Field is entering its 20th season of Ogden Raptors baseball. This story is part of a series highlighting the people and events that make the ballpark’s history.
OGDEN — One of the thrills of Minor League Baseball takes a while to truly pay off.
While fans get to see professional baseball players in their infancy, along with fun promotions and a family-friendly atmosphere, the real payoff comes years later when those same players become Major League Baseball stars.
Fans of the Ogden Raptors have seen some all-time greats walk through the Lindquist Field clubhouse over the last 20 seasons, and other Pioneer League clubs have hosted the top prospects of several major league organizations.
Here are just some of the stars from each Pioneer League franchise to have wowed Raptors fans over the last two decades of play at Lindquist Field.
LINDQUIST FIELD 20TH SEASON
Read more in our 7-part series on the people, events and history of Ogden’s ballpark
OGDEN RAPTORS
Ben Sheets (1999): Sheets played 11 major league seasons for Milwaukee, Oakland and Atlanta from 2001-2012. Sheets had a 94-96 record as a starting pitcher with a career ERA of 3.78. Sheets helped the United States win a gold medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics while managed by baseball legend Tommy Lasorda.
Corey Hart (2000-01): Hart played two seasons in Ogden directly after high school and rose to the majors for an 11-year career between 2004-2015. He had a career batting average of .271 and hit 162 home runs in stints with Milwaukee, Seattle and Pittsburgh. He was a two-time All-Star.
Prince Fielder (2002): Fielder has played twelve major league seasons with Milwaukee, Detroit and Texas from 2005 to the present. He has a career batting average of .283 with 314 home runs and 1,613 hits. Fielder is a six-time All-Star.
ROBERT JOHNSON/Standard-Examiner
In this July 2, 2002, photo, Raptors first baseman Prince Fielder misses a low throw to first base as Rockies’ KJ Hendricks slides safely back during Pioneer League action at Lindquist Field in Ogden.
Russell Martin (2003): Martin has played 11 major league seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, Pittsburgh and Toronto from 2006 to the present. Martin had a career-high 21 home runs with the Yankees in 2012 and is a four-time All-Star.
Chad Billingsley (2003): Billingsley played nine seasons for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia from 2006-2015. Billingsley had a career win-loss record of 83-64 with an ERA of 3.72. His best season came in 2009 when he was named an All-Star.
Scott Van Slyke (2006): Van Slyke has played five seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers from 2012 to the present. Van Slyke has a career batting average of .251. His best season came in 2014 when he hit .297 with 11 home runs and 29 RBIs.
Kenley Jansen (2007): Jansen has been a relief pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers from 2010 to the present. Jansen has a career ERA of 2.23 with 157 saves. His best season came in 2014 when he recorded 44 saves.
DREW GODLESKI/Standard-Examiner
In this Aug. 2, 2007 photo, Ogden Raptors pitcher Kenley Jansen warms up before a game at Linquist Field in Ogden, Utah.
Nathan Eovaldi (2008): Eovaldi has played six major league seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Miami and the New York Yankees from 2011 to the present. He has a career record of 35-40 with an ERA of 4.07. Eovaldi’s best season came in 2015 with the Yankees when he compiled a 14-3 record with an ERA of 4.20.
Joc Pederson (2011): Pederson has played three seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers from 2014 to the present. Pederson started 151 games as the team’s centerfielder in 2015, hit 26 home runs and was named an All-Star.
ANTHONY SOUFFLE/Standard-Examiner
In this July 21, 2011, photo, Raptors outfielder Joc Pederson takes a swing during a game between the Ogden Raptors and the Great Falls Voyagers at Lindquist Field in Ogden, Utah.
BILLINGS
Adam Dunn (1998): Dunn played 14 seasons for Cincinnati, Arizona, Washington, Chicago White Sox and Oakland from 2000-2014. He played in 2,001 games, had 1,631 hits and 462 home runs.
GREAT FALLS
Jonathan Broxton (2002): Broxton has played 12 seasons for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Kansas City, Cincinnati, Milwaukee and St. Louis from 2005 to the present. He has registered 118 saves and 705 strikeouts. Broxton had a high of 36 saves with the Dodgers in 2009.
HELENA
Ryan Braun (2005): Braun has played ten seasons for Milwaukee from 2007 to the present. Braun has a career batting average of .306 with 26 home runs and 878 RBIs. He won the National League MVP in 2011.
LETHBRIDGE/MISSOULA
Paul Goldschmidt (2009): Goldschmidt has played six seasons in Arizona starting in 2011. He hit 36 home runs and batted in 125 runs in 2013. Goldschmidt has a career average of .295 and is a three-time All-Star.
BUTTE/CASPER/GRAND JUNCTION
Francisco Rodriguez (1998): Rodriguez has played 15 seasons for the Los Angeles Angels, New York Mets, Milwaukee, Baltimore and Detroit. He has 401 saves with a career ERA of 2.71 in a career from 2002 to the present and is a six-time All-Star.
IDAHO FALLS
Jake Peavy (1999): Peavy has played 15 seasons for San Diego, the Chicago White Sox, Boston and San Francisco from 2002 to the present. Peavy won the Cy Young Award in 2007, going 19-6 with San Diego. He has a career record of 149-122 with an ERA of 3.60.
PROVO/OREM
Howie Kendrick (2003): Kendrick has played 11 seasons in the majors with the Los Angeles Angels and the Los Angeles Dodgers from 2006 to the present. Kendrick had his best season in 2011, as he finished the season with 18 home runs and 63 RBIs.
