MLB Players Who Dominated at Little League World Series
By Michael Luciano
The 2019 Little League World Series is in full swing, as the best future baseball stars in the world descend on Williamsport, Penn. for their shot at championship glory. The series has generally proven to be "the breeding ground" for future MLB talent, as evidenced by these seven players currently tearing it up in the majors.
7. Randal Grichuk
Grichuk put on a clinic in the 2004 LLWS as a part of the Lamar, Texas team. He lead the entire tournament in hits, home runs, and RBI, while also doing some damage as a pitcher on the mound. He's continued to mash with the Toronto Blue Jays this season, as he has provided 22 home runs and a veteran presence to a roster full of young talent.
6. Scott Kingery
A Little League throwback for Scott Kingery. Not much has changed. pic.twitter.com/NRnrf2oLRG
— Ben Harris (@byBenHarris) August 19, 2018
Kingery, who was managed by his father Tom on the Ahwaukee, Arizona team in 2006, played alongside his twin brother Sam. His team went 2-1 in Williamsport, but didn't advance by virtue of a tiebreaker. Kingery is in the middle of a breakout season for the Philadelphia Phillies, hitting .275 with 14 home runs while manning just about every position on the field.
5. Lance Lynn
Oddly enough, the Texas Rangers starter that is currently leading the league in wins struggled in Williamsport in 1999, as he gave up a grand slam. Luckily for Lynn, one bad pitch when you're 12 is not a death sentence for a pro career, as he has made several World Series with the St. Louis Cardinals before his career-year as a Ranger.
4. Jonathan Schoop
From @LittleLeague on, @Orioles 2B Jonathan Schoop has always had a cannon. #TransformationTuesday pic.twitter.com/H1GAZlQCBk
— Play Ball (@PlayBall) November 22, 2016
The former Baltimore Orioles infielder and current Minnesota Twin was once the star player on a Curacao team that made waves in the 2004 tournament. Even back then, Schoop's power, bat control, and glove were on display, and all of those have served him well over his seven-year MLB career.
3. Todd Frazier
Todd Frazier (@FlavaFraz21) knows that hitting a baseball isn’t easy.
— The Players' Tribune (@PlayersTribune) August 15, 2019
However, at the 1998 @LittleLeague World Series, he did go 4-4 with a home run.
Oh yeah, and his team won the #LLWS championship. (Link in bio)
?: https://t.co/uKFQ2C1Y8p pic.twitter.com/YMVXFWXSyE
Fun Fact: Todd Frazier is from Toms River, N.J. and was once photographed next to Derek Jeter. Bet you didn't know that! Frazier's Little League exploits are as well-known as the countless long home runs he's crushed for the Reds, White Sox, Yankees, and Mets. That Toms River team took home the title in 1998 was the first American team since 1993 to win the Little League World Series.
2. Michael Conforto
JUST IN: Michael Conforto 1 of only 3 to play in Little League, College & @MLB World Series https://t.co/c7jj7ogufO pic.twitter.com/AKbr2I08Ic
— Little League (@LittleLeague) October 22, 2015
Conforto may have only played in three games before his team was eliminated, but he's on this list due to one impressive fact that speaks to how much of a winner Conforto has been in his career. The New York Mets outfielder is one of only three players in the history of baseball to play in the Little League World Series, College World Series, and MLB World Series.
1. Cody Bellinger
.@cody_bellinger been dat dude since Little League ?#WorldSeries18@LittleLeague pic.twitter.com/ewsDr6fcAn
— MaxPreps (@MaxPreps) October 27, 2018
Even at the age of 12, Bellinger had no problem demolishing baseballs with his trademark tomahawk swing. He helped guide Chandler, Arizona's team to the US Semifinals, which included a 3-for-3 game with a home run. In other words, not much has changed since Bellinger became a starter for the Dodgers.