Cincinnati Prospect In Line To Join List Of Players Named After Countries
After An All-Star Career, This Mountain Of A Slugger Has Enjoyed Fame As A Salsa Music Artist
Several All Stars Highlight The "Nationals" Roster
After a slow start in the Arizona Fall League, the number three prospect for the Cincinnati Reds is finally starting to heat up. Outfielder Jonathan India recently crushed another home run for the Glendale Desert Dogs, displaying the kind of power the Reds had hoped to see when they sent him to the highly competitive AFL.
Should he continue to develop, India would join only a handful of Big Leaguers whose last name was also a country. The most recent addition to the list occurred just last season, so perhaps it will grow one more in the near future.
Here is a lineup of players who share a last name with a country.
Ricky Jordan, First Base
Mostly a first baseman during his eight years with the Philadelphia Phillies, the 1988 Rookie of the Year runner up was be versatile enough to also play several outfield spots.
Tyler France, Second Base
This past season was his first as a Major League player, giving him the opportunity of developing with famous prospects such as Fernando Davis Jr. with the San Diego Padres.
Tim Ireland, Shortstop
Playing behind All-Stars Frank White and U.L. Washington, this utility man named after the land of leprechauns helped the Kansas City Royals stay in contention during the early Eighties.
Frank Brazill, Third Base
All but the last letter makes this member of the Philadelphia Athletics in the early Twenties a perfect fit for this roster.
Hugh Poland, catcher
Sharing a name with the East European nation with the capital of Warsaw, he served as a backstop for the Cincinnati Reds and Boston Braves in the Forties.
Mike Marshall (Islands), Left Field
In spite of a very respectable career with a good Los Angeles Dodgers team, the slugger gained more fame when he dated Belinda Carlisle of the Gogos.
Mike Camero(o)n, Center Field
One of the main components of the Ken Griffey Jr. trade, the power and speed combination made Cameron a fan favorite in Seattle.
Ruben Sierra (Leone), Right Field
The Texas Rangers had the switch-hitting slugger for three separate stints, starting with the 1986 season that saw him finish second for the Rookie of the Year Award.
Mark Portugal, Starting Pitcher
For the last fifteen years of the twentieth century he was a stalwart member of rotations for several different clubs, even leading the league with eighteen victories for the Houston Astros in 1993
