Midwest League 2000

Average Team Ages

This page compares the ages of the players assigned the teams of the Midwest League on opening day of the 2000 season.

Year after year, the Angels' affiliate in our league is significantly older than average and the Twins farmhands are significantly younger. This is a pattern. It's significant. And it's continued again this season. The continuing pattern tells something about the way the systems develop players.

                               Pitchers    Hitters     Team

League Average                   21.6       21.6       21.6

Western Division
Beloit Snappers           MIL    22.0  (3)  22.4  (3)  22.2  (2)
Burlington Bees           CHI-A  20.6 (14)  20.5 (14)  20.5 (14)
Cedar Rapids Kernels      ANA    22.4  (2)  21.7  (7)  22.1  (3)
Clinton LumberKings       CIN    21.4 (8T)  22.5  (1T) 21.9  (4T)
Kane County Cougars       FLA    21.5  (7)  21.9  (5)  21.7  (6T)
Peoria Chiefs             STL    21.3 (11)  22.5  (1T) 21.9  (4T)
Quad City River Bandits   MIN    21.0 (12)  21.3 (10T) 21.1 (12T)
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers SEA    21.4 (8T)  21.5  (8T) 21.5  (9)

Eastern Division
Dayton Dragons            CIN    22.5  (1)  22.1  (4)  22.3  (1)
Fort Wayne Wizards        SD     21.7  (6)  21.6  (7)  21.7  (6T)
Lansing Lugnuts           CHI-N  21.9  (4)  20.9 (13)  21.4 (10)
Michigan Battle Cats      HOU    21.4  (8T  21.1 (12)  21.3 (11)
South Bend Silver Hawks   ARI    21.8  (5)  21.3 (10T) 21.6  (8)
West Michigan Whitecaps   DET    20.8 (13)  21.5  (8T) 21.1 (12T)

• Oldest Player in the League: Brian Matzenbarger (SBD/ARI) March 23, 1973
• Youngest Player in the League: Chris Snelling (WIS/SEA) December 3, 1981

Two of the MWL's big league affiliates--the Angels (Cedar Rapids) and the Brewers (Beloit)--are in the process of rebuilding their player development systems. Although neither team shows much change this season, both are likely to see changes next summer. I'll keep you posted.

Ages are in "years", which are calculated as of July 1, 2000. Rankings show the oldest teams as (1) and the youngest as (14).

This data is derived from each team's opening day roster, April 6, 2000. Ages for players were determined from easily-available sources, and averaged.