View source for Lake County Captains

{{short description|American Minor League baseball team}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox Minor League Baseball
| name             = Lake County Captains
| founded          = 1991
| founding city    = Columbus, Georgia
| based            = 2003
| city             = Eastlake, Ohio
| misc             = 
| logo             = LCO Captains.PNG
| uniformlogo      = Captains cap.PNG
| class level      = [[High-A]] (2021–present)
| past class level = [[Class A (baseball)|Class A]] (1991–2020)
| current league   = [[Midwest League]] (2010–present)
| conference       = 
| division         = East Division
| past league      = [[South Atlantic League]] (1991–2009)
| majorleague      = [[Cleveland Guardians|Cleveland Indians / Guardians]] (1991–present)
| pastmajorleague  = 
| nickname         = Lake County Captains (2003–present)
| pastnames        = {{plainlist|
* [[Columbus RedStixx]] (1992–2002)
* Columbus Indians (1991)
}}
| colors         = Navy, yellow, red, white<ref>{{cite web |title=Midwest League Official Colors (1956 through present) |url=https://www.trucolor.net/portfolio/midwest-league-official-colors-1956-through-present/ |website=TruColor.net |access-date=25 October 2025}}</ref><br>{{Color box|#051C2C}} {{Color box|#F2A900}} {{Color box|#CB333B}} {{Color box|#FFFFFF}}
| mascots        = Skipper, Horatio, Skippy, Captain Clipper, Captain Kenny, and the Baseball Bug<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.milb.com/news/baseball-bug-x6063 |title=Catch the Buzz: The Baseball Bug Takes Center Stage with the Lake County Captains |website=[[Minor League Baseball]] |date=February 6, 2024}}</ref>
| ballpark       = [[Classic Auto Group Park]] (2003–present)
| pastparks      = [[Golden Park]] (1991–2002)
| leaguenum      = 2
| leaguechamps   = {{hlist|2010|2024}}
| divnum         = 3
| divisionchamps = {{hlist|2021|2022|2024}}
| firsthalfnum   = 9
| firsthalfchamps={{hlist|1992|1994|1999|2000|2003|2008|2010|2019|2024}}
| secondhalfnum  = 7
| secondhalfchamps={{hlist|1995|1996|2002|2003|2012|2014|2022}}
| wildcardnum    = 1
| wildcardberths={{hlist|2025}}
| owner          = Alan Miller, [[Jon Ryan]] and Collide NEO
| manager        = [[Omir Santos]]
| gm             = Jen Yorko<ref>{{cite news |title=Jen Yorko Named Lake County Captains GM |url=https://ballparkdigest.com/2019/10/01/jen-yorko-named-lake-county-captains-gm/ |work=Ballpark Digest |publisher=August Publications |date=October 1, 2019 |access-date=October 1, 2019}}</ref>
|media           = [[MiLB.TV]], [[WFUN (AM)|WFUN 970]]&nbsp;AM, and [[WINT (AM)|WINT 1330]]&nbsp;AM
|website         = {{URL|https://www.milb.com/lake-county|milb.com/lake-county}}
}}

The '''Lake County Captains''' are a [[Minor League Baseball]] team in [[Eastlake, Ohio]], a suburb of [[Cleveland, Ohio|Cleveland]],<ref>{{Cite news |first=Benjamin |last=Hill |date=January 12, 2022 |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/featured/explore-classic-park-home-of-the-lake-county-captains|title=Explore Classic Park, home of the Lake County Captains |website=[[MLB.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |first=Kirstie |last=Zontini |url=https://www.whio.com/news/local/earthquake-rattles-cleveland-suburb/VtbR0yhlvKBu8q35MFyjuI/ |title=WATCH: ODOT cameras shake violently as earthquake rattles Cleveland suburb |date=June 11, 2019 |website=[[WHIO-TV]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.cleveland19.com/story/2878607/former-eastlake-mayor-becomes-target-of-investigation |title=Former Eastlake mayor becomes target of investigation |date=January 31, 2005 |website=[[WOIO]] |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> that plays in the [[Midwest League]] as the [[High-A]] affiliate of the [[Cleveland Guardians]].

The Captains joined the [[Class A (baseball)|Class A]] Midwest League following the 2009 season in a shuffle caused by the [[Columbus Catfish]]'s move to [[Bowling Green, Kentucky]], for the 2009 season.<ref>{{cite web |first=Kevin T. |last=Czerwinski |url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-453433 |title=Lake County, Bowling Green shifting to MWL |work=[[Milb.com]] |date=September 2, 2008 |access-date=March 28, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714094005/http://midwest.league.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080902&content_id=453433&vkey=news_milb&fext=.jsp |archive-date=July 14, 2011}}</ref> The move alleviated travel costs and time, as it was the [[South Atlantic League]]'s northernmost team.

Before the 2003 season, the club was based in [[Columbus, Georgia]], and known as the [[Columbus RedStixx]]. The Captains play their home games at [[Classic Auto Group Park]], which has a capacity of 6,157 and was previously known as Eastlake Stadium, having opened in 2003. The current stadium name results from a [[naming rights]] arrangement; the sponsor is Classic Automotive Group, a significant area chain of auto dealerships. Classic Auto Group Park hosted the South Atlantic League All-Star Game on June 20, 2006.

In conjunction with [[Major League Baseball]]'s restructuring of Minor League Baseball in 2021, the Captains were organized into the High-A Central.<ref>{{cite web|last=Mayo|first=Jonathan|title=MLB Announces New Minors Teams, Leagues|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/new-minor-league-baseball-structure|website=Major League Baseball|date=February 12, 2021|access-date=June 22, 2024}}</ref> In 2022, the High-A Central became known as the Midwest League, the name historically used by the regional circuit before the 2021 reorganization.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/news/minor-league-baseball-historical-league-names-to-return-in-2022|title=Historical League Names to Return in 2022|website=Minor League Baseball|date=March 16, 2022|access-date=June 22, 2024}}</ref>

==Franchise regular season win–loss records==
[[File:Classic Park scoreboard.JPG|thumb|right|200px|Scoreboard prior to a Captains game at [[Classic Auto Group Park]]]]
Columbus Indians (73–69)
*'''1991''': 73–69
Columbus RedStixx (823–711)
*'''1992''': 77–62 (1st Half Southern Division Champions – SAL)
*'''1993''': 86–56
*'''1994''': 87–51 (1st Half Southern Division Champions – SAL)
*'''1995''': 80–62 (2nd Half Southern Division Champions – SAL)
*'''1996''': 79–63 (2nd Half Southern Division Champions – SAL)
*'''1997''': 62–76
*'''1998''': 59–81
*'''1999''': 70–71 (1st Half Southern Division Champions – SAL)
*'''2000''': 67–70 (1st Half Southern Division Champions – SAL)
*'''2001''': 77–59
*'''2002''': 79–60 (2nd Half Southern Division Champions – SAL)
Lake County Captains (853–810 entering 2016)
*'''2003''': 97–43 (1st & 2nd Half Northern Division Champions – SAL) (Best regular season record in pro baseball in 2003, min 120 games)
*'''2004''': 73–66
*'''2005''': 72–66
*'''2006''': 64–74
*'''2007''': 64–74
*'''2008''': 75–65 (1st Half Northern Division Champions – SAL)
*'''2009''': 71–66
*'''2010''': 77–62 (1st Half Eastern Division Champions – MWL & Midwest League Champions)
*'''2011''': 53–86
*'''2012''': 71–68 (2nd Half; Clinched MWL Wild Card - Lost in Semifinal Round)
*'''2013''': 54–83
*'''2014''': 65–74 (2nd Half; Clinched MWL Wild Card - Lost in Championship Round)
*'''2015''': 71–66
*'''2016''': 72–68
*'''2017''': 54–85
*'''2018''': 60–79
*'''2019''': 74–64 (1st Half; Clinched MWL Wild Card - Lost in Quarterfinal Round)
*'''2020''': Season Suspended due to COVID-19 Pandemic
*'''2021''': 65–55
*'''2022''': 76–53 (2nd half East Division Champions - MWL Runner-up)
*'''2023''': 65–64
*'''2024''': 77-52 (1st half East Division Champions- 2024 Midwest League Champions)

==Franchise records==
*'''Win–loss record entering 2024:''' 
:*{{winpct|2215|2058|record=y}} overall
:*{{winpct|1373|1361|record=y}} as the Lake County Captains
*'''Longest winning streak:''' 13 games (May 27 – June 8, 2003)
*'''Longest losing streak:''' 10 games (June 8–18, 2011) & (April 10–19, 2012)
*'''Pitcher with most wins in a season:''' [[Steve Kline (left-handed pitcher)|Steve Kline]], 18 in 1994 (also league leader that year)
*'''Hitter with most home runs in a season:''' [[Russell Branyan]], 40 in 1996 (also league leader that year)

==Playoffs (since 2005)==
*2008: Lost to [[West Virginia Power|West Virginia]] 2–1 in semifinals
*2010: Defeated [[West Michigan Whitecaps|West Michigan]] 2–1 in quarterfinals; Defeated [[Great Lakes Loons|Great Lakes]] 2–1 in semifinals
*2012: Defeated [[Bowling Green Hot Rods|Bowling Green]] 2–0 in quarterfinals; lost to [[Fort Wayne TinCaps|Fort Wayne]] 2–0 in semifinals
*2014: Defeated [[South Bend Silver Hawks|South Bend]] 2–0 in quarterfinals; defeated [[Fort Wayne TinCaps|Fort Wayne]] 2–0 in semifinals; lost to [[Kane County Cougars|Kane County]] 3–0 in finals
*2019: Lost to [[Great Lakes Loons|Great Lakes]] 2–1 in quarterfinals
*2024: Defeated [[Wisconsin Timber Rattlers]] 2-1 to win [[Midwest League]] championship

==Roster==
{{Lake County Captains roster}}

==Notable franchise alumni==
{{famous|date=November 2021}}
[[File:CC Sabathia.jpg|thumb|230px|[[CC Sabathia]]]]
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}

* [[Chris Archer]] (2007–2009) 2x MLB All-Star
* [[David Bell (baseball)|David Bell]] (1991)
* [[Tanner Bibee]] (2022)
* [[Russell Branyan]] (1995–1996)
* [[Roberto Hernández (starting pitcher)|Roberto Hernandez]]<ref>Known as Fausto Carmona during his tenure with Lake County</ref> (2003, 2008–2009, 2012) MLB All-Star
* [[Einar Diaz]] (1993–1994)
* [[Alan Embree]] (1991)
* [[Maicer Izturis]] (1999–2000)
* [[Steve Kline (left-handed pitcher)|Steve Kline]] (1994)
* [[Ted Kubiak]] (2010–2011, MGR)
* [[Tim Laker]] (2002)
* [[Francisco Lindor]] (2012) 2x MLB All-Star
*[[Albie Lopez]] (1992)
*[[Torey Lovullo]] (2002, MGR) 2017 NL Manager of the Year
* [[Ángel Martínez (baseball)|Ángel Martínez]] (2022)
*[[Víctor Martínez (baseball)|Víctor Martínez]] (2000) 5x MLB All-Star
* [[Dave Mlicki]] (1991)
*[[Eli Morgan]] (2018)
* [[Jhonkensy Noel]] (2021–2022)
* [[Jhonny Peralta]] (2000) 3x MLB All-Star
*[[Scott Radinsky]] (2005, coach)
* [[José Ramírez (infielder)|Jose Ramirez]] (2012) MLB All-Star
*[[CC Sabathia]] (1999) 6x MLB All-Star; 2007 AL Cy Young Award
* [[Danny Salazar]] (2009–2010) MLB All-Star
* [[Marco Scutaro]] (1996) MLB All-Star
* [[Richie Sexson]] (1994) 2x MLB All-Star
* [[Kelly Stinnett]] (1991)
* [[Eric Wedge]] (1998, MGR) 2007 AL Manager of the Year
* [[Jaret Wright]] (1995)
* [[Steven Wright]] (2007, 2011) MLB All-Star
{{div col end}}

==Captains Call-Up Club==

The names of all Captains players and franchise alumni who have advanced to play Major League Baseball are enshrined in the '''Lake County Captains Call-Up Club''' at Classic Auto Group Park. The Call-Up Club includes former Captains, coaches, and managers who've made it to the Major League Baseball coaching staff. A new wall of bronze plaques was installed at the main entrance of Classic Auto Group Park in August of the 2017 season. The previous "Walk of Fame" started in the outfield of Classic Auto Group Park and was moved to an interior wall of the ballpark near the right-field corner of the stadium.

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Lake County Captains}}
* {{Official website|https://www.milb.com/lake-county}}
* [https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi?city=Eastlake&state=OH&country=US Statistics from Baseball-Reference]

{{Cleveland Guardians}}
{{Cleveland Sports}}
{{Ohio Sports}}
{{Midwest League}}

[[Category:Baseball teams established in 2003]]
[[Category:Midwest League teams]]
[[Category:Defunct South Atlantic League teams]]
[[Category:Cleveland Guardians minor league affiliates]]
[[Category:Lake County, Ohio]]
[[Category:Baseball teams in Cleveland]]
[[Category:Professional baseball teams in Ohio]]
[[Category:2003 establishments in Ohio]]
[[Category:High-A Central teams]]