In D2 Baseball there is no more storied program than that of Tampa, a team that holds a record seven championships and could very well be in sight of their eighth with the way they have played in 2018.
But beyond the titles and current splendor the Spartans enjoy, they have also laid claim to some of the biggest names to play for the New York Yankees in the last few decades.
Just who are these players? Take a look below and find out for yourself. Keep an eye on UT and other D2 programs as we approach the MLB Draft too, cause you never know who might just break through from small schools to be a big star in the Major Leagues.
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Tino Martinez, 1B
Tampa (1986-88)
| Level | AVG | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|
| College | .398 | 54 | 222 |
| Major Leagues | .271 | 339 | 1271 |
Playing for the Spartans in the late eighties, Tino Martinez is arguably one of the best players to come out of the ranks of D2 within the last 30 years, eclipsing career marks and accolades that even some of the biggest names in the game can't say they have achieved.
A winner of four World Series titles with the Yankees in 1996 and 1998-2000, "Tino" became one of the most beloved players in pinstripes during his career in the Bronx. This all started following being drafted in the first round of the 1988 Draft by the Mariners and bolting in free agency for the Yankees.
Other accolades include being named an All Star twice, winning one Silver Slugger award, and eclipsing 25 homers and 100 RBI every year between '95 and '99. But arguably the best accomplishments for the Tampa native came when he represented his country in the 1988 Olympic Games, winning the gold medal with the United States.
A finalist for the Golden Spikes Award in his final collegiate season, Martinez rounded out his baseball career by returning home to Tampa to play with the Rays for one year in 2004 before retiring in 2005 with the Yankees.
But after a long 16-year career, it can be argued that there has been no better alumnus from Tampa to ever play in the Major Leagues.
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Lou Piniella, OF / Manager
Tampa (1960-62)
| Level | AVG | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Major Leagues | .291 | 102 | 766 |
A Spartan in the early sixties, Piniella went from college ball to an impact player in the bigs when he won the AL Rookie of The Year in 1969 with Kansas City.
After that, he posted decent numbers in his career and became a reliable corner outfield option with the Royals and later on the Yankees with whom he was a member between 1974 and 1984 when he retired from playing.
| Coaching Level | W | L | Win % | Pennants / Titles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Major Leagues | 1835 | 1713 | .517 | 2 (1 NL Pennant, 1 WS) |
But his most notable contributions to the game were as a manager, taking over his first post in 1986 when he led the Yankees to a 90-72 record. Spending parts of two more years in the Bronx, he later moved on to coach the Reds where he won his only World Series as a coach in 1990.
Besides the championship, his biggest accomplishment may have been leading the Mariners to a record 116 wins in 2001 with Ichiro under his watch. He rounded out his career with stops in Tampa (2003-2005) and Chicago to manage the Cubs (2007-2010), finishing with a career winning percentage over .500 and 1835 total victories in 23 years.
