Lake County Captains

The Lake County Captains are a Minor League Baseball team in Eastlake, Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland,  that plays in the Midwest League as the High-A affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians.

The Captains joined the 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. The move alleviated travel costs and time, as it was the South Atlantic League's northernmost team.

Prior to the 2003 season, the club was based in Columbus, Georgia, and known as the Columbus RedStixx. The Captains play their home games in Classic Park, which has a capacity of 6,157 and opened in 2003 as Eastlake Stadium. The current stadium name is the result of a naming rights arrangement; the sponsor is Classic Automotive Group, a major area chain of auto dealerships. Classic 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. In 2022, the High-A Central became known as the Midwest League, the name historically used by the regional circuit prior to the 2021 reorganization.

Franchise regular season win–loss records
Columbus Indians (73–69) Columbus RedStixx (823–711) Lake County Captains (853–810 entering 2016)
 * 1991: 73–69
 * 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)
 * 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: TBD (1st half East Division Champions)

Franchise records

 * Win–loss record entering 2024:
 * .510 overall
 * .500 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, 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 2–1 in semifinals
 * 2010: Defeated West Michigan 2–1 in quarterfinals; Defeated Great Lakes 2–1 in semifinals
 * 2012: Defeated Bowling Green 2–0 in quarterfinals; lost to Fort Wayne 2–0 in semifinals
 * 2014: Defeated South Bend 2–0 in quarterfinals; defeated Fort Wayne 2–0 in semifinals; lost to Kane County 3–0 in finals
 * 2019: Lost to Great Lakes 2–1 in quarterfinals

Notable franchise alumni



 * Chris Archer (2007–2009) 2x MLB All-Star
 * David Bell (1991)
 * Russell Branyan (1995–1996)
 * Roberto Hernandez (2003, 2008–2009, 2012) MLB All-Star
 * Einar Diaz (1993–1994)
 * Alan Embree (1991)
 * Maicer Izturis (1999–2000)
 * 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
 * Víctor Martínez (2000) 5x MLB All-Star
 * Dave Mlicki (1991)
 * Eli Morgan (2018)
 * Jhonny Peralta (2000) 3x MLB All-Star
 * Scott Radinsky (2005, coach)
 * 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

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 Park. The Call-Up Club also includes former Captains coaches and managers who've made it to Major League Baseball coaching staffs. A new wall of bronze plaques was installed at the main entrance of Classic Park in August of the 2017 season. The previous "Walk of Fame" started in the outfield of Classic Park and was moved to an interior wall of the ballpark near the right field corner of the stadium.