Bowling Green, Kentucky – The Bowling Green Hot Rods are thrilled to introduce the 2027 Hot Rods Hall of Fame Ballot. This is the fourth time the voting has opened following the inductions of Brandon Lowe, Jake Cronenworth, and Shane McClanahan in 2026.
Prior to Opening Day on April 2, 2027, at least one former player or coach of the Bowling Green Hot Rods will be selected into the 2027 Hot Rods Hall of Fame class. Fan and media voting ends Friday, November 13. Fans can vote at the ballpark or via this link: https://form.jotform.com/262366916936167
There are six current members of the Hot Rods Hall of Fame. Opening in 2018, the inaugural voting resulted in the inductions of Matt Moore and Kevin Kiermaier. In 2019, Blake Snell was inducted, following his 2018 AL Cy Young season for the Tampa Bay Rays. Lowe, Cronenworth, and McClanahan received Hot Rods Hall of Fame honors in 2026, the first inductions in seven years.
“The success we have seen the Hot Rods have on the field has resulted in 134 players, coaches, and broadcasters making it to the MLB,” said Kyle Wolz, Hot Rods GM and COO. “We can’t wait to continue to honor the rich baseball history we have witnessed in Bowling Green since 2009.”
The following nominees fit the criteria to be inducted into the Hot Rods Hall of Fame. All players on this list have played the minimum number of games for the Hot Rods, including 50 games for position players, 10 games for relief pitchers, and five games for starting pitchers. Each staff member on this list is also eligible, coaching at least one season with the Hot Rods.
Along with the qualifying credentials during their time in Bowling Green, the nominees have also achieved one of the following:
- Selected as a Midseason/Postseason All-Star Team.
- Selected as a Postseason Organizational All-Star.
- Play or coach in at least one game in Major League Baseball.
The current ballot is comprised of players nominated by the Hot Rods front office. A nominee will be selected for the Hot Rods Hall of Fame if they receive at least 75% of the votes. If a nominee receives a vote but does not meet the threshold, they will remain on the ballot for a maximum of five seasons. A player or coach will be removed from the ballot if they do not receive a vote. This year's ballot includes:
Jonathan Aranda:
Aranda spent parts of two seasons with the Hot Rods. During his first stint in 2019, the Hot Rods were still a Single-A affiliate before the changes in 2020. Aranda played around the infield, playing 44 games at second base, 10 at first base, and three at third base. He hit .275 over 59 games, putting his name on the map in the Rays organization. He returned in 2021 for just 21 games, hitting .351 with four homers and a .449 OBP. After the 2021 season, Aranda was recognized as a Rays MiLB.com Organization All-Star. The right-handed hitter made his MLB debut with the Rays in 2022 and has played a total of five seasons in Tampa Bay. He earned his first All-Star nod in 2025 and produced a career-high 22 homers and 92 RBI in 2026.
Tim Beckham:
Beckham was part of the inaugural Hot Rods team in 2009. He drove in the first run in franchise history, launching the first Bowling Green homer, on April 9, 2009, in an 8-3 win over the Hickory Crawdads. He highlighted his season with the Hot Rods with SAL Midseason and Postseason All-Star nods. Beckham was the first overall pick in the 2008 MLB Draft, making his debut with Tampa Bay five seasons later. He played with four different franchises, starting with the Rays and moving on to Baltimore, Seattle, and Minnesota.
Mike Brosseau:
Brosseau played his first full season of minor league baseball for the Hot Rods in 2017 after the Rays signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2016. He quickly found success, hitting .318 with the Hot Rods, leading to the first of his two Tampa Bay Rays Organizational All-Star awards. Brosseau made an impact in the MLB for the Rays, hitting a solo, go-ahead homer in a series deciding game five against the New York Yankees, giving Tampa Bay a 2-1 win. After his time with the Rays, Brosseau went on to play two seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers.
Vidal Brujan:
Brujan spent 95 games with the Hot Rods in 2018, collecting a Midwest League Most Improved Player and Postseason All-Star awards. He hit .313, leading Bowling Green to the first championship in franchise history, taking down the Peoria Chiefs three games to one. Brujan played three seasons with Tampa Bay before being traded to the Miami Marlins prior to the 2024
season. He has caught on with four different teams after his time with the Rays, appearing with the Cubs, Orioles, Braves, and Mets.
Derek Dietrich:
Dietrich flashed his MLB level power during his time in Bowling Green in 2011. He hit 22 homers, which has him tied for fourth on the Hot Rods single-season home run list. He was the first Hot Rods hitter to pass the 20-home run mark in a season, a feat that wasn’t accomplished again until 2021. Throughout the year, Dietrich won a MWL Midseason All-Star award. In 2012, he was traded to the Miami Marlins, eventually making his MLB debut in 2013. Overall, he played in parts of eight MLB seasons with the Marlins, Reds, and Rangers.
Jonah Heim:
Heim spent a season with the Hot Rods in 2017. The catcher showed promise at the plate, hitting .268 with nine homers and 53 RBI. He caught 55% of runners trying to steal, tossing out 24 while allowing 29 steals. In 2017, Heim was dealt to the Athletics as a player to be named later in a trade for Joey Wendell. In August of 2020, he made his debut with the Athletics. Since, Heim has played parts of seven MLB seasons with the Athletics, Rangers, and Braves. He was a part of the Rangers 2023 World Series Championship team, a season that included his lone All-Star appearance and Gold Glove award.
Josh Lowe:
Lowe played in Bowling Green during the 2017 season alongside his brother Nathaniel. The left-handed hitter posted a .268 average with eight homers and 55 RBI. Lowe’s season with the Hot Rods started his rise through the Rays organization, landing Rays Organizational All-Star honors in 2019 and 2021. In 2023, he stole 32 bases for the Rays, finishing with the fifth-most in the AL that season. In January of 2026, Lowe was traded to the Los Angeles Angels for Chris Clark and Gavin Lux.
Nathaniel Lowe:
Lowe, the older brother of 2017 Bowling Green Hot Rod Josh Lowe, was drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 13th round of the 2016 MLB Draft. He spent 63 games with the Hot Rods, collecting 5 home runs, 35 RBIs, .293 batting average, and a Midwest League Mid-Season All-Star award during the 2017 season. Lowe made his MLB debut for the Rays on April 29, 2019. Since reaching the Majors, he has played for six teams in total, spending time with the Rays, Rangers, Nationals, Red Sox, Reds, and Guardians. Lowe has enjoyed success outside of his numbers, being awarded with a 2022 Silver Slugger, 2023 Gold Glove, as well as becoming an MLB champion in 2023 with the Texas Rangers.
Luke Maile:
Maile shined during his 2013 season in Bowling Green, capturing MWL Midseason and Postseason All-Star Awards. He showed his extra-base capabilities, backing up his four home runs with 25 doubles. Maile quickly made his way through the ranks, debuting for Tampa Bay in 2015. Over his career so far, he has spent time with six different teams including Tampa Bay, Toronto, Milwaukee, Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Kansas City.
Curtis Mead:
Mead played 53 games with the Hot Rods during his first full season in the Rays organization in 2021. He shined in a Bowling Green uniform, hitting .282 with seven homers and 32 RBI. For his work in 2021, Mead earned a spot as a Rays Organizational All-Star and captured the award again in 2023. The right-handed hitter made his debut with the Rays in 2023. Overall, he spent parts of three seasons in Tampa Bay and was traded in 2025 along with Duncan Davitt and Ben Peoples to the Chicago White Sox for Adrian Hauser. In March of 2026, Mead signed with the Washington Nationals and was traded to the Boston Red Sox in July.
Jordan Qsar:
Qsar finished his Hot Rods career in a tie with fellow teammate, Grant Witherspoon, with 32 career homers. Qsar played in Bowling Green as part of Midwest League at the Single-A level in 2019 and was promoted to High-A after Bowling Green made the switch in levels in 2021. During that season, the outfielder played in 98 games, hitting .257 with 23 homers, earning Rays Organizational and SAL Post-Season All-Star honors. The 23 homers are currently tied for the third-most in single-season franchise history with Carson Williams (2023).
Jesus Sanchez:
Sanchez shined during his time in Bowling Green, racking up 82 RBIs, which currently sits as third all-time in a single season for a Hot Rods hitter. His performance led to three different awards, including a 2017 Midwest League Midseason All-Star, 2017 Midwest League Postseason All-Star, as well as a 2017 MiLB Tampa Bay Rays Organizational All-Star award. In 2019, Sanchez was traded to the Miami Marlins, where he played six seasons. Since his time in Miami, Sanchez has spent time with the Houston, Toronto, and Arizona.
Andrew Toles:
Toles spent the entirety of the 2013 season with the Hot Rods, his lone year in Bowling Green. In that time, he put his name in the Hot Rods record books, stealing 62 bases. His speed was put on display, but so was his durability. During the 2013 campaign, Toles played 121 games. He is one of just 20 Hot Rods players in the 16 years of the franchise’s existence that has played in 120 or more games in a season. Toles tallied a 2013 Midwest League Midseason All-Star award, eventually making his way to the MLB with the Los Angeles Dodgers, playing three seasons in total, including 11 playoff games during the 2016 season.
Taylor Walls:
Walls enjoyed an MWL All-Star nod and championship in 2018. Along with a solid offensive year, finishing with a .304 average and 57 RBIs, Walls also made a major impact in the field. He played in 120 games of the 139 total for Bowling Green in 2018. 104 of those games were spent at shortstop, committing just 18 errors over that span. Walls sits fifth all-time with 903.0 innings played at shortstop in a season. He helped out when it mattered most, hitting .250 with three doubles and three RBIs over eight playoff games, helping the Hot Rods to their first championship.
Grant Witherspoon:
Witherspoon, along with his teammate Jordan Qsar, is tied for the most career home runs in franchise history with 32. The outfielder played his 2019 and 2021 seasons here, seeing his power numbers rise in the process. In 2019, he blasted 10 homers, achieving an SAL Mid-Season All-Star nod. He followed with 22 home runs in 2021, currently tied for fifth for the Hot Rods in single-season home runs alongside Derek Dietrich (2011) and Evan Edwards (2021).
Jose Alvarado:
Alvarado played the first 10 games of his 2016 season in Bowling Green. He put up elite numbers on the mound, posting a 1.46 ERA with 34 strikeouts over 24.2 innings. Within the next year, Alvarado made his debut, pitching in his first MLB game with the Rays in May of 2017. So far, the southpaw has played 10 MLB seasons, spending time with only two franchises, the Rays and the Phillies.
Shane Baz:
Baz spent his entire 2019 season in Bowling Green, finishing his Hot Rods campaign with a 2.99 ERA over 81.1 innings. It was a quick rise for the righty, pitching in just 17 combined games between Double-A Montgomery and Triple-A Durham, before making his debut in September of 2021. Baz stayed with Tampa Bay from 2021 until 2025. He was traded in December of 2025 to the Baltimore Orioles for Caden Bodine, Slater de Brun, Michael
Forrett, Austin Overn, and an additional draft pick. Baz finished his first season with the Orioles, posting a 4.11 ERA over 31 starts.
Taj Bradley:
Although it was short lived, Bradley dazzled over eight starts with the Hot Rods in 2021. He finished his time with the Hot Rods with a 3-0 record with a 1.96 ERA, striking out 42 batters over 36.2 innings. After the season, Bradley was named an MiLB.com Organizational All-Star in the Rays system, as well as receiving honors as a Baseball America Minor League All-Star. He was part of a 2021 High-A East League Championship team, making one postseason outing, tossing 6.0 scoreless innings while striking out nine against the Greensboro Grasshoppers. Bradley has played parts of four seasons in the MLB and was traded in July of 2025 to the Minnesota Twins in exchange for Griffin Jax.
Diego Castillo:
Castillo signed with the Tampa Bay Rays on March 5, 2014, as an international free agent. He had two stints in Bowling Green during the 2015 and 2016 seasons. Overall, he managed a 1-3 record with a 2.55 ERA and collected a 2016 Midwest League Midseason All-Star award. Castillo made his MLB debut on June 6, 2018, with Tampa Bay. He has made 265 appearances in the MLB, holding a 3.20 ERA with 310 strikeouts. Throughout his seven years in the MLB, Castillo has played for three different franchises, including the Rays, as well as the Mariners and Twins.
Josh Fleming:
Fleming made 10 starts for the Hot Rods in 2018, recording a 6-1 record with a 1.20 ERA. The southpaw shined over his 60.0 innings, striking out 42 while walking just 10. He helped the Hot Rods make the Midwest League playoffs in a season where the franchise captured their first league championship but was called up to Advanced-A before the postseason started. Fleming has appeared in the MLB for six season, playing games with the Rays, Pirates, and Blue Jays.
Dylan Floro:
Floro was drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 13th round of the 2012 MLB Draft. He spent his 2013 season in Bowling Green, mowing down opponents consistently. Floro started 19 games, finishing with a 9-2 record, a 1.81 ERA, and 85 strikeouts compared to just 19 walks. He made his debut for the Rays on July 7, 2016. Since then, Floro has played for eight different franchises, maintaining a 3.49 ERA with 355 strikeouts. The righty joined the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2020, where they won a World Series in the 60-game shortened season.
Brent Honeywell Jr.:
Honeywell spent 12 games with the Hot Rods in 2015. He struck out 76 batters in just 65.0 innings in Bowling Green, ending the season with a 4-4 record and a 2.91 ERA. Honeywell was named as a 2015 MWL Midseason All-Star. Since making it to the MLB, he has spent time with five different franchises, including Tampa Bay, San Diego, Chicago White Sox, Pittsburgh, and the Los Angeles Dodgers. During the 2024 campaign, Honeywell pitched in 18 games for the Dodgers. He also pitched in three playoff games that season, including one outing in the World Series, where the Dodgers were named 2024 MLB champions.
German Marquez:
Marquez signed with the Tampa Bay Rays on July 6, 2011. He quickly found himself in the Hot Rods rotation during the 2014 season. He made 22 appearances and 18 starts in Bowling Green, striking out 95 batters over 98.0 innings. His season at Bowling Green Ballpark sent him on a speed run through the MiLB, eventually being traded to the Colorado Rockies, making his MLB debut on September 8, 2016. Along with the counting stats, Marquez has also racked up the accolades, including a 2018 Silver Slugger and 2021 MLB All-Star selection.
Jayden Murray:
Murray was a part of the 2021 Championship squad for the Hot Rods. He pitched in his first 12 games of the 2021 campaign with Bowling Green, finishing with a 7-1 record and a 1.72 ERA. He punched out 53 hitters over 57.2 innings, holding opponents to a .149 batting average. In August of 2022, Murray was part of a three-team trade between the Rays, Orioles, and Astros, sending the right-handed pitcher to Houston. Murray made his debut in September of 2025 with the Astros and is currently part of the Chicago Cubs organization.
Tobias Myers:
Myers pitched in 23 games, making 21 starts, for the Hot Rods in 2019. He was a workhorse for Bowling Green, logging 119.0 innings while striking out 101. Myers spent the next two seasons in the Rays system before he was traded in November of 2021 to the Cleveland Guardians for Junior Caminero. The right-hander made his MLB debut with the Milwaukee Brewers in April of 2024 and has spent parts of three seasons with the Brewers, including a pair of postseason appearances in 2024 and 2025. Myers made 32 appearances, including two starts, with the Mets in 2026.
Riley O’Brien:
O’Brien pitched in 15 games, mainly from the bullpen, for Bowling Green in 2018. He went 2-1 with a 2.05 ERA, striking out 66 batters over 48.1 innings. In August of 2020, O’Brien was traded to the Reds for Cody Reed. The righty made his debut with Cincinnati in September of 2021. Overall, O’Brien has played parts of five MLB seasons with the Reds, Mariners, and Cardinals. Most recently he was an All-Star for the Cardinals in 2026, logging 38 saves, good enough for third most in the MLB.
Cristopher Sanchez:
Sanchez spent the first 11 games of his 2019 season in Bowling Green. He pitched mainly out of the bullpen while making four starts. The lefty posted a 3-1 record with a 2.01 ERA, sitting down 37 batters across 40.1 innings. Sanchez was traded to the Phillies in November of 2019 for Curtis Mead. He made his debut with Philadelphia in June of 2021 and has proven to be a pivotal part of the Phillies rotation. Sanchez received his first All-Star nod in 2024 and was named the NL All-Star starter in 2026. He finished the 2025 season as runner up for the NL Cy Young award. The southpaw produced one of his best seasons so far in 2026, going 18-7 with a 2.91 ERA, leading the NL in wins.
Kirby Yates:
Yates was originally drafted by the Boston Red Sox in round 26 of the 2005 MLB draft, but decided not to sign, choosing to attend Yavapai College in Arizona. He missed the 2006 and 2007 season due to injury, eventually signing with the Tampa Bay Rays as an undrafted free agent in 2009. Yates played his first full season in the MiLB with the Hot Rods during the inaugural 2009 season. He appeared in 27 games for Bowling Green, holding opponents to a .225 batting average and was perfect over five save opportunities. Yates was selected as an All-Star in 2019 along with an All-MLB nomination while leading the NL with 41 saves. He received
another All-Star appearance in 2024.
Joe Ryan:
Ryan pitched in just six games during the Hot Rods 2019 season, starting off one of his best seasons in the Rays system. He recorded a 2.93 ERA over 27.2 innings while striking out 47. He was awarded with an MiLB.com Organizational All-Star award for his work in 2019. In July of 2021, Ryan was traded to the Minnesota Twins for Nelson Cruz and Calvin Faucher. By September, the right-hander made his MLB debut with the Twins. Ryan finished his sixth MLB season in 2026, receiving All-Star nominations each of the last two seasons.
Craig Albernaz:
Albernaz, hired as the manager of the Baltimore Orioles prior to the 2026 season, played a major role in Hot Rods franchise history. Spending his lone season with Bowling Green in 2018, Albernaz was able to bring the Hot Rods their first championship. The skipper led his team to a 90-49 record, securing a playoff spot. In the MWL Playoffs, the Hot Rods took down the Lansing Lugnuts in the quarterfinals, the West Michigan Whitecaps in the semifinals, and wrapped up a championship with a series win over the Peoria Chiefs. After Bowling Green, Albernaz spent time as the Rays field coordinator in 2019. He went on to work for the San Francisco Giants and the Cleveland Guardians before accepting the Orioles managerial position.
Matt Quatraro:
Quatraro was the first skipper, leading the Hot Rods through the inaugural season in 2009. He managed the team to a near .500 season, ending the campaign 64-67. This was his only season managing the Hot Rods, taking over as Tampa Bay’s minor league hitting coordinator from 2010 to 2013. Quatraro joined Cleveland’s coaching staff in 2014 as their assistant hitting coach and made another brief stop with the Rays in 2017 and 2018. In 2024 with the Royals, Quatraro led the team to their first playoff appearance since the 2015 World Series victory, eventually losing to the Yankees in the American League Divisional Series.
Jeff Smith:
Smith managed the Hot Rods in 2021 and 2022, finishing his tenure as one of the most successful managers in Bowling Green history. He led the Hot Rods to a High-A East League crown in 2021, making it back-to-back titles with a South Atlantic League Championship in 2022. Smith earned Manager of the Year awards in both of his seasons in Bowling Green. Even after his time as the manager, Smith can still be periodically found at Bowling Green Ballpark. After the 2022 season, Smith became the Rays Catching Coordinator, traveling around to the Rays Minor League affiliates each season.