As Central Florida follows the Lake Mary All-Stars’ run through the 2024 Little League World Series, you never know what famous future ballplayers could be stepping to the plate or stepping on the mound in Williamsport over the next two weeks.
Over 70 current and former Major League Baseball players have competed at the Little League World Series in its 77-year history.
Perhaps a Lake Mary All-Star (or two or three) will be one of the next to go to the big leagues! Here is a look at some of the famous ballplayers who have been there, done that in the LLWS.
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Jason Varitek: 1984 LLWS with Altamonte Springs; The pride of Lake Brantley HS, Varitek is one of the few baseball players to compete in the Little League World Series and win the World Series in MLB. Varitek won two World Series Championships (2004, 2007) with the Boston Red Sox. A highly respected member of the Red Sox organization, he became just the third captain in the team’s decorated history. He currently serves on the Red Sox coaching staff.
Max Moroff: 2005 LLWS with Maitland; Another Central Florida representative in the Major Leagues, the 31-year-old Moroff played infield for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Cleveland Indians (now Guardians), and St. Louis Cardinals from 2016-2021. The graduate of Trinity Prep HS in Winter Park, Moroff hit 7 home runs in his 6-year MLB career.
Lloyd McClendon: 1971 LLWS with Indiana; McClendon may have been the most feared hitter in Little League World Series history. In his five official at-bats at the LLWS, he hit five home runs! In his other five at-bats, he was intentionally walked. Now 65, McClendon roamed the outfield for the Cincinnati Reds, Chicago Cubs, and Pittsburgh Pirates from 1987-1994. He hit 35 career home runs during that time, then turned his attention to coaching. McClendon is a former manager of the Pirates, Seattle Mariners, and Detroit Tigers.
Gary Sheffield: 1980 LLWS with Tampa; Sheffield was another big hitter in the Little League World Series, setting a record at the time for most doubles in the tournament. His Tampa team won the US Championship, but fell to Taiwan in the World Championship game. The Milwaukee Brewers selected Sheffield with the 6th overall pick in the 1986 draft. He made his MLB debut in 1988, embarking on a big league career that lasted until 2009. A career .292 hitter, Sheffield was a 9-time MLB All-Star and played for the Brewers, Padres, Marlins, Dodgers, Braves, Yankees, Tigers, and Mets.
Kevin Cash: 1989 LLWS with Tampa; Another Florida man! Cash has experienced it all in baseball. Not only did he played in the Little League World Series, he also played in the College World Series twice as a Florida State Seminole, and won a MLB World Series with the 2007 Boston Red Sox. Now, his greatest triumphs are in the dugout in Tampa Bay. Cash has been the manager of the Tampa Bay Rays since 2015, leading them to the World Series in 2020.
Cody Bellinger: 2007 LLWS with Arizona; Bellinger helped his Arizona team to the LLWS as an 11-year-old. 10 years later, he made his Major League Baseball debut with the LA Dodgers. A two-time All-Star, Bellinger won a World Series as a Dodger in 2020 (beating Kevin Cash’s Tampa Bay Rays). He’s currently in his second season with the Chicago Cubs. He’s hit 190 home runs (and counting) through his MLB career.
Jeff & Todd Frazier: 1998 LLWS with New Jersey; Baseball brothers! The two teamed up to help lead Toms River, NJ to the Little League World Series title in 1998. Todd Frazier went on to become a two-time MLB All-Star during his 10-year big league career, playing for the Reds, White Sox, Yankees, Rangers, Mets, and Pirates. Jeff Frazier’s MLB career lasted only 9 games with the Detroit Tigers in 2010.
EXTRA, EXTRA!
Other Notables In LLWS History
The Governor: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis was a pitcher on the 1991 Little League team from Dunedin which represented Florida and the Southeast at the LLWS.
The NFL Quarterbacks: Matt Cassel played in the 1994 LLWS with California. Jake Fromm played in the 2011 LLWS with Georgia.
Fast Car: NASCAR driver & 2018 Daytona 500 champion Austin Dillon was a member of the North Carolina team that made the LLWS in 2002.
O Canada: Four-time NFL All-Star Pierre Turgeon represented Canada in the 1982 LLWS with his team from Quebec.
Girl Power: 22 girls have taken the field in the LLWS through 2023, including Victoria Roche, who was the first in 1984 (Belgium), pitching sensation Mo’ne Davis in 2014 (Pennsylvania), and Stella Weaver in 2023 (Tennessee) who holds the record for most hits by a girl in the tournament.