Players Tribune
The MABL Players’ Tribune
Josh Hansen — June 2024
After 14 seasons over 10 years, the Kihei Centipedes’ Josh Hansen has decided to hang up his spikes in order to devote more time to his passions outside of baseball. Hansen broke into the MABL in 2014 and has been around for both good seasons and bad with the ‘Pedes, helping his squad to their first Championship during the Spring 2018 season. A lifetime .307 hitter, the speedy outfielder has scored 206 runs over his 163 career games and is 3rd all-time with 172 stolen bases. Dating back to August 2019, Hansen reached base in 58 straight games before he was kept off base in all three plate appearances during the final game of the Spring 2024 Championship Series — the second longest such streak in MABL history.
The following message is a reflection on his time in the league, submitted by Josh for publication in the MABL Players’ Tribune.
Enmanuel Yajure — March 2020
After 7 decorated seasons in the MABL, the Brewers’ Enmanuel “el Loco” Yajure, known to most as “Manny”, is moving in search of new opportunities for his family. Originally breaking into the league with the Lahaina Warriors in 2016, the big right-hander from Venezuela has made an enormous impact on the league over the past 4 years. A three-time league MVP, Manny holds the best career batting average (.433), slugging percentage (.597), and on-base percentage (1.095) by wide margins. His 5 career home runs is the second highest mark all-time. He also ranks first in career opponent batting average (.187) and strike outs per 9 innings (10.51) on the mound, with a 2.45 ERA (4th all-time), 31 wins (5th), 13 saves (2nd), 24 complete games (3rd), and 447 strike outs (4th) over 382.2 innings.
After joining the Brewers in 2017, he helped lead them to 4 consecutive Championship Series appearances and 2 MABL Titles. As much of an impact as Manny has had on the league, he will tell you that the impact that the MABL has had on him cannot be understated. The following was submitted by Manny, and offers his account of what the Maui Adult Baseball League has meant to him, as well as his farewell to those he competed with and against over the past 4 years.
Brendan Gripp — January 2019
After 6 seasons in the MABL, Royals’ catcher Brendan Gripp is moving back to California to further his college education. The 4-time All Star and Summer 2018 Gold Glove award winner was a career .361 hitter, and was easily recognized by his flowing orange locks and hard-nosed style of play.
The following was submitted by Gripps, as the inaugural post of the MABL Players’ Tribune.