When the Brooklyn Cyclones arrived to play at KeySpan Park (currently known as MCU Park) in 2001, it was the first time since the Dodgers left for Los Angeles that Kings County had professional basis. Since that year, there have been 56 players who have suited up for this Class A-Short Season New York–Penn League franchise and then gone on to appear in the major leagues.
Here are five notable alumni who played in a game for the Cyclones prior to making their major league debut.
Scott Kazmir (2001)
Kazmir continues to haunt Mets fans. As part of a trade that brought converted infielder/right hand pitcher Victor Zambrano to the Mets in 2004, the hard-throwing lefty went on to pitch for the Devil Rays, Angels, Indians, Athletics, Astros and is currently taking the mound for the Dodgers. The 32-year-old hurler is also a three-time All-Star and was the 2007 American League strikeout leader.
Jenrry Mejia (2008)
Signed to the Mets as an international free agent in 2007, Mejia spent time with the Cyclones and Gulf Coast League Mets the following season. He was with the big club from 2010 to 2015 and was named the closer in 2014. After testing positive for PED use three separate times, Mejia was the only other person besides Pete Rose to be permanently banned for life from the MLB.
Ike Davis (2008)
The son of former New York Yankees relief pitcher Ron Davis made his major league debut in 2010. During his one Cyclones season, Davis had a league-leading .998 fielding percentage, committin only one error in 492 total chances. A Met from 2010-14, Davis was with the Pittsburgh Pirates (2014), Oakland Athletics (2015) and is currently in the Texas Rangers minor league system.
Michael Conforto (2014)
The 2016 New York Mets starting leftfielder was also a 2014 first-round draft pick. Prior to arriving in Brooklyn, Conforto represented the Northwest Region in the 2004 Little League World Series, set the Oregon State University single-season RBI record with 76 and was named the preseason Sporting News College Baseball Player of the year prior to the 2014 season.
Daniel Murphy (2006 and 2008)
Currently a Mets nemesis feeding off his slot hitting in front of Washington Nationals cleanup hitter Bryce Harper, Murphy’s 2015 late season heroics were preceded by two Cyclones tours. The Florida native’s most recent adventures at second base were preceded by minor league stints patrolling the outfield and playing the hot corner in Brooklyn.
