Steve Buechele • Bench Coach  • Texas Rangers • 1st season 

After spending six seasons as a manager in Texas’ farm system, Buechele was appointed Rangers’ bench coach in 2014. Selected in the fifth round of the 1982 MLB Draft out of Stanford, Buechele played 11 major league seasons. In 1991, he compiled a .991 fielding percentage at third base for Texas, which is still a major league record for either league.

• Texas was eliminated by Toronto in the ALDS (Oct. 14). 

Jason Castro • C • Houston Astros • 5th season • @J_Castro15

A former All-America catcher, Castro was drafted 10th overall by Houston in 2008. In the 2015 regular season, Castro helped the Astros’ pitching staff achieve an AL-best 3.57 ERA with 12 shutouts, second only to Oakland’s 13. 

• Scored a run in game two of the ALDS against Kansas City (Oct. 9).
• Went 1-3 with two RBI in game three (Oct. 11).
• Caught Terrance Gore trying to steal third base in game four (Oct. 12). 
• Houston was eliminated by Kansas City in game five of the ALDS (Oct. 14). 

Jason Castro is the longest tenured Astro. He’s lived all of it. Today’s @HoustonChron feature, one last time: http://t.co/XdQ6mu1Dqi

— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) October 11, 2015

Astros take the lead on a 2-run single by Jason Castro. Houston is up 2-1 over Kansas City at the end of the 5th inning (series tied 1-1).

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 11, 2015

Jeremy Guthrie • P • Kansas City Royals • 12th season • @TheRealJGuts

Selected 22nd overall in the 2002 MLB draft, Guthrie has been a mainstay in the big leagues for 12 seasons. Last season, Guthrie made two World Series starts against San Francisco, going 1-1.

#MLBpostseason underway...Who remembers how it started last year?!?! Let's go! #WildCard pic.twitter.com/N0Qaq05zAJ

— Jeremy Guthrie (@TheRealJGuts) October 7, 2015

A.J. Hinch • Manager • Houston Astros • 1st season • @ajhinch

The second-youngest manager in the major leagues, Hinch led Houston to its first playoff appearance in 10 years in his first season with the club. He has over 20 years of playing, managing and front office experience in Major League Baseball, and was inducted into the Stanford Athletics Hall of Fame last year.

• The Astros were eliminated by Kansas City in game five of the ALDS (Oct. 14). 

"We congratulate the #royals, class organization" - AJ Hinch

— 610 Sports Radio- KC (@610SportsKC) October 15, 2015

Jed Lowrie • IF • Houston Astros • 8th season 

Lowrie makes his fifth playoff appearance and first with Houston in 2015. A thumb injury in April hampered his regular season, but Lowrie's versatility makes him a valuable piece of a potential World Series run.

• Made four pinch-hit appearances in the ALDS against Kansas City. 

biggest swing of season? maybe jed lowrie 2-out, 3-run HR off huston street sept 13. stros rallied for 5 after trailing 3-0

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) October 5, 2015

Stephen Piscotty • OF • St. Louis Cardinals • 1st season 

Piscotty’s recovery from a horrific outfield collision on Sept. 28 comes as a relief to St. Louis, whose brilliant regular season was nonetheless hampered by injuries. Piscotty finished the regular season batting .305 with seven homers, 39 RBI and an .853 OPS.

• Had a home run, two RBI, two runs and a double in game one of the NLDS against Chicago (Oct. 9).
• Went 1-4 in game two of the NLDS (Oct. 10).
• Went 2-4 with two RBI, two runs, a walk and a ninth-inning home run in game three (Oct. 12). 
• Hit a home run in game five of the NLDS (Oct. 13)
• St. Louis was eliminated by the Chicago Cubs in game five of the NLDS (Oct. 13).

What a start for St. Louis! Facing elimination, Cardinals take quick 2-0 lead in 1st inning on Stephen Piscotty's 3rd HR of postseason.

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 13, 2015

Stephen Piscotty was Cardinals compensatory draft pick for losing Albert Pujols. Tonight he goes deep in the NLDS. pic.twitter.com/lNjTbccFO8

— Baseball Tonight (@BBTN) October 10, 2015

Cardinals are showing why they won 100 games this year. Rookie Stephen Piscotty hits a 2-run HR. Cardinals lead, 4-0.

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 10, 2015