In the years the Express has been a part of the Northwoods League, the organization has developed dozens of players that have advanced to professional baseball. The ultimate goal, of course, is to play Major League Baseball. Eau Claire has seen threeplayers in its history achieve that ultimate goal. Right-handed pitcher Jordan Zimmermann (2006) was the first former Express player to reach the big leagues when he debuted in 2009. Outfielder Kole Calhoun (2007-2009) became the second when he was recalled from the Minor Leagues in 2012. Cather Nevin Ashley (2006) made a brief appearance when he was a September call-up for the Brewers in 2015. Late in the 2016 season, Eddie Gamboa (2007) was a September call-up for the Tampa Bay Rays becoming the fourth former Express player to appear in a Major League Baseball game. Below is a recap of their careers in the Northwoods League and how they have fared in the Major Leagues thus far.
| Jordan Zimmermann |
|
|
| Year: | 2006 | |
| College: | UW-Stevens Point | |
| Draft: | 2nd Round (67th Overall) in 2007 by the Washington Nationals | |
| Current Team: | Detroit Tigers | |
Northwoods League Pitching Stats:
| W-L | ERA | G | GS | CG | SHO | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO |
| 4-2 | 1.01 | 11 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 80.2 | 42 | 18 | 9 | 28 | 92 |
Express Records Held:
- Single-season Innings Pitched (80.2)
- Single-season Strikeouts (92)
Major League Baseball Stats:
| W-L | ERA | G | GS | CG | SHO | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | WHIP |
| 79-57 | 3.45 | 197 | 196 | 8 | 4 | 1199.1 | 1165 | 502 | 460 | 247 | 969 | 1.18 |
| Kole Calhoun |
|
|
| Years: | 2007-2009 | |
| College: | Yavapai Community College / Arizona State | |
| Draft: | 8th Round (264th Overall) in 2010 by the Los Angeles Angels | |
| Current Team: | Los Angeles Angels | |
Northwoods League Batting Stats:
| Year | AVG | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO |
| 2007 | .274 | 66 | 241 | 54 | 66 | 19 | 0 | 5 | 29 | 35 | 56 |
| 2008 | .273 | 43 | 161 | 29 | 44 | 14 | 1 | 2 | 22 | 24 | 23 |
| 2009 | .241 | 41 | 153 | 25 | 37 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 19 | 30 | 24 |
Northwoods League Pitching Stats:
| Year | W-L | ERA | G | GS | SV | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO |
| 2007 | 3-0 | 0.38 | 19 | 0 | 14 | 24.0 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 21 | 45 |
| 2008 | 1-2 | 3.46 | 12 | 0 | 8 | 13.0 | 13 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 20 |
| 2009 | 1-2 | 3.75 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 12.0 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 14 | 18 |
Express Records Held:
- Single-season Doubles (19)
- Single-season Runs Scored (57)
- Single-season ERA (0.38)
- Single-season Saves (14)
- Career Doubles (41)
- Career Walks (89)
- Career Saves (24)
Major League Baseball Stats:
| AVG. | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | OPS |
| .266 | 522 | 1935 | 290 | 515 | 97 | 12 | 69 | 249 | 173 | 433 | .764 |
| Nevin Ashley |
|
|
| Years: | 2006 | |
| College: | Indiana State | |
| Draft: | 6th Round (169th Overall) in 2006 by the Tampa Bay Rays | |
| Current Team: | Texas Rangers (AAA) | |
Northwoods League Batting Stats:
| Year | AVG | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO |
| 2006 | .250 | 3 | 12 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
Major League Baseball Stats:
| AVG. | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | OPS |
| .100 | 12 | 20 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 | .293 |
| Eddie Gamboa |
|
|
| Year: | 2007 | |
| College: | UC Davis | |
| Draft: | 21st Round (626th Overall) in 2008 by the Baltimore Orioles | |
| Current Team: | Tampa Bay Rays | |
Northwoods League Pitching Stats:
| W-L | ERA | G | GS | CG | SHO | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO |
| 4-1 | 1.74 | 10 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 46.2 | 43 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 33 |
Major League Baseball Stats:
| W-L | ERA | G | GS | SV | SVO | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | WHIP |
| 0-2 | 1.35 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13.1 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 11 | 1.28 |
