University of Connecticut Athletics
BSB: Huskies in the Pros Update
7/13/2019 1:04:00 PM | Baseball
STORRS, Conn. With the Major League season hitting the second half and minor league season getting into the stretch run, we spotlight our 21 Huskies that are currently playing affiliated ball in 2019.
George Springer, Houston Astros, MLB
Springer was voted to his third-straight All-Star Game and the UConn All-American ('11) went 1-2 at the plate in Cleveland this past Tuesday. Before missing time with a hamstring injury, the Astros outfielder was putting together an AL MVP type season. The New Britain native is hitting .305 with 11 2B's, 18 HR's, 46 RBIs and 48 runs in 61 games.
Nick Ahmed, Arizona Diamondbacks, MLB
After winning his first career Gold Glove in 2018, Nick Ahmed has continued to shine defensively, leading the Majors in Defensive WAR (1.9). The East Longmeadow, Mass native has also swung it well at the dish and is on pace to set career highs in many offensive categories. The Diamondbacks shortstop is hitting a career-high .265 AVG with 20 2B's, 3 3B's, 9 HR's, 39 RBIs, 46 Runs, 6 SB's and .430 Slugging Percentage.
Scott Oberg, Colorado Rockies, MLB
Scott Oberg is having his best year in his fifth professional season with the Colorado Rockies. The Tewksbury, Mass. native has split time in the closer and set up role in the Colorado bullpen. The right-hander has collected a career-high three saves while posting a career-low 1.24 ERA. Oberg is 5-1 in 38 appearances and has logged 48 strikeouts in 43.2 innings.
Matt Barnes, Boston Red Sox, MLB
Matt Barnes has pitched at the back end of the Red Sox bullpen in 2019. The Bethel, Conn. native has already logged a career-high four saves in 40 appearances. The right-hander is 3-3 with a 4.62 ERA and has compiled 67 strikeouts in 37.0 innings of work.
Anthony Kay, Syracuse Mets (NY Mets), AAA
The Mets 2016 First Round pick pitched in the MLB Futures Game last Sunday, among the top prospects in baseball. Kay faced the minimum in one scoreless inning of work that featured a strikeout of No. 5 ranked prospect Luis Robert. The Long Island, N.Y. native dominated with the Binghamton Rumble Ponies in Double-A and earned a call up to Triple-A in mid-June. Kay went 7-3 with a 1.49 ERA in 12 starts, in 66.1 innings he struck out 70 batters. The left-hander is coming off his best outing in Triple-A with a 5.2 inning performance against Scranton-Wilkes Barre that featured just five hits, one earned and three strikeouts.
John Andreoli, Tacoma Rainiers (Mariners), AAA
After breaking into the Big Leagues with the Mariners and Orioles in 2018, John Andreoli signed with the Minnesota Twins in the offseason. Andreoli hit .196 in 43 games with Rochester (AAA) before being released and quickly picked up by the Mariners. Since rejoining his former organization, the outfielder is hitting .280 with 7 2B's, 4 HR, 15 RBIs and 4 SB's in 31 games. Â
Max McDowell, Biloxi Shuckers (Brewers), AA
Max McDowell has played 60 games with Biloxi in his second season with the Double-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. The backstop has thrown out 15 base runners and continued to catch at a high-level for his pitching staff. McDowell has produced his best offensive numbers since 2016 while playing at Single-A Wisconsin. The Pittsburgh, Pa. native is hitting .231 with 10 2B's, 3 HR's, 12 RBIs, scored 22 runs and racked up 42 hits.
Willy Yahn, Bowie Baysox (Orioles), AA
Willy Yahn is having an unbelievable 2019 season while rising up to the Double-A ranks in just his second full professional season in the Orioles organization. The Sharon, Conn. native was an All-Star with the Frederick Keys in the first half of the season, hitting .296 with 22 runs scored, 13 2B's, 5 HR's and 35 RBIs. After playing in the Carolina All-Star Game, Yahn was promoted to Double-A. With the Baysox, Yahn is hitting .204 in 15 games with 6 2B's, 6 runs scored and 3 RBIs.
Pat Ruotolo, Richmond Flying Squirrels (Giants), AA
Pat Ruotolo was throwing the ball extremely well for the Richmond Flying Squirrels in 2018 but towards the later stages of the season had to shut it down to get Tommy John Surgery. Ruotolo is continuing to rehab from that injury in 2019.
Tim Cate, Potomac Nationals (Nationals), Class A Advanced
Tim Cate has thrived in his first full professional season with stops at Hagerstown and Potomac. Cate logged a 2.82 ERA in 13 starts with Hagerstown before being promoted. The Manchester, Conn. native logged 70.1 innings and struck out 73 batters. In four starts with Potomac, the left-hander has a 3.27 ERA and struck out 22 batters in 22.0 innings of work. Cate is coming off his best start with the Nationals, logging six shutout innings against Myrtle Beach.
John Russell, San Jose Giants, Class A Advanced
After two solid professional seasons, John Russell pitched in nine games for San Jose before having to shut down his 2019 campaign to get Tommy John Surgery. Russell had struck out 18 batters in just 11.0 innings of work before shutting it down at the end of April.
Wills Montgomerie, Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (Dodgers), Class A Advanced
Wills Montgomerie earned All-Star recognition in the California League in 2019. The Lakeville, Conn. native has pitched in 17 games and made three starts. He is 8-2 with a 4.83 ERA. In 78.1 innings the right-hander has struck out 98 batters, which ranks fourth in the league. His eight wins on the mound are tied for second in the California League.
Jack Sundberg, Potomac Nationals (National), Class A Advanced
Jack Sundberg has battled injuries in 2019 and has played in just 19 games between Potomac and the GCL Nationals. Sundberg was just activated from the injured list on July 10.
Zac Susi, Greensboro Grasshoppers (Pirates), Class A
Zac Susi has played in 32 games for Greensboro in 2019. The catcher hit his first professional home run on July 4 against Lakewood. The Southington, Conn. native has been solid defensively and has produced 6 2B's, 10 RBIs, 19 runs scored and drawn 13 walks.
P.J. Poulin, Asheville Tourists (Rockies), Class A
P.J. Poulin has just taken over the closer's role for the Asheville Tourists and converted on four-straight save opportunities. The left-hander has appeared in 37 games and recorded a 2.74 ERA while notching 44 strikeouts in 42.2 innings.
Jake Wallace, Boise Hawks (Rockies), Class A Short Season
The 2019 Third Round pick for the Rockies has appeared in seven games for Boise. The Metheun, Mass. native has earned three saves and recorded six-straight scoreless outings after allowing a run in his professional debut. The right-hander has recorded 10 strikeouts in his 7.0 innings of work and allowed just two hits.
Anthony Prato, Elizabethton Twins, Rookie A Advanced
Anthony Prato has hit .278 in 15 games with the Twins, including three doubles and one homer. The shortstop has driven in six runs and walked eight times to push his on-base percentage to .365. Prato was a seventh round pick by the Twins back in June.
Mason Feole, San Diego Padres Organization
The 11th Round draft pick of the San Diego Padres signed his professional contract right before the July 12 signing deadline.
Mike Woodworth, Vermont Lake Monsters (Athletics), Class A Short Season
Mike Woodworth has gone on a tear for Vermont by hitting safely in his last eight games to push his average to .293. Woody has played in 17 games with the Lake Monsters and recorded 17 hits, seven runs scored, two doubles and six RBIs. The Alameda, Calif. native briefly played for the AZL Athletics and notched six extra base hits ( 3 2B's, 1 3B, 2 HR's) while driving in 10 in just seven games.
CJ Dandeneau, Bristol Pirates (Pirates), Rookie Advanced
37th Round pick CJ Dandeneau has split time between the GCL and Bristol in his first five appearances. The right-hander is 1-2 with a 1.54 combined ERA for the Pirates. In 11.2 innings, he has struck out 14 batters. Four of his five appearances out of the pen have been multiple inning stints.
Doug Domnarski, GCL Tigers, Rookie
On June 22, the Tigers signed Doug Domnarski and assigned him to the GCL Tigers West. Domnarski has appeared in three games and recorded a 2.70 ERA. The left-hander has given up a run in 3.1 innings and collected a pair of strikeouts.
