Mormon Baseball

[I’m testing this to see how much time it takes to compile — so at a minimum I’ll try doing it for a few weeks. I’m not sure the format is great either, so any suggestions are welcome.]

Many of the Mormons active in the majors were on the DL this week — including Jacoby Ellsbury, Kyle Farnsworth, Roy Halladay and Matt Lindstrom, but all four are working their way back to health and activity. In the mean time, Bryce Harper continues to perform at the major league level and at something beyond what was expected of the 19-year-old phenom — perhaps the only area where his play is below what might be hoped is his batting average, which is holding at .282, although he should eventually be a better than .300 hitter. I continue amazed at how well he has lived up to expectations.

Among pitchers, the biggest surprise was the Rockie’s Jeremy Guthrie, who fell apart in a game against the Diamondbacks on the 5th, giving up 7 earned runs in just 3 1/3rd innings. In the minors, his disaster was actually exceeded by that of Willie Mays Eyre, who’s year has been increasingly disastrous. This week he managed a 23.14 era in two outings — which may have led to his being released.

From the numbers, the standout performance in the minors so far this year has to be Clayton Mortensen, who has managed a 1.62 era (3-1) and an even better 0.96 era in a 3-game long-relief appearance in the majors in early May. A single home run was the only thing to mar his three 3-inning performances. The way the Red Sox have performed so far this year, you’d think they would want that kind of pitching in the bull pen!

Current Roster Players:

• Darwin Barney—second base—Chicago Cubs
  6 for 27 (.222), 2 runs and 2 rbi and a walk.
  YTD: .268, 25 runs, 17 rbi, 3 sb and 3 hr in 205 at bats.
• John Buck — starting catcher — Miami Marlins
  2 for 14 (.143), 1 walk
  YTD: .162, 8 runs, 13 rbi, 4 hr in 142 at bats.
• Jacoby Ellsbury — starting outfielder — Boston Red Sox
  60-day DL — shoulder injury. Has progressed his throwing sessions up to 40 tosses and has begun hitting off a tee.
  YTD: .192, 4 runs, 3 rbi in 26 at bats.
• Kyle Farnsworth — closer — Tampa Bay Rays
  60-day DL — strained right elbow. Has been out the entire season. Expected to begin Class A rehab assignment June 11.
• Jeremy Guthrie — starting pitcher (right handed) — Colorado Rockies
  Lost v. Diamondbacks, 11 hits, 7 er, 4bb, and 2k in 3.1 innings
  YTD: 3-4, era 6.35, 23 k, 19 bb in 51 innings
• Roy Halladay— starting pitcher (right handed) — Philadelphia Phillies
  15-day DL — Shoulder. Out until at least mid-July.
  YTD: 4-5, era 3.98, 56 k, 14 bb in 72.1 innings.
• Bryce Harper — left field — Washington Nationals
  6 for 24 (.250), 5 runs, 5 rbi, 1 hr, 2 bb, 1 sb
  YTD: .282, 27 runs, 17 rbi, 3 sb, 6 hr in 142 at bats.
• Elliot Johnson — infielder — Tampa Bay Rays
  6 for 16 (.375), 4 runs, 6 rbi, 1 hr, 1 bb
  YTD: .270, 16 runs, 16 rbi, 9 sb, 4 hrs in 126 at bats.
• Josh Johnson — starting pitcher (right handed) – Miami Marlins
  Loss, 2.35 era, 6 hits, 2 er, 9k, 3bb in 7.2 innings.
  YTD: 3-4, 4.56 era, 59 k, 22 bb in 71.0 innings.
• Matt Lindstrom — right handed bullpen pitcher – Baltimore Orioles
  15-day DL — Finger. Out until at least mid-June. Was expected to begin throwing off a mound in 2-3 days from last Tuesday.
  YTD: 0-0, 1.29 era, 14 k, 4 bb in 14.0 innings.
• Brandon Lyon — right handed bullpen pitcher — Houston Astros
  0-0, 0.00 era, 3 k, 1 bb in 2.1 innings
  YTD: 0-1, 2.28 era, 24 k, 6 bb in 23.2 innings.
• Mitch Maier — backup outfielder — Kansas City Royals
  0 for 3 (.000), 1 bb, 1 sb
  YTD: .190, 6 runs, 6 rbi, 2 hr, 2 sb in 58 at bats.
• Adam Rosales — 2B — Oakland A’s
  0 for 8 (.000), 1 bb, 2 k
  YTD: .190, 1 run, 2 rbi, 7 bb, 3 k in 21 at bats.

Minor League Players who may make the majors:

• Tyson Brummett — right handed closer — Philadelphia Phillies organization (currently with the Reading PA Phillies of the Eastern League – AA)
  1-0, 3.00 era, 5 h, 1 er, 3 bb in 3.0 innings.
  YTD: 3-1, 2 sv, 2.65 era, 25 h, 11 er, 2 hr, 43 k, 7 bb in 37.1 innings.
• Taylor Cole — right handed starting pitcher — Toronto Blue Jays organization (currently with the Vancouver Canadians of the Northwest League – A)
  Season hasn’t begun yet.
• Brandon Duckworth — right handed bullpen pitcher — Boston Red Sox organization (currently with the Pawtucket Red Sox of the International League – AAA)
  1-0, 3.00 era, 4 h, 2 er, 8k, 2 bb in 6.0 innings
  YTD: 6-1, 4.22 era, 70 h, 30 er, 8 hr, 57 k, 23 bb in 64.0 innings
• Willie Mays Eyre — pitcher — Baltimore Orioles organization (currently with the Norfolk VA Tides of the International League – AAA)
  0-0, 23.14 era, 7 h, 6 er, 1 hr, 1 k, 1 bb in 2.1 innings
  YTD: 1-3, 7.92 era, 33 h, 22 er, 2 hr, 20 k, 15 bb in 25.0 innings
  MiLB.com reports that Eyre has been released.
• Bryan Harper — left field — Washington Nationals organization (currently with the GCL Nationals of the Gulf Coast League – Rookie)
  Season hasn’t begun.
• Blaine Howell —left handed bullpen pitcher — Cincinnati Reds organization (currently with the Bakersfield Blaze of the California League – A+)
  Hasn’t played since May 5th
  YTD: 0-0, 3.38 era, 8 h, 2 er, 1 hr, 2 k, 2 bb in 5.1 innings
• Kyle Hurst — right handed bullpen pitcher — Los Angeles Angels organization (Inland Empire 66ers of the California League – A+)
  No data yet this year.
• Cale Iorg — Shortstop — Detroit Tigers organization (currently with the Lakeland Flying Tigers of the Florida State League – A+)
  2 for 16 (.125), 3 runs, 1 sb, 2 k in 16 at bats.
  YTD: same
• Marcus Littlewood — Shortstop — Seattle Mariners organization (currently with the Everett WA AquaSox of the Northwest League – A)
  Season hasn’t begun.
• Clayton Mortensen — right handed bullpen pitcher —Boston Red Sox organization (currently with the Pawtucket Red Sox of the International League – AAA)
  0-0, 0.00 era, 1 h, 2 bb in 2.0 innings
  YTD: 3-1, 1sv, 1.62 era, 8 h, 3 er, 16 k, 10 bb in 16.2 innings
  YTD in MLB: 0-0, 0.96 era, 6 h, 1 er, 1 hr, 12k in 9.1 innings
• Matthew Neil — pitcher — Miami Marlins organization (currently with the Jacksonville Suns of the Southern League – AA)
  1-0, 0.00 era, 5 h, 7 k in 9.0 innings.
  YTD: 7-0, 2.85 era, 62 h, 21 er, 6 hr, 41 k, 13 bb in 66.1 innings
• Chris Shelton — first base — New York Mets organization (status unknown, was with the Buffalo NY Bisons of the International League – AAA)
  Doesn’t appear to be active, even though MiLB.com reports that he is. Hasn’t played since 2010.
• Jordan Whatcott —right handed bullpen pitcher — Philadelphia Phillies organization (currently with Reading Phillies of the Eastern League – AA)
  0-0, 0.00 era, 4 h, 4 k in 3 innings
  YTD: 3-0, 1.31 era, 26 h, 5 er, 35 k, 12 bb in 34.1 innings

Foreign Leagues:

• Mitch Talbot — starting pitcher (right handed) — Samsung Lions (Korea)
  0-0, 5.06 era, 5 h, 3 er, 3 k, 6 bb in 5.1 innings
  YTD: 5-1, 4.05 era, 57 h, 24 er, 3 hr, 25 k, 18 bb in 53.1 innings

Players who may be Mormon:

• Rick Anton – pitcher – LA Dodgers organization
• Eric Byrnes — left field — Seattle Mariners
• Matt Carson — left field — Minnesota Twins organization (currently with the Rochester NY Red Wings of the International League – AAA) — ??non-Mormon who went to BYU??
• Derek Cone — Los Angeles Dodgers organization
• Tyler Hanks — pitcher — Washington Nationals organization
• Kam Mickolio — pitcher — Arizona Diamondbacks organization (apparently not Mormon, but I don’t have evidence either way)
• Stephen Parker — third base — Oakland Athletics organization
• Egan Smith — left handed bullpen pitcher — Toronto Blue Jays organization (currently with the Dunedin FL Blue Jays of the Florida State League – A)
• Jordan Smith — right handed bullpen pitcher — Cinncinnati Reds (on 15-day DL, likely will be assigned to the Louisville Bats of the International League – AAA)
• Brad Thompson — pitcher — Houston Astros organization
• Other remote possibilities: Jay Brossman, Brian Budrow, Tyler Chism, Derek Christensen, Dallas Christison, Stephen Fife, Steve Hirschfeld, Zachary Jones, Ryan Khoury, Cole Miles, A. J. Murray, Jordan Taylor Pratt, Tanner Robles, Braeden Schlehuber, Justin Smith, Matt Spring