Mormon Baseball

Professional baseball calls them transactions, and the Mormon players in professional ball saw quite a few of them this past week, even though the immediate performances didn’t exactly match what happened. The As’ Adam Rosales was sent down to AAA after poor performances at the plate, and promptly played much better. Red Sox pitcher Clayton Mortsensen was called back up to the majors to take the place of Josh Beckett despite a poor outing last week. But these inconsistencies don’t appear in the case of Jeremy Guthrie, who has had repeated bad outings for the Rockies this year, leading to indications this week that the Rockies are trying to trade him to the Toronto Blue Jays, who are desperate for starting pitchers because several starters are now on the DL.

In contrast to these moves, the active players in MLB are doing fairly well.

Four major leaguers who are Mormon remain on the DL: Jacoby Ellsbury, Kyle Farnsworth, Roy Halladay and Matt Lindstrom — and all are rehabing and are expected back before the all-star break. Including these players there are a total of 13 Mormon players in the majors.

Among the outstanding performances this week is that of Byrce Harper, who hit his 7th home run and went 10 for 28 to raise his batting average to .294 (and briefly over .300 in the middle of the week). Harper also caught attention briefly for his unique response to a Toronto reporter (more tomorrow), but then suffered a bit of ignominy when he earned a “platinum sombrero” (5 strike outs) in the National’s 14-inning contest against the red-hot New York Yankees. Also sporting good performances were the Cubs’ Darwin Barney, Tampa Bay’s Elliott Johnson and the Marlins’ Josh Johnson.

In the minors, the Mormon players also experienced several “transactions” as players Tyson Brummett and Cale Iorg were promoted to AAA teams. Brummett, a pitcher, is now with the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs while Iorg is back on the Toledo Mud Hens. Four Mormon players on our lists are now playing AAA ball; the others are Brandon Duckworth and Adam Rosales.

As always, further reliable information on Mormon players is not only welcome, but actively sought for.

.

Current Roster Players:

• Darwin Barney—second base—Chicago Cubs
  7 for 22 (.318), 4 runs and 4 rbi, a walk and a stolen base. One strikeout
  YTD: .273, 29 runs, 21 rbi, 4 sb and 3 hr in 227 at bats.
• John Buck — starting catcher — Miami Marlins
  2 for 12 (.167), 1 run, 3 walks, 3 strike outs
  YTD: .162, 9 runs, 13 rbi, 4 hr and 30 walks in 154 at bats.
• Jacoby Ellsbury — starting outfielder — Boston Red Sox
  60-day DL — shoulder injury. Expected to be taking batting practice. Will probably return before all-star break.
  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. Rehab appearance June 11th with Charlotte Stonecrabs of the Florida State League (A) and was scheduled to pitch again on June 14th. Hopes to be back in Majors on June 28th.
• Jeremy Guthrie — starting pitcher (right handed) — Colorado Rockies
  Subject of trade talks with Toronto Blue Jays.
  Losses to As and Tigers, 11.25 era, 16 hits, 10 er, 4bb, and 7k in 8.0 innings
  YTD: 3-6, era 7.02, 30 k, 23 bb in 59 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
  10 for 28 (.357), 3 runs, 2 rbi, 1 hr, 1 bb, 1 sb
  YTD: .294, 30 runs, 19 rbi, 4 sb, 7 hr in 170 at bats.
• Elliot Johnson — infielder — Tampa Bay Rays
  7 for 23 (.304), 5 runs, 1 rbi, 2 bb, 1 sb, 4 so
  YTD: .275, 21 runs, 17 rbi, 15bb, 10 sb, 4 hrs in 149 at bats.
• Josh Johnson — starting pitcher (right handed) – Miami Marlins
  Win over Boston, Loss against Tampa Bay, 2.08 era, 12 hits, 3 er, 11k, 5bb in 13 innings.
  YTD: 4-5, 4.18 era, 96 hits, 70 k, 27 bb in 84.0 innings.
• Matt Lindstrom — right handed bullpen pitcher – Baltimore Orioles
  15-day DL — Finger. Out until at least late-June. Was expected to begin throwing off a mound Saturday and begin rehab games this week. Expected to be back before all-star break.
  YTD: 0-0, 1.29 era, 14 k, 4 bb in 14.0 innings.
• Brandon Lyon — right handed bullpen pitcher — Houston Astros
  0-0, 9.00 era, 2er, 3 k, 3 hits, 1 bb in 2.0 innings
  YTD: 0-1, 2.81 era, 27 k, 26 hits, 7 bb in 25.2 innings.
• Mitch Maier — backup outfielder — Kansas City Royals
  0 for 5 (.000), 1 run, 4 so
  YTD: .175, 7 runs, 6 rbi, 2 hr, 2 sb, 24 so in 63 at bats.
• Clayton Mortensen — right handed bullpen pitcher —Boston Red Sox organization (was with the Pawtucket Red Sox of the International League – AAA)
  Recalled to the Red Sox on Saturday.
  (in minors) 0-0, 9.00 era, 3 h, 2 hr, 2 bb, 2 k in 3.0 innings
  YTD: 4-2, 2sv, 2.39 era, 15 h, 7 er, 12 bb, 24 k in 26.1 innings
  YTD in MLB: 0-0, 0.96 era, 6 h, 1 er, 1 hr, 12k in 9.1 innings
• Adam Rosales — 2B — Oakland A’s
  Reassigned to Sacramento River Cats of PCL (AAA)
  0 for 3 (.000), 1 run, 1 rbi, 2 bb
  YTD: .167, 2 run, 3 rbi, 9 bb, 3 k in 24 at bats.

Minor League Players who may make the majors:

• Tyson Brummett — right handed closer — Philadelphia Phillies organization (currently with the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs of the International League – AAA)
  0-0, 0.00 era, 3 h, 0 er, 1 so, 0 bb in 1.0 innings.
  YTD: 3-1, 2 sv, 2.58 era, 28 h, 11 er, 2 hr, 44 k, 7 bb in 38.1 innings.
• Taylor Cole — right handed starting pitcher — Toronto Blue Jays organization (currently with the Vancouver Canadians of the Northwest League – A)
  1-0, 0.00 era, 3 h, 5 k, 2 bb in 5.0 innings
  YTD: same
• Brandon Duckworth — right handed bullpen pitcher — Boston Red Sox organization (currently with the Pawtucket Red Sox of the International League – AAA)
  1-0, 0.77 era, 10 h, 1 er, 12k, 5 bb in 11.2 innings
  YTD: 7-1, 3.69 era, 80 h, 31 er, 8 hr, 69 k, 28 bb in 75.2 innings
• Willie Mays Eyre — pitcher — Baltimore Orioles organization (currently with the Norfolk VA Tides of the International League – AAA)
  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+)
  7-day DL
  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 Toledo Mud Hens of the International League – AAA)
  Advanced from the Lakeland Flying Tigers of the Florida State League – A+
  3 for 13 (.231), 4 run, 1 rbi, 1 bb, 4 k.
  YTD: .192 – 6 run, 1 rbi, 1 bb, 1 sb, 6 k in 26 at bats
• Marcus Littlewood — Shortstop — Seattle Mariners organization (currently with the Everett WA AquaSox of the Northwest League – A)
  1 for 9 (.111), 2 run, 1 bb, 5 k
  YTD: same
• Matthew Neil — pitcher — Miami Marlins organization (currently with the Jacksonville Suns of the Southern League – AA)
  0-2, 6.75 era, 11 h, 2 bb, 1 hr, 2 k in 8.0 innings.
  YTD: 7-2, 3.27 era, 73 h, 27 er, 7 hr, 15 bb, 43 k in 74.1 innings
• Adam Rosales — 2B — Oakland A’s organization (currently with the Sacramento River Cats of the Pacific Coast League – AAA)
  3 for 8 (.375) 2 run, 4 rbi, 1 hr, 1 bb, 2 so
  YTD (minors): .283  21 run, 23 rbi, 9 bb, 2 sb, 32 so
  YTD (majors): .167, 2 run, 3 rbi, 9 bb, 3 k in 24 at bats.
• 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, 4.50 era, 7 h, 2 hr, 2 bb, 2 k in 6 innings
  YTD: 3-0, 1.79 era, 33 h, 8 er, 2 hr, 14 bb, 37 k in 40.1 innings

Foreign Leagues:

• Mitch Talbot — starting pitcher (right handed) — Samsung Lions (Korea)
  1-0, 1.35 era, 5 h, 1 er, 0 bb, 3 k in 6.2 innings
  YTD: 6-1, 3.75 era, 62 h, 25 er, 3 hr, 18 bb, 28 k in 60 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

3 Responses to “Weekly Player Update 18 June 2012”