Mormon Baseball

As most baseball players take their annual break for the All-Star Game, two Mormon major league position players were hot, while the pitchers all struggled during the week. As of Sunday, 11 Mormons remain in the Majors, 2 of whom are on the DL.

The number of Mormons in the Majors is down because Kansas City’s backup outfielder Mitch Maier and the Red Sox’s Clayton Mortensen were both sent down to AAA. Maier hasn’t performed very well this year, hitting just .175, although his play in the outfield has been solid.

Mortensen, in contrast, has been on the Red Sox’ yo-yo, bouncing between Boston and the neighboring Pawtucket, RI AAA affiliate. He was sent down again on July 4th, only to be recalled on Saturday as the Red Sox’ 26th man, which is permitted (I didn’t realize) for double headers like the games the Red Sox played against the Yankees. Mortensen did pitch 1/3 of an inning against the Bombers and was beat up a little, but managed to get out without giving up any runs. He was returned to Pawtucket after the game.

The bright lights this week were Tampa Bay’s Elliott Johnson (.333 for the week) and Washington’s Bryce Harper (.360 for the week). While clearly in Harper’s shadow, Johnson has developed into a solid player, the Ray’s every day short stop, and since he is hitting .275 this year, a real boost to the lineup.

In the minors, our attention must focus on Adam Rosales, who has apparently decided he must prove that the decision to send him down to AAA a couple of weeks ago was a bad one. Rosales lit up the Sacramento River Cats this week, hitting .500 and slugging a grand slam, raising his average at AAA to .296. With a performance like that, you have to assume his paltry .167 average in the majors was due to the inconsistent nature of playing backup and only getting 24 at bats. Rosales is ripe for a return to the majors, something that mostly depends on the health and performance of the A’s infield.

The other Mormon in the minors poised to make the majors is still Tyson Brummett, who pitched another 5 innings of shut out ball this past week. For the year he is 4-1 with a 2.10 era and 54 strike outs in 55 2/3rds innings pitched. However, with Halladay about to return from the DL, the Phillies don’t seem to need Brummett right now. His best hope might be a trade.

.

Current Roster Players:

• Darwin Barney—second base—Chicago Cubs
  4 for 24 (.167), 3 runs, 0 rbi, 0 hr, 2 bb, 0 sb, 3 so.
  YTD: .259, 36 runs, 23 rbi, 3 hr, 18 bb, 5 sb, 28 so in 293 at bats.
• John Buck — starting catcher — Miami Marlins
  2 for 17 (.118), 3 runs, 2 rbi, 1 hr, 4 bb, 0 sb, 7 so
  YTD: .176, 18 runs, 24 rbi, 8 hr, 38 bb, 0 sb, 60 so in 204 at bats.
• Jacoby Ellsbury — starting outfielder — Boston Red Sox
  60-day DL — shoulder injury. Playing rehab games with Pawtucket Red Sox (AAA). May return about July 18.
  YTD: .192, 4 runs, 3 rbi, 0 hr, 4 bb, 0 sb, 3 so in 26 at bats.
• Kyle Farnsworth — closer — Tampa Bay Rays
  0-1, era 20.25, 1 hit, 1 k, 4 bb, in 1.1 innings
  YTD: 0-1, era 11.57, 2 hits, 3 er, 3 k, 5 bb in 2.1 innings
• Jeremy Guthrie — starting pitcher (right handed) — Colorado Rockies
  0-1, 3.00 era, 12 hits, 4 er, 2 bb, and 5 k in 12.0 innings
  YTD: 3-8, era 6.05, 109 hits, 56 er, 28 bb and 41 k in 83.1 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, 69 hits, 32 er, 14 bb, 56 k in 72.1 innings.
• Bryce Harper — left field — Washington Nationals
  9 for 25 (.360), 5 runs, 3 rbi, 0 hr, 2 bb, 2 sb, 4 so
  YTD: .282, 43 runs, 25 rbi, 8 hr, 27 bb, 10 sb, 53 so in 248 at bats.
• Elliot Johnson — infielder — Tampa Bay Rays
  8 for 24 (.333), 4 runs, 2 rbi, 0 hr, 1 bb, 2 sb, 4 so
  YTD: .275, 26 runs, 22 rbi, 4 hr, 19 bb, 15 sb, 53 so in 207 at bats.
• Josh Johnson — starting pitcher (right handed) – Miami Marlins
  0-0, 9.00 era, 6 hits, 5 er, 2 k, 3 bb in 5.0 innings.
  YTD: 5-5, 4.06 era, 108 hits, 46 er, 85 k, 34 bb in 102.0 innings.
• Matt Lindstrom — right handed bullpen pitcher – Baltimore Orioles
  0-0, 4.50 era, 1 hit, 1 er, 1 k, 1 bb in 2.0 innings
  YTD: 1-0, 2.50 era, 18 hits, 5 er, 16 k, 6 bb in 18.0 innings.
• Brandon Lyon — right handed bullpen pitcher — Houston Astros
  0-0, 7.36 era, 5 hits, 3 er, 5 k, 0 bb in 3.2 innings
  YTD: 0-2, 3.24 era, 35 hits, 12 er, 35 k, 8 bb in 33.1 innings.
• Mitch Maier — backup outfielder — Kansas City Royals
  Designated for Assignment (likely to Omaha Storm Chasers of the Pacific Coast League (AAA))
  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
  Reassigned to Pawtucket Red Sox of International League (AAA)
  0-0, 1.69 era, 3 hits, 1 er, 3 k, 4 bb in 5.1 innings
  YTD: 0-0, 1.33 era, 12 hits, 3 er, 16 k, 4 bb in 20.1 innings

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, 4 h, 0 er, 1 so, 2 bb in 5.0 innings.
  YTD: 4-1, 2 sv, 2.10 era, 42 h, 13 er, 3 hr, 54 k, 13 bb in 55.2 innings.
• Taylor Cole — right handed starting pitcher — Toronto Blue Jays organization (currently with the Vancouver Canadians of the Northwest League – A)
  Didn’t play
  YTD: 1-0, 0.82 era, 10 h, 1 er, 0 hr, 9 k, 3 bb in 11.0 innings
• Derek Cone — right handed starting pitcher — Los Angeles Dodgers organization (currently with the Ogden Raptors of the Pioneer League – Rookie)
  1-0, 0.00 era, 4 hits, 0 er, 0 hr, 2 k, 2 bb in 4.1 innings
  YTD: 1-0, 6.46 era, 17 hits, 11 er, 2 hr, 8 k, 9 bb in 15.1 innings
• Brandon Duckworth — right handed bullpen pitcher — Boston Red Sox organization (currently with the Pawtucket Red Sox of the International League – AAA)
  1-1, 3.97 era, 13 h, 5 er, 2 hr, 7 k, 0 bb in 11.1 innings
  YTD: 8-2, 3.45 era, 99 h, 38 er, 11 hr, 84 k, 30 bb in 99.0 innings
• Willie Mays Eyre — pitcher — Texas Rangers organization (currently with the Round Rock Express of the Pacific Coast League – AAA)
  0-0, 10.80 era, 8 hits, 4 er, 1 hr, 5 k, 0 bb in 3.1 innings
  YTD: 1-3, 6.81 era, 45 h, 28 er, 3 hr, 31 k, 18 bb in 37.0 innings
• Austin Hall — right handed pitcher — Milwaukee Brewers organization (currently with the AZL Brewers of the Arizona Leauge – Rookie)
  0-0, 0.00 era, 1 h, o er, 0 hr, 4 k, 2 bb in 3.0 innings
  YTD: 0-0, 7.04 era, 10 h, 6 er, 1 hr, 9 so, 4 bb in 7.2 innings
  
• Bryan Harper — left field — Washington Nationals organization (currently with the Auburn Doubledays of the New York-Penn League – A short-season)
  0-0, 9.00 era, 5 hits, 2 er, 0 hr, 1 k, 3 bb in 2.0 innings
  YTD: 0-0, 13.50 era, 19 hits, 10 er, 0 hr, 6 k, 5 bb in 6.2 innings
• Blaine Howell —left handed bullpen pitcher — Cincinnati Reds organization (currently with the Bakersfield Blaze of the California League – A+)
  0-0, 4.91 era, 5 h, 2 er, 0 hr, 1 k, 2 bb in 3.2 innings
  YTD: 0-0, 5.54 era, 22 h, 8 er, 2 hr, 5 k, 6 bb in 13.0 innings
• Kyle Hurst — right handed bullpen pitcher — Los Angeles Angels organization (Inland Empire 66ers of the California League – A+)
  0-0, 15.43 era, 9 h, 8 er, 3 hr, 3 k, 3 bb in 4.2 innings
  YTD: 1-1, 12.60 era, 18 h, 14, er, 3 hr, 10 k, 6 bb in 10.0 innings
• Cale Iorg — Shortstop — Detroit Tigers organization (currently with the Toledo Mud Hens of the International League – AAA)
  0 for 11 (.000), 0 run, 0 rbi, 0 bb, 4 k.
  YTD: .151, 7 run, 3 rbi, 1 bb, 1 sb, 23 k in 73 at bats
• Marcus Littlewood — Shortstop — Seattle Mariners organization (currently with the Everett WA AquaSox of the Northwest League – A)
  3 for 14 (.214), 1 run, 2 rbi, 0 hr, 4 bb, 4 k
  YTD: .250, 11 runs, 9 rbi, 3 hr, 15 bb, 20 k
• Taylor Mangum — right-handed relief pitcher — Milwaukee Brewers organization (currently with the AZL Brewers of the Arizona League – Rookie)
  1-0, 0.00 era, 1 hits, 0 er, 0 hr, 4 k, 0 bb in 3.0 innings
  YTD: 1-1, 1.04 era, 9 hits, 1 er, 0 hr, 9 k, 4 bb  in 8.2 innings
• Matthew Neil — right handed starting pitcher — Miami Marlins organization (currently with the Jacksonville Suns of the Southern League – AA)
  0-1, 11.25 era, 4 h, 5 er, 0 hr, 4 k, 2 bb in 4.0 innings.
  YTD: 7-4, 4.08 era, 92 h, 40 er, 8 hr, 57 k, 19 bb in 88.1 innings
• Stephen Parker — 3rd base — Oakland A’s organization (currently with the Sacramento River Cats of the Pacific Coast League – AAA)
  2 for 20 (.100), 1 run, 2 rbi, 0 hr, 2 bb, 6 k
  YTD: .253, 31 run, 31 rbi, 6 hr, 25 bb, 65 k in 229 at bats
  
• Adam Rosales — 2B — Oakland A’s organization (currently with the Sacramento River Cats of the Pacific Coast League – AAA)
  12 for 24 (.500) 6 run, 14 rbi, 4 hr, 1 bb, 1 sb, 3 so
  YTD (minors): .296, 34 run, 38 rbi, 7 hr, 17 bb, 4 sb, 43 so in 203 at bats
  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)
  0-2, 10.00 era, 15 h, 10 er, 2 hr, 4 k, 3 bb in 9.0 innings
  YTD: 3-3, 3.45 era, 61 h, 23 er, 5 hr, 46 k, 21 bb in 60.0 innings

Foreign Leagues:

• Mitch Talbot — starting pitcher (right handed) — Samsung Lions (Korea)
  1-0, 1.50 era, 6 h, 1 er, 1 hr, 1 k, 1 bb in 6 innings
  YTD: 9-1, 3.35 era, 82 h, 32 er, 4 hr, 36 k, 25 bb in 86 innings

Players who may be Mormon:

• Rick Anton – pitcher – LA Dodgers organization
• Eric Byrnes — left field — Seattle Mariners
• Tyler Hanks — pitcher — Washington Nationals organization
• Kam Mickolio — pitcher — Arizona Diamondbacks organization (apparently not Mormon, but I don’t have evidence either way)
• Brad Thompson — pitcher — Houston Astros organization
• Other remote possibilities: Jay Brossman, Brian Budrow, Tyler Chism, 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

Non-Mormons who may be confused for Mormons

• 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 Christensen
• 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)