Mormon Baseball

A reader has alerted me to another Mormon playing professional baseball, Lance Pendleton, who is currently with the Durham Bulls in the Tampa Bay Ray’s organization. After he was drafted by the Yankees out of Rice University, Pendleton has spent 6 years in the minors, rising to even the major leagues, debuting on April 15th of last year. Unfortunately, his numbers aren’t very strong this year — a 4.49 era so far — so a return to the majors seems unlikely at the moment.

Perhaps the biggest change this week is John Buck breaking out of his season-long slump. Buck hit .500 for the week, with 3 rbis and 4 walks—which must be a welcome change from his lackluster performance as a batter. Of course, Buck is the Marlins’ every-day catcher, so his batting isn’t nearly as important as how he calls a game.

Jeremy Guthrie also pulled out a turn-around, after a very difficult year so far. He pitched 8 shut-out innings for the Royals this past week, giving up 5 hits and striking out 6 to earn a much needed win. He is now 4-12 on the year with a 6.10 era — down from 6.56 last week. Another couple of games like this one and his era might get down to the reasonable range.

Meanwhile, Bryce Harper seems to have slid into a significant slump this past week—his average dropped to .071 and he was benched for a couple of games, ostensibly to give the backup outfielder more playing time. Playing time was also an issue for the Rays’ Elliot Johnson, who got just 4 plate appearances last week because Evan Longoria returned to the team, putting Johnson back into a backup role.

Elliot’s brother, meanwhile, turned in a lackluster performance this week, after many weeks of stellar pitching. Josh Johnson took a loss, giving up 3 earned runs in 6 innings. And baseball’s Mormon yo-yo, Clayton Mortensen, is back up with the Red Sox from AAA Pawtucket, but  had an off week, turning in a 4.15 era over 4.1 innings of work. While he probably frustrated the Red Sox’ pitching coach a little, his era in the majors this year is still only 1.65.

In the minors, the best pitching this week came from Tyson Brummett, whose era for the year is back down to 3.00, and Matthew Neil, who pitched 6-innings of shut out baseball. But otherwise, the Mormon pitchers seemed to stumble — Taylor Cole had a bad outing, giving up 4 earned runs in 6 innings but only raising his era for the year from the stellar 0.26 to the merely outstanding 1.10. Derek Cone was even worse, 6 runs in 2.2 innings, but his era for the year is now 9.55!

The Mormon batters in the minors were led by Mitch Maier who went 5 for 15 last week (.333) with 7 rbis and 2 homers and Marcus Littlewood (son of the new BYU baseball coach), who hit .280 (7 for 25) with an rbi and 6 walks.

.

Current Roster Players:

• Darwin Barney—second base—Chicago Cubs
  6 for 24 (.250), 4 runs, 1 rbi, 0 hr, 0 bb, 0 sb, 3 so.
  YTD: .267, 51 runs, 32 rbi, 5 hr, 19 bb, 6 sb, 39 so in 386 at bats.
• John Buck — starting catcher — Miami Marlins
  6for 12 (.500), 2 runs, 3 rbi, 0 hr, 4 bb, 0 sb, 3 so
  YTD: .186, 20 runs, 30 rbi, 8 hr, 45 bb, 0 sb, 85 so in 274 at bats.
• Jacoby Ellsbury — starting outfielder — Boston Red Sox
  5 for 26 (.192), 4 runs, 2 rbi, 0 hr, 1 bb, 3 sb, 5 so
  YTD: .259, 23 runs, 10 rbi, 1 hr, 11 bb, 6 sb, 20 so in 143 at bats.
• Kyle Farnsworth — closer — Tampa Bay Rays
  1-0, era 0.00, 1 hit, 0 er, 0 k, 0 bb, in 2.0 innings
  YTD: 1-3, era 4.26, 8 hits, 6 er, 13 k, 8 bb in 12.2 innings
• Jeremy Guthrie — starting pitcher (right handed) — Kansas City Royals
  1-0, 0.00 era, 5 hits, 0 er, 0 bb, and 6 k in 8.0 innings
  YTD: 4-12, era 6.10 148 hits, 78 er, 36 bb and 63 k in 115.0 innings
• Roy Halladay— starting pitcher (right handed) — Philadelphia Phillies
  1-0, era 1.13, 2 hits, 1 er, 0 bb, 8 k in 8.0 innings
  YTD: 6-6, era 3.80, 93 hits, 44 er, 17 bb, 85 k in 104.1 innings.
• Bryce Harper — left field — Washington Nationals
  1 for 14 (.071), 1 runs, 2 rbi, 0 hr, 4 bb, 0 sb, 7 so
  YTD: .249, 59 runs, 32 rbi, 10 hr, 42 bb, 13 sb, 82 so in 357 at bats.
• Elliot Johnson — infielder — Tampa Bay Rays
  1 for 4 (.250), 0 runs, 0 rbi, 0 hr, 0 bb, 0 sb, 3 so
  YTD: .247, 26 runs, 27 rbi, 4 hr, 24 bb, 17 sb, 73 so in 263 at bats.
• Josh Johnson — starting pitcher (right handed) – Miami Marlins
  0-1, 4.50 era, 8 hits, 3 er, 4 k, 2 bb in 6.0 innings.
  YTD: 7-8, 3.88 era, 140 hits, 60 er, 122 k, 43 bb in 139.1 innings.
• Matt Lindstrom — right handed bullpen pitcher – Baltimore Orioles
  0-0, 0.00 era, 3 hit, 0 er, 4 k, 1 bb in 3.2 innings
  YTD: 1-0, 2.51 era, 32 hits, 9 er, 26 k, 12 bb in 32.1 innings.
• Brandon Lyon — right handed bullpen pitcher — Toronto Blue Jays
  0-0, 0.00 era, 0 hits, 0 er, 3 k, 1 bb in 1.2 innings
  YTD: 1-2, 2.80 era, 42 hits, 14 er, 53 k, 12 bb in 45.0 innings.
• Clayton Mortensen — right handed bullpen pitcher —Boston Red Sox
  0-1, 4.15 era, 3 hits, 2 er, 1 k, 3 bb, 1 hr in 4.1 innings
  YTD: 1-1, 1.65 era, 16 hits, 5 er, 18 k, 10 bb, 3 hr in 27.1 innings
• Adam Rosales — 2B — Oakland A’s
  4 for 10 (.400) 2 run, 4 rbi, 2 hr, 0 bb, 0 sb, 3 so
  YTD: .222, 5 run, 7 rbi, 11 bb, 0 sb, 8 k in 45 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, 0 h, 0 er, 0 hr, 0 so, 1 bb in 1.0 innings.
  YTD: 4-2, 2 sv, 3.00 era, 58 h, 24 er, 4 hr, 66 k, 21 bb in 72.0 innings.
• Taylor Cole — right handed starting pitcher — Toronto Blue Jays organization (currently with the Vancouver Canadians of the Northwest League – A)
  1-0, 6.00 era, 7 h, 4 er, 0 hr, 7 so, 2 bb in 6.0 innings
  YTD: 4-0, 1.10 era, 29 h, 5 er, 0 hr, 36 k, 12 bb in 41.0 innings
• Derek Cone — right handed starting pitcher — Los Angeles Dodgers organization (currently with the Ogden Raptors of the Pioneer League – Rookie)
  0-0, 20.25 era, 6 hits, 6 er, 2 hr, 4 k, 2 bb in 2.2 innings
  YTD: 1-1, 9.55 era, 34 hits, 29 er, 6 hr, 19 k, 22 bb in 27.1 innings
• Brandon Duckworth — right handed bullpen pitcher — released from Boston Red Sox organization (was with the Pawtucket Red Sox of the International League – AAA)
  Released
  YTD: 9-2, 3.17 era, 110 h, 39 er, 12 hr, 93 k, 35 bb in 110.2 innings
• Willie Mays Eyre — pitcher — Texas Rangers organization (currently with the Round Rock Express of the Pacific Coast League – AAA)
  0-1, 3.00 era, 2 hits, 1 er, 0 hr, 2 k, 1 bb in 3.0 innings
  YTD: 1-4, 6.57 era, 56 h, 36 er, 4 hr, 41 k, 22 bb in 49.1 innings
• Austin Hall — right handed pitcher — Milwaukee Brewers organization (currently with the AZL Brewers of the Arizona Leauge – Rookie)
  0-0, 9.00 era, 4 h, 4 er, 1 hr, 2 k, 1 bb in 4.0 innings
  YTD: 2-2, 5.20 era, 35 h, 16 er, 3 hr, 28 so, 13 bb in 27.2 innings
  
• Bryan Harper — bull-pen pitcher — Washington Nationals organization (currently with the Auburn Doubledays of the New York-Penn League – A short-season)
  0-0, 0.00 era, 1 hits, 0 er, 0 hr, 2 k, 1 bb in 1.0 innings
  YTD: 0-0, 13.11 era, 28 hits, 17 er, 1 hr, 14 k, 11 bb in 11.2 innings
• Blaine Howell —left handed bullpen pitcher — Cincinnati Reds organization (currently with the Bakersfield Blaze of the California League – A+)
  0-0, 12.27 era, 7 h, 5 er, 1 hr, 2 k, 1 bb in 3.2 innings
  YTD: 0-1, 5.20 era, 40 h, 16 er, 3 hr, 17 k, 15 bb in 27.2 innings
• Kyle Hurst — right handed bullpen pitcher — Los Angeles Angels organization (Inland Empire 66ers of the California League – A+)
  Released
  YTD: 1-1, 7.84 era, 28 h, 18, er, 3 hr, 18 k, 13 bb in 20.2 innings
• Cale Iorg — Shortstop — Detroit Tigers organization (currently with the Toledo Mud Hens of the International League – AAA)
  1 for 9 (.111), 1 run, 0 rbi, 0 hr, 1 bb, 0 sb, 4 k
  YTD: .155, 13 run, 5 rbi, 1 hr, 5 bb, 2 sb, 43 k in 129 at bats
• Marcus Littlewood — Shortstop — Seattle Mariners organization (currently with the Everett WA AquaSox of the Northwest League – A)
  7 for 25 (.280), 6 run, 1 rbi, 0 hr, 6 bb, 0 sb, 8 k
  YTD: .252, 29 runs, 23 rbi, 7 hr, 37 bb, 1 sb, 50 k in 155 at bats
• Mitch Maier —  outfielder — Kansas City Royals organization (currently with the Omaha Storm Chasers of the Pacific Coast League – AAA)
  5 for 15 (.333), 3 runs, 7 rbi, 2 hr, 1 bb, 0 sb, 0 so
  YTD: .268, 11 runs, 11 rbi, 3 hr, 10 bb, 1 sb, 10 so in 56 at bats
  MLB YTD: .172, 8 runs, 7 rbi, 2 hr, 8 bb, 2 sb, 24 so in 64 at bats.
• Taylor Mangum — right-handed relief pitcher — Milwaukee Brewers organization (currently with the Helena Brewers of the Pioneer League – Rookie)
  0-0, 6.00 era, 5 hits, 2 er, 0 hr, 3 k, 0 bb in 3.0 innings
  YTD: 1-1, 3.06 era, 17 hits, 6 er, 0 hr, 17 k, 8 bb  in 17.2 innings
• Matthew Neil — right handed starting pitcher — Miami Marlins organization (currently with the Jacksonville Suns of the Southern League – AA)
  1-0, 0.00 era, 5 h, 0 er, 0 hr, 2 k, 1 bb in 6.0 innings.
  YTD: 8-6, 3.63 era, 120 h, 48 er, 12 hr, 83 k, 24 bb in 119.0 innings
• Stephen Parker — 3rd base — Oakland A’s organization (currently with the Sacramento River Cats of the Pacific Coast League – AAA)
  1 for 7 (.143), 2 run, 0 rbi, 0 hr, 0 bb, 0 sb, 1 k
  YTD: .246, 39 run, 38 rbi, 7 hr, 29 bb, 5 sb, 83 k in 285 at bats
• Lance Pendleton — pitcher — Tampa Bay Ray’s organization (currently with the Durham Bulls of the International League – AAA)
  0-0, 3.60 era, 4 h, 2 er, 0 hr, 3 k, 3 bb in 5.0 innings.
  YTD: 7-4, 4.49 era, 113 h, 54 er, 10 hr, 84 k, 49 bb in 108.1 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, 2.45 era, 6 h, 1 er, 0 hr, 3 k, 2 bb in 3.2 innings
  YTD: 3-3, 3.81 era, 80 h, 32 er, 6 hr, 57 k, 26 bb in 75.2  innings

Foreign Leagues:

• Mitch Talbot — starting pitcher (right handed) — Samsung Lions (Korea)
  0-1, 9.00 era, 9 h, 5 er, 1 hr, 1 k, 1 bb in 5.0 innings
  YTD: 10-2, 3.69 era, 98 h, 41 er, 4 hr, 44 k, 35 bb in 100.0 innings

Players who may be Mormon:

• Rick Anton – pitcher – LA 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)
• 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)

2 Responses to “Weekly Player Update: August 13”