Mormon Baseball

Once again a reader has pointed me to a Mormon player in professional baseball. Bonita, commenting on the post about this year’s draft, indicated that Jeff Gelalich should have been included. Gelalich was drafted this year by the Reds in the 1st round this year (57th overall) out of UCLA. He now plays for the Billings Mustangs in the Pioneer (rookie) League. Thanks to Bonita for this wonderful information!

In the majors, this was a bounce-back week for many players, and two Mormon players got to witness baseball history. Bryce Harper, who has been in a bad slump, broke out this past week, going 6 for 22 with 2 home runs and 4 rbis. Likely this will keep him from getting benched as much as happened during his slump.

Jeremy Guthrie, who broke out of a season-long pitching slump last week, continued his recovery this week with 2 games (14.2 innings) without an earned run. He won one of the games, giving him a 5-12 record and lowering his era to 5.41.

Meanwhile, the two Mormons on the Tampa Bay Rays got to witness baseball history when their team was on the losing end of baseball’s 23rd perfect game this past week. Elliot Johnson played short stop during the game, striking out both time he faced Felix Hernandez and committing an error in the field before he was replaced by a pinch hitter in the 9th. Kyle Farnsworth pitched the last inning for the Rays, striking out one and shutting down Seattle’s offense in the inning, putting him in position for the win had his teammates been able to break up perfection.

Among the Mormons in the minors most players seemed to be slacking off as the end of the minor league seasons nears. Perhaps the best performance of last week was by Marcus Littlewood, who went 7 for 23 (.304) with 2 home runs and a stunning 9 rbis! Among pitchers, Taylor Cole remains worth a look — he is 4-0 on the season with a 1.15 era over 47 innings work at the single A Vancouver Canadians (Toronto).

.

Current Roster Players:

• Darwin Barney—second base—Chicago Cubs
  4 for 18 (.222), 3 runs, 3 rbi, 1 hr, 2 bb, 0 sb, 3 so.
  YTD: .265, 54 runs, 35 rbi, 6 hr, 21 bb, 6 sb, 42 so in 404 at bats.
• John Buck — starting catcher — Miami Marlins
  3 for 14 (.214), 2 runs, 2 rbi, 1 hr, 0 bb, 0 sb, 3 so
  YTD: .188, 22 runs, 32 rbi, 9 hr, 45 bb, 0 sb, 88 so in 288 at bats.
• Jacoby Ellsbury — starting outfielder — Boston Red Sox
  5 for 25 (.250), 1 runs, 1 rbi, 0 hr, 2 bb, 0 sb, 4 so
  YTD: .250, 24 runs, 11 rbi, 1 hr, 13 bb, 6 sb, 24 so in 168 at bats.
• Kyle Farnsworth — closer — Tampa Bay Rays
  0-0, era 0.00, 1 hit, 0 er, 2 k, 1 bb, in 2.0 innings
  YTD: 1-3, era 3.68, 9 hits, 6 er, 15 k, 9 bb in 14.2 innings
• Jeremy Guthrie — starting pitcher (right handed) — Kansas City Royals
  1-0, 0.00 era, 6 hits, 0 er, 3 bb, and 13 k in 14.2 innings
  YTD: 5-12, era 5.41 154 hits, 78 er, 39 bb and 76 k in 129.2 innings
• Roy Halladay— starting pitcher (right handed) — Philadelphia Phillies
  0-1, era 3.86, 6 hits, 3 er, 1 bb, 7 k in 7.0 innings
  YTD: 6-7, era 3.80, 99 hits, 47 er, 18 bb, 92 k in 111.1 innings.
• Bryce Harper — left field — Washington Nationals
  6 for 22 (.273), 6 runs, 4 rbi, 2 hr, 1 bb, 0 sb, 4 so
  YTD: .251, 65 runs, 36 rbi, 12 hr, 43 bb, 13 sb, 86 so in 379 at bats.
• Elliot Johnson — infielder — Tampa Bay Rays
  1 for 5 (.200), 1 runs, 2 rbi, 0 hr, 0 bb, 0 sb, 4 so
  YTD: .246, 27 runs, 29 rbi, 4 hr, 24 bb, 17 sb, 77 so in 268 at bats.
• Josh Johnson — starting pitcher (right handed) – Miami Marlins
  0-2, 2.40 era, 10 hits, 4 er, 11 k, 5 bb in 15.0 innings.
  YTD: 7-10, 3.73 era, 150 hits, 64 er, 133 k, 48 bb in 154.1 innings.
• Matt Lindstrom — right handed bullpen pitcher – Baltimore Orioles
  0-0, 0.00 era, 1 hit, 0 er, 1 k, 0 bb in 2.0 innings
  YTD: 1-0, 2.36 era, 33 hits, 9 er, 27 k, 12 bb in 34.1 innings.
• Brandon Lyon — right handed bullpen pitcher — Toronto Blue Jays
  0-0, 3.00 era, 1 hits, 1 er, 4 k, 1 bb in 3.0 innings
  YTD: 1-2, 2.81 era, 43 hits, 15 er, 57 k, 13 bb in 48.0 innings.
• Clayton Mortensen — right handed bullpen pitcher —Boston Red Sox
  0-0, 4.50 era, 3 hits, 1 er, 3 k, 1 bb, 1 hr in 2.0 innings
  YTD: 1-1, 1.84 era, 19 hits, 6 er, 21 k, 11 bb, 4 hr in 29.1 innings
• Adam Rosales — 2B — Oakland A’s
  0 for 3 (.000) 1 run, 0 rbi, 0 hr, 0 bb, 0 sb, 1 so
  YTD: .208, 6 run, 7 rbi, 11 bb, 0 sb, 9 k in 48 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)
  0-2, 2.57 era, 3 h, 2 er, 0 hr, 8 so, 4 bb in 7.0 innings.
  YTD: 4-4, 2 sv, 2.96 era, 61 h, 26 er, 4 hr, 74 k, 25 bb in 79.0 innings.
• Taylor Cole — right handed starting pitcher — Toronto Blue Jays organization (currently with the Vancouver Canadians of the Northwest League – A)
  0-0, 1.50 era, 5 h, 1 er, 0 hr, 5 so, 2 bb in 6.0 innings
  YTD: 4-0, 1.15 era, 34 h, 6 er, 0 hr, 41 k, 14 bb in 47.0 innings
• Derek Cone — right handed starting pitcher — Los Angeles Dodgers organization (currently with the Ogden Raptors of the Pioneer League – Rookie)
  0-0, 9.00 era, 5 hits, 3 er, 0 hr, 1 k, 2 bb in 3.0 innings
  YTD: 1-1, 9.49 era, 39 hits, 32 er, 6 hr, 20 k, 24 bb in 30.1 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, 3.38 era, 6 hits, 1 er, 0 hr, 4 k, 0 bb in 2.2 innings
  YTD: 1-5, 6.40 era, 62 h, 37 er, 4 hr, 45 k, 22 bb in 52.0 innings
• Jeff Gelalich — outfielder — Cincinnati Reds organization (currently with the Billings Mustangs of the Pioneer League – rookie)
  1 for 4 (.250), 0 run, 0 rbi, 0 hr, 0 bb, 0 sb, 1 k
  YTD: .237, 21 run, 8 rbi, 2 hr, 10 bb, 3 sb, 31 k in 97 at bats
• Austin Hall — right handed pitcher — Milwaukee Brewers organization (currently with the AZL Brewers of the Arizona Leauge – Rookie)
  Did not play
  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)
  Did not play
  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, 4.50 era, 3 h, 2 er, 0 hr, 6 k, 0 bb in 4.0 innings
  YTD: 0-1, 5.12 era, 43 h, 18 er, 3 hr, 23 k, 15 bb in 31.2 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)
  2 for 11 (.182), 1 run, 1 rbi, 0 hr, 0 bb, 0 sb, 2 k
  YTD: .157, 14 run, 6 rbi, 1 hr, 5 bb, 2 sb, 45 k in 140 at bats
• Marcus Littlewood — Shortstop — Seattle Mariners organization (currently with the Everett WA AquaSox of the Northwest League – A)
  7 for 23 (.304), 2 run, 9 rbi, 2 hr, 1 bb, 0 sb, 9 k
  YTD: .258, 31 runs, 32 rbi, 9 hr, 38 bb, 1 sb, 59 k in 178 at bats
• Mitch Maier —  outfielder — Kansas City Royals organization (currently with the Omaha Storm Chasers of the Pacific Coast League – AAA)
  5 for 21 (.238), 4 runs, 1 rbi, 1 hr, 2 bb, 1 sb, 8 so
  YTD: .260, 15 runs, 12 rbi, 4 hr, 12 bb, 2 sb, 18 so in 77 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)
  0-1, 4.50 era, 4 hits, 1 er, 1 hr, 1 k, 2 bb in 2.0 innings
  YTD: 1-2, 3.20 era, 21 hits, 7 er, 1 hr, 18 k, 10 bb  in 19.2 innings
• Matthew Neil — right handed starting pitcher — Miami Marlins organization (currently with the Jacksonville Suns of the Southern League – AA)
  0-1, 3.09 era, 12 h, 4 er, 1 hr, 7 k, 3 bb in 11.2 innings.
  YTD: 8-7, 3.58 era, 132 h, 52 er, 13 hr, 90 k, 27 bb in 130.2 innings
• Stephen Parker — 3rd base — Oakland A’s organization (currently with the Sacramento River Cats of the Pacific Coast League – AAA)
  3 for 14 (.214), 1 run, 2 rbi, 0 hr, 2 bb, 0 sb, 3 k
  YTD: .244, 40 run, 40 rbi, 7 hr, 31 bb, 5 sb, 86 k in 299 at bats
• Lance Pendleton — pitcher — Tampa Bay Ray’s organization (currently with the Durham Bulls of the International League – AAA)
  0-1, 10.80 era, 10 h, 6 er, 3 hr, 3 k, 1 bb in 5.0 innings.
  YTD: 7-5, 4.76 era, 123 h, 60 er, 13 hr, 87 k, 50 bb in 113.1 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, 6.75 era, 3 h, 3 er, 0 hr, 1 k, 6 bb in 4.0 innings
  YTD: 3-3, 3.95 era, 83 h, 35 er, 6 hr, 58 k, 32 bb in 79.2  innings

Foreign Leagues:

• Mitch Talbot — starting pitcher (right handed) — Samsung Lions (Korea)
  1-0, 0.00 era, 3 h, 0 er, 0 hr, 3 k, 2 bb in 6.1 innings
  YTD: 11-2, 3.47 era, 101 h, 41 er, 4 hr, 47 k, 37 bb in 106.1 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)