Mormon Baseball

The Mormon domain—that part of the Western U.S. where Mormons are a significant portion of the population—first gained a major league team in 1998 when the expansion Arizona Diamondbacks started playing. Since then several Mormons have played on the team, but recently there hasn’t been a Mormon for local fans to cheer. That changed again Sunday when the Diamondbacks traded for Matt Lindstrom.

Lindstrom has been playing for the Baltimore Orioles this year, racking upa 2.72 era and 1-0 record for 36.1 innings of work. He is in his 6th year and the final year of his current contract, making him a free agent at the end of the season. While the Diamondbacks are a good match for Lindstrom, it remains to be seen what will happen to him after the end of this year.

Elsewhere in the majors, John Buck and Jacoby Ellsbury both were outstanding at the plate this week. Buck continued his hot streak from the previous week, hitting 4 for 10 and putting his 10th homer in the stands, raising his average to .198, nearly in the acceptable range. Fortunately, Buck is very good behind the plate, which has made up for his low batting average this year. Ellsbury, meanwhile, went 11 for 29 (.379), knocking in 4 runs and raising his batting average to .269. He is hitting well enough that the Red Sox put him 3rd in the batting order last week.

Among pitchers, perhaps the best performance was from Kyle Farnsworth, who seems to be very comfortable as the Tampa Bay Ray’s closer, at least after returning from the DL earlier in the season. He has worked his era down to 3.18 over 17 innings of work. But troubled Kansas City pitcher Jeremy Guthrie had a bad outing, after finally pitching well for four games in succession and flirting with a no-hitter for nearly 7 innings the previous week. The Red Sox proved to much for him, and Guthrie gave up 6 earned runs in 2 2/3rds innings. But he managed to squeak out a no decision when his team came back and beat the Sox in the 12th.

In the minors, good pitching from Mormons was plentiful last week. Taylor Cole continued his stellar performance this season with 11 2/3rds innings of shut-out pitching in two games last week. Cole has a 0.92 era over 58 2/3rds innings this year. But Cole wasn’t the only Mormon pitcher with no earned runs last week. Derek Cone, Willie Eyre and Bryan Harper all pitched well, keeping their opponents from scoring. In contrast, three other Mormon pitchers struggled, earning eras over 10 for the week. The worst was Matthew Neil, who gave up 6 earned runs over 1 2/3rds innings last week for a 32.40 era. But Blaine Howell and Taylor Magnum weren’t much better.

Among position players, the standouts for the week were led by Jeff Gelalich, who went 5 for 10 and scored twice. Gelalich is now up to .262 with 2 home runs in 107 at bats. Also outstanding were Marcus Littlewood (.381), Mitch Maier (.375) and Stephen Parker (.375).

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Current Roster Players:

• Darwin Barney—second base—Chicago Cubs
  2 for 18 (.111), 2 runs, 2 rbi, 0 hr, 2 bb, 0 sb, 4 so.
  YTD: .258, 56 runs, 37 rbi, 6 hr, 23 bb, 6 sb, 46 so in 422 at bats.
• John Buck — starting catcher — Miami Marlins
  4 for 10 (.400), 3 runs, 1 rbi, 1 hr, 1 bb, 0 sb, 0 so
  YTD: .198, 25 runs, 33 rbi, 10 hr, 46 bb, 0 sb, 88 so in 298 at bats.
• Jacoby Ellsbury — starting outfielder — Boston Red Sox
  11 for 29 (.379), 5 runs, 4 rbi, 0 hr, 1 bb, 3 sb, 2 so
  YTD: .269, 29 runs, 15 rbi, 1 hr, 14 bb, 9 sb, 26 so in 197 at bats.
• Kyle Farnsworth — closer — Tampa Bay Rays
  0-0, era 0.00, 1 hit, 0 er, 2 k, 0 bb, in 2.1 innings
  YTD: 1-3, era 3.18, 10 hits, 6 er, 17 k, 9 bb in 17.0 innings
• Jeremy Guthrie — starting pitcher (right handed) — Kansas City Royals
  0-0, 20.25 era, 7 hits, 6 er, 2 bb, and 1 k in 2.2 innings
  YTD: 5-12, era 5.71 160 hits, 84 er, 41 bb and 77 k in 132.1 innings
• Roy Halladay— starting pitcher (right handed) — Philadelphia Phillies
  2-0, era 4.50, 17 hits, 7 er, 2 bb, 9 k in 14.0 innings
  YTD: 8-7, era 3.88, 116 hits, 54 er, 20 bb, 101 k in 125.1 innings.
• Bryce Harper — left field — Washington Nationals
  5 for 24 (.208), 2 runs, 1 rbi, 0 hr, 0 bb, 0 sb, 8 so
  YTD: .248, 67 runs, 37 rbi, 12 hr, 43 bb, 13 sb, 94 so in 403 at bats.
• Elliot Johnson — infielder — Tampa Bay Rays
  2 for 4 (.500), 0 runs, 1 rbi, 0 hr, 0 bb, 0 sb, 0 so
  YTD: .250, 27 runs, 30 rbi, 4 hr, 24 bb, 17 sb, 77 so in 272 at bats.
• Josh Johnson — starting pitcher (right handed) – Miami Marlins
  0-1, 18.00 era, 10 hits, 6 er, 3 k, 1 bb in 3.0 innings.
  YTD: 7-11, 4.00 era, 160 hits, 70 er, 136 k, 49 bb in 157.1 innings.
• Matt Lindstrom — right handed bullpen pitcher – Baltimore Orioles
  0-0, 9.00 era, 2 hit, 2 er, 3 k, 0 bb in 2.0 innings
  YTD: 1-0, 2.72 era, 35 hits, 11 er, 30 k, 12 bb in 36.1 innings.
• Brandon Lyon — right handed bullpen pitcher — Toronto Blue Jays
  0-0, 6.75 era, 1 hits, 1 er, 0 k, 0 bb in 1.1 innings
  YTD: 1-2, 2.92 era, 44 hits, 16 er, 57 k, 13 bb in 49.1 innings.
• Clayton Mortensen — right handed bullpen pitcher —Boston Red Sox
  0-0, 7.71 era, 3 hits, 2 er, 4 k, 1 bb, 0 hr in 2.1 innings
  YTD: 1-1, 2.27 era, 22 hits, 8 er, 25 k, 12 bb, 4 hr in 31.2 innings
• Adam Rosales — 2B — Oakland A’s
  3 for 12 (.250) 0 run, 0 rbi, 0 hr, 0 bb, 0 sb, 3 so
  YTD: .217, 6 run, 7 rbi, 11 bb, 0 sb, 12 k in 60 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)
  1-0, 0.00 era, 1 h, 0 er, 0 hr, 3 so, 1 bb in 5.0 innings.
  YTD: 5-4, 2 sv, 2.79 era, 62 h, 26 er, 4 hr, 77 k, 26 bb in 84.0 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, 2 h, 0 er, 0 hr, 10 so, 3 bb in 11.2 innings
  YTD: 5-0, 0.92 era, 36 h, 6 er, 0 hr, 51 k, 17 bb in 58.2 innings
• Derek Cone — right handed starting pitcher — Los Angeles Dodgers organization (currently with the Ogden Raptors of the Pioneer League – Rookie)
  0-0, 2.45 era, 2 hits, 1 er, 0 hr, 3 k, 3 bb in 3.2 innings
  YTD: 1-1, 8.74 era, 41 hits, 33 er, 6 hr, 23 k, 27 bb in 34.0 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)
  0-0, 0.00 era, 0 hits, 0 er, 0 hr, 2 k, 1 bb in 2.0 innings
  YTD: 1-5, 6.17 era, 62 h, 37 er, 4 hr, 47 k, 23 bb in 54.0 innings
• Jeff Gelalich — outfielder — Cincinnati Reds organization (currently with the Billings Mustangs of the Pioneer League – rookie)
  5 for 10 (.500), 2 run, 0 rbi, 0 hr, 2 bb, 0 sb, 2 k
  YTD: .262, 23 run, 8 rbi, 2 hr, 12 bb, 3 sb, 33 k in 107 at bats
• Austin Hall — right handed pitcher — Milwaukee Brewers organization (currently with the AZL Brewers of the Arizona Leauge – Rookie)
  D0-0, 0.00 era, 3 h, 0 er, 0 hr, 3 so, 0 bb in 5.0 innings
  YTD: 2-2, 4.41 era, 38 h, 16 er, 3 hr, 31 so, 13 bb in 32.2 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, 0 h, 0 er, 0 hr, 2 k, 0 bb in 2.0 innings
  YTD: 0-0, 11.20 era, 28 hits, 17 er, 1 hr, 16 k, 11 bb in 13.2 innings
• Blaine Howell —left handed bullpen pitcher — Cincinnati Reds organization (currently with the Bakersfield Blaze of the California League – A+)
  0-1, 11.57 era, 2 h, 3 er, 0 hr, 2 k, 2 bb in 2.1 innings
  YTD: 0-2, 5.56 era, 45 h, 21 er, 3 hr, 25 k, 17 bb in 34.0 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 5 (.200), 0 run, 1 rbi, 0 hr, 0 bb, 0 sb, 0 k
  YTD: .159, 14 run, 7 rbi, 1 hr, 5 bb, 2 sb, 45 k in 145 at bats
• Matt Lindstrom — right handed bullpen pitcher – Baltimore Orioles organization (Rehab with Bowie Baysox of the Eastern League – AA)
  0-0, 3.86 era, 4 hit, 1 er, 1 k, 1 bb in 2.1 innings
  MLB: 0-0, 9.00 era, 2 hit, 2 er, 3 k, 0 bb in 2.0 innings
  YTD MLB: 1-0, 2.72 era, 35 hits, 11 er, 30 k, 12 bb in 36.1 innings.
• Marcus Littlewood — Shortstop — Seattle Mariners organization (currently with the Everett WA AquaSox of the Northwest League – A)
  8 for 21 (.381), 3 run, 4 rbi, 0 hr, 3 bb, 1 sb, 8 k
  YTD: .271, 34 runs, 36 rbi, 9 hr, 41 bb, 2 sb, 67 k in 199 at bats
• Mitch Maier —  outfielder — Kansas City Royals organization (currently with the Omaha Storm Chasers of the Pacific Coast League – AAA)
  9 for 24 (.375), 6 runs, 1 rbi, 0 hr, 7 bb, 0 sb, 7 so
  YTD: .287, 21 runs, 13 rbi, 4 hr, 19 bb, 2 sb, 25 so in 101 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, 20.25 era, 3 hits, 3 er, 0 hr, 2 k, 1 bb in 1.1 innings
  YTD: 1-2, 4.29 era, 24 hits, 10 er, 1 hr, 20 k, 11 bb  in 21.0 innings
• Matthew Neil — right handed starting pitcher — Miami Marlins organization (currently with the Jacksonville Suns of the Southern League – AA)
  0-0, 32.40 era, 8 h, 6 er, 0 hr, 0 k, 0 bb in 1.2 innings.
  YTD: 8-7, 3.94 era, 140 h, 58 er, 13 hr, 90 k, 27 bb in 132.1 innings
• Stephen Parker — 3rd base — Oakland A’s organization (currently with the Sacramento River Cats of the Pacific Coast League – AAA)
  3 for 8 (.375), 0 run, 1 rbi, 0 hr, 0 bb, 0 sb, 2 k
  YTD: .248, 40 run, 41 rbi, 7 hr, 31 bb, 5 sb, 88 k in 307 at bats
• Lance Pendleton — pitcher — Tampa Bay Ray’s organization (currently with the Durham Bulls of the International League – AAA)
  1-0, 1.50 era, 5 h, 1 er, 0 hr, 6 k, 3 bb in 6.0 innings.
  YTD: 8-5, 4.60 era, 128 h, 61 er, 13 hr, 93 k, 53 bb in 119.1 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, 0 h, 0 er, 0 hr, 2 k, 1 bb in 2.0 innings
  YTD: 3-3, 3.86 era, 83 h, 35 er, 6 hr, 60 k, 33 bb in 81.2  innings

Foreign Leagues:

• Mitch Talbot — starting pitcher (right handed) — Samsung Lions (Korea)
  0-0, 6.75 era, 6 h, 4 er, 0 hr, 5 k, 3 bb in 5.1 innings
  YTD: 11-2, 3.63 era, 107 h, 45 er, 4 hr, 52 k, 40 bb in 111.2 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)

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