Mormon Baseball

Welcome back to the bigs, Adam Rosales! The Oakland As brought Rosales back from the minors this week after they sent down backup infielder Brandon Hicks. While Rosales didn’t immediately tear up the base paths, he does have a chance to capitalize on the move and show that he should stay.

Rosales wasn’t the only one called up this week. The Red Sox called up Clayton Mortensen again, but again it was just for a single game (which Mortensen won in 2.2 innings of shutout relief) before he was sent back down. Mortensen didn’t help his case, however, by then giving up a home run in his next start with AAA Pawtucket. Still, he sports a 1.96 era over 36.2 inning with Pawtucket and a 1.17 era over 23 innings in the majors.

Perhaps the best pitching performance among Mormons in the majors this week came from Roy Halladay, who pitched 7 innings of shut out ball this past week and gained a win. But he wasn’t too far ahead of two relievers, Matt Lindstrom and Brandon Lyon who again were great in relief. Both Lindstrom and Lyon sport sub 3.00 eras.

Among non-pitchers, Darwin Barney shone most, going 6 for 19 (.319) and racking up 6 runs and 4 rbis along with his 5th home run of the year. He is hitting a respectable .268.

The minor leagues saw the release of Kyle Hurst this week. In 5 seasons in the minor leagues, the pitcher hasn’t quite delivered as needed to progress, only making a AAA team once, a single inning’s work for the Salt Lake Bees in 2009 in which he gave up a run. Overall his minor league era is over 5.00. Hurst is a returned missionary (Sweden) and the son of former major leaguer Bruce Hurst.

Pitching in the minors again had the standout Mormon players, especially among those named “Taylor.” Taylor Cole continues his shutout ways for the Vancouver Canadians (A), adding another 11 innings of shut out work. His era is now down to 0.26 over 35 innings. Taylor Mangum, playing for the Helena Brewers (rookie), had a bad outing this week, giving up 3 earned runs over more than 3 innings this past week for an 8.10 era. But despite this hiccup, he still sports a 2.45 era for the year.

Among position players, the best performance came from shortstop Marcus Littlewood (son of the new BYU baseball coach Mike Littlewood) had a great week, going 4 for 13 (.308), scoring 4 runs and earning 2 rbis. He is hitting .246 for the year in 126 at bats for the Everett AquaSox (A).

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Current Roster Players:

• Darwin Barney—second base—Chicago Cubs
  6 for 19 (.316), 6 runs, 4 rbi, 1 hr, 0 bb, 0 sb, 6 so.
  YTD: .268, 47 runs, 31 rbi, 5 hr, 19 bb, 6 sb, 37 so in 358 at bats.
• John Buck — starting catcher — Miami Marlins
  4 for 20 (.200), 0 runs, 1 rbi, 0 hr, 2 bb, 0 sb, 8 so
  YTD: .172, 18 runs, 27 rbi, 8 hr, 41 bb, 0 sb, 82 so in 262 at bats.
• Jacoby Ellsbury — starting outfielder — Boston Red Sox
  5 for 22 (.227), 3 runs, 3 rbi, 0 hr, 3 bb, 2 sb, 4 so
  YTD: .259, 16 runs, 7 rbi, 1 hr, 10 bb, 3 sb, 14 so in 112 at bats.
• Kyle Farnsworth — closer — Tampa Bay Rays
  0-1, era 5.40, 1 hit, 1 er, 0 k, 1 bb, in 1.2 innings
  YTD: 0-3, era 5.06, 7 hits, 6 er, 13 k, 8 bb in 10.2 innings
• Jeremy Guthrie — starting pitcher (right handed) — Kansas City Royals
  0-1, 4.50 era, 6 hits, 3 er, 2 bb, and 4 k in 6.0 innings
  YTD: 3-12, era 6.56 143 hits, 78 er, 36 bb and 57 k in 106.0 innings
• Roy Halladay— starting pitcher (right handed) — Philadelphia Phillies
  1-0, era 0.00, 3 hits, 0 er, 1 bb, 5 k in 7.0 innings
  YTD: 5-6, era 4.02, 91 hits, 43 er, 17 bb, 77 k in 96.1 innings.
• Bryce Harper — left field — Washington Nationals
  6 for 25 (.240), 4 runs, 1 rbi, 1 hr, 1 bb, 0 sb, 5 so
  YTD: .260, 57 runs, 30 rbi, 10 hr, 37 bb, 13 sb, 74 so in 339 at bats.
• Elliot Johnson — infielder — Tampa Bay Rays
  1 for 12 (.083), 0 runs, 0 rbi, 0 hr, 3 bb, 1 sb, 1 so
  YTD: .247, 26 runs, 27 rbi, 4 hr, 24 bb, 17 sb, 70 so in 259 at bats.
• Josh Johnson — starting pitcher (right handed) – Miami Marlins
  1-0, 1.04 era, 5 hits, 1 er, 9 k, 0 bb in 8.2 innings.
  YTD: 7-7, 3.85 era, 132 hits, 57 er, 118 k, 41 bb in 133.1 innings.
• Matt Lindstrom — right handed bullpen pitcher – Baltimore Orioles
  0-0, 0.00 era, 2 hit, 0 er, 1 k, 0 bb in 3.0 innings
  YTD: 1-0, 2.83 era, 29 hits, 9 er, 22 k, 11 bb in 28.2 innings.
• Brandon Lyon — right handed bullpen pitcher — Toronto Blue Jays
  0-0, 2.08 era, 4 hits, 1 er, 9 k, 0 bb in 4.1 innings
  YTD: 1-2, 2.91 era, 42 hits, 14 er, 50 k, 11 bb in 43.1 innings.
• Adam Rosales — 2B — Oakland A’s (was with with the Sacramento River Cats of the Pacific Coast League – AAA)
  2 for 11 (.182) 1 run, 0 rbi, 0 hr, 2 bb, 0 sb, 2 so
  minors: 3 for 11 (.273) 2 run, 1 rbi, 0 hr, 0 bb, 0 sb, 1 so
  YTD (minors): .280, 46 run, 47 rbi, 8 hr, 26 bb, 4 sb, 57 so in 275 at bats
  MLB YTD (majors): .171, 3 run, 3 rbi, 11 bb, 0 sb, 5 k in 35 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, 4 so, 1 bb in 2.2 innings.
  YTD: 4-2, 2 sv, 3.13 era, 58 h, 24 er, 4 hr, 65 k, 19 bb in 69.0 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, 7 h, 0 er, 0 hr, 9 so, 3 bb in 11.0 innings
  YTD: 3-0, 0.26 era, 22 h, 1 er, 0 hr, 29 k, 10 bb in 35.0 innings
• Derek Cone — right handed starting pitcher — Los Angeles Dodgers organization (currently with the Ogden Raptors of the Pioneer League – Rookie)
  0-0, 12.00 era, 2 hits, 4 er, 2 hr, 6 k, 3 bb in 3.0 innings
  YTD: 1-1, 8.22 era, 26 hits, 20 er, 4 hr, 14 k, 17 bb in 23.0 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)
  0-1, 23.14 era, 4 hits, 6 er, 1 hr, 3 k, 1 bb in 2.1 innings
  YTD: 1-4, 6.80 era, 54 h, 35 er, 4 hr, 39 k, 21 bb in 46.1 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, 0 er, 0 hr, 1 k, 0 bb in 2.0 innings
  YTD: 2-2, 5.06 era, 26 h, 12 er, 2 hr, 23 so, 12 bb in 21.1 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, 18.00 era, 5 hits, 6 er, 1 hr, 4 k, 4 bb in 3.0 innings
  YTD: 0-0, 14.34 era, 27 hits, 17 er, 1 hr, 12 k, 10 bb in 10.2 innings
• Blaine Howell —left handed bullpen pitcher — Cincinnati Reds organization (currently with the Bakersfield Blaze of the California League – A+)
  0-0, 0.00 era, 3 h, 0 er, 0 hr, 2 k, 2 bb in 3.0 innings
  YTD: 0-1, 4.13 era, 33 h, 11 er, 2 hr, 15 k, 13 bb in 24.0 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 16 (.063), 2 run, 2 rbi, 1 hr, 1 bb, 0 sb, 6 k
  YTD: .154, 10 run, 5 rbi, 1 hr, 3 bb, 1 sb, 39 k in 117 at bats
• Marcus Littlewood — Shortstop — Seattle Mariners organization (currently with the Everett WA AquaSox of the Northwest League – A)
  4 for 13 (.308), 4 run, 2 rbi, 1 hr, 4 bb, 0 sb, 3 k
  YTD: .246, 22 runs, 21 rbi, 6 hr, 30 bb, 1 sb, 40 k in 126 at bats
• Mitch Maier —  outfielder — Kansas City Royals organization (currently with the Omaha Storm Chasers of the Pacific Coast League – AAA)
  4 for 13 (.308), 2 runs, 1 rbi, 0 hr, 2 bb, 1 sb, 3 so
  YTD: .172, 6 runs, 1 rbi, 0 hr, 7 bb, 1 sb, 10 so in 38 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, 8.10 era, 2 hits, 3 er, 0 hr, 3 k, 2 bb in 3.1 innings
  YTD: 1-1, 2.45 era, 12 hits, 4 er, 0 hr, 14 k, 8 bb  in 14.2 innings
• Clayton Mortensen — right handed bullpen pitcher —Boston Red Sox organization (currently with the Pawtucket Red Sox of International League – AAA)
  0-0, 9.00 era, 3 hits, 1 er, 0 k, 0 bb, 1 hr in 1.0 innings
  MLB: 1-0, 0.00 era, 1 hits, 0 er, 1 k, 3 bb, 0 hr in 2.2 innings
  YTD: 5-3, 1.96 era, 21 hits, 8 er, 35 k, 15 bb, 3 hr in 36.2 innings
  MLB YTD: 1-0, 1.17 era, 13 hits, 3 er, 17 k, 7 bb, 2 hr in 23.0 innings
• Matthew Neil — right handed starting pitcher — Miami Marlins organization (currently with the Jacksonville Suns of the Southern League – AA)
  0-0, 0.00 era, 0 h, 0 er, 0 hr, 2 k, 2 bb in 2.0 innings.
  YTD: 7-6, 3.82 era, 115 h, 48 er, 12 hr, 81 k, 23 bb in 113.0 innings
• Stephen Parker — 3rd base — Oakland A’s organization (currently with the Sacramento River Cats of the Pacific Coast League – AAA)
  1 for 11 (.091), 1 run, 0 rbi, 0 hr, 1 bb, 0 sb, 6 k
  YTD: .248, 37 run, 38 rbi, 7 hr, 29 bb, 5 sb, 82 k in 278 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, 0.00 era, 4 h, 0 er, 0 hr, 4 k, 0 bb in 3.2 innings
  YTD: 3-3, 3.88 era, 74 h, 31 er, 6 hr, 54 k, 24 bb in 72.0  innings

Foreign Leagues:

• Mitch Talbot — starting pitcher (right handed) — Samsung Lions (Korea)
  1-0, 1.29 era, 4 h, 1 er, 0 hr, 6 k, 2 bb in 7.0 innings
  YTD: 10-1, 3.41 era, 89 h, 36 er, 3 hr, 43 k, 34 bb in 95.0 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)