Mormon Baseball

The clear bright spot for Mormons in the Major Leagues this past week is Bryce Harper. The teenage phenom is on a hot streak that might erase the doubts in him that arose when he went into an extended post-all-star-game slump. After a strong week last week, Harper got even stronger this week, batting .360, scoring 8 runs and hitting another 3 home runs. In the past two weeks he has had two two-home run games and hit a total of six four-baggers to raise his total for the year to 18 and tie Mel Ott’s National League record for home runs by a teenager. Only one teenager has hit more home runs in a season: Tony Conigliaro hit 24 home runs as a 19-year-old rookie with the Boston Red Sox in 1964. Can Harper pass him?

Of course, Harper isn’t the only Mormon in the majors to have a great week. Jeremy Guthrie is making a case for his value after a disastrous first-half of the season. Since arriving at the Royals, he has built a positive record and his era for the past two weeks is under 1.25! And his era for the year is finally down to a little above 5.00. Another quality start will make his season seem mediocre instead of poor (IMO). Guthrie’s improvement is mirrored by Josh Johnson, who, while he hasn’t struggled this season like Guthrie has, was off his game for a few weeks. Johnson has now turned in a couple of weeks of strong performances, including a 7.0 inning game last week in which he struck out 7 and gave up just 2 runs.

.

Current Roster Players:

• Darwin Barney—second base—Chicago Cubs
  5 for 25 (.200), 1 runs, 1 rbi, 0 hr, 0 bb, 0 sb, 1 so.
  YTD: .255, 60 runs, 39 rbi, 6 hr, 25 bb, 6 sb, 49 so in 471 at bats.
• John Buck — starting catcher — Miami Marlins
  3 for 9 (.333), 1 runs, 2 rbi, 0 hr, 0 bb, 0 sb, 3 so
  YTD: .201, 26 runs, 36 rbi, 10 hr, 46 bb, 0 sb, 93 so in 314 at bats.
• Jacoby Ellsbury — starting outfielder — Boston Red Sox
  4 for 24 (.167), 3 runs, 2 rbi, 1 hr, 1 bb, 1 sb, 5 so
  YTD: .257, 37 runs, 18 rbi, 3 hr, 15 bb, 12 sb, 32 so in 245 at bats.
• Kyle Farnsworth — closer — Tampa Bay Rays
  0-1, era 6.75, 3 hit, 2 er, 2 k, 2 bb, in 2.2 innings
  YTD: 1-4, era 3.18, 13 hits, 8 er, 21 k, 12 bb in 22.2 innings
• Jeremy Guthrie — starting pitcher (right handed) — Kansas City Royals
  1-0, 1.20 era, 11 hits, 2 er, 2 bb, and 9 k in 15.0 innings
  YTD: 7-12, era 5.06 181 hits, 87 er, 43 bb and 89 k in 154.2 innings
• Roy Halladay— starting pitcher (right handed) — Philadelphia Phillies
  1-0, era 1.23, 8 hits, 1 er, 1 bb, 5 k in 7.1 innings
  YTD: 9-7, era 3.87, 131 hits, 59 er, 25 bb, 109 k in 137.1 innings.
• Bryce Harper — left field — Washington Nationals
  9 for 25 (.360), 8 runs, 3 rbi, 3 hr, 3 bb, 0 sb, 3 so
  YTD: .260, 81 runs, 48 rbi, 18 hr, 48 bb, 13 sb, 101 so in 454 at bats.
• Elliot Johnson — infielder — Tampa Bay Rays
  1 for 8 (.125), 0 runs, 0 rbi, 0 hr, 0 bb, 0 sb, 2 so
  YTD: .242, 28 runs, 31 rbi, 5 hr, 24 bb, 17 sb, 81 so in 289 at bats.
• Josh Johnson — starting pitcher (right handed) – Miami Marlins
  1-0, 2.57 era, 4 hits, 2 er, 7 k, 3 bb in 7.0 innings.
  YTD: 8-11, 3.81 era, 167 hits, 73 er, 147 k, 54 bb in 172.1 innings.
• Matt Lindstrom — right handed bullpen pitcher – Arizona Diamondbacks
  0-0, 0.00 era, 1 hit, 0 er, 6 k, 0 bb in 3.0 innings
  YTD: 1-0, 2.83 era, 39 hits, 13 er, 38 k, 12 bb in 41.1 innings.
• Brandon Lyon — right handed bullpen pitcher — Toronto Blue Jays
  1-0, 7.71 era, 3 hits, 2 er, 1 k, 1 bb in 2.1 innings
  YTD: 2-2, 3.13 era, 49 hits, 19 er, 60 k, 14 bb in 54.2 innings.
• Clayton Mortensen — right handed bullpen pitcher —Boston Red Sox
  0-0, 0.00 era, 1 hits, 0 er, 4 k, 0 bb, 0 hr in 2.0 innings
  YTD: 1-1, 2.12 era, 25 hits, 8 er, 30 k, 12 bb, 4 hr in 34.0 innings
• Adam Rosales — 2B — Oakland A’s
  1 for 7 (.147) 1 run, 0 rbi, 0 hr, 0 bb, 0 sb, 3 so
  YTD: .221, 9 run, 8 rbi, 11 bb, 0 sb, 18 k in 77 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)
  Did not pitch. — Season complete.
  YTD: 5-6, 2 sv, 3.20 era, 74 h, 32 er, 4 hr, 83 k, 29 bb in 90.0 innings.
• Taylor Cole — right handed starting pitcher — Toronto Blue Jays organization (currently with the Vancouver Canadians of the Northwest League – A)
  Did not pitch. — Season complete.
  YTD: 6-0, 0.81 era, 36 h, 6 er, 0 hr, 57 k, 17 bb in 66.1 innings
• Derek Cone — right handed starting pitcher — Los Angeles Dodgers organization (currently with the Ogden Raptors of the Pioneer League – Rookie)
  0-0, 0.00 era, 0 hits, 0 er, 0 hr, 1 k, 0 bb in 1.0 innings
  YTD: 1-1, 9.08 era, 42 hits, 37 er, 6 hr, 25 k, 32 bb in 36.2 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)
  Did not pitch. — Season complete.
  YTD: 2-5, 5.74 era, 62 h, 37 er, 4 hr, 52 k, 23 bb in 58.0 innings
• Jeff Gelalich — outfielder — Cincinnati Reds organization (currently with the Billings Mustangs of the Pioneer League – rookie)
  2 for 4 (.500), 3 run, 1 rbi, 0 hr, 0 bb, 0 sb, 1 k
  YTD: .236, 27 run, 9 rbi, 2 hr, 14 bb, 4 sb, 42 k in 127 at bats
• Austin Hall — right handed pitcher — Milwaukee Brewers organization (currently with the AZL Brewers of the Arizona Leauge – Rookie)
  Did not pitch. — Season complete.
  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, 2 h, 0 er, 0 hr, 1 k, 0 bb in 1.0 innings
  YTD: 0-1, 10.59 era, 34 hits, 20 er, 1 hr, 21 k, 11 bb in 17.0 innings
• Blaine Howell —left handed bullpen pitcher — Cincinnati Reds organization (currently with the Bakersfield Blaze of the California League – A+)
  Did not pitch. — Season complete.
  YTD: 1-2, 5.20 era, 45 h, 21 er, 3 hr, 26 k, 20 bb in 36.1 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, 0 rbi, 0 hr, 0 bb, 0 sb, 2 k
  YTD: .163, 15 run, 7 rbi, 1 hr, 7 bb, 3 sb, 51 k in 160 at bats
• Marcus Littlewood — Shortstop — Seattle Mariners organization (currently with the Everett WA AquaSox of the Northwest League – A)
  Did not play. — Season complete.
  YTD: .262, 36 runs, 37 rbi, 9 hr, 44 bb, 2 sb, 72 k in 214 at bats
• Mitch Maier —  outfielder — Kansas City Royals organization (currently with the Omaha Storm Chasers of the Pacific Coast League – AAA)
  1 for 5 (.200), 1 runs, 1 rbi, 0 hr, 0 bb, 0 sb, 2 so
  YTD: .288, 25 runs, 17 rbi, 4 hr, 21 bb, 2 sb, 31 so in 132 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)
  1-0, 0.00 era, 1 hits, 0 er, 0 hr, 2 k, 0 bb in 3.1 innings
  YTD: 2-2, 3.42 era, 25 hits, 10 er, 1 hr, 23 k, 12 bb  in 26.1 innings
• Matthew Neil — right handed starting pitcher — Miami Marlins organization (currently with the Jacksonville Suns of the Southern League – AA)
  Did not pitch. — Season complete.
  YTD: 8-7, 3.90 era, 145 h, 59 er, 14 hr, 94 k, 28 bb in 136.0 innings
• Stephen Parker — 3rd base — Oakland A’s organization (currently with the Sacramento River Cats of the Pacific Coast League – AAA)
  1 for 4 (.250), 1 run, 2 rbi, 0 hr, 0 bb, 0 sb, 1 k
  YTD: .256, 43 run, 47 rbi, 7 hr, 32 bb, 5 sb, 93 k in 328 at bats
• Lance Pendleton — pitcher — Tampa Bay Ray’s organization (currently with the Durham Bulls of the International League – AAA)
  0-1, 12.27 era, 6 h, 5 er, 0 hr, 4 k, 1 bb in 3.2 innings.
  YTD: 8-6, 4.81 era, 139 h, 69 er, 14 hr, 104 k, 55 bb in 129.0 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)
  Did not pitch. — Season complete.
  YTD: 3-3, 3.78 era, 86 h, 35 er, 6 hr, 62 k, 34 bb in 83.1  innings

Foreign Leagues:

• Mitch Talbot — starting pitcher (right handed) — Samsung Lions (Korea)
  Did not pitch.
  YTD: 12-2, 3.56 era, 112 h, 47 er, 5 hr, 57 k, 41 bb in 118.2 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 — non-Mormon who went to BYU
• Derek Christensen
• Egan Smith —
• Jordan Smith —