Mormon Baseball

It has to be exactly what any newly drafted ballplayer wants. Adam Law was drafted in early June in the 12th round by the Dodgers, assigned to play in the Arizona League, and there he has played well almost from day one. Law is among the leaders in the Arizona League in OBP, runs scored and stolen bases, and last week he practically exploded, going 10 for 18. While it is very early in Law’s career, this performance raises expectations that he may be promoted next year, and hopes that Law, the 3rd-generation in pro ball in his family, may eventually join his father (Vance) and grandfather (Vern) as someone who played in the majors.

Among the Mormon pitchers in the minors, practically everyone had a good start. The best were the two in the Midwest League, Taylor Cole and Taylor Mangum. Both held opponents scoreless last week. Mangum did better and lasted longer, giving up just 1 hit and no walks over 7 innings (0.14 WHIP) — very close to a no-hitter, while Cole gave up 5 hits and 4 walks over 5 innings (1.80 WHIP).

Joining Mitch Maier and Mitch Talbot on the DL is recently drafted first baseman Jacob Hannemann, just two weeks into his promising professional career. Hannemann, who was drafted in the 3rd round and signed for $1 million, will rehab in Mesa.

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Hitting Stats Leaders:

• Adam Law (Arizona-Rookie) — .412 OBP (10th), 14 runs (tied 3rd); 7 stolen bases (tied 2nd)

Pitching Stats Leaders:

• Nik Turley (Eastern-AA) — 7 wins (tied 4th); 90 strike outs (tied 5th)

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Current Roster Players:

• Jaycob Brugman — outfielder — Vermont Lake Monsters (New York-Penn League A short season) — Oakland As
  8 for 27 (.296) 2 run, 2 rbi, 0 hr, 0 bb, 0 sb, 7 so
  YTD: .233, 4 run, 9 rbi, 1 hr, 3 bb, 1 sb, 17 so in 60 at bats
• Tyson Brummett — relief pitcher (right handed) — New Hampshire Fisher Cats (AA Eastern League) — Toronto Blue Jays
  0-0, 2.70 era, 3 hits, 1 er, 2 k, 2 bb in 3.1 innings
  YTD: 1-5, 6.71 era, 65 hits, 43 er, 54 k, 26 bb in 57.2 innings
• Taylor Cole — starting pitcher (right handed) — Lansing Lugnuts (Midwest League A) — Toronto Blue Jays
  0-1, 0.00 era, 5 hits, 0 er, 4 k, 4 bb in 5.0 innings
  YTD: 4-7, 4.25 era, 96 hits, 40 er, 60 k, 41 bb in 84.2 innings
• Jeff Gelalich — outfielder — Dayton Dragons (Midwest League A) — Cincinnati Reds
  3 for 20 (.150) 3 run, 1 rbi, 0 hr, 2 bb, 0 sb, 8 so
  YTD: .269, 44 run, 26 rbi, 0 hr, 35 bb, 16 sb, 59 so in 279 at bats
• Austin Hall — pitcher (right handed) — AZL Brewers (Arizona Leauge Rookie) — Milwaukee Brewers
  no information — did not play
• Jacob Hannemann — outfielder — Boise Hawks (Northwest Leauge A short season) — Chicago Cubs
  On 7-day DL, did not play
  YTD: .280, 5 run, 3 rbi, 1 hr, 1 bb, 1 sb, 7 so in 50 at bats
• Bryan Harper — relief pitcher (left handed) — Hagerstown Suns (South Atlantic League – A) — Washington Nationals
  2-0, 1.59 era, 5 hits, 1 er, 4 k, 1 bb in 5.2 innings
  YTD: 5-1, 5.34 era, 25 hits, 18 er, 28 k, 24 bb in 30.1 innings
• Blaine Howell — relief pitcher (left handed) — unassigned?? (was with Bakersfield Blaze of the California League – A+) — Cincinnati Reds
  no information — did not play
  
• Cale Iorg — Second base — Aberdeen IronBirds (New York-Penn League A short season) — Baltimore Orioles
  Did not play. Reportedly demoted from Bowie Baysox (Eastern League AA)
  YTD: .145, 5 run, 6 rbi, 1 hr, 4 bb, 3 sb, 22 so in 55 at bats
• Adam Law — 3rd base — AZL Dodgers (Arizona Leauge rookie) — LA Dodgers
  10 for 18 (.556) 4 run, 2 rbi, 0 hr, 2 bb, 3 sb, 4 so
  YTD: .339, 14 run, 6 rbi, 0 hr, 6 bb, 7 sb, 12 so in 59 at bats
• Marcus Littlewood — catcher — Clinton LumberKings (Midwest League – A) — Seattle Mariners
  4 for 11 (.364) 4 run, 1 rbi, 0 hr, 1 bb, 0 sb, 1 so
  YTD: .261, 18 run, 7 rbi, 2 hr, 15 bb, 1 sb, 32 so in 115 at bats
• Mitch Maier — outfielder —Pawtucket Red Sox (International League – AAA) — Boston Red Sox
  Did not play. on 7-day DL
  YTD: .315, 31 run, 22 rbi, 3 hr, 23 bb, 3 sb, 25 so in 108 at bats
• Taylor Mangum — relief pitcher (right-handed) — Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Midwest League – A) — Milwaukee Brewers
  1-0, 0.00 era, 1 hits, 0 er, 8 k, 0 bb in 7.0 innings
  YTD: 2-4, 3.03 era, 35 hits, 14 er, 39 k, 13 bb in 38.2 innings
• Adam Miller — pitcher (right-handed) — Missoula Osprey (Pioneer League – Rookie) — Arizona Diamondbacks
  0-0, 6.00 era, 2 hits, 2 er, 0 k, 1 bb in 3.0 innings
  YTD: 0-0, 5.63 era, 8 hits, 5 er, 6 k, 1 bb in 8.0 innings
• Clayton Mortensen — relief pitcher (right handed) — Pawtucket Red Sox (International League – AAA) — Boston Red Sox
  0-0, 9.00 era, 2 hits, 2 er, 3 k, 3 bb in 2.0 innings
  YTD: 0-0, 6.00 era, 6 hits, 4 er, 7 k, 5 bb in 6.0 innings
  Majors YTD: 1-2, 5.34 era, 32 hits, 18 er, 21 k, 16 bb in 30.1 innings
• Matt Neil — starting pitcher (right handed) — New Orleans Zephyrs (Pacific Coast League – AAA) — Miami Marlins
  Did not pitch this past week.
  YTD: 3-5, 4.66 era, 89 hits, 40 er, 67 k, 22 bb in 77.1 innings
• Stephen Parker — 3rd base — Nashville Sounds (Pacific Coast League – AAA) — Milwaukee Brewers
  4 for 16 (.250) 1 run, 1 rbi, 0 hr, 2 bb, 0 sb, 4 so
  YTD: .212, 26 run, 23 rbi, 6 hr, 32 bb, 2 sb, 71 so in 273 at bats
• Shane Peterson — outfielder — Sacramento River Cats (Pacific Coast League – AAA) — Oakland A’s (40-man MLB roster)
  4 for 20 (.200) 3 run, 4 rbi, 0 hr, 2 bb, 2 sb, 3 so
  YTD: .234, 41 run, 44 rbi, 6 hr, 46 bb, 11 sb, 76 so in 274 at bats
• Mitch Talbot — starting pitcher (right handed) — New Orleans Zephyrs (Pacific Coast League – AAA)— Miami Marlins
  On 7-day DL – last pitched April 7th
  YTD: 1-0, 0.00 era, 2 hits, 0 er, 3 k, 2 bb in 5.0 innings
• Nik Turley — starting pitcher (right handed) — Trenton Thunder (Eastern League – AA) — New York Yankees (40-man MLB roster)
  0-0, 3.00 era, 3 hits, 1 er, 3 k, 1 bb in 3.0 innings
  YTD: 7-5, 4.15 era, 74 hits, 41 er, 94 k, 45 bb in 89.0 innings

Foreign Leagues:

• Brandon Duckworth — starting pitcher (right handed) — Rakuten Golden Eagles (Japan)
  0-1, 0.00 era, 1 hits, 0 er, 4 k, 4 bb in 7.0 innings
  YTD: 3-4, 3.28 era, 49 hits, 21 er, 36 k, 28 bb in 58.0 innings

Last Year’s players released: (could still be picked up by other teams)

• Derek Cone — starting pitcher (right handed) — Los Angeles Dodgers organization Released.
  Cone has returned to school at ASU pursuing a degree in Accounting
• Willie Mays Eyre — starting pitcher (right handed) — Texas Rangers organization
  Retired
• Kyle Hurst — relief pitcher (right handed) — Independent
  Released
• Lance Pendleton — starting pitcher (right handed) — Tampa Bay Ray’s organization
  Released
  Now a salesman with Baker Hughes
• Jordan Whatcott — relief pitcher (right handed) — Philadelphia Phillies organization
  Released

Other players who may be Mormon:
[We need to determine if these players are Mormon before publishing further information about them.]

Rick Anton, Jay Brossman, Brian Budrow, Tyler Chism, Dallas Christison, Stephen Fife, Tyler Hanks,Steve Hirschfeld, Zachary Jones, Ryan Khoury, Kam Mickolio (apparently not Mormon, but I don’t have evidence either way), Cole Miles, A. J. Murray, Jordan Taylor Pratt, Tanner Robles, Braeden Schlehuber, Justin Smith, Matt Spring, Brad Thompson

Non-Mormons who may be confused for Mormons

Matt Carson (non-Mormon who went to BYU), Derek Christensen, Egan Smith, Jordan Smith