Mormon Baseball

After starting the season slow, the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes’ Adam Law stepped up his performance last week to something like what he did last year, his first after being drafted. Law was 9 for 20 (.450) in 6 games, with 7 runs scored, 5 rbis, 7 walks and 2 stolen bases. And Law raised his batting average for the season to .298, while planting a foot among the statistics leaders in batting average, on-base percentage and in stolen bases. Its the kind of performance Law was known for last year, when he tore up first the Arizona rookie league, and then the Pioneer league, leading to his promotion to the California League (A+) instead of an A-level league with those who were drafted the same time he was. Is it too much to expect him to reach AA by the end of the year?

Law wasn’t the only strong Mormon player at the plate. The Beloit Snappers’ Jaycob Brugman was 4 for 10 last week (.400), improving his season average to .238. But Brugman hasn’t seen many plate appearances this season, and his performance in general still trails other Mormons in the Midwest League (A), such as Marcus Littlewood, who leads the league in batting average and appears in the top 25 in 8 different categories.

Among pitchers, the standout last week was Adam Miller, who gave up just 1 hit and struck out 4 in a 3-inning outing. Miller’s era so far is just 1.42 (tied for 5th in the Midwest League) and his WHIP is 0.87, 4th in the league. Not far behind Miller is veteran Tyson Brummett, who is starting the season in AA for the 4th year in a row, reaching AAA each time, and making a brief appearance in the majors in 2012. Brummett’s era so far this season is just 0.56, leading the Southern League. But despite only giving up 1 run so far this year, Brummett has a 1-1 win-loss record. Perhaps if he can keep up this level he will quickly reach AAA and get another shot at the majors this year. Meanwhile, Boone Whiting continues his strong performance in the AAA Pacific Coast League, while he waits for an opening on the Cardinals’ pitching staff.

.

Hitting Stats Leaders:

• Jeff Gelalich (Midwest League – A) — 12 runs (tied 8th); 8 walks (tied 24th)
• Jacob Hanneman (Midwest League – A) — 8 stolen bases (tied 4th)
• Adam Law (California League – A+) — .298 avg (21st); 4 stolen bases (tied 13th); .382 OBP (tied 16th);
• Marcus Littlewood (Midwest League – A) — .395 avg (1st); 2 home runs (tied 13th); 9 rbis (tied 25th); 12 runs (tied 8th); .480 OBP (1st); .605 SLG (4th); 1.085 OPS (2nd); 17 hits (tied 25th)
• Shane Petersen (Pacific Coast League – AAA) — 13 runs (tied 18th); 22 hits (tied 15th); 9 walks (tied 20th)
• Adam Rosales (Pacific Coast League – AAA) — 4 hr (tied 11th)

Pitching Stats Leaders:

• Tyson Brummett (Southern League – AA) — 0.56 era (1st); 1.13 WHIP (17th)
• Taylor Cole (Florida State League – A+) — 3.04 era (24th); 2 win (tied 3rd); 32 strikeouts (1st); 0.89 WHIP (7th); 23.2 innings (tied 2nd)
• Adam Miller (Midwest League – A) — 1.42 era (tied 5th); 0.87 WHIP (4th)
• Boone Whiting (Pacific Coast League – AAA) — 1.93 era (5th); 26 strike outs (tied 1st); 1.18 WHIP (tied 22nd)

.

Current Roster Players:

• Jaycob Brugman — Outfield — Beloit Snappers (OAK) — Midwest League (A)
  4 for 10 (.400) 3 run, 0 rbi, 0 hr, 1 bb, 1 sb, 1 so
  YTD: .238, 3 run, 0 rbi, 0 hr, 2 bb, 1 sb, 6 so in 21 at bats
  .
• Tyson Brummett — Pitcher — Chattanooga Lookouts (LAD) — Southern League (AA)
  1-1, 0.75 era, 11 hits, 1 er, 11 k, 2 bb in 12.0 innings; 1.08 WHIP
  YTD: 1-1, 0.56 era, 12 hits, 1 er, 13 k, 6 bb in 16.0 innings; 1.13 WHIP
  .
• Taylor Cole — Pitcher — Dunedin Blue Jays (TOR) — Florida State League (A+)— Toronto Blue Jays
  1-0, 3.75 era, 12 hits, 5 er, 16 k, 3 bb in 12.0 innings; 1.25 WHIP
  YTD: 2-0, 3.04 era, 15 hits, 8 er, 32 k, 6 bb in 23.2 innings; 0.89 WHIP
  .
• Jeff Gelalich — Outfield — Dayton Dragons (CIN) — Midwest League (A)
  3 for 19 (.158) 4 run, 3 rbi, 1 hr, 3 bb, 2 sb, 3 so
  YTD: .179, 12 runs, 6 rbi, 1 hr, 8 bb, 3 sb, 11 so in 56 at bats
  .
• Jacob Hannemann — Right Field — Kane County Cougars (CHC) — Midwest League (A)
  6 for 28 (.214) 3 run, 1 rbi, 0 hr, 2 bb, 4 sb, 8 so
  YTD: .224, 9 run, 4 rbi, 1 hr, 3 bb, 8 sb, 20 so in 58 at bats
  .
• Bryan Harper — Pitcher — Potomac Nationals (WSH) — Carolina League (A+)
  0-0, 2.70 era, 4 hits, 1 er, 4 k, 2 bb in 3.1 innings; 1.80 WHIP
  YTD: 0-0, 1.04 era, 7 hits, 1 er, 7 k, 2 bb in 8.2 innings; 1.04 WHIP
  .
• Adam Law — 3rd base — Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (LAD) — California League (A+)
  9 for 20 (.450) 7 run, 5 rbi, 0 hr, 7 bb, 2 sb, 4 so
  YTD: .298, 8 run, 5 rbi, 0 hr, 7 bb, 4 sb, 11 so in 47 at bats
  .
• Marcus Littlewood — Catcher — Clinton LumberKings (SEA) — Midwest League (A)
  5 for 17 (.294) 4 run, 4 rbi, 2 hr, 2 bb, 0 sb, 2 so
  YTD: .395, 12 run, 9 rbi, 2 hr, 6 bb, 1 sb, 5 so in 43 at bats
  .
• Brandon Lyon — Pitcher — Salt Lake Bees (LAA) — Pacific Coast League (AAA)
  0-0, 4.15 era, 5 hits, 2 er, 2 k, 2 bb in 4.1 innings; 1.62 WHIP
  YTD: 0-1, era 1.93, 13 hits, 2 er, 3 bb and 5 k in 9.1 innings; 1.71 WHIP
  .
• Adam Miller — Pitcher —South Bend Silver Hawks (AZ) — Midwest League (A)
  0-0, 0.00 era, 1 hits, 0 er, 4 k, 0 bb in 3.0 innings; 0.33 WHIP
  YTD: 1-0, 1.42 era, 9 hits, 2 er, 12 k, 2 bb in 12.2 innings; 0.87 WHIP
  .
• Clayton Mortensen — Pitcher — Omaha Storm Chasers (KC) — Pacific Coast League (AAA)
  Did not pitch
  YTD: 0-0, era n/a, 0 hits, 0 er, 0 bb and 0 k in 0.0 innings; n/a WHIP
  .
• Matt Neil —Pitcher — Montgomery Biscuits (TB) — Southern League (AA))
  1-0, 3.38 era, 5 hits, 1 er, 2 k, 0 bb in 2.2 innings; 1.88 WHIP
  YTD: 1-0, 3.38 era, 5 hits, 1 er, 0 bb and 2 k in 2.2 innings; 1.88 WHIP
  .
• Stephen Parker — 3rd base —Nashville Sounds (MIL) — Pacific Coast League (AAA)
  Did not play
  YTD: .000, 0 run, 0 rbi, 0 hr, 0 bb, 0 sb, 0 so in 0 at bats
  .
• Shane Peterson — Outfielder — Sacramento River Cats (OAK) — Pacific Coast League (AAA)
  7 for 25 (.280) 5 run, 1 rbi, 1 hr, 4 bb, 2 sb, 4 so
  YTD: .306, 13 runs, 8 rbi, 2 hr, 9 bb, 3 sb, 21 so in 72 at bats.
  .
• Tyler Pill — Pitcher —Binghamton Mets (NYM) — Eastern League (AA)
  0-1, 8.44 era, 7 hits, 5 er, 4 k, 1 bb in 5.1 innings; 1.50 WHIP
  YTD: 0-3, 9.64 era, 23 hits, 15 er, 8 k, 5 bb in 14.0 innings; 2.00 WHIP
  .
• Adam Rosales — Infielder — Round Rock Express (TEX) — Pacific Coast League (AAA)
  4 for 20 (.200) 3 run, 2 rbi, 2 hr, 1 bb, 0 sb, 4 so
  YTD: .189, 10 runs, 8 rbi, 4 hr, 8 bb, 0 sb, 17 so in 53 at bats.
  .
• Mason Smith — Outfielder —AZL Padres (SD) — Arizona League (R)— San Diego Padres
  Did not play — Arizona League begins play June 20th.
  YTD: .000, 0 run, 0 rbi, 0 hr, 0 bb, 0 sb, 0 so in 0 at bats
  .
• Nik Turley — Pitcher — Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (NYY) — International League (AAA)
  Did not pitch
  YTD: 0-0, era n/a, 0 hits, 0 er, 0 bb and 0 k in 0.0 innings; n/a WHIP
  .
• Boone Whiting — Pitcher —Memphis Redbirds (STL) — Pacific Coast League (AAA)
  0-0, 1.80 era, 3 hits, 1 er, 6 k, 0 bb in 5.0 innings; 0.60 WHIP
  YTD: 0-1, 1.93 era, 15 hits, 4 er, 26 k, 7 bb in 18.2 innings; 1.18 WHIP
  .

.

Independent Leagues:

• Cole Miles — outfielder — Florence Freedom (Frontier League)
  League play begins May 15
  YTD: .000, 0 run, 0 rbi, 0 hr, 0 bb, 0 sb, 0 so in 0 at bats

.

Foreign Leagues:

• Brett Pill — Kia Tigers — Korean League
  6 for 17 (.353) 2 run, 3 rbi, 0 hr, 2 bb, 0 sb, 3 so
  YTD: .364, 13 runs, 13 rbi, 4 hr, 6 bb, 0 sb, 10 so in 66 at bats.
  .

.

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

• Blaine Howell — relief pitcher (left handed) — (was with Bakersfield Blaze of the California League – A+) — Cincinnati Reds
• Cale Iorg — released (was with Aberdeen IronBirds (BAL) — New York-Penn League (SS))
• Mitch Maier — Free Agent (was with Pawtucket Red Sox (BOS) — International League (AAA))
• Taylor Mangum —Released (was with Brevard County Manatees (MIL) — Florida State League (A+))
• Mitch Talbot — Free Agent (was with Las Vegas 51s (NYM) — Pacific Coast League (AAA))

.

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

Rick Anton, James Brooks, Jay Brossman, Brian Budrow, Eric Byrnes, Chris Capper, Tyler Chism, Dallas Christison, Shaun Cooper, Stephen Fife, Tyler Hanks, Steve Hirschfeld, Travis Huber, Zachary Jones, Goose Kallunki, Ryan Khoury, Kam Mickolio (apparently not Mormon, but I don’t have evidence either way), A. J. Murray, Jordan Taylor Pratt, Tanner Robles, Braeden Schlehuber, Justin Smith, Matt Spring, Brad Thompson, Tyler Wagner

Non-Mormons who may be confused for Mormons

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

.