Mormon Baseball

Its easy to get excited with the statistics in the initial weeks of the season, when extreme performances haven’t yet been tempered by the passage of time. Still, several Mormon players, such as Memphis Redbirds’ pitcher Boone Whiting, already are turning in great statistics. Whiting currently leads the AAA Pacific Coast League with 20 strike outs. He also has a 1.98 era in 13.2 innings over 3 starts.

And Whiting isn’t the only outstanding Mormon pitcher in the first couple weeks of the season. Taylor Cole, of the Dunedin Blue Jays in the Florida State League (A+) is also leading his league in strike outs (with 16), and sports a 0.51 whip and 2.31 era in 11.2 innings. Both Whiting and Cole could end up advancing if they keep up this performance—to AA in Cole’s case, and to the majors in Whiting’s case.

Among position players, the standout so far this year is the Clinton Lumber Kings’ Marcus Littlewood, who is leading the Midwest League (A) in batting average (.462) and on-base percentage (.548). This past week he was particularly explosive, going 7 for 14, with 6 runs scored, 3 rbis and 3 walks. His performance is even above that of the Sacramento River Cats’ Shane Peterson, who was 11 for 28 (.393) last week and .319 for the year so far. Peterson, who spent time in the majors last year, is in the more competitive Pacific Coast League (AAA), and his 6 runs scored, 5 rbis and 4 walks don’t put him as high on the leader boards. But, they could also again levitate Peterson to the majors at some point this year.

.

Hitting Stats Leaders:

• Jeff Gelalich (Midwest League – A) — 8 runs (tied 11th); 5 walks (tied 24th)
• Jacob Hanneman (Midwest League – A) — 4 stolen bases (tied 7th)
• Adam Law (California League – A+) — 2 stolen bases (tied 22nd)
• Marcus Littlewood (Midwest League – A) — .462 ave (1st); 8 runs (tied 11th); .548 OBP (1st); .500 SLG (tied 25th); 1.048 OPS (8th); 9 hits (tied 9th)
• Shane Petersen (Pacific Coast League – AAA) — 8 runs (tied 24th); 15 hits (tied 11th)
• Adam Rosales (Pacific Coast League – AAA) — 2 hr (tied 10th); 7 walks (tied 12th)

Pitching Stats Leaders:

• Taylor Cole (Florida State League – A+) — 1 win (tied 12th); 16 strikeouts (tied 1st); 0.51 WHIP (9th); 11.2 innings (tied 16th)
• Bryan Harper (Carolina League – A+) — 0.00 era (tied 1st); 0.56 WHIP (tied 4th)
• Adam Miller (Midwest League – A) — 1 win (tied 11th)
• Boone Whiting (Pacific Coast League – AAA) — 1.98 era (9th); 20 strike outs (1st); 13.2 innings (10th)

.

Current Roster Players:

• Jaycob Brugman — Outfield — Beloit Snappers (OAK) — Midwest League (A)
  1 for 11 (.091) 0 run, 0 rbi, 0 hr, 1 bb, 0 sb, 5 so
  YTD: .091, 1 run, 0 rbi, 0 hr, 1 bb, 0 sb, 5 so in 11 at bats
  .
• Tyson Brummett — Pitcher — Chattanooga Lookouts (LAD) — Southern League (AA)
  0-0, 0.00 era, 1 hits, 0 er, 2 k, 4 bb in 4.0 innings; 1.25 WHIP
  YTD: 0-0, 0.00 era, 0 hits, 0 er, 2 k, 4 bb in 4.0 innings; 1.25 WHIP
  .
• Taylor Cole — Pitcher — Dunedin Blue Jays (TOR) — Florida State League (A+)— Toronto Blue Jays
  1-0, 3.18 era, 2 hits, 2 er, 9 k, 1 bb in 5.2 innings; 0.53 WHIP
  YTD: 1-0, 2.31 era, 2 hits, 2 er, 9 k, 1 bb in 11.2 innings; 0.51 WHIP
  .
• Jeff Gelalich — Outfield — Dayton Dragons (CIN) — Midwest League (A)
  5 for 21 (.238) 5 run, 3 rbi, 0 hr, 3 bb, 1 sb, 5 so
  YTD: .189, 8 runs, 3 rbi, 0 hr, 5 bb, 1 sb, 8 so in 37 at bats
  .
• Jacob Hannemann — Right Field — Kane County Cougars (CHC) — Midwest League (A)
  3 for 14 (.214) 2 run, 1 rbi, 0 hr, 0 bb, 1 sb, 4 so
  YTD: .233, 6 run, 3 rbi, 1 hr, 1 bb, 4 sb, 12 so in 30 at bats
  .
• Bryan Harper — Pitcher — Potomac Nationals (WSH) — Carolina League (A+)
  0-0, 0.00 era, 3 hits, 0 er, 3 k, 0 bb in 4.1 innings; 0.69 WHIP
  YTD: 0-0, 0.00 era, 3 hits, 0 er, 3 k, 0 bb in 5.1 innings; 0.56 WHIP
  .
• Adam Law — 3rd base — Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (LAD) — California League (A+)
  3 for 14 (.214) 1 run, 0 rbi, 0 hr, 0 bb, 2 sb, 5 so
  YTD: .185, 1 run, 0 rbi, 0 hr, 0 bb, 2 sb, 7 so in 27 at bats
  .
• Marcus Littlewood — Catcher — Clinton LumberKings (SEA) — Midwest League (A)
  7 for 14 (.500) 6 run, 3 rbi, 0 hr, 3 bb, 1 sb, 2 so
  YTD: .462, 8 run, 5 rbi, 0 hr, 4 bb, 1 sb, 3 so in 26 at bats
  .
• Brandon Lyon — Pitcher — Salt Lake Bees (LAA) — Pacific Coast League (AAA)
  0-1, 0.00 era, 5 hits, 0 er, 2 k, 1 bb in 3.0 innings; 2.00 WHIP
  YTD: 0-1, era 0.00, 8 hits, 0 er, 1 bb and 3 k in 5.0 innings; 1.80 WHIP
  .
• Adam Miller — Pitcher —South Bend Silver Hawks (AZ) — Midwest League (A)
  0-0, 4.50 era, 5 hits, 2 er, 1 k, 2 bb in 4.0 innings; 1.75 WHIP
  YTD: 1-0, 1.86 era, 8 hits, 2 er, 8 k, 2 bb in 9.2 innings; 1.03 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
  .
• 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)
  11 for 28 (.393) 6 run, 5 rbi, 0 hr, 4 bb, 1 sb, 8 so
  YTD: .319, 8 runs, 7 rbi, 1 hr, 5 bb, 1 sb, 17 so in 47 at bats.
  .
• Tyler Pill — Pitcher —Binghamton Mets (NYM) — Eastern League (AA)
  0-1, 13.50 era, 10 hits, 7 er, 4 k, 1 bb in 4.2 innings; 2.36 WHIP
  YTD: 0-2, 10.38 era, 16 hits, 10 er, 4 k, 4 bb in 8.2 innings; 2.31 WHIP
  .
• Adam Rosales — Infielder — Round Rock Express (TEX) — Pacific Coast League (AAA)
  6 for 23 (.261) 6 run, 5 rbi, 2 hr, 5 bb, 0 sb, 7 so
  YTD: .182, 7 runs, 6 rbi, 2 hr, 7 bb, 0 sb, 13 so in 33 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 —Trenton Thunder (NYY) — Eastern League (AA)
  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)
  0-1, 1.86 era, 9 hits, 2 er, 15 k, 4 bb in 9.2 innings; 1.34 WHIP
  YTD: 0-1, 1.98 era, 12 hits, 3 er, 20 k, 7 bb in 13.2 innings; 1.39 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 16 (.375) 5 run, 2 rbi, 1 hr, 1 bb, 0 sb, 2 so
  YTD: .388, 12 runs, 9 rbi, 4 hr, 4 bb, 0 sb, 8 so in 49 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+))
• Matt Neil —Releasd (was with New Orleans Zephyrs (MIA) — Pacific Coast League (AAA))
• 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

.