Mormon Baseball

Harper has been hot so far this season. No, not Bryce Harper — he’s on the DL in the majors. His older brother Bryan Harper, currently a relief pitcher for the Potomac Nationals in the Carolina League (A+). Bryan has a 1.62 era in 16.2 innings of work–which would lead the league if he had pitched the number of innings needed to qualify (32 innings so far). Although he is a reliever, he has appeared in just 10 of Potomac’s 40 games this season.

Harper’s era is lower than another stellar Mormon pitcher, Taylor Cole. While Harper pitched just 1 inning last week, Cole pitched 13, in 2 starts. While he ended up with a loss, his era for the week was 2.08 with 12 strike outs and a sub-1 WHIP. Pitching for the Dunedin Blue Jays in the Florida State League (A+), Cole seems like he will soon be ready for AA ball, at least according to the stats, since his season era is 2.39, and he leads the league in strike outs with 63 (nearly 11 per 9 innings!).

In the batter’s box, the leading Mormon last week was Adam Rosales (Pacific Coast League – AAA), who was 9 for 23 (.391) with 4 rbis and 2 walks. Rosales raised his season average to .291 last week. His performance was only slightly behind that of Jeff Gelalich in the Midwest League (A), whose 11 for 28 (.393) result last week improved his season average to .236. Gelalich will need to repeat last week’s performance a few times to get noticed, I think.

Pitcher Boone Whiting (Memphis Redbirds – AAA) joined Mitch Maier and Nik Turley on the disabled list last week. Despite not pitching, Whiting’s 41 strike outs are still 14th in the Pacific Coast League.

We also learned of another Mormon player this week. Travis Pitcher is, appropriately enough given his name, a pitcher in the Oakland A’s organization, currently assigned to the Arizona League (R). We’ll follow his performance as soon as league play begins on June 20th.

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Hitting Stats Leaders:

• Jaycob Brugman (Midwest League – A) — .446 SLG (tied 24th); .804 OPS (24th)
• Jeff Gelalich (Midwest League – A) — 27 runs (tied 11th); 20 walks (tied 23rd)
• Jacob Hanneman (Midwest League – A) — 12 stolen bases (tied 14th)
• Marcus Littlewood (Midwest League – A) — .320 avg (7th); .414 OBP (5th); .505 SLG (7th); 0.919 OPS (5th)
• Shane Petersen (Pacific Coast League – AAA) — .311 avg (19th); 7 stolen bases (tied 13th); 33 runs (tied 4th); .410 OBP (12th); 52 hits (tied 5th); 27 walks (tied 5th)
• Adam Rosales (Pacific Coast League – AAA) — 27 runs (tied 22nd); 44 hits (tied 25th) 19 walks (tied 21st)

Pitching Stats Leaders:

• Tyson Brummett (Southern League – AA) — 1.28 era (2nd); 3 wins (tied 13th); 39 strike outs (tied 10th); 0.97 WHIP (5th); 49.1 innings pitched (14th)
• Taylor Cole (Florida State League – A+) — 2.39 era (12th); 3 win (tied 9th); 63 strikeouts (1st); 1.08 WHIP (9th); 52.2 innings (2nd)
• Adam Miller (Midwest League – A) — 2.80 era (15th); 3 wins (tied 15th)
• Boone Whiting (Pacific Coast League – AAA) — 41 strike outs (tied 14th)

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Current Roster Players:

• Jaycob Brugman — Outfield — Beloit Snappers (OAK) — Midwest League (A)
  8 for 27 (.296) 1 run, 6 rbi, 1 hr, 2 bb, 0 sb, 4 so
  YTD: .284, 15 run, 13 rbi, 2 hr, 12 bb, 1 sb, 25 so in 109 at bats
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• Tyson Brummett — Pitcher — Chattanooga Lookouts (LAD) — Southern League (AA)
  0-0, 4.50 era, 5 hits, 3 er, 6 k, 2 bb in 6.0 innings; 1.17 WHIP
  YTD: 3-3, 1.28 era, 37 hits, 7 er, 39 k, 11 bb in 49.1 innings; 0.97 WHIP
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• Taylor Cole — Pitcher — Dunedin Blue Jays (TOR) — Florida State League (A+)
  0-1, 2.08 era, 10 hits, 3 er, 12 k, 2 bb in 13.0 innings; 0.92 WHIP
  YTD: 3-1, 2.39 era, 44 hits, 14 er, 63 k, 13 bb in 52.2 innings; 1.08 WHIP
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• Jeff Gelalich — Outfield — Dayton Dragons (CIN) — Midwest League (A)
  11 for 28 (.393) 4 run, 3 rbi, 0 hr, 1 bb, 2 sb, 6 so
  YTD: .236, 27 runs, 19 rbi, 2 hr, 20 bb, 8 sb, 41 so in 157 at bats
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• Jacob Hannemann — Right Field — Kane County Cougars (CHC) — Midwest League (A)
  0 for 16 (.000) 1 run, 1 rbi, 0 hr, 3 bb, 0 sb, 4 so
  YTD: .204, 23 run, 15 rbi, 2 hr, 16 bb, 12 sb, 41 so in 142 at bats
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• Bryan Harper — Pitcher — Potomac Nationals (WSH) — Carolina League (A+)
  0-0, 0.00 era, 0 hits, 0 er, 1 k, 1 bb in 1.0 innings; 1.00 WHIP
  YTD: 0-0, 1.62 era, 15 hits, 3 er, 15 k, 3 bb in 16.2 innings; 1.08 WHIP
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• Adam Law — 3rd base — Ogden Raptors (LAD) — Pioneer League (R)
  4 for 13 (.308) 2 run, 1 rbi, 0 hr, 1 bb, 0 sb, 1 so
  YTD: .309, 17 run, 9 rbi, 0 hr, 9 bb, 5 sb, 18 so in 94 at bats
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• Marcus Littlewood — Catcher — Clinton LumberKings (SEA) — Midwest League (A)
  2 for 13 (.154) 2 run, 0 rbi, 0 hr, 3 bb, 0 sb, 6 so
  YTD: .320, 21 run, 21 rbi, 3 hr, 15 bb, 1 sb, 18 so in 97 at bats
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• Brandon Lyon — Pitcher — Salt Lake Bees (LAA) — Pacific Coast League (AAA)
  0-2, 13.50 era, 8 hits, 4 er, 2 k, 2 bb in 2.2 innings; 3.75 WHIP
  YTD: 0-6, era 4.08, 33 hits, 8 er, 8 bb and 9 k in 17.2 innings; 2.32 WHIP
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• Mitch Maier — Outfield — Northwest Arkansas Naturals (KC) — Texas League (AA)
  Did not play — 7-Day DL
  YTD: .000, 0 run, 0 rbi, 0 hr, 0 bb, 0 sb, 0 so in 0 at bats
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• Adam Miller — Pitcher —South Bend Silver Hawks (AZ) — Midwest League (A)
  0-0, 5.40 era, 1 hits, 1 er, 1 k, 0 bb in 1.2 innings; 0.60 WHIP
  YTD: 3-0, 2.80 era, 28 hits, 11 er, 25 k, 16 bb in 35.1 innings; 1.25 WHIP
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• 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
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• Matt Neil —Pitcher — Montgomery Biscuits (TB) — Southern League (AA))
  0-0, 6.00 era, 4 hits, 2 er, 2 k, 1 bb in 3.0 innings; 0.83 WHIP
  YTD: 1-2, 7.40 era, 34 hits, 17 er, 4 bb and 19 k in 20.2 innings; 1.84 WHIP
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• 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
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• Shane Peterson — Outfielder — Sacramento River Cats (OAK) — Pacific Coast League (AAA)
  8 for 25 (.320) 5 run, 2 rbi, 0 hr, 2 bb, 0 sb, 5 so
  YTD: .311, 33 runs, 18 rbi, 3 hr, 27 bb, 7 sb, 38 so in 167 at bats.
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• Tyler Pill — Pitcher —Binghamton Mets (NYM) — Eastern League (AA)
  0-0, 3.18 era, 6 hits, 2 er, 6 k, 1 bb in 5.2 innings; 1.24 WHIP
  YTD: 1-5, 4.84 era, 39 hits, 19 er, 28 k, 9 bb in 35.1 innings; 1.36 WHIP
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• Travis Pitcher — Pitcher —AZL Athletics (OAK) — Arizona League (R)
  Did not play — Arizona League begins play June 20th.
  YTD: 0-0, 0.00 era, 0 hits, 0 er, 0 k, 0 bb in 0.0 innings; 0.00 WHIP
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• Adam Rosales — Infielder — Round Rock Express (TEX) — Pacific Coast League (AAA)
  9 for 23 (.391) 3 run, 4 rbi, 0 hr, 2 bb, 0 sb, 5 so
  YTD: .291, 27 runs, 22 rbi, 5 hr, 19 bb, 0 sb, 36 so in 151 at bats.
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• Mason Smith — Outfielder —AZL Padres (SD) — Arizona League (R)
  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
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• Nik Turley — Pitcher — Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (NYY) — International League (AAA)
  Did not pitch — 7-day Disabled list
  YTD: 0-0, era n/a, 0 hits, 0 er, 0 bb and 0 k in 0.0 innings; n/a WHIP
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• Boone Whiting — Pitcher —Memphis Redbirds (STL) — Pacific Coast League (AAA)
  Did not pitch — 7-day Disabled list
  YTD: 0-5, 5.15 era, 41 hits, 21 er, 41 k, 17 bb in 36.2 innings; 1.58 WHIP
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Independent Leagues:

• Cole Miles — outfielder — Florence Freedom (Frontier League)
  3 for 15 (.200) 2 run, 1 rbi, 0 hr, 0 bb, 0 sb, 6 so
  YTD: .200, 2 run, 1 rbi, 0 hr, 0 bb, 0 sb, 6 so in 15 at bats

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Foreign Leagues:

• Brett Pill — Kia Tigers — Korean League
  7 for 23 (.304) 3 run, 6 rbi, 2 hr, 2 bb, 2 sb, 2 so
  YTD: .331, 29 runs, 34 rbi, 10 hr, 14 bb, 3 sb, 21 so in 136 at bats.
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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))
• 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))

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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

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