Mormon Baseball

How long do you have to play well in the minors before you are promoted? You might think that after a player is clearly dominating in a league that promotion would swiftly occur. And according to that logic, right now Marcus Littlewood might be justified in such expectations. Littlewood is dominating the Midwest League (A), leading the league in batting average (.361) and sporting a strong slash line that is either 3rd or 4th in the league. This is coming after a strong season last year. So why not promote him?

A similar argument could be made for Adam Law, who was dominant in both the Arizona League (R) and Pioneer League (R) last year and has done well this year in the California League (A+), with a .309 average (tied for 18th in the league) and 5 stolen bases (tied for 20th). It might be early to promote Law again, so I expected that he would stay in California.

Nope. Law was demoted last week, back to the Ogden Raptors of the Pioneer League, whose season doesn’t start until June 16th.

What explains all this? Most likely the status of other players in the same organization. For one player to be promoted, another must either be demoted, released, or have been injured. I can’t exactly point to what happened in Law’s case, but its likely that there simply isn’t a spot to put him in AA. It could also be that he was injured and that injury didn’t appear in the news, meaning that the move to Ogden is simply a place to put him while he recovers.

In the case of Marcus Littlewood, I wonder if the fact that he is a catcher doesn’t complicate his promotion some what. In addition to doing well at the plate, catchers need to know how to call pitches, working to extract the best out of each pitcher. That’s a subtle skill, and could be one that changes somewhat at each level in the minors. It also doesn’t appear in the stats we look at, so its hard to know if the catcher is doing well.

In addition to Littlewood, Jacob Hanneman was outstanding last week at the plate. Hanneman was 8 for 25 (.320) with 6 runs scored and 4 rbis. So far he has 10 stolen bases this season (tied for 7th in the Midwest League).

On the mound, Tyson Brummett of the Chattanooga Lookouts (Southern League – AA) was weaker this past week, earning a 1.35 era and striking out 7 in a 6 2/3rds inning appearance. That raised his league-leading era to 0.61. But its hard to see this as a real problem—any manager would love to have a pitcher give up just 1 earned run in 6 2/3rds. Of course, Brummett lost the game, so maybe his manager wasn’t that happy.

Also strong on the mount last week was Taylor Cole, who struck out 7 with no earned runs over 4 2/3rds innings for the Dunedin Blue Jays (Florida State League – A+). Cole has a 2-0 record and a 2.36 era over 34.1 innings pitched and leads the league in strike outs with 47.

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Hitting Stats Leaders:

• Jeff Gelalich (Midwest League – A) — 19 runs (tied 13th); 16 walks (tied 14th)
• Jacob Hanneman (Midwest League – A) — 10 stolen bases (tied 7th); 18 runs (tied 18th)
• Adam Law (California League – A+) — .309 avg (tied 18th); 5 stolen bases (tied 20th); .380 OBP (12th)
• Marcus Littlewood (Midwest League – A) — .361 avg (1st); 2 home runs (tied 19th); 15 rbis (tied 25th); .447 OBP (3rd); .528 SLG (4th); 0.975 OPS (3rd)
• Shane Petersen (Pacific Coast League – AAA) — 5 stolen bases (tied 14th); 21 runs (tied 12th); 34 hits (tied 15th); 15 walks (tied 17th)
• Adam Rosales (Pacific Coast League – AAA) — 4 hr (tied 25th); 21 runs (tied 12th); 17 walks (tied 8th)

Pitching Stats Leaders:

• Tyson Brummett (Southern League – AA) — 0.61 era (1st); 2 wins (tied 18th); 26 strike outs (17th); 1.01 WHIP (6th)
• Taylor Cole (Florida State League – A+) — 2.36 era (13th); 2 win (tied 17th); 47 strikeouts (1st); 1.05 WHIP (tied 9th); 34.1 innings (10th)
• Adam Miller (Midwest League – A) — 3.14 era (20th); 2 wins (tied 23rd); 1.19 WHIP (tied 18th); 28.2 innings pitched (tied 22nd)
• Boone Whiting (Pacific Coast League – AAA) — 37 strike outs (tied 2nd)

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Current Roster Players:

• Jaycob Brugman — Outfield — Beloit Snappers (OAK) — Midwest League (A)
  6 for 22 (.273) 5 run, 4 rbi, 0 hr, 2 bb, 0 sb, 7 so
  YTD: .303, 12 run, 7 rbi, 1 hr, 8 bb, 1 sb, 16 so in 66 at bats
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• Tyson Brummett — Pitcher — Chattanooga Lookouts (LAD) — Southern League (AA)
  0-1, 1.35 era, 7 hits, 1 er, 7 k, 2 bb in 6.2 innings; 1.35 WHIP
  YTD: 2-2, 0.61 era, 22 hits, 2 er, 26 k, 8 bb in 29.2 innings; 1.01 WHIP
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• Taylor Cole — Pitcher — Dunedin Blue Jays (TOR) — Florida State League (A+)
  0-0, 0.00 era, 6 hits, 0 er, 7 k, 3 bb in 4.2 innings; 1.92 WHIP
  YTD: 2-0, 2.36 era, 26 hits, 9 er, 47 k, 10 bb in 34.1 innings; 1.05 WHIP
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• Jeff Gelalich — Outfield — Dayton Dragons (CIN) — Midwest League (A)
  5 for 25 (.200) 3 run, 3 rbi, 0 hr, 4 bb, 1 sb, 12 so
  YTD: .189, 19 runs, 11 rbi, 1 hr, 16 bb, 5 sb, 31 so in 111 at bats
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• Jacob Hannemann — Right Field — Kane County Cougars (CHC) — Midwest League (A)
  8 for 25 (.320) 6 run, 4 rbi, 1 hr, 3 bb, 1 sb, 8 so
  YTD: .264, 18 run, 14 rbi, 2 hr, 9 bb, 10 sb, 32 so in 106 at bats
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• Bryan Harper — Pitcher — Potomac Nationals (WSH) — Carolina League (A+)
  0-0, 0.00 era, 1 hits, 0 er, 2 k, 0 bb in 2.0 innings; 0.50 WHIP
  YTD: 0-0, 0.79 era, 10 hits, 1 er, 9 k, 2 bb in 11.1 innings; 1.06 WHIP
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• Adam Law — 3rd base — Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (LAD) — California League (A+)
  0 for 4 (.000) 0 run, 0 rbi, 0 hr, 0 bb, 0 sb, 0 so
  YTD: .309, 15 run, 8 rbi, 0 hr, 8 bb, 5 sb, 17 so in 81 at bats
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• Marcus Littlewood — Catcher — Clinton LumberKings (SEA) — Midwest League (A)
  6 for 17 (.353) 3 run, 6 rbi, 0 hr, 4 bb, 0 sb, 1 so
  YTD: .361, 15 run, 15 rbi, 2 hr, 10 bb, 1 sb, 12 so in 72 at bats
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• Brandon Lyon — Pitcher — Salt Lake Bees (LAA) — Pacific Coast League (AAA)
  0-0, 0.00 era, 2 hits, 0 er, 1 k, 0 bb in 1.1 innings; 1.50 WHIP
  YTD: 0-3, era 2.25, 20 hits, 3 er, 5 bb and 6 k in 12.0 innings; 2.08 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)
  1-0, 8.00 era, 9 hits, 8 er, 3 k, 8 bb in 9.0 innings; 1.89 WHIP
  YTD: 2-0, 3.14 era, 22 hits, 10 er, 21 k, 12 bb in 28.2 innings; 1.19 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))
  0-1, 18.90 era, 9 hits, 7 er, 0 k, 2 bb in 3.1 innings; 3.30 WHIP
  YTD: 1-1, 7.98 era, 25 hits, 13 er, 3 bb and 13 k in 14.2 innings; 1.91 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 28 (.286) 6 run, 0 rbi, 0 hr, 4 bb, 1 sb, 9 so
  YTD: .291, 21 runs, 9 rbi, 2 hr, 15 bb, 5 sb, 32 so in 117 at bats.
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• Tyler Pill — Pitcher —Binghamton Mets (NYM) — Eastern League (AA)
  0-1, 1.80 era, 3 hits, 1 er, 3 k, 1 bb in 5.0 innings; 0.80 WHIP
  YTD: 0-5, 6.38 era, 29 hits, 17 er, 15 k, 8 bb in 24.0 innings; 1.54 WHIP
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• Adam Rosales — Infielder — Round Rock Express (TEX) — Pacific Coast League (AAA)
  8 for 31 (.258) 8 run, 6 rbi, 0 hr, 2 bb, 0 sb, 7 so
  YTD: .255, 21 runs, 16 rbi, 4 hr, 17 bb, 0 sb, 27 so in 102 at bats.
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• 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
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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)
  0-2, 8.68 era, 13 hits, 9 er, 8 k, 5 bb in 9.1 innings; 1.93 WHIP
  YTD: 0-4, 5.06 era, 36 hits, 18 er, 37 k, 12 bb in 32.0 innings; 1.13 WHIP
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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

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Foreign Leagues:

• Brett Pill — Kia Tigers — Korean League
  8 for 22 (.364) 6 run, 8 rbi, 2 hr, 1 bb, 0 sb, 3 so
  YTD: .344, 20 runs, 20 rbi, 6 hr, 9 bb, 1 sb, 15 so in 96 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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