Mormon Baseball

Often when minor league players are promoted from one class to another their performance falls off as they adjust to the new league. But occasionally that doesn’t happen, such as happened recently with Jacob Hannemann. The Cubs’ top-20 prospect arrived in the Florida State League this past week and promptly made a mark. Hitting 7 for 22 (.318), Hannemann also had 5 runs scored, 2 rbis, 2 walks and 3 stolen bases. And it is in stolen bases that Hannemann excels—an analysis at Fangraphs places him 5th in all the minor leagues, despite the fact that he is only now reaching the A+ level.

Hannemann’s performance last week is slightly behind that of Brett Pill, who plays in the Korean League. Pill, who once played for the Giants, was 8 for 23 (.348) last week with 5 runs scored, 3 rbis, 2 home runs and a stolen base. And his season record remains great; he is hitting .322 over 205 at bats, with 15 home runs.

On the mound the notable performance last week came from Adam Miller, who has moved to a relief role in the past few weeks. Miller gave up no runs and just 3 hits and a walk in 3 innings of work. Miller has 4 wins and a 2.12 era this season, although he hasn’t pitched enough to make the leader boards.

In addition to Jacob Hannemann’s promotion from the Midwest League (A) to the Florida State League (A+), pitcher Bryan Harper was demoted from the Eastern League (AA) back to the Carolina League (A+) and Tyler Pill returned to the Eastern League (AA) after a single-game disaster last week in the Pacific Coast League (AAA). In addition, Tyson Brummett returned to the 7-day disabled list.

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Hitting Stats Leaders:

• Jaycob Brugman (Midwest League – A) — .371 OBP (tied 13th); .484 SLG (9th); .855 OPS (7th)
• Jacob Hanneman (Midwest League – A) — 32 stolen bases (6th); 57 runs (tied 17th)
• Adam Law (California League – A+) —.294 average (23rd); 18 stolen bases (14th); .373 OBP (18th)
• Shane Petersen (Pacific Coast League – AAA) — .319 average (tied 9th); 71 RBIs (5th); 11 stolen bases (19th); 76 runs (1st); .388 OBP (15th); .849 OPS (tied 22nd); 137 hits (1st); 49 walks (tied 5th)

Pitching Stats Leaders:

• Taylor Cole (Florida State League – A+) — 2.92 era (10th); 7 wins (tied 11th); 143 strikeouts (1st); 1.12 WHIP (7th); 114.0 innings (5th); 19 starts (tied 10th)
• Tyler Pill (Eastern League – AA) — 4.03 era (13th); 92 strike outs (6th); 1.20 WHIP (5th); 102.2 innings (20th); 17 starts (tied 20th)

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Current Roster Players:

• Jaycob Brugman — Outfield — Stockton Ports (OAK) — California League (A+)
  3 for 23 (.130) 2 run, 3 rbi, 1 hr, 1 bb, 1 sb, 10 so
  YTD: .268, 44 run, 46 rbi, 10 hr, 40 bb, 7 sb, 92 so in 332 at bats
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• Tyson Brummett — Pitcher — Chattanooga Lookouts (LAD) — Southern League (AA)
  Did not pitch — on the 7-day DL
  YTD: 4-5, 2.79 era, 69 hits, 22 er, 57 k, 21 bb in 71.0 innings; 1.27 WHIP
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• Taylor Cole — Pitcher — Dunedin Blue Jays (TOR) — Florida State League (A+)
  0-1, 3.38 era, 3 hits, 2 er, 9 k, 2 bb in 5.1 innings; 0.94 WHIP
  YTD: 7-6, 2.92 era, 97 hits, 37 er, 143 k, 31 bb in 114.0 innings; 1.12 WHIP
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• Jeff Gelalich — Outfield — Bakersfield Blaze (CIN) — California League (A+)
  Did not play
  YTD: .241, 50 runs, 34 rbi, 6 hr, 35 bb, 15 sb, 98 so in 332 at bats
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• Jacob Hannemann — Center Field — Daytona Cubs (CHC) — Florida State League (A+)
  7 for 22 (.318) 5 run, 2 rbi, 0 hr, 2 bb, 3 sb, 4 so
  YTD: .258, 62 run, 41 rbi, 6 hr, 33 bb, 35 sb, 81 so in 342 at bats
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• Bryan Harper — Pitcher — Potomac Nationals (WSH) — Carolina League (A+)
  0-0, 0.00 era, 2 hits, 0 er, 2 k, 1 bb in 4.0 innings; 0.75 WHIP
  YTD: 2-0, 3.14 era, 46 hits, 17 er, 37 k, 18 bb in 48.2 innings; 1.32 WHIP
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• Elliot Johnson — Infield — Columbus Clippers (CLE) — International League (AAA)
  3 for 12 (.250) 1 run, 0 rbi, 0 hr, 1 bb, 0 sb, 3 so
  YTD: .259, 32 run, 26 rbi, 3 hr, 26 bb, 7 sb, 54 so in 224 at bats
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• Adam Law — Left Field — Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (LAD) — California League (A+)
  3 for 16 (.188) 4 run, 1 rbi, 0 hr, 3 bb, 3 sb, 4 so
  YTD: .294, 50 run, 28 rbi, 0 hr, 31 bb, 18 sb, 48 so in 289 at bats
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• Marcus Littlewood — Catcher — Clinton LumberKings (SEA) — Midwest League (A)
  5 for 14 (.357) 0 run, 2 rbi, 0 hr, 2 bb, 0 sb, 3 so
  YTD: .238, 30 run, 36 rbi, 5 hr, 32 bb, 2 sb, 47 so in 240 at bats
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• Brandon Lyon — Pitcher — Salt Lake Bees (LAA) — Pacific Coast League (AAA)
  Did not pitch — free agent
  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)
  2 for 13 (.154) 3 run, 0 rbi, 0 hr, 4 bb, 0 sb, 4 so
  YTD: .235, 5 run, 0 rbi, 0 hr, 4 bb, 0 sb, 5 so in 17 at bats
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• Adam Miller — Pitcher —South Bend Silver Hawks (AZ) — Midwest League (A)
  0-0, 0.00 era, 3 hits, 0 er, 3 k, 1 bb in 3.0 innings; 1.33 WHIP
  YTD: 4-0, 2.12 era, 36 hits, 11 er, 37 k, 19 bb in 46.2 innings; 1.18 WHIP
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• Clayton Mortensen — Pitcher — Omaha Storm Chasers (KC) — Pacific Coast League (AAA)
  0-1, 10.80 era, 9 hits, 6 er, 3 k, 1 bb in 5.0 innings; 2.00 WHIP
  YTD: 4-3, 4.09 era, 56 hits, 23 er, 14 bb and 46 k in 50.2 innings; 1.38 WHIP
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• Matt Neil —Pitcher — Montgomery Biscuits (TB) — Southern League (AA))
  Did not pitch — released
  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)
  10 for 33 (.303) 4 run, 5 rbi, 0 hr, 2 bb, 0 sb, 13 so
  YTD: .319, 76 runs, 71 rbi, 8 hr, 49 bb, 11 sb, 111 so in 430 at bats.
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• Tyler Pill — Pitcher —Binghamton Mets (NYM) — Eastern League (AA)
  0-0, 3.95 era, 9 hits, 6 er, 14 k, 3 bb in 13.2 innings; 0.88 WHIP
  YTD: 6-5, 4.19 era, 104 hits, 50 er, 96 k, 28 bb in 107.1 innings; 1.23 WHIP
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• Travis Pitcher — Pitcher —AZL Athletics (OAK) — Arizona League (R)
  0-0, 9.00 era, 3 hits, 2 er, 2 k, 2 bb in 2.0 innings; 2.50 WHIP
  YTD: 0-2, 9.82 era, 20 hits, 16 er, 16 k, 14 bb in 14.2 innings; 2.32 WHIP
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• Adam Rosales — Infielder — Round Rock Express (TEX) — Pacific Coast League (AAA)
  Did not play — promoted to majors
  YTD: .276, 42 runs, 43 rbi, 7 hr, 28 bb, 3 sb, 61 so in 272 at bats.
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• Mason Smith — Outfielder —AZL Padres (SD) — Arizona League (R)
  6 for 14 (.429) 4 run, 2 rbi, 1 hr, 3 bb, 0 sb, 2 so
  YTD: .258, 13 run, 6 rbi, 1 hr, 10 bb, 1 sb, 30 so in 93 at bats
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• Nik Turley — Pitcher — Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (NYY) — International League (AAA)
  1-0, 5.79 era, 10 hits, 6 er, 7 k, 6 bb in 9.1 innings; 1.71 WHIP
  YTD: 1-2, era 5.50, 36 hits, 22 er, 24 bb and 29 k in 36.0 innings; 1.67 WHIP
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• Boone Whiting — Pitcher —Memphis Redbirds (STL) — Pacific Coast League (AAA)
  1-0, 7.20 era, 6 hits, 4 er, 9 k, 3 bb in 5.0 innings; 1.80 WHIP
  YTD: 4-6, 3.77 era, 65 hits, 31 er, 77 k, 35 bb in 74.0 innings; 1.35 WHIP
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Independent Leagues:

• Cole Miles — outfielder — Florence Freedom (Frontier League)
  5 for 30 (.167) 4 run, 0 rbi, 0 hr, 2 bb, 2 sb, 7 so
  YTD: .288, 29 run, 17 rbi, 5 hr, 16 bb, 16 sb, 40 so in 191 at bats
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Foreign Leagues:

• Brett Pill — Kia Tigers — Korean League
  8 for 23 (.348) 5 run, 3 rbi, 2 hr, 1 bb, 1 sb, 2 so
  YTD: .322, 42 runs, 43 rbi, 15 hr, 16 bb, 5 sb, 33 so in 205 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 .