Mormon Baseball

One by one the Mormon players drafted two years ago have been promoted this year from class A to A+. The lone holdout among the position players is Marcus Littlewood, who again made the case for his promotion this week. Littlewood, a catcher, was 8 for 19 (.421) last week with 7 runs scored, 5 rbis, 6 walks and 2 home runs–and in the process he pushed himself onto the Midwest League leader board with a .348 OBP (tied for 21st in the league).

His performance for the season aren’t that bad either. He is hitting .251  with 41 rbis and 38 walks and a .348/.398/.745 slash line. But as a catcher Littlewood’s performance must also be judged on how he called the games. Unfortunately, his progress in that area isn’t available as a statistic and isn’t something I can judge.

At the plate the standout was the Binghamton Mets’ Tyler Pill, who shut out the Richmond Squirrels over 7 innings while striking out 8. Pill gave up just 5 hits and 2 walks, for a 1.00 WHIP for the game. The win must have given his self confidence a boost, after he blew his only start in AAA earlier this month. No doubt Pill is looking for another shot at the AAA soon.

Darwin Barney joined the Albuquerque Isotopes last week from the Majors, the third Mormon (with Elliot Johnson and John Buck) to be sent down this year. Taylor Cole was promoted from A+ to the New Hampshire Fisher Cats of the Eastern League (AA), but struggled in his first outing, giving up 7 earned runs in 5 1/3rd innings. Tyson Brummett and Clayton Mortensen remain on the disabled list.

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Hitting Stats Leaders:

• Jacob Hanneman (Midwest League – A) — 32 stolen bases (6th); 57 runs (tied 22nd)
• Adam Law (California League – A+) — 19 stolen bases (11th); .362 OBP (21st)
• Marcus Littlewood (Midwest League – A) — .348 OBP (tied 21st)
• Shane Petersen (Pacific Coast League – AAA) — .314 average (tied 7th); 76 RBIs (4th); 11 stolen bases (19th); 83 runs (1st); .384 OBP (tied 12th); .845 OPS (tied 21st); 143 hits (1st); 52 walks (tied 5th)

Pitching Stats Leaders:

• Taylor Cole (Florida State League – A+) — 2.92 era (11th); 7 wins (tied 13th); 143 strikeouts (1st); 1.12 WHIP (tied 6th); 114.0 innings (tied 11th); 19 starts (tied 17th)
• Tyler Pill (Eastern League – AA) — 3.78 era (12th); 100 strike outs (3rd); 1.19 WHIP (6th); 109.2 innings (17th); 18 starts (tied 20th)

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Current Roster Players:

• Darwin Barney — 2nd base — Albuquerque Isotopes (LAD) — Pacific Coast League (AAA)
  7 for 24 (.292) 2 run, 1 rbi, 0 hr, 2 bb, 0 sb, 2 so
  YTD: .292, 2 run, 1 rbi, 0 hr, 2 bb, 0 sb, 2 so in 24 at bats
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• Jaycob Brugman — Outfield — Stockton Ports (OAK) — California League (A+)
  5 for 22 (.227) 1 run, 4 rbi, 0 hr, 2 bb, 0 sb, 7 so
  YTD: .266, 45 run, 50 rbi, 10 hr, 42 bb, 7 sb, 99 so in 354 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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• John Buck — Catcher — Salt Lake Bees (LAA) — Pacific Coast League (AAA)
  10 for 22 (.455) 2 run, 4 rbi, 1 hr, 2 bb, 0 sb, 4 so
  YTD: .352, 4 run, 7 rbi, 1 hr, 5 bb, 0 sb, 11 so in 54 at bats
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• Taylor Cole — Pitcher — New Hampshire Fisher Cats (TOR) — Eastern League (AA)
  0-1, 11.81 era, 8 hits, 7 er, 4 k, 4 bb in 5.1 innings; 2.25 WHIP
  YTD: 7-7, 3.32 era, 105 hits, 44 er, 147 k, 35 bb in 119.1 innings; 1.17 WHIP
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• Jeff Gelalich — Outfield — Bakersfield Blaze (CIN) — California League (A+)
  4 for 23 (.174) 3 run, 4 rbi, 1 hr, 2 bb, 0 sb, 9 so
  YTD: .237, 53 runs, 38 rbi, 7 hr, 37 bb, 15 sb, 107 so in 355 at bats
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• Jacob Hannemann — Center Field — Daytona Cubs (CHC) — Florida State League (A+)
  5 for 21 (.238) 3 run, 1 rbi, 1 hr, 1 bb, 1 sb, 3 so
  YTD: .257, 65 run, 42 rbi, 7 hr, 34 bb, 36 sb, 84 so in 385 at bats
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• Bryan Harper — Pitcher — Potomac Nationals (WSH) — Carolina League (A+)
  0-0, 0.00 era, 2 hits, 0 er, 1 k, 1 bb in 2.2 innings; 1.13 WHIP
  YTD: 2-0, 2.98 era, 48 hits, 17 er, 38 k, 19 bb in 51.1 innings; 1.31 WHIP
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• Elliot Johnson — Infield — Columbus Clippers (CLE) — International League (AAA)
  3 for 23 (.130) 1 run, 4 rbi, 1 hr, 5 bb, 1 sb, 10 so
  YTD: .247, 33 run, 30 rbi, 4 hr, 31 bb, 8 sb, 64 so in 247 at bats
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• Adam Law — Left Field — Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (LAD) — California League (A+)
  4 for 23 (.174) 1 run, 1 rbi, 0 hr, 0 bb, 1 sb, 2 so
  YTD: .285, 51 run, 29 rbi, 0 hr, 31 bb, 19 sb, 50 so in 312 at bats
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• Marcus Littlewood — Catcher — Clinton LumberKings (SEA) — Midwest League (A)
  8 for 19 (.421) 7 run, 5 rbi, 2 hr, 6 bb, 2 sb, 2 so
  YTD: .251, 37 run, 41 rbi, 7 hr, 38 bb, 4 sb, 49 so in 259 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)
  3 for 11 (.273) 1 run, 1 rbi, 0 hr, 1 bb, 0 sb, 4 so
  YTD: .250, 6 run, 1 rbi, 0 hr, 5 bb, 0 sb, 9 so in 28 at bats
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• Adam Miller — Pitcher —South Bend Silver Hawks (AZ) — Midwest League (A)
  0-0, 16.87 era, 10 hits, 5 er, 1 k, 0 bb in 2.2 innings; 3.75 WHIP
  YTD: 4-0, 2.92 era, 46 hits, 16 er, 38 k, 19 bb in 49.1 innings; 1.32 WHIP
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• Clayton Mortensen — Pitcher — Omaha Storm Chasers (KC) — Pacific Coast League (AAA)
  Did not pitch — on 7-day disabled list
  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)
  6 for 26 (.231) 7 run, 5 rbi, 1 hr, 3 bb, 0 sb, 7 so
  YTD: .314, 83 runs, 76 rbi, 9 hr, 52 bb, 11 sb, 118 so in 456 at bats.
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• Tyler Pill — Pitcher —Binghamton Mets (NYM) — Eastern League (AA)
  1-0, 0.00 era, 5 hits, 0 er, 8 k, 2 bb in 7.0 innings; 1.00 WHIP
  YTD: 7-5, 3.94 era, 109 hits, 50 er, 104 k, 30 bb in 114.1 innings; 1.22 WHIP
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• Travis Pitcher — Pitcher —AZL Athletics (OAK) — Arizona League (R)
  0-0, 0.00 era, 2 hits, 0 er, 5 k, 1 bb in 2.1 innings; 1.29 WHIP
  YTD: 0-2, 8.47 era, 22 hits, 16 er, 21 k, 15 bb in 17.0 innings; 2.18 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)
  1 for 12 (.083) 0 run, 0 rbi, 0 hr, 1 bb, 0 sb, 1 so
  YTD: .238, 13 run, 6 rbi, 1 hr, 11 bb, 1 sb, 31 so in 105 at bats
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• Nik Turley — Pitcher — Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (NYY) — International League (AAA)
  0-0, 9.82 era, 2 hits, 4 er, 3 k, 3 bb in 3.2 innings; 1.36 WHIP
  YTD: 1-2, era 5.90, 38 hits, 26 er, 27 bb and 32 k in 39.2 innings; 1.64 WHIP
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• Boone Whiting — Pitcher —Memphis Redbirds (STL) — Pacific Coast League (AAA)
  0-0, 9.00 era, 6 hits, 3 er, 4 k, 3 bb in 3.0 innings; 3.00 WHIP
  YTD: 4-6, 3.97 era, 71 hits, 34 er, 81 k, 38 bb in 77.0 innings; 1.42 WHIP
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Independent Leagues:

• Cole Miles — outfielder — Florence Freedom (Frontier League)
  7 for 21 (.333) 5 run, 6 rbi, 1 hr, 6 bb, 6 sb, 1 so
  YTD: .292, 34 run, 23 rbi, 6 hr, 22 bb, 22 sb, 41 so in 212 at bats
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Foreign Leagues:

• Brett Pill — Kia Tigers — Korean League
  2 for 16 (.125) 1 run, 0 rbi, 0 hr, 1 bb, 1 sb, 4 so
  YTD: .308, 43 runs, 43 rbi, 15 hr, 17 bb, 6 sb, 37 so in 221 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 .