Mormon Baseball

Once again a reader has pointed me to a Mormon player in professional baseball. Bonita, commenting on the post about this year’s draft, indicated that Jeff Gelalich should have been included. Gelalich was drafted this year by the Reds in the 1st round this year (57th overall) out of UCLA. He now plays for the Billings Mustangs in the Pioneer (rookie) League. Thanks to Bonita for this wonderful information!

In the majors, this was a bounce-back week for many players, and two Mormon players got to witness baseball history. Bryce Harper, who has been in a bad slump, broke out this past week, going 6 for 22 with 2 home runs and 4 rbis. Likely this will keep him from getting benched as much as happened during his slump.

Read the rest of this entry »

A reader has alerted me to another Mormon playing professional baseball, Lance Pendleton, who is currently with the Durham Bulls in the Tampa Bay Ray’s organization. After he was drafted by the Yankees out of Rice University, Pendleton has spent 6 years in the minors, rising to even the major leagues, debuting on April 15th of last year. Unfortunately, his numbers aren’t very strong this year — a 4.49 era so far — so a return to the majors seems unlikely at the moment.

Read the rest of this entry »

Welcome back to the bigs, Adam Rosales! The Oakland As brought Rosales back from the minors this week after they sent down backup infielder Brandon Hicks. While Rosales didn’t immediately tear up the base paths, he does have a chance to capitalize on the move and show that he should stay.

Rosales wasn’t the only one called up this week. The Red Sox called up Clayton Mortensen again, but again it was just for a single game (which Mortensen won in 2.2 innings of shutout relief) before he was sent back down. Mortensen didn’t help his case, however, by then giving up a home run in his next start with AAA Pawtucket. Still, he sports a 1.96 era over 36.2 inning with Pawtucket and a 1.17 era over 23 innings in the majors.

Read the rest of this entry »

.

Current Roster Players:

• Darwin Barney—second base—Chicago Cubs
  5 for 17 (.294), 2 runs, 1 rbi, 0 hr, 1 bb, 1 sb, 1 so.
  YTD: .266, 40 runs, 27 rbi, 4 hr, 19 bb, 6 sb, 30 so in 320 at bats.
• John Buck — starting catcher — Miami Marlins
  3 for 16 (.188), 0 runs, 0 rbi, 0 hr, 0 bb, 0 sb, 6 so
  YTD: .179, 18 runs, 26 rbi, 8 hr, 39 bb, 0 sb, 70 so in 229 at bats.
• Jacoby Ellsbury — starting outfielder — Boston Red Sox
  8 for 26 (.308), 6 runs, 1 rbi, 1 hr, 0 bb, 1 sb, 3 so
  YTD: .288, 11 runs, 4 rbi, 1 hr, 4 bb, 1 sb, 8 so in 66 at bats.
• Kyle Farnsworth — closer — Tampa Bay Rays
  0-1, era 4.91, 3 hit, 2 er, 4 k, 1 bb, in 3.2 innings
  YTD: 0-2, era 6.43, 5 hits, 5 er, 9 k, 6 bb in 7.0 innings
• Jeremy Guthrie — starting pitcher (right handed) — Kansas City Royals
  0-1, 10.57 era, 10 hits, 9 er, 4 bb, and 5 k in 7.2 innings
  YTD: 3-10, era 6.49 126 hits, 69 er, 34 bb and 49 k in 95.2 innings
• Roy Halladay— starting pitcher (right handed) — Philadelphia Phillies
  0-0, era 3.60, 5 hits, 2 er, 0 bb, 6 k in 5.0 innings
  YTD: 4-5, era 3.96, 74 hits, 34 er, 14 bb, 62 k in 77.1 innings.
• Bryce Harper — left field — Washington Nationals
  7 for 30 (.233), 4 runs, 1 rbi, 0 hr, 2 bb, 1 sb, 4 so
  YTD: .269, 48 runs, 26 rbi, 8 hr, 30 bb, 12 sb, 61 so in 290 at bats.
• Elliot Johnson — infielder — Tampa Bay Rays
  2 for 18 (.111), 0 runs, 2 rbi, 0 hr, 0 bb, 1 sb, 5 so
  YTD: .260, 26 runs, 25 rbi, 4 hr, 20 bb, 16 sb, 63 so in 235 at bats.
• Josh Johnson — starting pitcher (right handed) – Miami Marlins
  0-1, 5.68 era, 5 hits, 4 er, 5 k, 1 bb in 6.1 innings.
  YTD: 5-7, 4.35 era, 124 hits, 55 er, 96 k, 35 bb in 113.2 innings.
• Matt Lindstrom — right handed bullpen pitcher – Baltimore Orioles
  0-0, 0.00 era, 3 hit, 0 er, 0 k, 0 bb in 1.2 innings
  YTD: 1-0, 2.42 era, 24 hits, 6 er, 17 k, 8 bb in 22.1 innings.
• Brandon Lyon — right handed bullpen pitcher — Toronto Blue Jays
  0-0, 3.37 era, 1 hits, 1 er, 1 k, 2 bb in 2.2 innings
  YTD: 0-2, 3.16 era, 37 hits, 13 er, 36 k, 11 bb in 37.0 innings.

Minor League Players who may make the majors:

• Tyson Brummett — right handed closer — Philadelphia Phillies organization (currently with the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs of the International League – AAA)
  0-0, 2.70 era, 3 h, 1 er, 0 hr, 2 so, 2 bb in 3.3 innings.
  YTD: 4-2, 2 sv, 2.88 era, 49 h, 19 er, 4 hr, 56 k, 17 bb in 59.1 innings.
• Taylor Cole — right handed starting pitcher — Toronto Blue Jays organization (currently with the Vancouver Canadians of the Northwest League – A)
  0-0, 0.00 era, 0 h, 0 er, 0 hr, 6 so, 2 bb in 4.0 innings
  YTD: 1-0, 0.50 era, 12 h, 1 er, 0 hr, 17 k, 7 bb in 18.0 innings
• Derek Cone — right handed starting pitcher — Los Angeles Dodgers organization (currently with the Ogden Raptors of the Pioneer League – Rookie)
  0-0, 0.00 era, 0 hits, 0 er, 0 hr, 0 k, 0 bb in 2.0 innings
  YTD: 1-0, 6.75 era, 24 hits, 16 er, 2 hr, 8 k, 11 bb in 20.0 innings
• Brandon Duckworth — right handed bullpen pitcher — Boston Red Sox organization (currently with the Pawtucket Red Sox of the International League – AAA)
  1-0, 0.00 era, 4 h, 0 er, 0 hr, 3 k, 3 bb in 6.0 innings
  YTD: 9-2, 3.17 era, 110 h, 39 er, 12 hr, 93 k, 35 bb in 110.2 innings
• Willie Mays Eyre — pitcher — Texas Rangers organization (currently with the Round Rock Express of the Pacific Coast League – AAA)
  0-0, 3.00 era, 3 hits, 1 er, 0 hr, 2 k, 0 bb in 3.0 innings
  YTD: 1-3, 6.37 era, 48 h, 29 er, 3 hr, 34 k, 18 bb in 41.0 innings
• Austin Hall — right handed pitcher — Milwaukee Brewers organization (currently with the AZL Brewers of the Arizona Leauge – Rookie)
  2-0, 1.13 era, 6 h, 1 er, 0 hr, 11 k, 4 bb in 8.0 innings
  YTD: 2-1, 3.38 era, 20 h, 7 er, 1 hr, 22 so, 10 bb in 18.2 innings
  
• Bryan Harper — left field — Washington Nationals organization (currently with the Auburn Doubledays of the New York-Penn League – A short-season)
  Did not play this week
  YTD: 0-0, 12.91 era, 22 hits, 11 er, 0 hr, 8 k, 6 bb in 7.2 innings
• Blaine Howell —left handed bullpen pitcher — Cincinnati Reds organization (currently with the Bakersfield Blaze of the California League – A+)
  0-0, 0.00 era, 2 h, 0 er, 0 hr, 5 k, 1 bb in 3.0 innings
  YTD: 0-0, 3.93 era, 25 h, 8 er, 2 hr, 11 k, 8 bb in 18.1 innings
• Kyle Hurst — right handed bullpen pitcher — Los Angeles Angels organization (Inland Empire 66ers of the California League – A+)
  0-0, 4.50 era, 5 h, 2 er, 0 hr, 4 k, 3 bb in 4.0 innings
  YTD: 1-1, 8.68 era, 27 h, 18, er, 3 hr, 16 k, 11 bb in 18.2 innings
• Cale Iorg — Shortstop — Detroit Tigers organization (currently with the Toledo Mud Hens of the International League – AAA)
  On 7-day DL
  YTD: .171, 8 run, 3 rbi, 0 hr, 2 bb, 1 sb, 25 k in 82 at bats
• Marcus Littlewood — Shortstop — Seattle Mariners organization (currently with the Everett WA AquaSox of the Northwest League – A)
  8 for 23 (.348), 2 run, 9 rbi, 2 hr, 4 bb, 0 sb, 8 k
  YTD: .255, 17 runs, 19 rbi, 5 hr, 22 bb, 0 sb, 34 k in 102 at bats
• Mitch Maier —  outfielder — Kansas City Royals organization (currently with the Omaha Storm Chasers of the Pacific Coast League – AAA)
  1 for 13 (.077), 2 runs, 0 rbi, o hr, 1 bb, 0 sb, 3 so
  YTD: .063, 2 runs, 0 rbi, 0 hr, 2 bb, 0 sb, 6 so in 16 at bats
  MLB YTD: .172, 8 runs, 7 rbi, 2 hr, 8 bb, 2 sb, 24 so in 64 at bats.
• Taylor Mangum — right-handed relief pitcher — Milwaukee Brewers organization (currently with the AZL Brewers of the Arizona League – Rookie)
  0-0, 0.00 era, 0 hits, 0 er, 0 hr, 1 k, 1 bb in 1.0 innings
  YTD: 1-1, 0.93 era, 9 hits, 1 er, 0 hr, 10 k, 5 bb  in 9.2 innings
• Clayton Mortensen — right handed bullpen pitcher —Boston Red Sox organization (currently with the Pawtucket Red Sox of International League – AAA)
  1-0, 0.00 era, 1 hits, 0 er, 5 k, 1 bb, 0 hr in 2.1 innings
  YTD: 5-3, 1.87 era, 17 hits, 7 er, 33 k, 15 bb, 2 hr in 32.2 innings
  MLB YTD: 0-0, 1.33 era, 12 hits, 3 er, 16 k, 4 bb, 2 hr in 20.1 innings
• Matthew Neil — right handed starting pitcher — Miami Marlins organization (currently with the Jacksonville Suns of the Southern League – AA)
  0-0, 4.50 era, 7 h, 3 er, 2 hr, 6 k, 0 bb in 6.0 innings.
  YTD: 7-5, 4.05 era, 104 h, 45 er, 10 hr, 65 k, 20 bb in 100.0 innings
• Stephen Parker — 3rd base — Oakland A’s organization (currently with the Sacramento River Cats of the Pacific Coast League – AAA)
  3 for 16 (.188), 1 run, 2 rbi, 0 hr, 1 bb, 0 sb, 5 k
  YTD: .250, 33 run, 33 rbi, 6 hr, 26 bb, 4 sb, 74 k in 252 at bats
  
• Adam Rosales — 2B — Oakland A’s organization (currently with the Sacramento River Cats of the Pacific Coast League – AAA)
  7 for 27 (.259) 4 run, 2 rbi, 1 hr, 5 bb, 0 sb, 6 so
  YTD (minors): .288, 40 run, 42 rbi, 8 hr, 23 bb, 4 sb, 51 so in 240 at bats
  MLB YTD (majors): .167, 2 run, 3 rbi, 9 bb, 0 sb, 3 k in 24 at bats.
• Chris Shelton — first base — New York Mets organization (status unknown, was with the Buffalo NY Bisons of the International League – AAA)
  Doesn’t appear to be active, even though MiLB.com reports that he is. Hasn’t played since 2010.
• Jordan Whatcott —right handed bullpen pitcher — Philadelphia Phillies organization (currently with Reading Phillies of the Eastern League – AA)
  0-0, 7.20 era, 6 h, 4 er, 0 hr, 1 k, 1 bb in 5.0 innings
  YTD: 3-3, 4.25 era, 69 h, 31 er, 6 hr, 49 k, 24 bb in 65.2 innings

Foreign Leagues:

• Mitch Talbot — starting pitcher (right handed) — Samsung Lions (Korea)
  Did not pitch this week
  YTD: 9-1, 3.55 era, 85 h, 35 er, 4 hr, 36 k, 31 bb in 88.2 innings

Players who may be Mormon:

• Rick Anton – pitcher – LA Dodgers organization
• Tyler Hanks — pitcher — Washington Nationals organization
• Kam Mickolio — pitcher — Arizona Diamondbacks organization (apparently not Mormon, but I don’t have evidence either way)
• Brad Thompson — pitcher — Houston Astros organization
• Other remote possibilities: Jay Brossman, Brian Budrow, Tyler Chism, Dallas Christison, Stephen Fife, Steve Hirschfeld, Zachary Jones, Ryan Khoury, Cole Miles, A. J. Murray, Jordan Taylor Pratt, Tanner Robles, Braeden Schlehuber, Justin Smith, Matt Spring

Non-Mormons who may be confused for Mormons

• Matt Carson — left field — Minnesota Twins organization (currently with the Rochester NY Red Wings of the International League – AAA) — ??non-Mormon who went to BYU??
• Derek Christensen
• Egan Smith — left handed bullpen pitcher — Toronto Blue Jays organization (currently with the Dunedin FL Blue Jays of the Florida State League – A)
• Jordan Smith — right handed bullpen pitcher — Cinncinnati Reds (on 15-day DL, likely will be assigned to the Louisville Bats of the International League – AAA)

With the trade deadline approaching, it should be no surprise that two Mormon players were involved in trades this past week. First, the Colorado Rockies traded pitcher Jeremy Guthrie to the Kansas City Royals, and then the Houston Astros traded Brandon Lyon to the Toronto Blue Jays. Besides these trades, the outlook for Mormon players was brightened by the return of future Hall-of-fame pitcher Roy Halladay from the DL.

Read the rest of this entry »

Brigham City, Utah 2nd Ward
Baseball Champs

From Ardis Parshall’s wonderful blog, Keepapitchinin, for July 7, 2010. The photo is from 1922 Improvement Era.

Sometimes coming back from a break is a good thing; other times, not so much. It might seem like a break should help players get their heads together, but it can also get them out of the habits and the way of thinking that gives them success. At least that seems plausible to me. And after the all-star break some players did better, and others worse. But that isn’t very different from most weeks. Read the rest of this entry »

While injuries prevented the Mormons on last year’s All Star teams, Roy Halladay and Jacoby Ellsbury, from making this year’s team, almost as if it were destiny a last-minute injury led to the selection last Friday of National League rookie Bryce Harper as an All Star. Since Mormons don’t believe in predestination, but in ‘fore-ordination,’ which requires effort and merit and allows for agency, Harper must deserve the spot, right?

Read the rest of this entry »

As most baseball players take their annual break for the All-Star Game, two Mormon major league position players were hot, while the pitchers all struggled during the week. As of Sunday, 11 Mormons remain in the Majors, 2 of whom are on the DL.

Read the rest of this entry »

The Deseret News covered the event:

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865558552/President-Uchtdorf-throws-first-pitch-at-Dodgers-game.html

I know that these events have happened at a number of stadiums around the country, and I’d love to hear where they are happening currently and where they have happened in the past.

The 25-year-long record at Dodger Stadium is impressive, isn’t it?

Should we be encouraging these events elsewhere?

Perhaps we need a guide for how to put on these events elsewhere?