Photo by: Minda Haas Kuhlmann
ProJays Baseball Update - Post All-Star Break
7/20/2018 10:26:00 AM | Baseball
Omaha, Neb. -- With most of professional baseball returning from the All-Star break, its a good time to take a look at how former Bluejays are doing in the professional ranks. Including Grant Spranger, who signed a free agent contract with Seattle just a few weeks ago, Creighton now has 20 players active at the professional level (one in MLB, 18 in MILB and one in Korea) that completed their college career as a Bluejay.
MLB
Ty Blach - (San Francisco Giants) - The Giants' opening day starter, Blach has shown his flexibility by moving to the bullpen midway through the season. Over his last 15 appearances he is 3-0 with a 3.42 ERA.
Korean League
Darin Ruf - (Samsung Lions) - Excelling in the Korean League, Ruf is hitting .323 in 93 games this season, smashing 19 home runs and collecting 77 RBI.
MILB - AAA
Anthony Bemboom (Albuquerque - Rockies) - Bemboom continues to see action virtually every day for the Isotopes, appearing in 49 games. This week against El Paso he is 2-for-6 with three RBI.
Mike Gerber (Toledo - Tigers) - Quickly getting back in the groove just a few days after the AAA All-Star Break, Mike smashed two home runs against Lehigh Valley on July 19. Earlier this season he made two trips up to the MLB club.
Nicky Lopez (Omaha - Royals) - Elevated to AAA on June 29, Lopez was red hot in his first four games as a Storm Chaser (7-for-16 - .438) with two home runs and four RBI. In 17 games with Omaha he is hitting .231.
Jake Peter (Oklahoma City - Dodgers) - Jake has picked things up at the plate over the last 10 games, hitting .276 (8-for-29).
Pat Venditte (Oklahoma City - Dodgers) - Called up to the Los Angeles Dodgers twice this season, Pat has a 1.82 ERA in 34 games with Oklahoma City.
Elliott Soto (Albuquerque - Rockies) - Playing alongside Bemboom in the Rockies system, Soto is hitting .299 on the season and .292 (7-for-24) in the last 10 games)
MILB - AA
Kurt Spomer - (Erie - Tigers) - Kurt had two highly successful stint with the AAA Toledo Mud Hens this season, allowing just one run in nine innings over four appearances. With the SeaWolves, Kurt has a 2.70 ERA in 17 games, tossing 23.1 frames.
Danny Woodrow - (Erie - Tigers) - Alongside Spomer with the SeaWolves, Woodrow has sizzled with a .459 average over his last 10 games (17-37). He was particularly hot on with consecutive three-hit games against Richmond (July 18) and Bowie (July 19). On the season Danny is hitting .330 in 53 contests.
MILB - A+
Rollie Lacy (Myrtle Beach - Cubs) - Elevated to Myrtle Beach on July 11, Rollie tossed seven innings of a combined no-hitter for the South Bend Cubs on June 7. He has a 2.45 ERA in 18 appearances in 2018, including a 5-2 mark with a 2.36 ERA in his last 10 outings.
MILB - A
Clark Brinkman (Connecticut - Tigers) - The third consecutive Bluejay center fielder in the Tigers' organization, Brinkman earned a six-game stint with the high-A Lakeland Tigers in his brief pro career. During six games with Lakeland, Brinkman belted two home runs.Â
Ryan Fitzgerald (Greenville - Red Sox) - After playing independent ball with the Gary SouthShore RailCats, Ryan was signed by the Red Sox on May 3. Since joining Greenville, Fitzgerald is hitting .288 (44-for-153). Over his last 10 games Ryan is 14-for-42 with five multi-hit performances.Â
Nick Highberger (Beloit - Athletics) - Nick has been dominant over his last 10 appearances, going 3-2 with a 1.32 ERA over 13.2 innings. On the season he is 4-3 (2.83 ERA) in 28.2 frames.
Keith Rogalla (Burlington - Angels) - Keith's 2018 season has been hampered by an arm injury that has sidelined the hard throwing right-hander in early April after just two games.
Ryan Tapani (Auburn - Nationals) - Assigned to the New York-Penn League after the Bluejays' 2018 season, Ryan has delivered three scoreless outings in six appearances.
MILB - Rookie League
Michael Emodi (Burlington - Royals) - Mike has appeared in seven games since being moved up to the Burlington Royals. In his last game on July 11 he was 2-for-3 with two runs scored.
David Gerber (AZL Mariners - Mariners) - Working in Arizona on a rehab assignment, Dave's last appearance came on June 19. He was sidelined in early May.
Grant Spranger (AZL Mariners - Mariners) - A free agent signee with the Mariners, Spranger was greeted by former teammate Gerber in Arizona. Grant made his professional debut on July 16, tossing 1.1 innings of relief.
Jacob Voss (Orem - Angles) - Voss has been spot on in seven of his eight appearances, posting scoreless outings. He is 2-0 in 10.2 innings in his brief pro career, notching 16 strikeouts and just two walks.
MLB
Ty Blach - (San Francisco Giants) - The Giants' opening day starter, Blach has shown his flexibility by moving to the bullpen midway through the season. Over his last 15 appearances he is 3-0 with a 3.42 ERA.
Korean League
Darin Ruf - (Samsung Lions) - Excelling in the Korean League, Ruf is hitting .323 in 93 games this season, smashing 19 home runs and collecting 77 RBI.
MILB - AAA
Anthony Bemboom (Albuquerque - Rockies) - Bemboom continues to see action virtually every day for the Isotopes, appearing in 49 games. This week against El Paso he is 2-for-6 with three RBI.
Mike Gerber (Toledo - Tigers) - Quickly getting back in the groove just a few days after the AAA All-Star Break, Mike smashed two home runs against Lehigh Valley on July 19. Earlier this season he made two trips up to the MLB club.
Nicky Lopez (Omaha - Royals) - Elevated to AAA on June 29, Lopez was red hot in his first four games as a Storm Chaser (7-for-16 - .438) with two home runs and four RBI. In 17 games with Omaha he is hitting .231.
Jake Peter (Oklahoma City - Dodgers) - Jake has picked things up at the plate over the last 10 games, hitting .276 (8-for-29).
Pat Venditte (Oklahoma City - Dodgers) - Called up to the Los Angeles Dodgers twice this season, Pat has a 1.82 ERA in 34 games with Oklahoma City.
Elliott Soto (Albuquerque - Rockies) - Playing alongside Bemboom in the Rockies system, Soto is hitting .299 on the season and .292 (7-for-24) in the last 10 games)
MILB - AA
Kurt Spomer - (Erie - Tigers) - Kurt had two highly successful stint with the AAA Toledo Mud Hens this season, allowing just one run in nine innings over four appearances. With the SeaWolves, Kurt has a 2.70 ERA in 17 games, tossing 23.1 frames.
Danny Woodrow - (Erie - Tigers) - Alongside Spomer with the SeaWolves, Woodrow has sizzled with a .459 average over his last 10 games (17-37). He was particularly hot on with consecutive three-hit games against Richmond (July 18) and Bowie (July 19). On the season Danny is hitting .330 in 53 contests.
MILB - A+
Rollie Lacy (Myrtle Beach - Cubs) - Elevated to Myrtle Beach on July 11, Rollie tossed seven innings of a combined no-hitter for the South Bend Cubs on June 7. He has a 2.45 ERA in 18 appearances in 2018, including a 5-2 mark with a 2.36 ERA in his last 10 outings.
MILB - A
Clark Brinkman (Connecticut - Tigers) - The third consecutive Bluejay center fielder in the Tigers' organization, Brinkman earned a six-game stint with the high-A Lakeland Tigers in his brief pro career. During six games with Lakeland, Brinkman belted two home runs.Â
Ryan Fitzgerald (Greenville - Red Sox) - After playing independent ball with the Gary SouthShore RailCats, Ryan was signed by the Red Sox on May 3. Since joining Greenville, Fitzgerald is hitting .288 (44-for-153). Over his last 10 games Ryan is 14-for-42 with five multi-hit performances.Â
Nick Highberger (Beloit - Athletics) - Nick has been dominant over his last 10 appearances, going 3-2 with a 1.32 ERA over 13.2 innings. On the season he is 4-3 (2.83 ERA) in 28.2 frames.
Keith Rogalla (Burlington - Angels) - Keith's 2018 season has been hampered by an arm injury that has sidelined the hard throwing right-hander in early April after just two games.
Ryan Tapani (Auburn - Nationals) - Assigned to the New York-Penn League after the Bluejays' 2018 season, Ryan has delivered three scoreless outings in six appearances.
MILB - Rookie League
Michael Emodi (Burlington - Royals) - Mike has appeared in seven games since being moved up to the Burlington Royals. In his last game on July 11 he was 2-for-3 with two runs scored.
David Gerber (AZL Mariners - Mariners) - Working in Arizona on a rehab assignment, Dave's last appearance came on June 19. He was sidelined in early May.
Grant Spranger (AZL Mariners - Mariners) - A free agent signee with the Mariners, Spranger was greeted by former teammate Gerber in Arizona. Grant made his professional debut on July 16, tossing 1.1 innings of relief.
Jacob Voss (Orem - Angles) - Voss has been spot on in seven of his eight appearances, posting scoreless outings. He is 2-0 in 10.2 innings in his brief pro career, notching 16 strikeouts and just two walks.
Players Mentioned
LHP
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