Anteater Pros Commanding All Levels
July 24, 2019 | Baseball
IRVINE, Calif. --- The Anteaters continue to do great things in their professional careers led by the explosive debut season of Anteater All-American Keston Hiura. Here's a rundown of the UC Irvine professionals making their way through the 2019 season so far:
Keston Hiura - MLB, Milwaukee Brewers
Less than two year after being selected ninth overall in the 2017 MLB First-Year Player Draft, the Milwaukee Brewers' top prospect broke into the big leagues as the eighth Anteater to reach the show. May 14, 2019, Hiura was in the starting lineup hitting seventh in the order and playing second base as the Brewers played the Phillies in Philadelphia. A line drive off pitcher Jerad Eickhoff's leg gave Keston his first hit in his first Major League at-bat in front of his family in the stands. Keston finished the day 2-for-3 with two singles and a walk in a 6-1 Milwaukee win.
Since then, Hiura has done what he has done throughout his UC Irvine and minor league career, and what was expected out of the No. 1 prospect in the Brewers organization, for his position at second base, and the No. 15 overall prospect according to MLB Pipeline and Major League Baseball. He played in 17 games starting 16 and hit .281 with 18 hits including five home runs, his first coming in Atlanta against Braves' starter Mike Foltynewicz.
Keston returned to Triple-A San Antonio on June 3 where he continued to rake putting up 19 HR and 46 RBI with a .329 average in 57 games before making a triumphant return June 28 to the Brewers. Since then, he has taken his game to another level especially since the All-Star Break on July 9. He's hitting an ungodly .512 (21-for-41) with 12 extra-base hits, two have been home runs, and 11 RBI while building a 10-game hit streak. All of that culminated in National Player of the Week honors for the week of July 15-21 becoming the first Milwaukee rookie all-time to earn the distinction.
Hiura has added a little something from each of his tools successfully stealing six of eight bases and providing dazzling defensive plays to top off his batting average of .331
Brian Hernandez - Mexican League, Tigres de Quintana Roo
Now in his ninth year of professional baseball, Anteater great Brian Hernandez has found a home in the Mexican League where he has been a mainstay since 2016. Hernandez has hit .310 over his more than 600 games with Laguna, Mazatlan, and Quintana Roo with 750 hits and 49 HR. The third baseman also earned a spot in the Mexican National Team in their recent trip to Japan in a two-game Samurai Series
In all levels, Hernandez has accumulated 1,363 hits, 79 home runs, and a .292 batting average in 1,232 professional baseball games
Christian Bergman
Before Keston Hiura burst onto the scene, Bergman had been the most recent Anteater to reach the bigs making his debut in June of 2014. Since then, he has made 71 Major League appearances between the Colorado Rockies and Seattle Mariners with numerous stints in Triple-A Albuquerque and Tacoma.
Prior to the 2019 season, Bergman signed on with the Chicago Cubs auditioning for them in Spring Training before being released prior to opening day. Bergman returned to the Mariners organization making eight appearances, six as a starter, before he was released in late May. He signed on with independent club, Sugar Land Skeeters, in Texas for a few weeks before he was recently released there and is currently looking for his next landing spot.
Over his professional career that began in 2010, Bergman has made 245 appearances on the mound, 183 times as a starter, with a record of 72-64, a 4.54 ERA, four complete game shutouts, and 794 strikeouts in over 1,000 innings
Taylor Sparks - American Association, Kansas City T-Bones
The Anteater second-rounder back in 2014 is currently playing in independent ball as part of the American Association's Kansas City T-Bones. Sparks, who had been part of the Reds' organization for the last six seasons, got a shot with the Reds in Spring Training prior to the 2019 season for the first time. He bounced around between Extended Spring Training and various levels the organization trying to return to full health, but was ultimately released in late May.
Since joining the T-Bones, he has a pair of home runs including a grand slam in 22 games. In nearly 500 minor league games, Sparks has 61 home runs and 222 RBI which included parts of two seasons in Triple-A
Andrew Morales - Triple-A, Memphis Redbirds (STL)
The Anteater pitching legend has followed a similar career path to Sparks since being selected in the second round by the St. Louis Cardinals in 2014. Morales shot up to Triple-A in 2017, but since then has struggled with injuries including a setback prior to the 2019 season in his time with the Cardinals in Spring Training as a non-roster invite.
Over the last two years, Morales has pitched exclusively out of the bullpen in his 78 outings even picking up eight saves. He has yet to appear in a game in 2019. Morales is still on the road to returning to the mound. In his five seasons as a professional, he's posted a record of 14-19 and a 4.19 ERA in 125 outings striking out 283 hitters in over 300 innings
Chris Rabago - Double-A, Hartford Yard Goats (COL)
The catcher has had a whirlwind last 12 months as he begins his sixth season as a professional. Rabago was claimed off waivers in August of 2018 by the New York Yankees after spending his first four-plus seasons in the Rockies organization. He finished the year with their Double-A team in Trenton, and then was swept up by the Kansas City Royals organization in the Triple-A Rule 5 Draft in the Winter and then traded the next day back to the Colorado Rockies.
Rabago opened the 2019 season similarly to Sparks and Morales getting his second non-roster invite to Spring Training where he saw limited action. He ultimately started the season with Double-A Hartford before making the jump to Triple-A in mid-April where he played in eight games including a few monster performances on April 20 (4-for-4, 2 doubles, 2 RBI, 3 runs scored) and back-to-back games with a home run on April 25 and April 27.
He has since returned to Double-A where he's fought through the year batting .192 in 38 games while still swiping seven bags as one of the team's catchers. In 377 career professional games, he's stayed steady hitting .248 with 324 hits, 11 HR, 153 RBI, and 65 stolen bases
Matt Whitehouse - Double-A, Hartford Yard Goats (COL)
The sixth-year pro saw his career change course in 2019. After over five seasons as part of the Cleveland Indians organization, the club parted ways with the left-hander, but he was quickly snapped up by the Rockies and joined Rabago on their Double-A squad in Hartford.
As a Yard Goat, Whitehouse has made five appearances, four as a starter, where he's 1-1 with an 8.35 ERA having teamed up occasionally with his former batterymate.
Whitehouse has put up a career record of 28-21 in the minors with an ERA of 4.17, four saves, and nearly 400 strikeouts in over 400 innings. He's even put in some time in Triple-A posting a 2-2 record in 18 appearances
Royce Lewis - Advanced-A, Fort Myers Miracle (MIN)
Anteater NLI signee Royce Lewis continues to make strides through his professional career. After getting the call as the first overall draft pick in the 2017 draft, Lewis has stayed on everyone's radar as a highly-touted prospect. He earned a spot in the 2019 Futures Game earning a couple at-bats off the bench as lacing a hit.
After a slow start to 2019 for the Fort Myers Miracle, Lewis has risen to a .243 average to go with nine HR and 33 RBI in his second full professional season. Lewis' future remains bright as he is the No. 7 overall prospect and the top prospect in the Twins organization.
Calvin Faucher - Advanced-A, Fort Myers Miracle (MIN)
Lewis' teammate, Calvin Faucher, has kept stride in Fort Myers. Despite missing some time with an injury, Faucher is 2-2 with a save and 41 strikeouts in 39.2 innings. He's even shown his acting chops as part of Fort Myers' promotional video for Happy Gilmore Night
Cole Kreuter - Advanced-A, Palm Beach Cardinals (STL)
The grandson has made his way up to Palm Beach, the High-A affiliate of the Cardinals, and matched his performance from earlier this season with the Rookie squad in the Gulf Coast League posting seven hits in seven games with each squad. He added his first professional home run on July 13, and added a cool moment on July 22 where he exchanged lineup cards at home plate with his father, Chad Kreuter, head coach of the St. Lucie Mets, prior to their contest
Cameron Bishop - Advanced-A, Frederick Keys (BAL)
Bishop has enjoyed success early in his professional career with a 2.42 ERA in his first 31 starts and a 10-8 record. He joined the Frederick Keys of the Carolina League to start 2019 and is still searching for his first win. Currently at 0-8 with a 5.14 ERA, Bishop has been on the hard-luck end of some decision, but continues to fire strikes with 78 strikeouts in 75.1 innings
John Brontsema - Canadian-American Association, Rockland Boulders
Anteater infielder John Brontsema has joined Sparks and Bergman on the independent circuit in 2019 after he was released from the Kansas City Royals organization following three years with them. The Rockland Boulders of the Canadian-American Association based out of New York have been his home in 2019 where he's starred batting .328 with three home runs and 27 RBI, good enough for a spot in the All-Star Game for the league
The Anteaters had seven of their eight drafted players sign following their selections in the 2019 First-Year MLB Player Draft with six contributing already to their new organizations. 11th-round selection Tanner Brubaker has next to make his professional debut as he continues to recover from an injury, but has been placed with the Twins' Rookie club in Elizabethton
Christian Koss - Rookie Advanced, Grand Junction Rockies (COL)
The Anteater having the most success out of the gate in his professional career has been Christian Koss. In 19 games since joining Grand Junction, he's hit the cover off the ball batting .406 with three HR, 22 RBI, and 10 multi-hit games. Koss' performance was good enough to earn him Pioneer League Player of the Week status on July 14
Brandon Lewis - Rookie Advanced, Ogden Raptors (LAD)
Not too far behind Christian is UCI's fourth-round pick, Brandon Lewis. After a 12-game stint with the Rookie affiliate in Arizona, Lewis got the bump to the advanced level with the Ogden Raptors of the Pioneer League. He blasted his first grand slam on July 20 as part of his three home runs and 16 RBI in just 13 games posting a .283 average as he's been utilized at 3B and 1B in the Dodgers organization. He added a two-HR game Tuesday night producing four hits and four RBI against Koss' team.
Mikey Filia - Rookie Advanced, Burlington Royals (LAD)
The last Anteater selected in the 2019 draft has found a home in Virginia with the Rookie Advanced Burlington Royals. Mikey has played 17 games registering 14 hits, two RBI, and three stolen bases in limited action. He recently had his best game on July 20 with three hits, two for doubles, scoring once, and driving in a run as an outfielder
Andre Pallante - Single-A Short Season, State College Spikes (STL)
Anteater All-American Andre Pallante is five games into his career looking much like his UC Irvine form. He won his pro debut tossing two scoreless innings on June 29, and he's thrown scoreless baseball in two other outings and gotten the start in three of his appearances while being limited to no more than four innings in each appearance. Pallante has recorded a 2.35 ERA thus far with 15 strikeouts in 15.1 innings for the Cardinals organization
Jordan Bocko - Single-A Short Season, Auburn Doubledays (WSH)
Four-year standout Jordan Bocko is making the most of his early career in the minors having made five appearances for the Washington Nationals Short Season affiliate, the Auburn Doubledays, in the New-York Penn League alongside Pallante. Bocko has allowed just one unearned run and six baserunners while striking out five in eight innings of work.
Taylor Rashi - Rookie, Arizona League Giants Orange
The most recent 'Eater to make his debut was Taylor Rashi tossing for Arizona Rookie side, Giants Orange, on July 17 where he earned the win. Rashi has picked up where he left off by not allowing a baserunner in his two outings and four innings pitched thus far ringing up five strikeouts along the way as part of the San Francisco Giants organization
Sean Sparling - Arizona League Umpire
Another addition to the professional baseball world is former Anteater pitcher, Sean Sparling, who has joined the umpire ranks. After completing the MiLB Umpire Training Academy, Sparling has begun umpiring games in the Arizona Rookie League
Keston Hiura - MLB, Milwaukee Brewers
Less than two year after being selected ninth overall in the 2017 MLB First-Year Player Draft, the Milwaukee Brewers' top prospect broke into the big leagues as the eighth Anteater to reach the show. May 14, 2019, Hiura was in the starting lineup hitting seventh in the order and playing second base as the Brewers played the Phillies in Philadelphia. A line drive off pitcher Jerad Eickhoff's leg gave Keston his first hit in his first Major League at-bat in front of his family in the stands. Keston finished the day 2-for-3 with two singles and a walk in a 6-1 Milwaukee win.
Since then, Hiura has done what he has done throughout his UC Irvine and minor league career, and what was expected out of the No. 1 prospect in the Brewers organization, for his position at second base, and the No. 15 overall prospect according to MLB Pipeline and Major League Baseball. He played in 17 games starting 16 and hit .281 with 18 hits including five home runs, his first coming in Atlanta against Braves' starter Mike Foltynewicz.
Keston returned to Triple-A San Antonio on June 3 where he continued to rake putting up 19 HR and 46 RBI with a .329 average in 57 games before making a triumphant return June 28 to the Brewers. Since then, he has taken his game to another level especially since the All-Star Break on July 9. He's hitting an ungodly .512 (21-for-41) with 12 extra-base hits, two have been home runs, and 11 RBI while building a 10-game hit streak. All of that culminated in National Player of the Week honors for the week of July 15-21 becoming the first Milwaukee rookie all-time to earn the distinction.
Hiura has added a little something from each of his tools successfully stealing six of eight bases and providing dazzling defensive plays to top off his batting average of .331
?? THE ROOKIE STRIKES AGAIN! ??@kestdaddy | @Brewers pic.twitter.com/LH75ll9DCX
— FOX Sports Wisconsin (@fswisconsin) July 24, 2019
Keston Hiura talks about being the first Brewers rookie to ever be named a league player of the week, AL or NL:: pic.twitter.com/bOysp4Snbz
— Todd Rosiak (@Todd_Rosiak) July 22, 2019
The man kept on hitting all week long. #ThisIsMyCrew pic.twitter.com/8cT07rW1Wd
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) July 22, 2019
???????????? pic.twitter.com/9WUxCzR1TT
— UCI Baseball (@UCIbsb) July 20, 2019
.@Kestdaddy really unleashed on that one. #BarkAtThePark pic.twitter.com/plVZf0AxPj
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) July 17, 2019
We've Ben waiting for an ending like this! #ThisIsMyCrew
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) July 14, 2019
Wrap: https://t.co/60MuBofD7E pic.twitter.com/xX8yMuC77p
That's not even textbook. That's like he wrote the textbook. #ThisIsMyCrew pic.twitter.com/YjiZ4y23ry
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) July 14, 2019
Hello goodbye. 3rd hit of the game for Keston #RipEm pic.twitter.com/pzvoSPRAp0
— UCI Baseball (@UCIbsb) July 13, 2019
442 FEET ?? where have we heard that number before @NCAAStats #ThisIsMyCrew
— UCI Baseball (@UCIbsb) July 2, 2019
Wait til the end ?? pic.twitter.com/0k8wQhyEJN
Two and a half minutes of Keston with a textbook steal #?? pic.twitter.com/EqjSJphrnw
— UCI Baseball (@UCIbsb) June 30, 2019
PCL announces its roster for the Triple-A All-Star Game, featuring top-100 prospects Tucker, Hiura, Urias and more: https://t.co/glr9z4owql pic.twitter.com/0ucS0Cxoah
— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) June 26, 2019
— UCI Baseball (@UCIbsb) June 1, 2019
HIURA WE GO #RipEm pic.twitter.com/UAOl0W7Rsw
— UCI Baseball (@UCIbsb) June 1, 2019
Brian Hernandez - Mexican League, Tigres de Quintana Roo
Now in his ninth year of professional baseball, Anteater great Brian Hernandez has found a home in the Mexican League where he has been a mainstay since 2016. Hernandez has hit .310 over his more than 600 games with Laguna, Mazatlan, and Quintana Roo with 750 hits and 49 HR. The third baseman also earned a spot in the Mexican National Team in their recent trip to Japan in a two-game Samurai Series
In all levels, Hernandez has accumulated 1,363 hits, 79 home runs, and a .292 batting average in 1,232 professional baseball games
Capping off a 4-hit day with a HR and 4 RBI for @brhern14 with this game-winning hit for Quintana Roo #Rasgarlos pic.twitter.com/9IpCyd2tjv
— UCI Baseball (@UCIbsb) July 2, 2019
Christian Bergman
Before Keston Hiura burst onto the scene, Bergman had been the most recent Anteater to reach the bigs making his debut in June of 2014. Since then, he has made 71 Major League appearances between the Colorado Rockies and Seattle Mariners with numerous stints in Triple-A Albuquerque and Tacoma.
Prior to the 2019 season, Bergman signed on with the Chicago Cubs auditioning for them in Spring Training before being released prior to opening day. Bergman returned to the Mariners organization making eight appearances, six as a starter, before he was released in late May. He signed on with independent club, Sugar Land Skeeters, in Texas for a few weeks before he was recently released there and is currently looking for his next landing spot.
Over his professional career that began in 2010, Bergman has made 245 appearances on the mound, 183 times as a starter, with a record of 72-64, a 4.54 ERA, four complete game shutouts, and 794 strikeouts in over 1,000 innings
Taylor Sparks - American Association, Kansas City T-Bones
The Anteater second-rounder back in 2014 is currently playing in independent ball as part of the American Association's Kansas City T-Bones. Sparks, who had been part of the Reds' organization for the last six seasons, got a shot with the Reds in Spring Training prior to the 2019 season for the first time. He bounced around between Extended Spring Training and various levels the organization trying to return to full health, but was ultimately released in late May.
Since joining the T-Bones, he has a pair of home runs including a grand slam in 22 games. In nearly 500 minor league games, Sparks has 61 home runs and 222 RBI which included parts of two seasons in Triple-A
ICYMI: @taylorsparkst came up GRAND. #FunWellDone pic.twitter.com/IJzAM1rlmr
— Kansas City T-Bones (@tbonesbaseball) July 10, 2019
Andrew Morales - Triple-A, Memphis Redbirds (STL)
The Anteater pitching legend has followed a similar career path to Sparks since being selected in the second round by the St. Louis Cardinals in 2014. Morales shot up to Triple-A in 2017, but since then has struggled with injuries including a setback prior to the 2019 season in his time with the Cardinals in Spring Training as a non-roster invite.
Over the last two years, Morales has pitched exclusively out of the bullpen in his 78 outings even picking up eight saves. He has yet to appear in a game in 2019. Morales is still on the road to returning to the mound. In his five seasons as a professional, he's posted a record of 14-19 and a 4.19 ERA in 125 outings striking out 283 hitters in over 300 innings
Chris Rabago - Double-A, Hartford Yard Goats (COL)
The catcher has had a whirlwind last 12 months as he begins his sixth season as a professional. Rabago was claimed off waivers in August of 2018 by the New York Yankees after spending his first four-plus seasons in the Rockies organization. He finished the year with their Double-A team in Trenton, and then was swept up by the Kansas City Royals organization in the Triple-A Rule 5 Draft in the Winter and then traded the next day back to the Colorado Rockies.
Rabago opened the 2019 season similarly to Sparks and Morales getting his second non-roster invite to Spring Training where he saw limited action. He ultimately started the season with Double-A Hartford before making the jump to Triple-A in mid-April where he played in eight games including a few monster performances on April 20 (4-for-4, 2 doubles, 2 RBI, 3 runs scored) and back-to-back games with a home run on April 25 and April 27.
He has since returned to Double-A where he's fought through the year batting .192 in 38 games while still swiping seven bags as one of the team's catchers. In 377 career professional games, he's stayed steady hitting .248 with 324 hits, 11 HR, 153 RBI, and 65 stolen bases
We have a @UCIbsb battery once again. Matt Whitehouse on the mound with Chris Rabago behind the plate for first time since 2013. #ripem https://t.co/EYsiDVHSJt
— Chris Lamano (@Lunachris106) July 6, 2019
Matt Whitehouse - Double-A, Hartford Yard Goats (COL)
The sixth-year pro saw his career change course in 2019. After over five seasons as part of the Cleveland Indians organization, the club parted ways with the left-hander, but he was quickly snapped up by the Rockies and joined Rabago on their Double-A squad in Hartford.
As a Yard Goat, Whitehouse has made five appearances, four as a starter, where he's 1-1 with an 8.35 ERA having teamed up occasionally with his former batterymate.
Whitehouse has put up a career record of 28-21 in the minors with an ERA of 4.17, four saves, and nearly 400 strikeouts in over 400 innings. He's even put in some time in Triple-A posting a 2-2 record in 18 appearances
Royce Lewis - Advanced-A, Fort Myers Miracle (MIN)
Anteater NLI signee Royce Lewis continues to make strides through his professional career. After getting the call as the first overall draft pick in the 2017 draft, Lewis has stayed on everyone's radar as a highly-touted prospect. He earned a spot in the 2019 Futures Game earning a couple at-bats off the bench as lacing a hit.
After a slow start to 2019 for the Fort Myers Miracle, Lewis has risen to a .243 average to go with nine HR and 33 RBI in his second full professional season. Lewis' future remains bright as he is the No. 7 overall prospect and the top prospect in the Twins organization.
"I'm naaaaasssty. We'll take that!"
— MLB (@MLB) July 8, 2019
Royce Lewis loves to chat it up on the basepaths. ?? @SIRIUSXM #FuturesGame pic.twitter.com/A3aFrza5yb
Congrats Royce & Jordan on being named to the All-Star Futures Game! #MNTwins pic.twitter.com/qqaPXbhaz1
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) June 28, 2019
MIRACLE WALK IT OFF to beat the Stone Crabs 4-3! Royce Lewis launches his second home run of the night to lead the Miracle to the game 1 victory! pic.twitter.com/0FdsWIjMD2
— Fort Myers Miracle (@MiracleBaseball) June 19, 2019
Calvin Faucher - Advanced-A, Fort Myers Miracle (MIN)
Lewis' teammate, Calvin Faucher, has kept stride in Fort Myers. Despite missing some time with an injury, Faucher is 2-2 with a save and 41 strikeouts in 39.2 innings. He's even shown his acting chops as part of Fort Myers' promotional video for Happy Gilmore Night
Friday, July 26th, 7:00PM at Hammond Stadium:
— Fort Myers Miracle (@MiracleBaseball) July 18, 2019
Happy Gilmore Night featuring a meet & greet with Christopher McDonald (Shooter McGavin), Golf Giveaways and Post-Game Fireworks! pic.twitter.com/JrUbyI9poO
Cole Kreuter - Advanced-A, Palm Beach Cardinals (STL)
The grandson has made his way up to Palm Beach, the High-A affiliate of the Cardinals, and matched his performance from earlier this season with the Rookie squad in the Gulf Coast League posting seven hits in seven games with each squad. He added his first professional home run on July 13, and added a cool moment on July 22 where he exchanged lineup cards at home plate with his father, Chad Kreuter, head coach of the St. Lucie Mets, prior to their contest
Pretty cool moment pregame here in Palm Beach.
— Palm Beach Cardinals (@GoPBCardinals) July 22, 2019
Palm Beach outfielder Cole Kreuter and his father, @stluciemets manager Chad Kreuter, exchange the lineups before the series opener. #BeachBirds pic.twitter.com/lwDtEBL6E7
Cameron Bishop - Advanced-A, Frederick Keys (BAL)
Bishop has enjoyed success early in his professional career with a 2.42 ERA in his first 31 starts and a 10-8 record. He joined the Frederick Keys of the Carolina League to start 2019 and is still searching for his first win. Currently at 0-8 with a 5.14 ERA, Bishop has been on the hard-luck end of some decision, but continues to fire strikes with 78 strikeouts in 75.1 innings
John Brontsema - Canadian-American Association, Rockland Boulders
Anteater infielder John Brontsema has joined Sparks and Bergman on the independent circuit in 2019 after he was released from the Kansas City Royals organization following three years with them. The Rockland Boulders of the Canadian-American Association based out of New York have been his home in 2019 where he's starred batting .328 with three home runs and 27 RBI, good enough for a spot in the All-Star Game for the league
The Anteaters had seven of their eight drafted players sign following their selections in the 2019 First-Year MLB Player Draft with six contributing already to their new organizations. 11th-round selection Tanner Brubaker has next to make his professional debut as he continues to recover from an injury, but has been placed with the Twins' Rookie club in Elizabethton
Christian Koss - Rookie Advanced, Grand Junction Rockies (COL)
The Anteater having the most success out of the gate in his professional career has been Christian Koss. In 19 games since joining Grand Junction, he's hit the cover off the ball batting .406 with three HR, 22 RBI, and 10 multi-hit games. Koss' performance was good enough to earn him Pioneer League Player of the Week status on July 14
Not a surprise, but @KossDaBoss27 is officially da boss. He became the second @GJRockies player to win Pioneer League player of the week this season.https://t.co/ZouYJaEOH6
— Troy Lynch (@mrtroylynch) July 16, 2019
On episode three of 'Opening Up with Opitz & Others' we ask @jopitz3 and @KossDaBoss27 the hard-hitting questions. Favorite movie? What was the best/worst date that Jake took @CoachBatty on? Do they think pineapple belongs on pizza? WATCH to find out!https://t.co/59GaPmkrLD
— Troy Lynch (@mrtroylynch) July 11, 2019
Brandon Lewis - Rookie Advanced, Ogden Raptors (LAD)
Not too far behind Christian is UCI's fourth-round pick, Brandon Lewis. After a 12-game stint with the Rookie affiliate in Arizona, Lewis got the bump to the advanced level with the Ogden Raptors of the Pioneer League. He blasted his first grand slam on July 20 as part of his three home runs and 16 RBI in just 13 games posting a .283 average as he's been utilized at 3B and 1B in the Dodgers organization. He added a two-HR game Tuesday night producing four hits and four RBI against Koss' team.
Brandon Lewis, the @Dodgers 2019 4th round pick from @UCIbsb hit his first @MiLB pro home run - a two-run shot, while fellow 2019 draftee, 8th rounder, Ryan Ward, @rwardo12, @_BryantBaseball, also went yard not once but twice on Friday night for the @OgdenRaptors. pic.twitter.com/o994HCbyiI
— The Azul (@TrueBlueDoyers) July 7, 2019
Mikey Filia - Rookie Advanced, Burlington Royals (LAD)
The last Anteater selected in the 2019 draft has found a home in Virginia with the Rookie Advanced Burlington Royals. Mikey has played 17 games registering 14 hits, two RBI, and three stolen bases in limited action. He recently had his best game on July 20 with three hits, two for doubles, scoring once, and driving in a run as an outfielder
Andre Pallante - Single-A Short Season, State College Spikes (STL)
Anteater All-American Andre Pallante is five games into his career looking much like his UC Irvine form. He won his pro debut tossing two scoreless innings on June 29, and he's thrown scoreless baseball in two other outings and gotten the start in three of his appearances while being limited to no more than four innings in each appearance. Pallante has recorded a 2.35 ERA thus far with 15 strikeouts in 15.1 innings for the Cardinals organization
Jordan Bocko - Single-A Short Season, Auburn Doubledays (WSH)
Four-year standout Jordan Bocko is making the most of his early career in the minors having made five appearances for the Washington Nationals Short Season affiliate, the Auburn Doubledays, in the New-York Penn League alongside Pallante. Bocko has allowed just one unearned run and six baserunners while striking out five in eight innings of work.
Taylor Rashi - Rookie, Arizona League Giants Orange
The most recent 'Eater to make his debut was Taylor Rashi tossing for Arizona Rookie side, Giants Orange, on July 17 where he earned the win. Rashi has picked up where he left off by not allowing a baserunner in his two outings and four innings pitched thus far ringing up five strikeouts along the way as part of the San Francisco Giants organization
Sean Sparling - Arizona League Umpire
Another addition to the professional baseball world is former Anteater pitcher, Sean Sparling, who has joined the umpire ranks. After completing the MiLB Umpire Training Academy, Sparling has begun umpiring games in the Arizona Rookie League
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