With the MLB season hitting the 100-game mark for each club and the All-Star break in the rearview mirror, the current MLB Pack pros are hitting stride at the minor and major league levels. Some of the 2019 MLB draftees from NC State are leaping forward as well.
Trea Turner, Shortstop, Washington Nationals
Turner continues to be the star for the Washington Nationals, who sit at 55-49 this season, one game ahead of the Philadelphia Phillies, who now have former Nats star Bryce Harper and are five and a half games behind the first place Atlanta Braves. Turner has helped the Nats to this second-place positioning in the division and tied for a National League Wild Card spot, though many teams are very close behind, including the Milwaukee Brewers, who are just one game behind.
As for Turner, he has batted a strong .287/.347/.480 line so far this season and has only 69 strikeouts and 21 stolen bases to go along with eight home runs.
Andrew Knizner, Catcher/First Baseman, St. Louis Cardinals
The Cardinals currently sit in first place in the NL Central, one game ahead of the Brewers and tied with the Cubs. Since losing star catcher Yadier Molina to injury, Knizner has helped the team stay afloat after his call-up to the club.
The third-ranked prospect in the Cardinals system is boasting four runs on five hits in just 30 at-bats and has a stolen base to boot.
Will Wilson, Shortstop, Orem Owlz (Los Angeles Angels)
Wilson, the 15th overall pick in the 2019 MLB draft, has joined the Orem Owlz, the rookie league affiliate of the Angels. Wilson has already played in 28 games since being drafted, where he has 117 at-bats, 36 hits, 12 RBIs and three home runs. The defensive sensation has 26 games started in the field, with 32 putouts, 54 assists, 11 double plays, a fielding percentage at about .965 and only three errors all season.
Evan Edwards, First Baseman, Clinton LumberKings (Miami Marlins)
Edwards, selected in the fourth round of the 2019 MLB draft, has played in 34 games for the LumberKings and has a batting line of .294/.375/.429 midway through the season. He has three home runs and 23 RBIs in 126 at-bats this season for the Single-A affiliate of the Marlins.
Alec Barger, Pitcher, Danville Braves (Atlanta Braves)
Barger, selected in the 21st round of the 2019 draft, has started in seven games for the rookie league affiliate of the Atlanta Braves, with two losses and zero wins. He has posted an ERA of 5.89, which is slightly better than his ERA with the Wolfpack last season, and he has 26 strikeouts on the year.
Evan Mendoza, Third Baseman, Memphis Redbirds (St. Louis Cardinals)
For Mendoza, things seem to happen in reverse. When Mendoza was demoted to Springfield earlier in the season, he jumped in the prospect ranking list for the Cardinals. Now, Mendoza has been re-promoted but has completely dropped out of the top-30 prospect list for the Cardinals.
This might have something to do with Mendoza’s placement on the seven-day IL, but he should return in due time. Mendoza has played in six games for the Redbirds with a .313/.421/.375 slashing line with only 16 at-bats.
Jake Buchanan, Pitcher, Las Vegas Aviators (Oakland A’s)
Buchanan is continuing to play for the Aviators and has worsened his ERA slightly since earlier in the season. His ERA currently stands at 6.16 with 71 strikeouts, 68 earned runs and a 3-6 record in 20 games started.
Brock Deatherage, Outfielder, Lakeland Flying Tigers (Detroit Tigers)
Deatherage has improved his batting since earlier in the season and is now slashing a .241/.281/.386, which is still somewhat mediocre but is a great improvement from his earlier .196/.237/.278 line.
Brett Kinneman, Outfielder, West Virginia Black Bears (Pittsburgh Pirates)
Kinneman was up with the Class-A Greensboro Grasshoppers for a short stint at the beginning of the season but is back down with the low Single-A affiliate of the Pirates, the Black Bears. He is hitting a lowly .162/.309/.252 line on the season.
Joe Dunand, Shortstop, Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (Miami Marlins)
Dunand has played in 100 games for the Jumbo Shrimp this season, the Double-A affiliate of the Marlins, and has three home runs, 36 RBIs and two stolen bases. He also has about a .960 fielding percentage and 12 errors this season. Dunand is a few improvements on his numbers away from being a likely candidate to be called up to Triple A in the next couple of seasons.
Jack Conley, Catcher, Clearwater Threshers (Philadelphia Phillies)
Conley now has 30 at-bats with Clearwater since being called up but is still struggling mightily with a .167/.219/.200 line and eight strikeouts with only three RBIs.
Cody Beckman, Pitcher, Carolina Mudcats (Milwaukee Brewers)
Beckman has hit a bit of a slump in recent weeks, dropping his ERA from 3.05 to 3.62, which is still one of the better marks for a Pack pro pitcher. He has only 20 earned runs this season in 49.2 innings pitched and has a record of three wins and three losses.
Tommy DeJuneas, Pitcher, Corpus Christi Hooks (Houston Astros)
DeJuneas has 18 earned runs in 21 innings pitched, which is nearly one run allowed per inning. The pitcher has not played very well since being called up within the Astros system, but it is only a matter of time and opportunity until this 2017 draft selection gets back on track.
Other baseball Pack pros:
Carlos Rodon, Pitcher, Chicago White Sox *INJURED
Jon Olczak, Pitcher, San Antonio Missions (Milwaukee Brewers)
Preston Palmeiro, Infielder, Bowie Baysox (Baltimore Orioles)
Tim Naughton, Pitcher, Frederick Keys (Baltimore Orioles)
Josh McLain, Outfielder, Great Lakes Loons (Los Angeles Dodgers)
Will Gilbert, Pitcher, Stockton Ports (Oakland A’s)
Ryan Williamson, Pitcher, GCL Nationals (Washington Nationals)
Andrew Blake, Pitcher, Orem Owlz (Los Angeles Angels)
