Mitch Moreland helped lead the Red Sox to become 2017 AL East champions in the MLB regular season (Credit: Boston Red Sox)
#STATEtoTheShow Update - October 5
October 05, 2017 | Baseball
STARKVILLE, Miss. – With the 2017 Major League Baseball season finished, it's time to take a look at how former Diamond Dawgs performed in professional baseball in 2017. Thirty former Mississippi State baseball players are currently in professional baseball, including eight currently playing in the MLB. Please tweet any corrections to @HailStateBB.
Diamond Dawg Pitchers Playing MLB
Diamond Dawg Hitters Playing MLB
Diamond Dawg Coaches In MLB
The Road To the Show (Hitters)
The Road To the Show (Pitchers)
Diamond Dawg Coaches In Pro Baseball
- Mitch Moreland helped the Red Sox to an AL East title and playoff berth in his pivotal role at first base and DH. Making a playoff appearance for the sixth time, Moreland collected 22 home runs, 34 doubles and 79 RBIs. The Red Sox will kick off their playoff run on Thursday at 3:08 p.m. CT.
- Hunter Renfroe broke the San Diego Padres rookie record for home runs in a season with 26 dingers. The previous record, 25, stood all the way back from 1969, and was held by Nate Colbert. Renfroe also knocked in 58 runners in his rookie season.
- Adam Frazier boasted a .276 clip with 20 doubles and 53 RBIs, as he took over the Pittsburgh lead off role late into the season.
- Brandon Woodruff made his major league debut for the Milwaukee Brewers on August 4 against Tampa Bay. Woodruff earned a place in the Milwaukee rotation immediately.
- Chris Stratton compiled a 3.68 ERA and tossed 51 strikeouts over 58.2 innings pitched in a starting role for San Francisco.
- Zac Houston has been assigned to play with the Mesa Solar Sox of the Arizona Fall League in the coming months. In 46.1 innings pitched at Class A Advanced Lakeland (Tigers organization), Houston posted a 2.53 ERA and struck out 71 batters.
- Jacob Robson became Detroits' 29th ranked prospect after batting .277 with Class A Lakeland Flying Tigers.
- Following his SEC triple crown season at MSU, Brent Rooker immediately got to work in pro baseball, earning a call up after just 22 games in Rookie ball. Rooker went on to bat .280 with 11 homers and 35 RBIs for Class A Fort Myers Miracle to close out his impressive 2017 campaign.
- Dakota Hudson earned a call up to Triple A Memphis Redbirds in late July as he'll look to make the final leap to MLB next season.
- Other notable minor league seasons: Chad Girodo pitched to a 3.02 ERA through 30 games with Triple A Buffalo Bisons. Reid Humphreys tossed 47 strikeouts over 45.2 innings pitched on his way to a 2.56 ERA for Class A Asheville Tourists. Daniel Brown boasted a 3.00 ERA while tossing 74 strikeouts over 72.0 innings pitched.
Diamond Dawg Pitchers Playing MLB
| NAME | ORGANIZATION | TEAM | LEVEL |
| Kendall Graveman (2010-13) | Oakland | Athletics | MLB |
| Brandon Woodruff (2012-14) | Milwaukee | Brewers | MLB |
| Chris Stratton (2010-12) | San Francisco | Giants | MLB |
| Jonathan Holder (2010-13) | New York (AL) | Yankees | MLB |
Diamond Dawg Hitters Playing MLB
| NAME | ORGANIZATION | TEAM | LEVEL |
| Tyler Moore (2008) | Miami | Marlins | MLB |
| Mitch Moreland (2005-07) | Boston | Red Sox | MLB |
| Adam Frazier (2011-13) | Pittsburgh | Pirates | MLB |
| Hunter Renfroe (2011-13) | San Diego | Padres | MLB |
Diamond Dawg Coaches In MLB
| NAME | ORGANIZATION | TEAM | LEVEL |
| Chris Maloney (1982-83) | St. Louis | Cardinals | MLB |
| Buck Showalter (1977) | Baltimore | Orioles | MLB |
The Road To the Show (Hitters)
| NAME | ORGANIZATION | TEAM | LEVEL |
| Cody Brown (2013-2017) |
New York (AL) | Staten Island | Rookie |
| Gavin Collins (2014-16) | Cleveland | Lynchburg | Class A |
| Ryan Gridley (2015-2017) |
Oakland | Vermont | Rookie |
| Jack Kruger (2016) | Los Angeles | Inland | Class A |
| Josh Lovelady (2015-2017) |
Kansas City | AZL Royals | Rookie |
| Nathaniel Lowe (2016) | Tampa Bay | Charlotte | Class A |
| Jacob Robson (2013-16) |
Detroit | Lakeland | Class A |
| Brent Rooker (2014-2017) |
Minnesota | Fort Myers | Class A |
The Road To the Show (Pitchers)
| NAME | ORGANIZATION | TEAM | LEVEL |
| Ben Bracewell (2010-14) | Oakland | Nashville | AAA |
| Daniel Brown (2015-16) |
Milwaukee | Wisconsin | Class A |
| Chad Girodo (2010-13) | Toronto | Buffalo | AAA |
| Zac Houston (2014-16) | Detroit | Lakeland | Class A |
| Dakota Hudson (2014-16) | St. Louis | Memphis | AAA |
| Reid Humphreys (2014-16) | Colorado | Asheville | Class A |
| Lucas Laster (2013-14) | River City | Rascals | Indy Ball |
| Evan Mitchell (2011-13) | Cincinnati | Louisville | AAA |
| Nick Routt (2009, 11-12) | Cincinnati | Louisville | AAA |
| Austin Sexton (2014-16) | St. Louis | Peoria | Class A |
| Vance Tatum (2014-16) | Kansas City | Lexington | Class A |
Diamond Dawg Coaches In Pro Baseball
- Jeff Brantley – Cincinnati Reds Broadcaster
- Will Clark – San Francisco Giants Special Assistant
Players Mentioned
LHP
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RHP
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OF/INF/RHP
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OF
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