Mitch Moreland is third among first basemen in the 2018 All-Star vote (Photo via Boston Red Sox)
Photo by: special to HailState.com
#STATEtoTheShow Update - July 3
July 03, 2018 | Baseball
STARKVILLE, Miss. – A total of 35 former Mississippi State baseball players are now contributing as players, coaches and staff in professional baseball, five of which are currently playing in the Big Leagues.
Mitch Moreland sits third in the latest MLB All-Star game voting for first basemen. Moreland is batting a cool .285 with 11 home runs and 40 RBIs with the Red Sox this season. You can help send Moreland to the Midsummer Classic by voting for him, and your other favorite Major League Bulldogs, here. Voting ends July 5 at 10:59 p.m. CT.
Jonathan Holder has been lights out for the New York Yankees since he was recalled on April 21. From his recall date until June 30, Holder allowed no earned runs over 28.0 innings pitched, struck out 26 batters and gave up just 11 hits and three walks. Holder came back to the Yankees with a 20.25 ERA, but has brought it down to an impressive 1.89 currently.
Starting pitcher Dakota Hudson is scratching at the door of MLB and the St. Louis Cardinals with lights-out performances as a member of the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds. He currently leads the Pacific Coast League in wins with an 11-2 record, and is second in ERA (2.10), and was named a starter for the PCL All-Star game. Hudson was also named the Cardinals' Minor League Pitcher of the Month after posting a 5-0 record and 1.06 ERA in June.
Jacob Robson was called up to the final stage of Minor League Baseball on June 28, and the transition didn't seem to bother him. Now with the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens (Detroit Tigers), Robson has six hits (.462 average), two home runs, three RBIs and three stolen bases in four games for his new team.
With Robson at Toledo is reliever Zac Houston, who's shut down opposing batters recently with a 0.84 ERA in his last 10 appearances. In his stint with the Mud Hens, Houston boasts a 2.03 ERA and has struck out 21 batters over 13.1 innings pitched.
In Double-A, Jack Kruger has been swinging a hot bat with the Mobile BayBears (Los Angeles Angels), going 18-for-44 (.409) with three homers and 11 RBIs in his last 10 games. Kruger is hitting .307 this season at Double-A.
Nathaniel Lowe earned a promotion to Double-A in early June after batting .356 in Single-A. Since the call-up, Lowe is hitting .338 with five home runs, 20 RBIs and a 1.025 OPS through 21 games for the Montgomery Biscuits (Tampa Bay Rays).
In Single-A, Reid Humphreys has become dominant for the Lancaster JetHawks (Colorado Rockies), having not allowed an earned run in his last 22 appearances. He has also collected 18 saves in 19 opportunities and a 1.98 ERA in 2018.
Five Bulldogs on the 2018 roster have signed pro baseball contracts in the last week. Konnor Pilkington, Hunter Stovall, Jacob Billingsley, JP France and Zach Neff are all waiting to be assigned to their first minor league squads.
Diamond Dawg Pitchers Playing MLB
Diamond Dawg Hitters Playing MLB
Diamond Dawg Coaches In Pro Baseball
The Road To the Show (Hitters)
The Road To the Show (Pitchers)
*- on 60-day DL, MLB 40-man roster
Other Diamond Dawgs In Pro Baseball
Mitch Moreland sits third in the latest MLB All-Star game voting for first basemen. Moreland is batting a cool .285 with 11 home runs and 40 RBIs with the Red Sox this season. You can help send Moreland to the Midsummer Classic by voting for him, and your other favorite Major League Bulldogs, here. Voting ends July 5 at 10:59 p.m. CT.
Jonathan Holder has been lights out for the New York Yankees since he was recalled on April 21. From his recall date until June 30, Holder allowed no earned runs over 28.0 innings pitched, struck out 26 batters and gave up just 11 hits and three walks. Holder came back to the Yankees with a 20.25 ERA, but has brought it down to an impressive 1.89 currently.
Starting pitcher Dakota Hudson is scratching at the door of MLB and the St. Louis Cardinals with lights-out performances as a member of the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds. He currently leads the Pacific Coast League in wins with an 11-2 record, and is second in ERA (2.10), and was named a starter for the PCL All-Star game. Hudson was also named the Cardinals' Minor League Pitcher of the Month after posting a 5-0 record and 1.06 ERA in June.
Jacob Robson was called up to the final stage of Minor League Baseball on June 28, and the transition didn't seem to bother him. Now with the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens (Detroit Tigers), Robson has six hits (.462 average), two home runs, three RBIs and three stolen bases in four games for his new team.
With Robson at Toledo is reliever Zac Houston, who's shut down opposing batters recently with a 0.84 ERA in his last 10 appearances. In his stint with the Mud Hens, Houston boasts a 2.03 ERA and has struck out 21 batters over 13.1 innings pitched.
In Double-A, Jack Kruger has been swinging a hot bat with the Mobile BayBears (Los Angeles Angels), going 18-for-44 (.409) with three homers and 11 RBIs in his last 10 games. Kruger is hitting .307 this season at Double-A.
Nathaniel Lowe earned a promotion to Double-A in early June after batting .356 in Single-A. Since the call-up, Lowe is hitting .338 with five home runs, 20 RBIs and a 1.025 OPS through 21 games for the Montgomery Biscuits (Tampa Bay Rays).
In Single-A, Reid Humphreys has become dominant for the Lancaster JetHawks (Colorado Rockies), having not allowed an earned run in his last 22 appearances. He has also collected 18 saves in 19 opportunities and a 1.98 ERA in 2018.
Five Bulldogs on the 2018 roster have signed pro baseball contracts in the last week. Konnor Pilkington, Hunter Stovall, Jacob Billingsley, JP France and Zach Neff are all waiting to be assigned to their first minor league squads.
Diamond Dawg Pitchers Playing MLB
| NAME | ORGANIZATION | TEAM | LEVEL |
| Chris Stratton (2010-12) | San Francisco | Giants | MLB |
| Jonathan Holder (2010-13) | New York (AL) | Yankees | MLB |
| Jacob Lindgren (2012-14)* | Atlanta | Braves | MLB |
Diamond Dawg Hitters Playing MLB
| NAME | ORGANIZATION | TEAM | LEVEL |
| Mitch Moreland (2005-07) | Boston | Red Sox | MLB |
| Hunter Renfroe (2011-13) | San Diego | Padres | MLB |
Diamond Dawg Coaches In Pro Baseball
| NAME | ORGANIZATION | TEAM | LEVEL |
| Travis Chapman (1997-00) | New York (AL) | Scranton | |
| Buck Showalter (1977) | Baltimore | Orioles | MLB |
| Chris Maloney (1982-83) | Atlanta | Mississippi Braves | AA |
The Road To the Show (Hitters)
| NAME | ORGANIZATION | TEAM | LEVEL |
| Cody Brown (2013-2017) |
New York (AL) | Pulaski | Rookie |
| Gavin Collins (2014-16) | Cleveland | Lynchburg | Class A |
| Adam Frazier (2011-13) | Pittsburgh | Indianapolis | AAA |
| Ryan Gridley (2015-2017) |
Oakland | Beloit | Class A |
| Jack Kruger (2016) | Los Angeles (AL) | Mobile | AA |
| Nathaniel Lowe (2016) | Tampa Bay | Montgomery | AA |
| Rafael Palmeiro (1983-85) | Cleburne | Railroaders | Indy |
| Jacob Robson (2013-16) |
Detroit | Toledo | AAA |
| Brent Rooker (2014-2017) |
Minnesota | Chattanooga | AA |
| Hunter Stovall (2016-18) | Colorado | TBD |
The Road To the Show (Pitchers)
*- on 60-day DL, MLB 40-man roster
Other Diamond Dawgs In Pro Baseball
- Jeff Brantley – Cincinnati Reds Broadcaster
- Will Clark – San Francisco Giants Special Assistant
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