Photo by: Tampa Bay Rays
#STATEtoTheShow Update: July 17
July 17, 2019 | Baseball
Dakota Hudson Leads St. Louis pitching staff with eight wins on the season
STARKVILLE – As the second half of the Major League Baseball season begins, a host of former Mississippi State baseball student-athletes continue to play big roles on some of the hottest teams in professional baseball.
Â
The National League Central Division - the most competitive division in baseball – features four former MSU teammates: Adam Frazier (Pittsburgh), Dakota Hudson (St. Louis), Chris Stratton (Pittsburgh) and Brandon Woodruff (Milwaukee).
Â
Currently tied for the National League lead with Washington's Stephen Strasburg with 11 victories, Woodruff ranks No. 7 on the senior circuit with 133 strikeouts. After earning his first MLB All-Star selection and appearing in the seventh inning of the Midsummer Classic, Woodruff followed that with 6 2/3 innings of one-run work versus Atlanta on July 16. He fanned seven and allowed five hits to earn the win.
Â
After earning the National League Player of the Week honor in the final week of the MLB's first half of the season, Frazier is hitting .297 over his last 10 games with 20 hits, 11 runs scored and seven RBIs. Of his 20 hits, nine have gone for extra bases. Stratton allowed three runs against the Cubs in three innings of relief work on Saturday, July 13, but owns a 2.84 ERA in his last seven appearances (12 2/3 innings), including five scoreless outings.
Â
Hudson has been steady in his last 10 starts, owning a 6-0 record and a 2.88 ERA. In his first start after the All-Star Game, the right-hander threw six innings and allowed two runs on three hits to earn his team-leading eighth win of the season.
Â
The fifth National League Dawg is casually hitting a home run every 10.3 at bats, as Hunter Renfroe ranks No. 3 in the MLB in that category and owns a career-high 27 home runs. His home run total ranks No. 4 in the National League. Over his last 10 games, Renfroe is hitting .292 with two home runs, three runs scored and a pair of walks.
Â
The American League features a pair of Diamond Dawg sluggers, as well, with Boston's Mitch Moreland and Tampa Bay's Nathaniel Lowe.
Â
Lowe is looking to etch his name into a permanent spot in the Rays lineup, as he has exploded out of the gate following the All-Star break. The left-handed hitter is leading the team with a .471 batting average, eight hits, three home runs and seven RBIs post-All-Star break – seeing action in just four the team's six games. Lowe was named the American League Player of the Week for the first week following the All-Star break.
Â
Moreland is looking to get back on the field after a couple of injuries slowed the Red Sox slugger. He is scheduled to make a rehab appearance in Triple A Pawtucket later this week.
Â
After beginning his professional career with the New York Mets' Short Season Class A affiliate Brooklyn, Cole Gordon earned a promotion to Full Season Class A Columbia. Gordon has posted a 1-0 record in five scoreless appearances overall. For the Fireflies, the right hander has made four appearances and logged eight scoreless innings with 11 strikeouts to just two walks and four hits.
Â
Trysten Barlow picked up his first professional win on Tuesday with 1 2/3 innings of relief work, while Ryan Gridley is hitting .326 over his last 10 games for the Stockton Ports (A) with six walks, seven runs scored and eight RBIs.
Â
MLB Pipeline Prospect Rankings (listed alphabetically)
Reid Humphreys – No. 17 in Colorado Rockies organization
Jack Kruger – No. 21 in Los Angles Angels organization
Nate Lowe – No. 4 at 1B; No. 9 Tampa Bay Rays organization
Konnor Pilkington - No. 19 Chicago White Sox organization
Jacob Robson – No. 16 Detroit Tigers organization
Brent Rooker – No. 5 at 1B; No. 7 Minnesota Twins organizationÂ
Â
Diamond Dawgs Playing in Major League Baseball (MLB)
Â
Road to the Show
Minor League Levels Key: R – Rookie, R+ - Rookie Advanced, AZL – Arizona League, A – Single A, A+ - Single A Advanced, A-SS – Short Season Single A, AA – Double A, AAA – Triple A
Diamond Dawgs Coaching in Professional Baseball
Â
Diamond Dawgs Working in Professional Baseball
Â
The National League Central Division - the most competitive division in baseball – features four former MSU teammates: Adam Frazier (Pittsburgh), Dakota Hudson (St. Louis), Chris Stratton (Pittsburgh) and Brandon Woodruff (Milwaukee).
Â
Currently tied for the National League lead with Washington's Stephen Strasburg with 11 victories, Woodruff ranks No. 7 on the senior circuit with 133 strikeouts. After earning his first MLB All-Star selection and appearing in the seventh inning of the Midsummer Classic, Woodruff followed that with 6 2/3 innings of one-run work versus Atlanta on July 16. He fanned seven and allowed five hits to earn the win.
Â
After earning the National League Player of the Week honor in the final week of the MLB's first half of the season, Frazier is hitting .297 over his last 10 games with 20 hits, 11 runs scored and seven RBIs. Of his 20 hits, nine have gone for extra bases. Stratton allowed three runs against the Cubs in three innings of relief work on Saturday, July 13, but owns a 2.84 ERA in his last seven appearances (12 2/3 innings), including five scoreless outings.
Â
Hudson has been steady in his last 10 starts, owning a 6-0 record and a 2.88 ERA. In his first start after the All-Star Game, the right-hander threw six innings and allowed two runs on three hits to earn his team-leading eighth win of the season.
Â
The fifth National League Dawg is casually hitting a home run every 10.3 at bats, as Hunter Renfroe ranks No. 3 in the MLB in that category and owns a career-high 27 home runs. His home run total ranks No. 4 in the National League. Over his last 10 games, Renfroe is hitting .292 with two home runs, three runs scored and a pair of walks.
Â
The American League features a pair of Diamond Dawg sluggers, as well, with Boston's Mitch Moreland and Tampa Bay's Nathaniel Lowe.
Â
Lowe is looking to etch his name into a permanent spot in the Rays lineup, as he has exploded out of the gate following the All-Star break. The left-handed hitter is leading the team with a .471 batting average, eight hits, three home runs and seven RBIs post-All-Star break – seeing action in just four the team's six games. Lowe was named the American League Player of the Week for the first week following the All-Star break.
Â
Moreland is looking to get back on the field after a couple of injuries slowed the Red Sox slugger. He is scheduled to make a rehab appearance in Triple A Pawtucket later this week.
Â
After beginning his professional career with the New York Mets' Short Season Class A affiliate Brooklyn, Cole Gordon earned a promotion to Full Season Class A Columbia. Gordon has posted a 1-0 record in five scoreless appearances overall. For the Fireflies, the right hander has made four appearances and logged eight scoreless innings with 11 strikeouts to just two walks and four hits.
Â
Trysten Barlow picked up his first professional win on Tuesday with 1 2/3 innings of relief work, while Ryan Gridley is hitting .326 over his last 10 games for the Stockton Ports (A) with six walks, seven runs scored and eight RBIs.
Â
MLB Pipeline Prospect Rankings (listed alphabetically)
Reid Humphreys – No. 17 in Colorado Rockies organization
Jack Kruger – No. 21 in Los Angles Angels organization
Nate Lowe – No. 4 at 1B; No. 9 Tampa Bay Rays organization
Konnor Pilkington - No. 19 Chicago White Sox organization
Jacob Robson – No. 16 Detroit Tigers organization
Brent Rooker – No. 5 at 1B; No. 7 Minnesota Twins organizationÂ
Â
Diamond Dawgs Playing in Major League Baseball (MLB)
| NAME (Yrs. at MSU) | POS. | ORGANIZATION |
| Adam Frazier (2011-13) | IF | Pittsburgh Pirates |
| Dakota Hudson (2014-16) | RHP | St. Louis Cardinals |
| Nathaniel Lowe (2016) | IF | Tampa Bay Rays |
| Mitch Moreland (2005-07) | IF | Boston Red Sox |
| Chris Stratton (2010-12) | RHP | Pittsburgh Pirates |
| Hunter Renfroe (2011-13) | RF | San Diego Padres |
| Brandon Woodruff (2012-14) | L/RP | Milwaukee Brewers |
Road to the Show
Minor League Levels Key: R – Rookie, R+ - Rookie Advanced, AZL – Arizona League, A – Single A, A+ - Single A Advanced, A-SS – Short Season Single A, AA – Double A, AAA – Triple A
Diamond Dawgs Coaching in Professional Baseball
| NAME (Yrs. at MSU) | ORGANIZATION | TEAM (Level) |
| Travis Chapman (1997-2000) | New York Yankees | Scranton Wilkes-Bare (AAA) |
| Chris Maloney (1982-83) | Atlanta Braves | Mississippi (AA) |
| Chris Young (2000-02) | Philadelphia Phillies | Philadelphia (MLB) |
Diamond Dawgs Working in Professional Baseball
| NAME (Yrs. at MSU) | ORGANIZATION | Role |
| Jeff Brantley (1982-85) | Cincinnati Reds | Broadcaster |
| Will Clark (1983-85) | San Francisco Giants | Special Assistant |
Players Mentioned
LHP
/ Baseball
RHP/DH
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
LHP
/ BaseballBASEBALL | NCAA Starkville Highlights vs. Lipscomb - 5/29/26
Saturday, May 30
BASEBALL | Brian O'Connor, Duke Stone & Vytas Valincius Lipscomb Postgame Press Conference - 5/29/26
Friday, May 29
BASEBALL | Mississippi State NCAA Starkville Regional Press Conference - 5/28/26
Thursday, May 28
BASEBALL | Bryce Chance & Ben Davis NCAA Starkville Regional Selection Press Conference - 5/25/26
Monday, May 25