#STATEtoTheShow Update: July 30
July 30, 2019 | Baseball
By Austin Coats, Graduate Assistant/Communications
STARKVILLE – It's been a banner month in Major League Baseball for former Diamond Dawgs Adam Frazier and Nate Lowe.
The pair earned back-to-back player of the week honors for their respective leagues in the first two weeks of the month, and they have not cooled off much since.
In 23 games this month, Frazier has totaled 31 hits in 83 at-bats for a .373 batting average, tying for MLB's fifth-best mark in July. The Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman has also collected a .435 on-base percentage and a .566 slugging mark for 1.001 OPS.
Lowe started the month in Triple A Durham but has exploded ever since his Independence Day recall with the Tampa Bay Rays. In the time since, Lowe has batted at a .317 clip with five home runs and 12 RBIs to go along with a 1.085 OPS. The rookie Ray has also raised his season batting average from .256 to .301.
Pittsburgh Pirates reliever Chris Stratton has also had a fantastic month. In eight July appearances during July, the fourth-year MLB veteran boasts a 2.12 earned run average and 18 strikeouts over 17 innings pitched while keeping opposing hitters to a .167 batting average.
After spending some time on the injured list with a quad injury, Boston Red Sox first baseman Mitch Moreland is back on the field. However, a similar injury has sidelined the Milwaukee Brewers' best pitcher, former Bulldog Brandon Woodruff, likely until September.
Down in Triple A, a pair of Bulldogs are making a push to join State's seven players currently in MLB. In 65 games for the Rochester Red Wings (Minnesota Twins affiliate), Brent Rooker has crushed 14 home runs and driven in 47 RBIs. The 2017 SEC Triple Crown winner has also batted .281 with a .933 OPS in 2019.
One of Rooker's teammates for the 2016 Diamond Dawgs, Jacob Robson has been on a hot streak for the Toledo Mud Hens (Detroit Tigers affiliate). In his last eight games, the "Maple Hammer" has hit for a .357 average, with at least one hit in seven of those contests.
Continuing a strong start to his professional career, Trysten Barlow has only given up one earn run in his first eight appearances (10 innings pitched) with the Grand Junction Rockies.
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 organization
Diamond Dawgs Playing in Major League Baseball (MLB)
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
Diamond Dawgs Working in Professional Baseball
STARKVILLE – It's been a banner month in Major League Baseball for former Diamond Dawgs Adam Frazier and Nate Lowe.
The pair earned back-to-back player of the week honors for their respective leagues in the first two weeks of the month, and they have not cooled off much since.
In 23 games this month, Frazier has totaled 31 hits in 83 at-bats for a .373 batting average, tying for MLB's fifth-best mark in July. The Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman has also collected a .435 on-base percentage and a .566 slugging mark for 1.001 OPS.
Lowe started the month in Triple A Durham but has exploded ever since his Independence Day recall with the Tampa Bay Rays. In the time since, Lowe has batted at a .317 clip with five home runs and 12 RBIs to go along with a 1.085 OPS. The rookie Ray has also raised his season batting average from .256 to .301.
Pittsburgh Pirates reliever Chris Stratton has also had a fantastic month. In eight July appearances during July, the fourth-year MLB veteran boasts a 2.12 earned run average and 18 strikeouts over 17 innings pitched while keeping opposing hitters to a .167 batting average.
After spending some time on the injured list with a quad injury, Boston Red Sox first baseman Mitch Moreland is back on the field. However, a similar injury has sidelined the Milwaukee Brewers' best pitcher, former Bulldog Brandon Woodruff, likely until September.
Down in Triple A, a pair of Bulldogs are making a push to join State's seven players currently in MLB. In 65 games for the Rochester Red Wings (Minnesota Twins affiliate), Brent Rooker has crushed 14 home runs and driven in 47 RBIs. The 2017 SEC Triple Crown winner has also batted .281 with a .933 OPS in 2019.
One of Rooker's teammates for the 2016 Diamond Dawgs, Jacob Robson has been on a hot streak for the Toledo Mud Hens (Detroit Tigers affiliate). In his last eight games, the "Maple Hammer" has hit for a .357 average, with at least one hit in seven of those contests.
Continuing a strong start to his professional career, Trysten Barlow has only given up one earn run in his first eight appearances (10 innings pitched) with the Grand Junction Rockies.
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 organization
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
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