Pokes In The Pros, June 28

Oklahoma State currently has 25 former players in the professional baseball ranks, including a pair active on big league rosters in Pittsburgh shortstop Jordy Mercer and Los Angeles Angels pitcher Andrew Heaney. Four Cowboys — Blake Battenfield, Trey Cobb, Thomas Hatch and Donnie Walton — were named midseason all-stars in their respective leagues.

Koda Glover, Washington Nationals – OSU Career: 2015
In early 2017, his third professional season, Glover emerged as the Nationals closer, but back and shoulder injuries kept him on the disabled list from mid June through the remainder of the season. He is on the National's 40-man roster in 2018 but is currently on the 60-day DL with shoulder inflammation.

In 23 games last season, Glover recorded eight saves and 17 strikeouts in 19 1/3 innings of work.

Andrew Heaney, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim – OSU Career: 2010-12
Heaney is back in Anaheim's starting rotation in 2018, and in 14 starts, the southpaw is 4-5 with a 3.95 ERA and 76 strikeouts in 82 innings of work.

On June 5, Heaney tossed the first shutout of his career, allowing just one hit and striking out four in a 1-0 win over Kansas City.

Heaney underwent Tommy John surgery in July 2016 and returned to the mound for the Angels last August, going 1-2 in five starts.

In his fifth major league season, four of those with the Angels, Heaney owns a career 11-15 record and 4.30 ERA and has 208 strikeouts in 244 2/3 innings of work.

Tyler Lyons, St. Louis Cardinals – OSU Career: 2007-10
Currently on the 10-day disabled list, Lyons is in his sixth year with St. Louis and is coming off his best big league season as one of the Cardinals' top arms out of the bullpen. In 22 appearances this season, Lyons is 1-0 and owns a 5.93 ERA to go along with 15 strikeouts in 13 2/3 innings.

The southpaw made a career-high 50 relief appearances in 2017 and was 4-1 with three saves and a 2.83 ERA while recording 68 strikeouts in 54.0 innings of work.

For his MLB career, Lyons is 12-10 with three saves and a 3.90 ERA in 142 appearances, and he has racked up 268 strikeouts in 265 1/3 innings.

Jordy Mercer, Pittsburgh Pirates – OSU Career: 2006-08
In his seventh year in the big leagues, Mercer is entrenched as the Pirates' starting shortstop. In 71 games this season, he's hitting .252 with 17 doubles, two triples, four home runs and 25 RBIs.

Mercer is coming off a 2017 season in which he hit .255 with 14 home runs and 58 RBIs. The 14 homers marked a career high, as did his five triples, and he was one RBI shy of his career high.

In seven seasons with Pittsburgh, Mercer is a career .256 hitter with 53 homers, 138 doubles and 263 RBIs in 775 games.

A pair of former Cowboys are at the Triple A level.

Jason Hursh, Gwinnett Stripers (Braves) – OSU Career: 2011-13
Part of Atlanta's 40-man roster, Hursh is in his sixth season in the Braves' organization in 2018 and is 1-4 with two saves and a 3.89 ERA in 30 appearances, and he has also recorded 44 strikeouts in 41 2/3 innings. He's spent the majority of the season at Gwinnett, though he did have three outings at Double A Mississippi.

A year ago, the righty spent time bouncing between the big leagues and Triple A. He made nine relief appearances for Atlanta in 2017 and went 1-0 with a 5.06 ERA; he earned his first-career big league win on June 22 against San Francisco.

A first-round pick in 2013, Hursh was named the Atlanta Braves organization's minor league pitcher of the year in 2014.

Brendan McCurry, Fresno Grizzlies (Astros) – OSU Career: 2013-14
In his fifth professional season and third in Fresno, McCurry has made 28 relief appearances and is 3-2 with eight saves and a 4.34 ERA while striking out 40 in 37 1/3 innings.

An All-American at OSU in 2014 and the school's all-time leader in saves, McCurry is 10-11 with 55 saves and a 2.77 ERA in 167 career games.

Four former Cowboys are currently at the Double A level.

Thomas Hatch, Tennessee Smokies (Cubs) – OSU Career: 2014-16
Named a Southern League All-Star, Hatch is in his second pro season and is 6-4 with a 3.78 ERA while recording 55 strikeouts in 83 1/3 innings of work.

A third-round pick by the Chicago Cubs after an All-American season at OSU in 2016, Hatch made 26 starts for Class A-Advanced Myrtle Beach in 2017 and was 5-11 with a 4.04 ERA. He ranked seventh in the Carolina League with 126 strikeouts in 124 2/3 innings.

Hatch was the 2016 Big 12 Conference Pitcher of the Year after going 9-3 with a 2.14 ERA and tossing four complete games in 19 starts. He collected 112 strikeouts in 130 1/3 innings of work.

Jon Perrin, Biloxi Shuckers (Brewers) – OSU Career: 2012-15
After a stint at extended spring training, Perrin went 2-0 with a 2.96 ERA in 18 relief appearances at Triple A Colorado Springs before being assigned to Biloxi on June 21; he's made a pair of relief outings with the Shuckers.

Perrin is in his fourth professional season and has made 82 career appearances, 44 of those starts, and is 13-18 with a 3.109 ERA and 298 strikeouts in 332 1/3 innings.

Donnie Walton, Arkansas Travelers (Mariners) – OSU Career: 2013-16
Walton was called up to Arkansas on June 13 after opening the season at Class A-Advanced Modesto and being named a California League All-Star.

Walton hit .309 with three homers and 19 RBIs in 57 games with the Nuts; since joining the Travelers, he has played in 10 games and sports a .242 batting average with four RBIs.

A fifth-round pick of Seattle after an All-American senior season at OSU, Walton hit .269 with two homers, 16 doubles and 24 RBIs for the Nuts a year ago.

In 182 career games at the pro level, Walton owns a .284 batting average to go along with 12 homers, 38 doubles and 75 RBIs.

Garrett Williams, Richmond Flying Squirrels (Giants) – OSU Career: 2014-16
A seventh-round pick in 2016, Williams is in his third professional season and is 2-6 with a 6.00 ERA in 14 starts while posting 54 strikeouts in 57 innings.

In 42 career appearances in the minor leagues, Williams is 10-13 with a 3.91 ERA and 177 strikeouts in 186 1/3 innings.

The Cowboys have eight former stars on various levels of Class A rosters in 2018, including two in Class A-Advanced leagues.

Blake Battenfield, Winston-Salem Dash (White Sox) – OSU Career: 2014-2017
A South Atlantic League All-Star for Kannapolis, Battenfield was called up to Class A-Advanced Winston-Salem on June 21. The right-hander is thriving in his second pro season, owning a 6-3 record and 2.02 ERA in 14 starts.

In 13 games for Kannapolis, Battenfield went 5-3 with a 2.00 ERA and 69 strikeouts in 67 2/3 innings; in his first start with the Dash, he worked eight innings and struck out seven to earn the win.

In his first season of pro ball, Battenfield made 21 relief appearances at the Rookie League level and went 1-4 with a 4.88 ERA and 40 strikeouts in 31 1/3 innings.

Garrett Benge, Greenville Drive (Red Sox) – OSU Career: 2016-17
Benge opened the 2018 season on the disabled list but made his debut on June 15 and in seven games is hitting .407 (14-for-27) with a double, triple and six RBIs.

A 13^th-round draft pick of Boston in 2017, Benge played in 52 games at the Rookie League level and hit .230 with nine doubles, two triples, 25 walks and 21 RBIs while being named a New York-Penn League All-Star.

Tyler Buffett, Billings Mustangs (Reds) – OSU Career: 2014-2017
Buffett made 17 relief appearances and recorded 27 strikeouts in 28 1/3 innings for Class A Dayton before going on the disabled list on May 30; on June 21 he was assigned to Billings in the Pioneer League but has yet to pitch for the Mustangs.

In his first pro season in 2017, Buffett made 22 relief appearances in the Rookie League and posted a 4-2 record, three saves and a 3.86 ERA in 44 1/3 innings of work.

Buffett's four seasons in an OSU uniform saw him record 20 wins, nine saves and 226 strikeouts, and he ranks in the top 10 on the Cowboys' all-time lists in appearances (87) and innings pitched (275 2/3).

Trey Cobb, Columbia Fireflies (Mets) – OSU Career: 2015
A South Atlantic League All-Star, Cobb has made 23 relief appearances and is 3-1 with eight saves and a 2.16 ERA to go along with 30 strikeouts in 25 innings of work.

Following four seasons in an OSU uniform, Cobb was an eighth-round pick of the New York Mets last June. In his first pro season, Cobb made 20 relief appearances and went 1-2 with a save and a 2.63 ERA and 30 strikeouts in 27 1/3 innings of work.

Cobb ended his OSU career as the program's all-time leader in appearances with 92, and he ranks sixth all-time on the Cowboys with 11 saves.

J.R. Davis, Peoria Chiefs (Cardinals) – OSU Career: 2016
Davis is hitting .248 with three homers and 14 RBIs in 36 games in his second season with Peoria in 2018.

Following his lone season with the Cowboys in 2016 in which he led OSU in hitting and was an All-Big 12 First Team selection, Davis signed a pro contract after being drafted in the 15^th round by St. Louis.

In three pro seasons, Davis is a career .271 hitter with 10 homers, 32 doubles, four triples and 59 RBIs.

Garrett McCain, West Michigan Whitecaps (Tigers) – OSU Career: 2015-17
A 10^th-round draft pick of Detroit following an All-American junior season at OSU in 2017, McCain is hitting .248 with six doubles and 19 RBIs in 53 games for Class A West Michigan this season.

In his first pro season, McCain played in 53 games and hit .259 with six doubles, three homers and 22 RBIs, and he was named a New York-Penn League Mid-Season All-Star.

Michael Mertz, Greensboro Grasshoppers (Marlins) – OSU Career: 2015-16
Mertz has split time between Class A-Advanced Jupiter and Class A Greensboro this season and is 2-3 with a pair of saves and a 6.83 ERA in 21 relief outings.

Currently with Greensboro, Mertz is 0-3 with two saves and a 6.88 ERA in 12 games for the Grasshoppers.

In 2017, Mertz thrived at Greensboro, coming out of the bullpen in 39 of his 40 games for the Grasshoppers and going 9-1 with four saves and a 1.80 ERA to go along with 78 strikeouts in 75.0 innings.

In three pro seasons, Mertz is 12-6 with six saves and a 3.30 ERA in 74 appearances.

Remey Reed, Greensboro Grasshoppers (Marlins) – OSU Career: 2015-16
Reed has been on the disabled list with an elbow injury since April 12. He has made two relief appearances this season and is 1-0 with a 1.80 ERA and seven strikeouts in five innings of work at Class A Greensboro.

Reed has made 21 appearances at the pro level, 11 of those as a starter, and is 5-4 with a 4.23 ERA and 58 strikeouts in 61 2/3 innings.

Collin Theroux, Stockton Ports (Athletics) – OSU Career: 2016
In his third pro season, Theroux has played in 36 games for Class A-Advanced Stockton and is hitting .156 with six home runs and 17 RBIs.

Theroux is a career .143 hitter and has 19 homers and 51 RBIs as a professional.

Following this month's MLB Draft, five Cowboys from the 2018 roster signed pro contracts. Four of those have seen Rookie League action.

Jonathan Heasley, Idaho Falls Chukars (Royals) – OSU Career: 2017-18
Heasley was the first Cowboy selected in this month's draft when Kansas City took him in the 13^th round following his sophomore season at OSU.

The right-hander has made two pro starts and sports a 1.29 ERA, allowing only one run and striking out five in seven innings of work.

Matt Kroon, GCL Phillies West (Phillies) – OSU Career: 2018
The 2018 Big 12 Newcomer of the Year, Kroon was drafted for the third time earlier this month and signed with Philadelphia after they selected him in the 18^th round.

In his first four pro games, Kroon is hitting .563 (9-for-16) with a double, RBI and four stolen bases.

Jon Littell, AZL Dodgers (Dodgers) – OSU Career: 2015-18
Littell spent four seasons in an OSU uniform and played in nearly 200 games for the Cowboys before being a 37^th-round pick of the Dodgers.

The outfielder made his pro debut on June 22 and in three games is 3-for-8 (.375) at the plate with a double and a pair of walks.

Carson Teel, GCL Nationals (Nationals) – OSU Career: 2016-18
Teel was drafted for the second-straight year in 2018 and signed with Washington after they selected him in the 16^th round following his junior season with the Cowboys.

The southpaw made his debut in relief on June 22 and allowed two runs on four hits while striking out three in two innings of work.

Reza Aleaziz, No Team (Dodgers) – OSU Career: 2018
Aleaziz signed with Los Angeles earlier this month after his lone season at OSU; the right-hander was a 28^th-round pick of the Dodgers but has yet to make his pro debut.

One former Cowboy has returned to the Mexican League at its Triple A level in 2018.

Corey Brown, Toros de Tijuana – OSU Career: 2005-07
Brown is back with Tijuana in 2018 after an All-Star season a year ago in which he helped lead the Toros to a Mexican League Championship. In 54 games this season, he's hitting .290 with 12 homers and 43 RBIs.

The 2018 season is Brown's 12^th as a professional, and he owns a .263 career batting average to go along with 218 homers and 709 RBIs.

Brown spent parts of three seasons with the Washington Nationals (2011-13) and played in three games for the Red Sox in 2014. He's appeared in 39 games at the Major League Baseball level and hit .171 with two homers and four RBIs in those games.

For informative links on former Cowboys in the pros, click here.

Oklahoma State University Athletics

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Players Mentioned

Reza Aleaziz

Blake Battenfield

Garrett Benge

Tyler Buffett

Trey Cobb

Koda Glover

Thomas Hatch

Jonathan Heasley

Matt Kroon

Jon Littell

Garrett McCain

Michael Mertz

Jon Perrin

Remey Reed

Carson Teel

Donnie Walton

Garrett Williams

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