Pokes In The Pros, July 18

Oklahoma State currently has 25 former players in the professional baseball ranks, including three active on big league rosters in Pittsburgh shortstop Jordy Mercer, Los Angeles Angels pitcher Andrew Heaney and St. Louis pitcher Tyler Lyons. 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 ended his season prematurely. Prior to the 2018 season, the right-hander was placed on the 60-day disabled list after sustaining right shoulder tendinitis in spring training

Earlier this month, Glover began minor league rehab assignments, and he has made four appearances, working 4 2/3 innings and striking out eight. He is currently with the Syracuse Chiefs, the Nationals' Triple A affiliate.

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 17 starts, the southpaw is 5-6 with a 3.78 ERA and 102 strikeouts in 102 1/3 innings of work.

The former first-round pick has recorded quality starts in each of his last three starts before the All-Star break, recording 26 strikeouts in 20 1/3 innings of work with a 3.10 ERA.

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 12-16 record and 4.21 ERA and has 234 strikeouts in 265 innings of work.

Tyler Lyons, St. Louis Cardinals – OSU Career: 2007-10
Activated from the disabled list recently, 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 24 appearances this season, Lyons is 1-0 and owns a 6.75 ERA to go along with 17 strikeouts in 14 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 3.95 ERA in 144 appearances, and he has racked up 270 strikeouts in 266 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 86 games this season, he's hitting .252 with 22 doubles, two triples, five home runs and 31 RBIs.

The 31-year-old hit .412 (7-for-17) in his last five games prior to the All-Star break, including a three-hit and four-RBI performance on July 12.

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 54 homers, 143 doubles and 269 RBIs in 790 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 3.91 ERA in 37 appearances, and he has also recorded 50 strikeouts in 48 1/3 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 34 relief appearances and is 3-4 with 11 saves and a 3.74 ERA while striking out 54 in 45 2/3 innings.

The 26-year-old has been excellent on the mound in his last 10 appearances, giving up just two earned runs while striking out 17 in 12 1/3 innings of work.

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 4.17 ERA while recording 70 strikeouts in 99 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 2.59 ERA in 18 relief appearances at Triple A Colorado Springs before being assigned to Biloxi on June 21.

In seven appearances for the Shuckers, Perrin has a 2.45 ERA while holding opponents to a .176 batting average.

Perrin is in his fourth professional season and has made 87 career appearances, 44 of those starts, and is 13-19 with a 3.03 ERA and 308 strikeouts in 344 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 25 games and sports a .224 batting average with six 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 197 career games at the pro level, Walton owns a .279 batting average to go along with 12 homers, 40 doubles and 77 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 2-7 with a 5.97 ERA in 14 starts while posting 60 strikeouts in 63 1/3 innings.

In 48 career appearances in the minor leagues, Williams is 10-14 with a 3.97 ERA and 183 strikeouts in 192 2/3 innings.

The Cowboys have eight former stars on various levels of Class A rosters in 2018, including three 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 7-4 record and 2.89 ERA in 18 starts.

In 13 games for Kannapolis, Battenfield went 5-3 with a 2.00 ERA and 69 strikeouts in 67 2/3 innings. Since joining the Dash, he has made five starts and is 2-1 with a 4.97 ERA; he is coming off a win earlier this week in which he struck out nine in seven innings of work.

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 for short-season A Lowell. The 22-year-old hit .351 in 10 games with the Spinners before being assigned to Single A Greenville on July 1.

The corner infielder carries a .283 batting average with a homer and six RBIs through 13 games with Greenville.

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 for Class A Columbia, Cobb made 27 relief appearances for the Fireflies and was 3-1 with 10 saves and a 2.76 ERA to go along with 38 strikeouts in 32 2/3 innings of work.

Cobb was promoted to Class A-Advanced St. Lucie on July 8. In three appearances for the Mets, the righty has a 6.23 ERA and five strikeouts in 4 1/3.

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 .256 with three homers and 17 RBIs in 51 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, 37 doubles, four triples and 62 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 .237 with 10 doubles and 23 RBIs in 67 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 6.03 ERA in 26 relief outings.

Currently with Greensboro, Mertz is 0-3 with two saves and a 5.74 ERA in 17 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 47 games for Class A-Advanced Stockton and is hitting .161 with eight home runs and 22 RBIs.

Theroux is a career .145 hitter and has 21 homers and 56 RBIs as a professional.

Following this month's MLB Draft, five Cowboys from the 2018 roster signed pro contracts. All five have seen Rookie League action, while two are currently in Class-A leagues.

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

In his latest start on July 15, Heasley tossed five scoreless innings while striking out three.

The right-hander has made five pro starts and sports a 3.32 ERA.

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

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

Kroon was assigned to Class A Short Season Williamsport on June 28, and the infielder is batting .200 with a home run and three RBIs for the Crosscutters.

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 nine games is 7-for-31 (.226) at the plate.

Carson Teel, Auburn Doubledays (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 was assigned to Class A Short Season Auburn on June 30 after two starts in the rookie league.

In five appearances this year, four as a starter, Teel is 1-0 with a 3.86 ERA.

Reza Aleaziz, Ogden Raptors (Dodgers) – OSU Career: 2018
Aleaziz signed with Los Angeles last month after his lone season at OSU; the right-hander was a 28^th-round pick of the Dodgers.

The 23-year-old made his professional debut on July 1, striking out one and wrapping up the victory.

Aleaziz has a 5.63 ERA over five appearances, striking out nine in eight innings of work.

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 65 games this season, he's hitting .268 with 13 homers and 44 RBIs.

The 2018 season is Brown's 12^th as a professional, and he owns a .262 career batting average to go along with 219 homers and 710 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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