Oklahoma State University Athletics
Thomas Hatch
Pokes In The Pros, July 22
August 22, 2018 | Cowboy Baseball
Oklahoma State currently has 25 former players in the professional baseball ranks, including a trio of active players on big league rosters in Washington Nationals pitcher Koda Glover, Pittsburgh shortstop Jordy Mercer and Los Angeles Angels pitcher Andrew Heaney.
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. He was placed on the disabled list again to start 2018 after sustaining right shoulder tendinitis in spring training.
After rehabbing in the minors, Glover returned to the big leagues on Aug. 10 with a scoreless relief appearance. Since then, the right-hander has pitched in several high-leverage situations for the Nationals, and the former eighth-rounder picked up his first save of 2018 on Aug. 16 against St. Louis.
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 23 starts, the southpaw is 7-7 with a 4.11 ERA and 133 strikeouts in 140 innings of work.
The former first-round pick recorded quality starts in all five starts in July and posted a 2-1 record to go along with 35 strikeouts in 34 1/3 innings and a 2.88 ERA. The Angels are 7-1 in the past eight games that Heaney started.
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 14-17 record and 4.31 ERA and has 265 strikeouts in 302 2/3 innings of work.
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 106 games this season, he's hitting .262 with 26 doubles, two triples, six home runs and 37 RBIs.
The 31-year-old was batting .276 in 11 games in August before sustaining a left calf strain on Aug. 14. Mercer was placed on the disabled list the day after and is expected to miss the rest of the month.
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 .257 hitter with 55 homers, 147 doubles and 275 RBIs in 790 games.
A pair of former Cowboys are at the Triple A level.
Tyler Lyons, St. Louis Cardinals – OSU Career: 2007-10
Lyons was designated for assignment by St. Louis on July 27 but cleared waivers and was optioned to Triple A Memphis on Aug. 3. He has appeared in three games for the Redbirds this month.
In his sixth season with the Cardinals, Lyons made 27 appearances for St. Louis this season and was 1-0 with nine holds while posting a 8.64 ERA and 19 strikeouts in 16 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 4.09 ERA in 147 appearances, and he has racked up 272 strikeouts in 268 1/3 innings.
Brendan McCurry, Fresno Grizzlies (Astros) – OSU Career: 2013-14
In his fifth professional season and third in Fresno, McCurry has made 43 relief appearances and is 5-7 with 13 saves and a 3.73 ERA while striking out 69 in 60 1/3 innings.
The 26-year-old has been steady on the mound in his last 10 appearances, recording a 3.45 ERA with 17 strikeouts in 15 2/3 innings during that span.
An All-American at OSU in 2014 and the school's all-time leader in saves; McCurry is 15-17 with 64 saves and a 2.87 ERA in 201 professional career games.
Five 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 8-5 with a 3.65 ERA while recording 103 strikeouts in 133 1/3 innings of work.
In his last six starts, the right-hander has been dominant with a 2-1 record and 2.12 ERA to go along with 33 strikeouts in 34 innings.
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.
Jason Hursh, Mississippi Braves (Braves) – OSU Career: 2011-13
A first-round pick in 2013, Hursh is in his sixth season in the Braves' organization and is 2-5 with five saves and a 3.73 ERA in 48 appearances in 2018. The 26-year-old has recorded 57 strikeouts in 62 2/3 innings.
Currently at Double A Mississippi, Hursh has played the majority of the year at Triple A Gwinnett with a 3.98 ERA and 45 strikeouts in 52 innings.
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 also earned his first career big league win on June 22 against San Francisco.
Hursh was named the Atlanta Braves organization's minor league pitcher of the year in 2014.
Jon Perrin, Northwest Arkansas Naturals (Royals) – OSU Career: 2012-15
After a stint at extended spring training, Perrin went 2-2 with a 3.80 ERA in 28 relief appearances between Triple A Colorado Springs and Double A Biloxi in the Milwaukee Brewers organization.
Perrin was traded to the Royals and assigned to Double A Northwest Arkansas on Aug. 7. In two starts for the Naturals, the right-hander has a 3.00 ERA and six strikeouts in nine innings.
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 51 games and sports a .222 batting average with 16 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 223 career games at the pro level, Walton owns a .273 batting average to go along with 13 homers, 43 doubles and 87 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 3-8 with a 5.99 ERA in 14 starts while posting 72 strikeouts in 79 2/3 innings.
In 60 career appearances in the minor leagues, Williams is 11-15 with a 4.13 ERA and 195 strikeouts in 209 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 10-5 record and 2.98 ERA in 22 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 nine starts for Winston-Salem, Battenfield is 5-2, but he was placed on the seven-day disabled list on Aug. 15.
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 Class A Short-Season Lowell. The 22-year-old hit .351 in 10 games with the Spinners before being assigned to Class A Greenville on July 1.
The corner infielder had a .325 batting average through 25 games for Greenville before being placed on the disabled list on Aug. 4.
A 13th-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, St. Lucie Mets (Mets) – OSU Career: 2015
A South Atlantic League All-Star, Cobb made 27 relief appearances for Class A Columbia and went 3-1 with 10 saves and a 2.76 ERA to go along with 38 strikeouts in 32.2 innings of work.
Cobb was promoted to Class A-Advanced St. Lucie on July 8. In 13 appearances for St. Lucie, the righty has a 3.50 ERA with 17 strikeouts in 18 innings. In his last nine appearances, Cobb has only given up two earned runs in 12 1/3 innings for a 1.46 ERA.
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 .275 with four homers and 27 RBIs in 75 games in his second season with Peoria in 2018. In August, the 24-year-old was hitting .300 in 12 games before landing on the disabled list on Aug. 14.
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 15th 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 10th-round draft pick of Detroit following an All-American junior season at OSU in 2017, McCain is hitting .245 with 11 doubles and 23 RBIs in 85 games for Class A West Michigan this season.
McCain was on fire in his last eight games, hitting .370 (10-for-27) before being placed on the disabled list on Aug. 18.
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 4-5 with four saves and a 5.22 ERA in 50 relief outings.
Currently with Greensboro, Mertz is 2-5 with four saves and a 4.81 ERA in 27 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 14-8 with eight saves and a 3.29 ERA in 89 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 67 games for Class A-Advanced Stockton and is hitting .172 with 13 home runs and 24 RBIs. In his last nine games, the catcher is batting .286 with a .444 on-base percentage.
Theroux is a career .151 hitter and has 22 homers and 58 RBIs as a professional.
Following June'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 this year's draft when Kansas City took him in the 13th round following his sophomore season at OSU.
In 10 professional starts, Heasley has a record of 1-1 with a 5.49 ERA and 27 strikeouts in 41 innings. The right-hander picked up his first professional win on Aug. 12, throwing five scoreless innings.
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 18th 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; the infielder is batting .222 with a home run and five RBIs with the Crosscutters.
Jon Littell, Ogden Raptors (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 37th-round pick of the Dodgers. He made his pro debut on June 22.
The outfielder was assigned to Ogden of the Rookie League on July 29, and he is batting .280 with two homers and 12 RBIs for the Raptors.
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 16th round following his junior season with the Cowboys.
The southpaw was assigned to Auburn at the Class A Short-Season level on June 30 after two starts in the rookie league. In nine appearances for the Doubledays, four as a starter, Teel is 1-0 with a 2.55 ERA and 17 strikeouts and 24 2/3 innings.
Reza Aleaziz, Ogden Raptors (Dodgers) – OSU Career: 2018
Aleaziz signed with Los Angeles in June after his lone season at OSU; the right-hander was a 28th-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 6.00 ERA over 14 appearances for Ogden, striking out 19 in 18 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 86 games this season, he's hitting .256 with 14 homers and 49 RBIs.
The 2018 season is Brown's 12th 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.
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. He was placed on the disabled list again to start 2018 after sustaining right shoulder tendinitis in spring training.
After rehabbing in the minors, Glover returned to the big leagues on Aug. 10 with a scoreless relief appearance. Since then, the right-hander has pitched in several high-leverage situations for the Nationals, and the former eighth-rounder picked up his first save of 2018 on Aug. 16 against St. Louis.
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 23 starts, the southpaw is 7-7 with a 4.11 ERA and 133 strikeouts in 140 innings of work.
The former first-round pick recorded quality starts in all five starts in July and posted a 2-1 record to go along with 35 strikeouts in 34 1/3 innings and a 2.88 ERA. The Angels are 7-1 in the past eight games that Heaney started.
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 14-17 record and 4.31 ERA and has 265 strikeouts in 302 2/3 innings of work.
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 106 games this season, he's hitting .262 with 26 doubles, two triples, six home runs and 37 RBIs.
The 31-year-old was batting .276 in 11 games in August before sustaining a left calf strain on Aug. 14. Mercer was placed on the disabled list the day after and is expected to miss the rest of the month.
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 .257 hitter with 55 homers, 147 doubles and 275 RBIs in 790 games.
A pair of former Cowboys are at the Triple A level.
Tyler Lyons, St. Louis Cardinals – OSU Career: 2007-10
Lyons was designated for assignment by St. Louis on July 27 but cleared waivers and was optioned to Triple A Memphis on Aug. 3. He has appeared in three games for the Redbirds this month.
In his sixth season with the Cardinals, Lyons made 27 appearances for St. Louis this season and was 1-0 with nine holds while posting a 8.64 ERA and 19 strikeouts in 16 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 4.09 ERA in 147 appearances, and he has racked up 272 strikeouts in 268 1/3 innings.
Brendan McCurry, Fresno Grizzlies (Astros) – OSU Career: 2013-14
In his fifth professional season and third in Fresno, McCurry has made 43 relief appearances and is 5-7 with 13 saves and a 3.73 ERA while striking out 69 in 60 1/3 innings.
The 26-year-old has been steady on the mound in his last 10 appearances, recording a 3.45 ERA with 17 strikeouts in 15 2/3 innings during that span.
An All-American at OSU in 2014 and the school's all-time leader in saves; McCurry is 15-17 with 64 saves and a 2.87 ERA in 201 professional career games.
Five 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 8-5 with a 3.65 ERA while recording 103 strikeouts in 133 1/3 innings of work.
In his last six starts, the right-hander has been dominant with a 2-1 record and 2.12 ERA to go along with 33 strikeouts in 34 innings.
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.
Jason Hursh, Mississippi Braves (Braves) – OSU Career: 2011-13
A first-round pick in 2013, Hursh is in his sixth season in the Braves' organization and is 2-5 with five saves and a 3.73 ERA in 48 appearances in 2018. The 26-year-old has recorded 57 strikeouts in 62 2/3 innings.
Currently at Double A Mississippi, Hursh has played the majority of the year at Triple A Gwinnett with a 3.98 ERA and 45 strikeouts in 52 innings.
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 also earned his first career big league win on June 22 against San Francisco.
Hursh was named the Atlanta Braves organization's minor league pitcher of the year in 2014.
Jon Perrin, Northwest Arkansas Naturals (Royals) – OSU Career: 2012-15
After a stint at extended spring training, Perrin went 2-2 with a 3.80 ERA in 28 relief appearances between Triple A Colorado Springs and Double A Biloxi in the Milwaukee Brewers organization.
Perrin was traded to the Royals and assigned to Double A Northwest Arkansas on Aug. 7. In two starts for the Naturals, the right-hander has a 3.00 ERA and six strikeouts in nine innings.
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 51 games and sports a .222 batting average with 16 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 223 career games at the pro level, Walton owns a .273 batting average to go along with 13 homers, 43 doubles and 87 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 3-8 with a 5.99 ERA in 14 starts while posting 72 strikeouts in 79 2/3 innings.
In 60 career appearances in the minor leagues, Williams is 11-15 with a 4.13 ERA and 195 strikeouts in 209 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 10-5 record and 2.98 ERA in 22 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 nine starts for Winston-Salem, Battenfield is 5-2, but he was placed on the seven-day disabled list on Aug. 15.
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 Class A Short-Season Lowell. The 22-year-old hit .351 in 10 games with the Spinners before being assigned to Class A Greenville on July 1.
The corner infielder had a .325 batting average through 25 games for Greenville before being placed on the disabled list on Aug. 4.
A 13th-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, St. Lucie Mets (Mets) – OSU Career: 2015
A South Atlantic League All-Star, Cobb made 27 relief appearances for Class A Columbia and went 3-1 with 10 saves and a 2.76 ERA to go along with 38 strikeouts in 32.2 innings of work.
Cobb was promoted to Class A-Advanced St. Lucie on July 8. In 13 appearances for St. Lucie, the righty has a 3.50 ERA with 17 strikeouts in 18 innings. In his last nine appearances, Cobb has only given up two earned runs in 12 1/3 innings for a 1.46 ERA.
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 .275 with four homers and 27 RBIs in 75 games in his second season with Peoria in 2018. In August, the 24-year-old was hitting .300 in 12 games before landing on the disabled list on Aug. 14.
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 15th 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 10th-round draft pick of Detroit following an All-American junior season at OSU in 2017, McCain is hitting .245 with 11 doubles and 23 RBIs in 85 games for Class A West Michigan this season.
McCain was on fire in his last eight games, hitting .370 (10-for-27) before being placed on the disabled list on Aug. 18.
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 4-5 with four saves and a 5.22 ERA in 50 relief outings.
Currently with Greensboro, Mertz is 2-5 with four saves and a 4.81 ERA in 27 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 14-8 with eight saves and a 3.29 ERA in 89 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 67 games for Class A-Advanced Stockton and is hitting .172 with 13 home runs and 24 RBIs. In his last nine games, the catcher is batting .286 with a .444 on-base percentage.
Theroux is a career .151 hitter and has 22 homers and 58 RBIs as a professional.
Following June'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 this year's draft when Kansas City took him in the 13th round following his sophomore season at OSU.
In 10 professional starts, Heasley has a record of 1-1 with a 5.49 ERA and 27 strikeouts in 41 innings. The right-hander picked up his first professional win on Aug. 12, throwing five scoreless innings.
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 18th 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; the infielder is batting .222 with a home run and five RBIs with the Crosscutters.
Jon Littell, Ogden Raptors (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 37th-round pick of the Dodgers. He made his pro debut on June 22.
The outfielder was assigned to Ogden of the Rookie League on July 29, and he is batting .280 with two homers and 12 RBIs for the Raptors.
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 16th round following his junior season with the Cowboys.
The southpaw was assigned to Auburn at the Class A Short-Season level on June 30 after two starts in the rookie league. In nine appearances for the Doubledays, four as a starter, Teel is 1-0 with a 2.55 ERA and 17 strikeouts and 24 2/3 innings.
Reza Aleaziz, Ogden Raptors (Dodgers) – OSU Career: 2018
Aleaziz signed with Los Angeles in June after his lone season at OSU; the right-hander was a 28th-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 6.00 ERA over 14 appearances for Ogden, striking out 19 in 18 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 86 games this season, he's hitting .256 with 14 homers and 49 RBIs.
The 2018 season is Brown's 12th 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.
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