MLB
Garrett Cooper (OF, Miami Marlins)
Season stats (71 games): .284/.354/.453, 30 R, 61 H, 10 2B, 1 3B, 9 HR, 33 RBI, 30 BB
Cooper continues to shine in his fourth season with Miami as he ranks second on the team among players with 60 or more games played in average (.284) and OPS (.845). The fifth-year big leaguer was placed on the 10-day IL with a left elbow sprain on July 19 but was hitting .372 with a .491 on-base percentage prior to going on the injured list. He went 3-for-3 and turned in his first career multi-homer game against the Dodgers on July 7.
Grant Dayton (LHP, Atlanta Braves)
Season stats (13 games): 0-0, 6.23 ERA, 13.0 IP, 15 H, 10 R, 9 ER, 6 BB, 14 K, .283 B/AVG
The Braves placed Dayton on the 10-day IL with left shoulder inflammation on June 5, and the fifth-year pro remains unavailable as of June 28. The 2021 season marks Dayton's third season with the Braves. The left-hander didn't allow a run in eight of his first 10 appearances this season.
Josh Donaldson (3B, Minnesota Twins)
Season stats (80 games): .249/.352/.475, 42 R, 66 H, 15 2B, 15 HR, 42 RBI, 45 BB
Donaldson is Auburn's longest-tenured professional, playing in his 11th season in the big leagues and his second in Minnesota. The third baseman has multiple hits in three of the last 10 games with two home runs and seven RBI during the span. He ranks second on the twins in doubles (15), tied for second in home runs (15) and third in RBI (42). Donaldson's 240 career home runs and 698 career RBI are the second most by an Auburn big leaguer, trailing Hall of Famer Frank Thomas.
Casey Mize (RHP, Detroit Tigers)
Season stats (19 games): 5-5, 3.63 ERA, 104.0 IP, 89 H, 42 R, 42 ER, 28 BB, 85 K, .233 B/AVG
Getting a taste of his first full season in MLB, Mize made the Tigers starting rotation out of Spring Training and currently leads the team in starts (19) and innings (104.0) while rankings second in wins (5) and strikeouts (85). Mize ranks first among AL rookies in innings, third in ERA (3.63) and fourth in strikeouts. The former No. 1 overall pick has been put on an innings restriction since the start of July but recently threw 4.0 scoreless while allowing just one hit against Texas on July 19.
Keegan Thompson (RHP, Chicago Cubs)
Season stats (26 games): 3-2, 2.27 ERA, 1 SV, 39.2 IP, 29 H, 11 R, 10 ER, 21 BB, 41 K, .203 B/AVG
Thompson became Auburn's 55th former player to appear in the big leagues as he made his debut with the Cubs on May 5, 2021. The 26-year-old right hander didn't allow an earned run in his first nine appearances, including a spot start against the defending World Champion Dodgers, and picked up three wins during the span. He allowed one earned run in a span of 11 appearances from June 11-July 17 and earned his first MLB save in 3.0 innings against Arizona on July 23. Thompson entered the season considered the Cubs No. 14 prospect by MLB.com.
Trey Wingenter (RHP, San Diego Padres)
Wingenter was placed on the Padres 60-day IL on Feb. 18, 2021. He is currently recovering from Tommy John Surgery.
TRIPLE-A
Ben Braymer (LHP, Rochester Red Wings – Washington Nationals)
Season stats (12 games): 2-6, 6.75 ERA, 42.2 IP, 46 H, 33 R, 32 ER, 26 BB, 31 K, .277 B/AVG
After making his MLB debut with the Nationals in 2020, Braymer began the 2021 season in Rochester's rotation and has made 12 appearances and 10 starts with the club. His most recent start on July 22 was arguably his best of the season, throwing 5.0 scoreless innings with one hit and five strikeouts against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Gabe Klobosits (RHP, Rochester Red Wings – Washington Nationals)
Season stats (23 games): 3-2, 0.58 ERA, 5 SV, 31.0 IP, 20 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 10 BB, 33 K, .180 B/AVG
Klobosits turned in a 2-1 record and 0.90 ERA in 15 appearances at Double-A before getting called up to Triple-A Rochester on June 29. The big right-hander has picked up right where he left off as he is yet to allow an earned run in eight appearances with the Red Wings. He earned his first Triple-A win in 2.0 scoreless innings on July 10 and earned a pair of saves on July 14 and 25.
Andrew Mitchell (LHP, Syracuse Mets – New York Mets)
Season stats (20 games): 3-1, 2.97 ERA, 2 SV, 36.1 IP, 31 H, 12 R, 12 ER, 10 BB, 41 K, .233 B/AVG
Mitchell was called up to Triple-A Syracuse on July 16 after going 3-1 with a 2.15 ERA in 17 appearances at Double-A. The left-hander made his Triple-A debut that day and has pitched multiple innings of relief with multiple strikeouts in each of his first three appearances. Prior to his promotion, Mitchell pitched the final 3.0 innings of Binghamton's no-hitter on June 23.
Josh Palacios (OF, Buffalo Bisons – Toronto Blue Jays)
Minor league stats (6 games): .300/.440/.400, 3 R, 6 H, 2 2B, 2 RBI, 3 BB, 1 SB
Major league stats (10 games): .250/.353/.250, 7 R, 7 H, 4 RBI, 3 BB
Palacios remains on the injured list after being placed there on May 11. The fifth-year pro made his MLB debut with the Blue Jays on Apr. 9, 2021 and hit .250 with four RBI in 10 games with the big-league club. Palacios joined Buffalo on May 3 and played in six games with the Bisons before getting injured. He is considered the Blue Jays No. 27 prospect by MLB.com.
Damek Tomscha (3B, St. Paul Saints – Minnesota Twins)
Season stats (55 games): .242/.321/.421, 25 R, 46 H, 10 2B, 8 HR, 23 RBI, 18 BB, 1 SB
Tomscha was signed to a minor league contract by the Twins on Mar. 3 and was assigned to Triple-A St. Paul on May 11. Tomscha ranks top-five on the Saints in average (.241), hits (42), doubles (9), home runs (8), on-base percentage (.316) and slugging (.431). In a span of three games at the end of June, Tomscha went 7-for-14 with three runs, two doubles, three home runs and six RBI.
DOUBLE-A
Davis Daniel (RHP, Rocket City Trash Pandas – Los Angeles Angels)
Season stats (12 games): 3-3, 2.90 ERA, 59.0 IP, 42 H, 19 R, 19 ER, 25 BB, 79 K, .197 B/AVG
Coming off an invite to big league Spring Training, Daniel hasn't disappointed in his first taste of pro ball. The right-hander's debut was delayed after undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2019, and he entered 2021 as the Angels No. 19 prospect according to MLB.com. After an impressive stint with the Tri-City Dust Devils that included a 3-2 record and a 2.31 ERA, Daniel was called up to Double-A to join the Rocket City Trash Pandas on June 30. In his most recent appearance and home debut, Auburn fans got to see Daniel shine as he pitched 5.0 innings and allowed one run with six strikeouts against the Tennessee Smokies on July 24. Daniel was named the High-A West Pitcher of the Week on two occasions prior to his promotion.
HIGH-A
Tanner Burns (RHP, Lake County Captains – Cleveland Indians)
Season stats (11 games): 2-4, 3.67 ERA, 49.0 IP, 38 H, 24 R, 20 ER, 17 BB, 62 K, .213 B/AVG
The 36th overall pick in last year's draft, Burns turned in back-to-back scoreless starts and earned his first two professional wins on June 4 and June 11. He made his professional debut on May 7 and turned in 4.0 scoreless innings with no walks and six strikeouts. Most recently, the former All-America right-hander pitched a season high 6.1 innings and struck out eight batters against South Bend on July 2. Burns, who is considered the Indians No. 15 prospect by MLB.com, was placed on the 7-day IL on July 20.
Bailey Horn (LHP, Winston-Salem Dash – Chicago White Sox)
Season stats (14 games): 2-3, 5.63 ERA, 38.1 IP, 33 H, 29 R, 24 ER, 18 BB, 45 K, .226 B/AVG
After being selected in the fifth round of last year's draft, Horn made his professional debut on May 8 with the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers and turned in 4.0 scoreless and hitless innings. After a solid month of June that included a 1.33 ERA with the Cannon Ballers, Horn was called up to pitch for the Winston-Salem Dash on July 1. In his best outing with the Dash, Horn pitched 3.0 hitless innings and struck out five against the Jersey Shore BlueClaws on July 20. He is considered the White Sox No. 24 prospect by MLB.com.
Edouard Julien (IF, Cedar Rapids Kernels – Minnesota Twins)
Season stats (70 games): .261/.441/.436, 55 R, 61 H, 18 2B, 1 3B, 7 HR, 42 RBI, 71 BB, 24 SB
After playing in 47 of 48 games for Fort Myers and leading the league in games played and walks while also ranking in the top five in hits, doubles, stolen bases, and on-base percentage, Julien was called up to High-A Cedar Rapids on June 28. Julien's first hit for the Kernels was a home run on June 30, and he has homered four times with 18 RBI for the club. The Quebec native recently turned in his best game at his current level, going 2-for-3 with two runs, a home run, four RBI and three walks against South Bend. He leads all of minor league baseball with 71 walks this season.
Daniel Robert (RHP, Hickory Crawdads – Texas Rangers)
Season stats (2 games): 0-0, 5.40 ERA, 1 SV, 3.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, .231 B/AVG
Robert was placed on the injured list on May 11 and remains unavailable as of June 28. The right-hander made a pair of appearances and struck out six batters in 3.1 innings prior to the injury. Robert picked up the save and struck out five in 2.0 scoreless innings in his season debut on May 4.
Ryan Watson (RHP, Aberdeen IronBirds – Baltimore Orioles)
Season stats (12 games): 3-1, 2.95 ERA, 36.2 IP, 30 H, 17 R, 12 ER, 7 BB, 45 K, .214 B/AVG
Watson signed as a free agent last year and started his professional career by earning a win in a scoreless inning of relief on May 16. Watson served as both a reliever and starter for the Shorebirds and didn't allow a run in seven of his first nine appearances. After appearing in 11 games and posting a 2.14 ERA for the Shorebirds, Watson was called up to High-A Aberdeen on July 20. He made his first appearance for the team on July 21 and recorded five strikeouts in 3.0 innings. Watson has issued an impressive 6.43 K-BB ratio this season.
LOW-A
Elliott Anderson (LHP, Columbia Fireflies – Kansas City Royals)
Anderson has been placed on the team's 60-day IL.
Calvin Coker (RHP, Stockton Ports – Oakland Athletics)
Coker has been placed on the team's 60-day IL.
Will Holland (IF, Fort Myers Mighty Mussels – Minnesota Twins)
Season stats (38 games): .194/.314/.389, 16 R, 25 H, 11 2B, 5 HR, 7 RBI, 14 BB, 8 SB
Holland spent just over a month on the injured list with an elbow strain but was activated on June 15 and went on a season-best five-game hit streak from July 2-7. He turned in arguably his best offensive performance against Jupiter on July 17, going 2-for-3 with a double, home run and three RBI to go along with a walk and stolen base. Holland is considered the Twins No. 22 prospect by MLB.com.
Matt Scheffler (C, Modesto Nuts – Seattle Mariners)
Season stats (39 games): .248/.370/.394, 19 R, 34 H, 7 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR, 26 RBI, 24 BB, 1 SB
After signing as a free agent last year, Scheffler started his professional career with a bang, homering in his first career at-bat on May 4. The Washington native collected a hit in his first six professional games and was 8-for-22 during the span. On July 1, Scheffler hit a three-run blast in the win over the Visalia Rawhide. He turned in a season high with three hits against Fresno on July 20 and went 6-for-14 in four games against the Grizzlies.
ROOKIE
Ryan Bliss (IF - Arizona Diamondbacks)
Bliss was selected by the Diamondbacks with the 42nd overall pick in the second round of the 2021 MLB Draft. He became the fifth-highest-drafted position player in program history - trailing only Frank Thomas (7th overall, 1989), Gabe Gross (15th overall, 2001), Mark Bellhorn (35th overall, 1995) and Anfernee Grier (39th overall, 2016).
Richard Fitts (RHP - New York Yankees)
Fitts was selected by the Yankees in the sixth round of the 2021 MLB Draft. He became Auburn's sixth pitcher since 2017 selected in the first seven rounds.
Tyler Miller (IF - Boston Red Sox)
Miller was selected by the Red Sox in the ninth round of the 2021 MLB Draft.
Steven Williams (OF/C - Washington Nationals)
Williams was selected by the Nationals in the 18th round of the 2021 MLB Draft.
Cody Greenhill (RHP - Washington Nationals)
Greenhill signed a free agent contract with the Nationals.
Jack Owen (LHP - Oakland Athletics)
Owen signed a free agent contract with the Athletics.
Peyton Glavine (LHP - Washington Nationals)
Glavine signed a free agent contract with the Nationals.
Auburn Baseball in the Pros - July 26
