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 has been a bright spot in his fourth season in 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. Cooper was placed on the 60-day IL on July 28 for the same elbow that had been bothering him earlier in the season.
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 60-day IL with left shoulder inflammation on July 7. 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 (104 games): .259/.361/.496, 56 R, 90 H, 19 2B, 21 HR, 59 RBI, 57 BB
Donaldson is Auburn's longest-tenured professional, playing in his 11th season in the big leagues and his second in Minnesota. Donaldson has been hot of late, hitting .345 in his last 15 games, and homered four times in a span of six games from Aug. 20-27. He leads qualifying Twins hitters in on-base percentage and ranks third on the team hits, doubles, home runs and RBI. Donaldson's 245 career home runs and 713 career RBI are the second most by an Auburn big leaguer, trailing Hall of Famer Frank Thomas.
Gabe Klobosits (RHP, Washington Nationals)
MLB stats (11 games): 0-1, 5.56 ERA, 11.1 IP, 13 H, 8 R, 7 ER, 5 BB, 5 K, .283 B/AVG
MiLB stats (24 games): 3-2, 0.56 ERA, 6 SV, 32.0 IP, 21 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 10 BB, 36 K, .183 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 did not allow an earned run in eight appearances with the Red Wings. Two wins and a couple weeks later, Klobosits was called up to the pitch for the Nationals and became Auburn's 56th former player to appear in the big leagues. Klobosits made his MLB debut against the Cubs on July 30 and has made 11 appearances in his first month of MLB action.
Casey Mize (RHP, Detroit Tigers)
Season stats (25 games): 7-6, 3.59 ERA, 135.1 IP, 117 H, 56 R, 54 ER, 39 BB, 104 K, .234 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 and innings while ranking second in wins and strikeouts. Mize ranks first among AL rookies in innings, third in ERA and fifth in strikeouts and wins. The former No. 1 overall pick tossed 5.0 scoreless innings and earned his seventh win of the season in his most recent start against St. Louis on Aug. 24. He also drew a bases-loaded walk in his first big-league plate appearance.
Josh Palacios (OF, Toronto Blue Jays)
MiLB stats (16 games): .283/.406/.340, 9 R, 15 H, 3 2B, 4 RBI, 8 BB, 1 SB
MLB stats (13 games): .200/.293/.200, 7 R, 7 H, 4 RBI, 3 BB
Palacios was sent to begin a rehab assignment for the FCL Blue Jays on August 5 after being on the injured list since May 11 and was recently recalled by the Blue Jays on Aug. 23, appearing in three games with the big-league club since his return. The fifth-year pro made his MLB debut with the Blue Jays on Apr. 9, 2021, becoming the 54th former Auburn player to appear in the big leagues. He is considered the Blue Jays No. 27 prospect by MLB.com.
Keegan Thompson (RHP, Chicago Cubs)
MLB stats (29 games): 3-3, 3.09 ERA, 1 SV, 46.2 IP, 40 H, 18 R, 16 ER, 26 BB, 45 K, .227 B/AVG
MiLB stats (4 games): 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 14.2 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 5 BB, 16 K
Thompson, who became Auburn's 55th former player to appear in the big leagues as he made his debut with the Cubs on May 5, 2021, was optioned to Triple-A Iowa on July 27 in order to prepare for a starting role when he returns to the big leagues. He didn't allow a run in four starts with the Triple-A Iowa Cubs and was recalled by the Cubs on Aug. 21. The 26-year-old right hander has made two starts since his return to the big leagues. He didn't allow an earned run in his first nine MLB appearances and picked up three wins during the span. Thompson entered the season considered the Cubs No. 14 prospect by MLB.com.
Trey Wingenter (RHP, San Diego Padres - Rehab Assignment)
MiLB stats (3 games): 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 3.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 6 K, .100 B/AVG
Wingenter underwent Tommy John surgery last summer and has been on his way back from injury for the past year. The big right hander began his rehab assignment on Aug. 14 and hasn't allowed a run in three appearances with the High-A Fort Wayne TinCaps.
TRIPLE-A
Ben Braymer (LHP, Rochester Red Wings – Washington Nationals)
Season stats (18 games): 6-7, 5.57 ERA, 72.2 IP, 64 H, 46 R, 45 ER, 42 BB, 51 K, .239 B/AVG
After making his MLB debut with the Nationals in 2020, Braymer began the 2021 season in Rochester's rotation and has made 18 appearances and 15 starts with the club. The sixth-year pro is 4-0 with a 2.67 ERA in five appearances and four starts during August. He has thrown 5.0 or more innings in each of his five appearances during the month and has kept the opposition scoreless on three occasions. Braymer most recently pitched 5.0 scoreless while allowing just one hit against Syracuse on Aug. 25.
Andrew Mitchell (LHP, Syracuse Mets – New York Mets)
Season stats (22 games): 3-1, 3.89 ERA, 2 SV, 39.1 IP, 36 H, 17 R, 17 ER, 13 BB, 43 K, .248 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 five appearances. Prior to his promotion, Mitchell pitched the final 3.0 innings of Binghamton's no-hitter on June 23. He has made just one appearance since the start of August and was ultimately placed on the 7-day IL on Aug. 23.
Damek Tomscha (3B, St. Paul Saints – Minnesota Twins)
Season stats (69 games): .230/.309/.396, 31 R, 53 H, 11 2B, 9 HR, 30 RBI, 20 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. 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. On August 4, he went 2-for-3 with a home run, a double, four RBI and a run scored.
DOUBLE-A
Davis Daniel (RHP, Rocket City Trash Pandas – Los Angeles Angels)
Season stats (17 games): 4-5, 2.46 ERA, 87.2 IP, 62 H, 25 R, 24 ER, 28 BB, 119 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 and his production has remained similar at the next level. Daniel has turned in a 1.59 ERA with 30 strikeouts and three walks in 22.2 innings in four starts during August. He has struck out 10 or more batters on four occasions this season.
Daniel Robert (RHP, Frisco RoughRiders – Texas Rangers)
Season stats (10 games): 0-0, 2.51 ERA, 1 SV, 14.1 IP, 11 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 4 BB, 30 K, .208 B/AVG
After appearing in just two games at the start of May, Robert began a rehab assignment on Aug. 3 and was assigned to the Frisco RoughRiders on Aug. 11, where he has allowed just one earned run and struck out 19 batters in six appearances and 9.0 innings. The right hander hasn't allowed a run in his last four appearances and 6.2 innings and is coming off back-to-back 2.0-inning stints with five strikeouts and no walks apiece. He is striking out more than two batters per inning this season.
HIGH-A
Tanner Burns (RHP, Lake County Captains – Cleveland Indians)
Season stats (15 games): 2-5, 3.88 ERA, 62.2 IP, 54 H, 32 R, 27 ER, 25 BB, 80 K, .232 B/AVG
The 36th overall pick in the 2020 MLB draft, Burns made his professional debut on May 7 and turned in 4.0 scoreless innings with no walks and six strikeouts. He turned in back-to-back scoreless starts and earned his first two professional wins on June 4 and June 11. The former All-America right-hander ranks third on the Captains in strikeouts and fourth in innings and hasn't allowed more than two earned runs in a start during August.
Bailey Horn (LHP, South Bend Cubs – Chicago Cubs)
Season stats (17 games): 3-3, 5.64 ERA, 44.2 IP, 39 H, 33 R, 28 ER, 20 BB, 52 K, .227 B/AVG
Horn was traded from the White Sox to the Cubs for big leaguer Ryan Tepera on July 29 and has made three appearances for South Bend since his return from the injured list on Aug. 17. 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. v
Edouard Julien (IF, Cedar Rapids Kernels – Minnesota Twins)
Season stats (95 games): .261/.435/.448, 76 R, 85 H, 26 2B, 1 3B, 11 HR, 54 RBI, 94 BB, 31 SB
Julien continues to produce from the plate in his first season of professional baseball and is hitting .275 while reaching base at a .457 clips during August. Julien turned in multiple hits in five of six contests from Aug. 14-21, going 10-for-21 during the span. Since being called up to the Kernels on June 28, he has hit eight homers and driven in 30 in 48 games. Julien leads all of minor league baseball with 94 walks this season.
Jack Owen (LHP, Lansing Lugnuts - Oakland Athletics)
Season stats (3 games): 0-1, 5.87 ERA, 7.2 IP, 8 H, 7 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 10 K, .242 B/AVG
Owen signed a free agent contract with the Athletics the week following the 2021 MLB Draft and was assigned to the Lansing Lugnuts on Aug. 14. The southpaw made his professional debut against Dayton on Aug. 15 and struck out five in 2.2 hitless innings. He hasn't allowed an earned run and has struck out nine in his first two starts (6.1 innings).
Matt Scheffler (C, Everett AquaSox – Seattle Mariners)
Season stats (56 games): .253/.365/.428, 30 R, 49 H, 9 2B, 2 3B, 7 HR, 34 RBI, 29 BB, 2 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. After an impressive start to the season with Modesto, Scheffler was called up to the High-A Everett AquaSox and has hit .283 in 16 games with the club prior to going on the 7-day IL on Aug. 26. The reliable backstop collected multiple hits in four straight games from Aug. 12-17, including the first multi-homer game of his career on Aug. 15.
Ryan Watson (RHP, Aberdeen IronBirds – Baltimore Orioles)
Season stats (18 games): 6-2, 3.46 ERA, 54.2 IP, 49 H, 26 R, 21 ER, 14 BB, 70 K, .234 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. The right hander struck out a season high 10 batters in 4.0 innings on Aug. 13 and is fanning batters at a 11.5 strikeout per 9.0 inning clip this season.
LOW-A
Elliott Anderson (LHP, Columbia Fireflies – Kansas City Royals)
Anderson has been placed on the team's 60-day IL.
Ryan Bliss (IF, Visalia Rawhide – Arizona Diamondbacks)
Season stats (22 games): .263/.297/.389, 14 R, 25 H, 6 2B, 2 HR, 10 RBI, 4 BB, 7 SB
Bliss was selected by the Diamondbacks with the 42nd overall pick in the second round of the 2021 MLB Draft, becoming 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). On July 31, he was assigned to the FCL Diamondbacks, where he played two games before being assigned to the Low-A Visalia Rawhide. He hit his first two professional homers in back-to-back games on July 6-7 and has multiple hits in eight games to start his career.
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 (61 games): .203/.318/.386, 27 R, 41 H, 13 2B, 8 HR, 22 RBI, 23 BB, 16 SB
Holland spent just over a month on the injured list with an elbow strain but was activated on June 15 and has been a consistent member of the Mighty Mussels starting lineup since. He hit his eighth homer of the season on Aug. 13, leading all current Mighty Mussels players, and has collected a season-high three hits in two of the last five games, going 8-for-17 during the span. Holland is considered the Twins No. 22 prospect by MLB.com.
ROOKIE
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.
Peyton Glavine (LHP, FCL Nationals - Washington Nationals)
Season stats (3 games): 1-0, 2.45 ERA, 3,2 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 6 K, .077 B/AVG
Glavine signed a free agent contract with the Nationals and was assigned to the FCL Nationals on August 3. He made his professional debut with the club on Aug. 17 and struck out two batters in a perfect inning of relief. Glavine earned his first professional win in his next outing on Aug. 23 and recently turned in another perfect inning with a strikeout on Aug. 30.
Cody Greenhill (RHP, FCL Nationals - Washington Nationals)
Season stats (2 games): 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 3.0 IP 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, .231 B/AVG
Greenhill signed a free agent contract with the Nationals and was assigned to the FCL Nationals on August 3. He pitched a scoreless inning with a strikeout in his professional debut on Aug. 19 and recently struck out four batters in 2.0 innings on Aug. 25.
Tyler Miller (IF, FCL Red Sox - Boston Red Sox)
Season stats (10 games): .278/.422/.361, 4 R, 10 H, 3 2B, 6 RBI, 6 BB, 1 SB
Miller was selected by the Red Sox in the ninth round of the 2021 MLB Draft and was assigned to the FCL Red Sox on August 5. He made his professional debut that day and went 2-for-3 with a double, two RBI, a run, and a walk. Miller turned in multiple hits in all of his first four professional games, going 8-for-14 with three doubles and four RBI in the span.
Steven Williams (OF/C, FCL Nationals - Washington Nationals)
Season stats (4 games): .200/.333/.200, 1 R, 2 H, 2 BB
Williams was selected by the Nationals in the 18th round of the 2021 MLB Draft and was assigned to the FCL Nationals on Aug. 17. He collected a hit in each of his first two professional games with the club.
Auburn Baseball in the Pros - August 30
