MLB
Garrett Cooper (OF, Miami Marlins)
Season stats (55 games): .262/.344/.445, 21 R, 45 H, 9 2B, 1 3B, 6 HR, 24 RBI, 19 BB
Cooper was activated from the Marlins' 10-day IL on June 25 and made his presence immediately felt, going 3-for-4 with four runs, two doubles, a homer and two RBI in his return to the lineup. His three hits matched a season high. Prior to going on the IL, the fifth-year pro homered in three straight games and drove in a combined seven runs from May 20-22, going 7-for-13 and scoring four runs during the span. His three-game hot streak came in the middle of an 11-game hit streak.
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 (60 games): .251/.346/.468, 33 R, 51 H, 11 2B, 11 HR, 30 RBI, 31 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 had collected multiple hits in two of the last three games and is 5-for-11 with two runs, a homer and three RBI during the span. His third-inning homer in June 27 vs. Cleveland was his 11th of the season, including his sixth in June. Donaldson's 236 career homer and 686 career RBI are the second most by an Auburn big leaguer, trailing Hall of Famer Frank Thomas.
Casey Mize (RHP, Detroit Tigers)
Season stats (15 games): 5-4, 3.46 ERA, 88.1 IP, 74 H, 34 R, 34 ER, 26 BB, 71 K, .230 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 wins, starts and innings pitched. His 88.1 innings pitched are also tops among American League rookies. Mize also ranks tied for third among AL rookies in wins and fourth in strikeouts. He recently picked up his fifth win of the season and snapped Houston's 11-game win streak, holding the Astros to one run in 6.0 innings. Since the start of May, the former No. 1 overall pick is 4-1 with a 2.77 ERA and has turned in a quality start in nine of his last 11 starts.
Keegan Thompson (RHP, Chicago Cubs)
Season stats (17 games): 3-2, 1.95 ERA, 27.2 IP, 21 H, 7 R, 6 ER, 16 BB, 30 K, .212 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, tossing a scoreless inning of relief at Cincinnati. 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 recently held opponents scoreless and to just three hits in four appearances and 5.2 innings from June 11-25. 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 (8 games): 1-5, 6.60 ERA, 30.0 IP, 32 H, 22 R, 22 ER, 19 BB, 22 K, .271 B/AVG
After making his MLB debut with the Nationals in 2020, Braymer began the 2021 season in Rochester's rotation and has made eight appearances and seven starts for the club. He earned a win in a season-high 6.0 innings against Scraton Wilkes-Barre on May 23. Braymer is considered the Nationals No. 21 prospect by MLB.com. He recently cleared waivers and pitched 2.0 innings of relief in his return to the club on June 27.
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 on it 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. Palacios is considered the Blue Jays No. 27 prospect by MLB.com.
Damek Tomscha (3B, St. Paul Saints – Minnesota Twins)
Season stats (40 games): .227/.292/.411, 17 R, 32 H, 8 2B, 6 HR, 17 RBI, 12 BB, 1 SB
Tomscha was signed to a minor league contract by the Twins on Mar. 3 and has played in 40 of St. Paul's 47 games this season. Tomshca had a career night on June 18, going 4-for-5 with two runs, a double and home run vs. the Iona Cubs. On Sunday, he went 2-for-4 with a double, home run and two RBI vs. the Columbus Clippers. He is hitting .364 (12-for-33) in his last eight games.
DOUBLE-A
Gabe Klobosits (RHP, Harrisburg Senators – Washington Nationals)
Season stats (15 games): 2-1, 0.90 ERA, 3 SV, 20.0 IP, 13 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 8 BB, 26 K, .183 B/AVG
Getting his first taste of Double-A ball, Globosits didn't allow an earned run in his first 13 appearances of the season. The big right-hander ranks second on the Senators in appearances and saves. He has pitched 2.0 innings in each of his last three trips to the mound, picking up his second win of the season on June 22 and following it with his third save on June 26.
Andrew Mitchell (LHP, Binghamton Rumble Ponies – New York Mets)
Season stats (13 games): 3-1, 2.22 ERA, 1 SV, 24.1 IP, 17 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 6 BB, 27 K, .195 B/AVG
Also getting his first taste of Double-A ball, Mitchell has allowed one or fewer earned runs in 12 of his first 13 appearances and has held the opponent scoreless on eight occasions. The third-year pro helped Binghamton finish off a no-hitter by throwing 3.0 perfect innings and earning the save against Reading on June 22. Mitchell is 3-0 with a save and a 1.72 ERA in his last seven appearances and 15.2 innings. He is tied for the team lead with three wins and is tied for third in appearances.
HIGH-A
Tanner Burns (RHP, Lake County Captains – Cleveland Indians)
Season stats (8 games): 2-3, 3.34 ERA, 35.0 IP, 27 H, 15 R, 13 ER, 9 BB, 45 K, .211 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 struck out a season high nine batters in 4.1 innings on June 25. Burns in considered the Indians No. 15 prospect by MLB.com.
Davis Daniel (RHP, Tri-City Dust Devils – Los Angeles Angels)
Season stats (8 games): 2-2, 2.04 ERA, 39.2 IP, 22 H, 9 R, 9 ER, 20 BB, 51 K, .163 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 entered 2021 as the Angels No. 19 prospect according to MLB.com. Daniel most recently matched a season high with 7.0 scoreless innings for the second time in his last three starts and was named the High-A West Pitcher of the Week for the second time this season. The Montgomery native is 2-0 with a 0.43 ERA and 26 strikeouts in 21.0 innings while holding opponents to a 0.88 average during June. He leads the league in ERA while ranking second in average against and tied for fifth in strikeouts.
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.
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 (15 games): .200/.344/.460, 8 R, 10 H, 7 2B, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 10 BB, 3 SB
Holland spent just over a month on the injured list with an elbow strain but was activated on June 15. The former fifth round pick went 2-for-5 with a double, grand slam and career high five RBI on June 19. He went 2-for-3 with a season high three runs and two doubles on June 27. Nine of his 10 hits this season and 18 of his 34 career professional hits are for extra bases. Holland is considered the Twins No. 22 prospect by MLB.com.
Bailey Horn (LHP, Kannapolis Cannon Ballers – Chicago White Sox)
Season stats (8 games): 1-2, 2.63 ERA, 27.1 IP, 21 H, 13 R, 8 ER, 7 BB, 32 K, .206 B/AVG
After being selected in the fifth round of last year's draft, Horn made his professional debut on May 8 and turned in 4.0 scoreless and hitless innings. The southpaw spent a brief stint on the injured list but has returned to form as he has posted a 1.33 EA with 23 strikeouts and four walks in five starts and 21.1 innings pitched during June. Horn earned his first professional win on June 19, throwing 5.0 scoreless innings and allowing just one hit with no walks and a season high nine strikeouts. He is considered the White Sox No. 24 prospect by MLB.com.
Edouard Julien (IF, Fort Myers Mighty Mussels – Minnesota Twins)
Season stats (47 games): .299/.490/.456, 41 R, 44 H, 12 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR, 24 RBI, 50 BB, 21 SB
Julien's professional career is off to a hot start as the 2019 draft pick has played in all but one contest this season and leads the Low-A Southeast League in games played and walks. The Quebec native also ranks top five in the league in hits, doubles, stolen bases and on-base percentage. He hit his third professional homer and went 3-for-4 with three runs and three RBI on June 17. Julien has multiple hits in 11 contests, including one game with four hits, and multiple RBI in seven games. He has played six different positions for Fort Myers this season.
Matt Scheffler (C, Modesto Nuts – Seattle Mariners)
Season stats (25 games): .227/.364/.364, 12 R, 20 H, 6 2B, 2 HR, 12 RBI, 16 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. He drove in a pair of runs in back-to-back games on May 22 and May 25, adding his second professional homer in the latter contest. Scheffler has reached base in all but three of his first 25 games played and has driven in a run in two of his last three.
Ryan Watson (RHP, Delmarva Shorebirds – Baltimore Orioles)
Season stats (8 games): 3-1, 1.23 ERA, 22.0 IP, 17 H, 8 R, 3 ER, 6 BB, 32 K, .202 B/AVG
Like Scheffler, 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 has served as both a reliever and starter for the Shorebirds and hasn't allowed an earned run in six of his first eight appearances, including three starts. He recently picked up his third win of the season, tossing 5.0 scoreless innings of relief and matching a season high with seven strikeouts on June 25. Watson is striking batters out at a 13.1 clip per 9.0 innings and has issued just six walks this season.
Auburn Baseball in the Pros - June 28
