Highlighted by Keegan's Thompson's return to the big leagues and a pair of promotions of second-year pitchers to Double-A, Auburn's 35 former players continue to make waves throughout professional baseball with a postseason push upon us.
MLB
Garrett Cooper (San Diego Padres)
2023 (101 games): .262/.307/.425, 34 R, 94 H, 15 2B, 1 3B, 14 HR, 51 RBI, 22 BB
Cooper was traded from the Marlins to the Padres prior to the trade deadline and has hit .286 (16-for-56) in 20 games with his new organization. The seven-year veteran and 2022 MLB All-Star has already set a career high in RBI (51) and is nearing career-best numbers in games played (101), hits (94) and home runs (14). He recently matched a season high with three hits and three RBI in a win at St. Louis on Aug. 28, extending the Padres lead from one run to three runs with a two-RBI single in the ninth inning. Over six games from Aug. 22-28, Cooper went 11-for-23 (.478).
Edouard Julien (Minnesota Twins)
2023 MLB (83 games): .282/.376/.471, 43 R, 72 H, 13 2B, 1 3B, 11 HR, 25 RBI, 38 BB, 3 SB
2023 MiLB (38 games): .293/.435/.496, 29 R, 39 H, 12 2B, 5 HR, 22 RBI, 32 BB, 3 SB
After climbing the ranks and being tabbed the Twins No. 4 prospect and the No. 70 prospect in all of baseball at the beginning of the season, it didn't take long for Julien to get the call from the Twins and make his MLB debut on Apr. 12. Since then, in two different stints with the club, all the 24-year-old slugger has done is turn in the highest OPS among qualified American League rookies (.846). Julien has multiple hits in 19 games, including a season-high, four-hit performance vs. Detroit on Aug. 16. He recently hit his 11th home run of the season against the Rangers on Aug. 25, a 435-foot shot that put the game out of reach in the seventh inning.
Casey Mize (Detroit Tigers)
Mize was placed on the 60-day IL with a right elbow injury on Feb. 17, 2023, and is yet to pitch this season. He has amped up his road to recovery lately, throwing to live hitters twice in the last week.
Josh Palacios (Pittsburgh Pirates)
2023 MLB (66 games): .210/.258/.370, 18 R, 38 H, 9 2B, 1 3B, 6 HR, 27 RBI, 10 BB, 3 SB
2023 MiLB (28 games): .366/.441/.652, 25 R, 41 H, 6 2B, 1 3B, 8 HR, 29 RBI, 13 BB, 5 SB
Palacios has been up with the Pirates for all but 10 days since May 9, and the third-year big leaguer has turned in career highs in every offensive category including runs (18), hits (38), doubles (9), home runs (6) and RBI (27). He homered five times in 18 games from July 30-Aug. 24, including a walk-off homer vs. Philadelphia on July 30. He faced off against his younger brother, Richie, against St. Louis and Aug. 21 and went 2-for-4 with a double, homer and career-high five RBI before also homering into the Allegheny River three days later vs. Chicago.
Keegan Thompson (Chicago Cubs)
2023 MLB (16 games): 2-2, 3.86 ERA, 3 HLD, 23.1 IP, 15 H, 10 R/ER, 14 BB, 21 K, .183 B/AVG
2023 MiLB (16 games): 2-0, 9.36 ERA, 25.0 IP, 30 H, 27 R/26 ER, 21 BB, 35 K, .297 B/AVG
Thompson was recalled from Triple-A Iowa on Aug. 24 and made his first appearance for the Cubs since May 17 on Aug. 27, striking out a season-high five batters while pitching the final 2.0 innings of a win at Pittsburgh. The seventh-year pro returned to Iowa off the injured list on July 26 and allowed just two earned runs on six hits in his final four appearances and 8.1 innings before being recalled by the Cubs. Coming off a 10-win campaign in 2022, Thompson has held the opponent scoreless in 10 of his 16 big league appearances this season.
TRIPLE-A
Ryan Bliss (Tacoma Rainiers – Seattle Mariners)
2023 (105 games): .302/.363/.506, 85 R, 136 H, 30 2B, 7 3B, 16 HR, 66 RBI, 36 BB, 44 SB
Bliss was sent from Arizona to Seattle prior to the MLB trade deadline and has played in 25 games with Triple-A Tacoma in August, homering three times in a span of nine games from Aug. 17-26. The third-year pro started his career-best year by leading the Texas League in runs (67), hits (105), average (.358) and slugging (.594) the first half of the season for Double-A Amarillo and representing the National League in the 2023 All-Star Futures Game prior to being promoted to Triple-A Reno. Bliss has racked up career highs in every offensive category including runs (85), hits (136), doubles (30), triples (7), home runs (16), RBI (66) and stolen bases (44). He is rated by MLB Pipeline as Seattle's No. 14 prospect.
Ben Braymer (Albuquerque Isotopes – Colorado Rockies)
2023 (14 games/starts): 1-6, 9.75 ERA, 56.1 IP, 89 H, 70 R/61 ER, 30 BB, 40 K, .353 B/AVG
The Rockies signed Braymer to a minor league contract on May 21 and he was assigned to Triple-A Albuquerque. The seventh-year pro held a 1.64 ERA through his first three appearances and 11.0 innings pitched and has made five starts of 5.0 or more innings. He was recently placed on the Development List on Aug. 23.
Davis Daniel (Salt Lake Bees – Los Angeles Angels)
2023 MiLB (6 games/starts): 1-1, 1.78 ERA, 1 CG, 25.1 IP, 19 H, 6 R/5 ER, 5 BB, 37 K
Daniel was sent on a rehab assignment on Aug. 1 and has made six starts since, striking out batters at an impressive rate (13.1 K/9.0 IP), while walking only 1.8 batters per 9.0 innings. Daniel earned his first win of the season and struck out seven in 5.0 scoreless innings on Aug. 16 and followed it up with 6.0 scoreless innings six days later. He recently struck out a season-high 10 batters in 5.1 innings on Aug. 29. Following his most recent start, Daniel was activated from the 60-day IL and assigned to Triple-A Salt Lake.
Josh Donaldson (Nashville Sounds – Milwaukee Brewers)
2023 (34 games): .142/.225/.434, 13 R, 15 H, 1 2B, 10 HR, 15 RBI, 12 BB
Playing in his 13th MLB season, Donaldson was recently released by the New York Yankees on Aug. 29 before being signed by the MIlwaukee Brewers to a minor league contract and assigned to Triple-A Nashville two days later. The 2015 American League MVP spent the majority of April and May on the injured list and rehabbing before homering five times in six games upon his return to the Yankees at the start of June. He was placed back on the injured list on July 16 prior to his release. With 10 home runs this season, Donaldson has hit 276 career long balls – the second most by an Auburn player (Frank Thomas, 521).
Bailey Horn (Iowa Cubs – Chicago Cubs)
2023 (39 games): 7-2, 4.50 ERA, 7 HLD, 2 SV, 50.0 IP, 44 H, 26 R/25 ER, 28 BB, 68 K, .240 B/AVG
After making six appearances at Double-A South Bend to start the season, Horn was promoted to Triple-A Iowa at the end of April and has been the club's fourth-most used pitcher this season. The third-year pro is tied for the team lead with seven wins and tied for second with six holds. He turned in a 2.38 ERA during July and has held the opponent scoreless in 10 of his last 15 appearances. Horn and his wife, Mallory, recently celebrated the birth of their son, Brigham, on Aug. 17.
Gabe Klobosits (Buffalo Bisons – Toronto Blue Jays)
2023 (11 games/1 start): 1-2, 4.11 ERA, 15.1 IP, 14 H, 9 R/7 ER, 9 BB, 8 K, .255 B/AVG
Klobosits joined the Gastonia Honey Hunters of the Atlantic League in July before signing a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays on July 24. He earned a win in his second appearance of the season and has turned in a 3.09 ERA in his last nine appearances and 11.2 innings of work.
Daniel Robert (Round Rock Express – Texas Rangers)
2023 (23 games/2 starts): 1-1, 5.19 ERA, 34.2 IP, 33 H, 25 R/20 ER, 21 BB, 38 K, .250 B/AVG
Although he has spent some time recently on the Development List, Robert is nearing career-best numbers in multiple pitching categories including innings (34.2) and strikeouts (38). He lowered his ERA from 5.71 on July 3 to 3.99 through July 30 on the strength of allowing just two earned runs in six appearances and 12.0 innings during the span, including four straight scoreless outings from July 5-21.
Ryan Watson (Norfolk Tides – Baltimore Orioles)
2023 (27 games/11 starts): 4-3, 5.54 ERA, 76.1 IP, 78 H, 50 R/47 ER, 40 BB, 74 K, .270 B/AVG
The Orioles 2022 Minor League Pitcher of the Year, Watson earned a non-roster invite to Orioles Spring Training and has spent the entirety of the 2023 season at Triple-A Norfolk. Watson started half of his first 22 appearances through Aug. 5 but has been used extensively as a reliever since, logging eight strikeouts with one walk in 8.2 innings and five appearances. Watson ranks third on Norfolk in innings pitched (76.1) and strikeouts (74).
Trey Wingenter (Toledo Mud Hens – Detroit Tigers)
2023 MLB (7 games): 1-0, 7.11 ERA, 6.1 IP, 6 R, 5 R/ER, 3 BB, 6 K, .250 B/AVG
2023 MiLB (22 games/2 starts): 0-1, 7.78 ERA, 3 HLD, 1 SV, 19.2 IP, 19 H, 17 R/ER, 15 BB, 24 K, .257 B/AVG
After making just three minor league appearances since suffering an injury at the end of the 2019 season, Wingenter signed a minor league contract with Detroit in January and started the year with the Tigers. He made six relief appearances in April before being placed on the injured list and returned to the mound in mid-June. Wingenter started August with the big-league club but was optioned back to Toledo on Aug. 12 and hasn't allowed a run with nine strikeouts in six appearances and 5.1 innings since.
DOUBLE-A
Mason Barnett (Northwest Arkansas Naturals – Kansas City Royals)
2023 (20 games/starts): 4-7, 2.94 ERA, 101.0 IP, 72 R, 37 R/33 ER, 43 BB, 119 K, .201 B/AVG
Barnett was arguably Quad Cities' steadiest starter – turning in a 3.18 ERA with 92 strikeouts in 82.0 innings with the club – and has been even better since his promotion to Double-A Northwest Arkansas on Aug. 2. In four starts with his new team, the second-year pro has logged a 1.89 ERA with 25 strikeouts and five walks in 19.0 innings. In his two most recent starts, Barnett has allowed one earned run with 12 strikeouts and two walks in 10.0 innings of work. He is ranked by MLB Pipeline as Kansas City's No. 13 prospect, including the organization's No. 6 pitching prospect.
Trace Bright (Bowie Baysox – Baltimore Orioles)
2023 (23 games/19 starts): 2-6, 4.15 ERA, 86.2 IP, 64 H, 50 R/40 ER, 50 BB, 132 K, .201 B/AVG
Bright blew away batters at an impressive rate in 22 games for High-A Aberdeen – 13.83 strikeouts per 9.0 innings pitched – before recently being promoted to Double-A Bowie on Aug. 22. The second-year pro led the IronBirds in strikeouts (127) by more than 25 and was third in the South Atlantic League in the category. In three starts from Aug. 3-15, Bright struck out 27 batters in 13.1 innings and has struck out eight or more in eight trips to the mound this season. He made his Double-A debut on Aug. 26 and fanned five in 4.0 scoreless frames.
Tanner Burns (Akron RubberDucks – Cleveland Guardians)
2023 (25 games/14 starts): 4-3, 3.14 ERA, 1 CG, 1 HLD, 80.1 IP, 63 H, 29 R/28 ER, 37 BB, 79 K, .216 B/AVG
A key piece Akron's pitching staff since the beginning of last season, Burns has been steady for the entirety of the 2023 campaign, never allowing more than three earned runs in an outing this season. After starting in 14 of his first 18 appearances of the year, the third-year pro has been used extensively as a reliever since Aug. 5 and has allowed just one earned run in seven appearances and 7.0 innings pitched. He has turned in career-best marks in win (4), ERA (3.14) and appearances (25) and is regarded by MLB Pipeline as Cleveland's No. 19 prospect, including its sixth-ranked pitching prospect.
Calvin Coker (Midland RockHounds – Oakland Athletics)
2023 (41 games): 2-4, 3.21 ERA, 7 HLD, 5 SV, 67.1 IP, 69 H, 29 R/24 ER, 20 BB, 46 K, .267 B/AVG
After bouncing back nicely a year ago from an injury that sidelined him for the 2021 season, Coker has been Midland's most-used arm out of the bullpen with 41 relief appearances this season, good for the sixth most in the Texas League. The sidearmer leads the team in both holds (7) and saves (5) and has finished 21 of the games he has appeared in. Coker has logged career highs in appearances, innings (67.1) and strikeouts (46) and has allowed more than one earned run on just four occasions this season.
Sonny DiChiara (Rocket City Trash Pandas – Los Angeles Angels)
2023 (63 games): .225/.332/.357, 28 R, 51 H, 12 2B, 6 HR, 33 RBI, 32 BB
DiChiara missed the first two months of his first full season with an injury but returned to his 2022 SEC Player of the Year form in early August, driving in 15 runs in the first 13 games of the month. He collected a pair of doubles and a homer in four games from Aug. 18-22 and has reached base in all but five games this month. Know for his slugging prowess, DiChiara has also provided steady defense at first baes, turning in a .996 fielding percentage in 33 games at the position.
Richard Fitts (Somerset Patriots – New York Yankees)
2023 (23 games/starts): 9-5, 3.16 ERA, 131.0 IP, 110 H, 47 R/46 ER, 34 BB, 139 K, .223 B/AVG
Fitts continues to dominate at the Double-A level since early in the season, turning in a quality start in 13 of his last 16 starts dating back to May 24. As of Aug. 30, he leads the Eastern League in strikeouts (139) by more than 25 and innings pitched (131.0) by 20 while also leading qualified pitchers in ERA (3.16) and WHIP (1.12). Fitts ranks third in MiLB in innings pitched and is fifth in strikeouts. In four starts from Aug. 4-24, the third-year pro went 2-0 with a 0.37 ERA in 24.1 innings. He is currently rated by MLB Pipeline as the Yankees No. 12 prospect, including the No. 4 pitching prospect.
Will Holland Wichita Wind Surge – Minnesota Twins)
2023 (90 games): .195/.302/.307, 45 R, 52 H, 9 2B, 3 3B, 5 HR, 32 RBI, 41 BB, 26 SB
Holland is in his fourth professional season with the Twins and has played in 91 games for Double-A Wichita after spending the last couple months of the season with the club a year ago. His best month of the season came in July, when he hit .255 with two doubles, a triple, two homers and seven RBI. Holland has appeared at six different positions this season, including three appearances on the mound, and has turned in a .991 fielding percentage.
Matt Scheffler (Arkansas Travelers – Seattle Mariners)
2023 (59 games): .215/.333/.267, 21 R, 41 H, 5 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 20 RBI, 28 BB, 8 SB
A steady contributor for Double-A Arkansas since the beginning of last season, Scheffler earned a non-roster invite to Mariners Spring Training prior to the 2023 campaign. He was hitting .287 through June 20 and has picked his production back up of late, going 4-for-12 with a double and triple in his last three games and reached base at a .340 clip in August. Scheffler has logged 493.0 innings behind the plate and has thrown out 23 would-be base stealers.
HIGH-A
Blake Burkhalter (Rome Braves – Atlanta Braves)
Burkhalter earned an invite to Major League Spring Training prior to his first full season of professional baseball. However, he underwent surgery prior to the season and will not pitch this year.
Peyton Glavine (Wilmington Blue Rocks – Washington Nationals)
2023 (3 games): 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 1 HLD, 3.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R/ER, 1 BB, 4 K, .250 B/AVG
Glavine pitched a scoreless inning of relief on Apr. 11 before being placed on the 60-day IL on Apr. 15. He started a rehab assignment on July 18 but recently underwent season-ending surgery. The third-year pro has turned in a 3.15 ERA in 26 career relief appearances.
Tyler Miller (Greenville Drive – Boston Red Sox)
2023 (84 games): .266/.319/.420, 45 R, 83 H, 18 2B, 3 3B, 8 HR, 49 RBI, 23 BB, 17 SB
After starting the season on the IL, Miller has turned in his steadiest full season, turning in a career high in doubles (18) while nearing career highs in most offensive categories including runs (45), hits (83), total bases (131) Rbi (49) and stolen bases (17). He ranks third on the drive in doubles and fourth in hits and RBI. The third-year pro collected multiple hits in four straight games from Aug. 4-8, going 10-for-15 with nine RBI during the span. He turned in his best game of the season on Aug. 5, going 3-for-3 with two triples, a homer and four RBI.
Brody Moore (Peoria Chiefs – St. Louis Cardinals)
2023 (48 games): .205/.294/.287, 13 R, 35 H, 7 2B, 2 3B, 1 HR, 14 RBI, 20 BB, 8 SB
Moore was activated from the 60-day IL on July 31 and played in 25 games for Peoria in August. He went on an eight-game hitting streak from Aug. 4-13, hitting .333 during the span, and collected his first professional homer in game two of a doubleheader on Aug. 19. In 48 games in the middle infield this season, Moore has helped turn 25 double plays.
Jack Owen (Lansing Lugnuts – Oakland Athletics)
2023 (29 games/3 starts): 5-1, 3.79 ERA, 2 HLD, 2 SV, 59.1 IP, 56 H, 27 R/25 ER, 13 BB, 52 K, .245 B/AVG
Owen has remained steady in his third professional season, posting a 5-1 record with a 3.79 ERA in 29 appearances. In five appearances and 10.2 innings since Aug. 10, the third-year professional has turned in a 0.84 ERA with 12 strikeouts and one walk. Owen's five wins are tied for third on the team and his 29 appearances are tied for fourth. In 70 career minor league appearances, the craft lefty has recorded a 3.66 ERA with a 4.13 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
Blake Rambusch (Everett AquaSox – Seattle Mariners)
2023 (85 games): .272/.403/.372, 45 R, 65 H, 13 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR, 25 RBI, 43 BB, 25 SB
Seeing action in 85 games at High-A so far this season, Rambusch ranks third among qualifying hitters with a .403 on-base percentage and leads the team with 25 stolen bases. The second-year pro has been at his best of late, hitting .391 in 20 games during August and raising his average from .223 to .272. He is currently riding an eight-game hitting streak and is hitting .560 (14-for-25) during the span. Rambush has multiple hits in four straight games, most recently going 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBI on Aug. 29.
Steven Williams (Rochester Red Wings – Washington Nationals)
2023 (9 games): .000/.250/.000, 1 R, 0 H, 1 RBI, 5 BB
Williams has played in nine games across three levels this season, including appearing in a pair of games with Triple-A Rochester in July and August. He rejoined Wilmington on Aug. 15 but was transferred to the Development List on Aug. 22.
SINGLE-A
Cole Foster (San Jose Giants – San Francisco Giants)
2023 (25 games): .233/.282/.456, 19 R, 24 H, 5 2B, 6 HR, 21 RBI, 4 BB
Foster was drafted in the third round of the 2023 MLB Draft and made his professional debut with the ACL Giants on July 29, going 2-for-4 with two runs, a double and RBI. He homered three times in four games from Aug. 1-4 and is tied for second among all players selected in the 2023 MLB Draft with six homers on the season. Foster was promoted to Single-A San Jose on Aug. 8 and has driven in 13 runs in 18 games with the club.
Chase Isbell (Columbia Fireflies – Kansas City Royals)
2023 (3 games): 1-0, 3.86 ERA, 4.2 IP, 4 H, 4 R/2 ER, 4 BB, 8 K, .222 B/AVG
Isbell was drafted in the 15th round of the 2023 MLB Draft and was assigned to the ACL Royals on Aug. 14. The right-hander struck out the side in his professional debut on Aug. 17 and earned his first professional win with four strikeouts in 2.0 innings on Aug. 22. Isbell was promoted to Single-A Columbia on Aug. 29 and made his debut with the club that night.
Hayden Mullins (Salem Red Sox – Boston Red Sox)
2023 (3 games/starts): 0-1, 2.08 ERA, 4.1 IP, 0 H, 1 R/ER, 3 BB, 11 K, .000 B/AVG
Drafted in the 2022 MLB Draft, Mullins' road to recovery officially came to an end as he started a rehab assignment with the FCL Red Sox on Aug. 17 and struck out seven batters in two starts and 2.2 innings with the rookie affiliate. He joined Salem on Aug. 27 and struck out four in 1.2 scoreless innings in his debut with the club.
Carson Skipper (Fresno Grizzlies – Colorado Rockies)
2023 (37 games): 0-2, 3.02 ERA, 12 HLD, 1 SV, 44.2 IP, 50 H, 17 R/15 ER, 5 BB, 57 K, .279 B/AVG
In his first full season after being selected in the 11th round a season ago, Skipper has been one of Fresno's most consistent and used arms with 37 relief appearances in 2023, third most on the team. The southpaw leads the team with 12 holds and has walked just 1.01 batter per 9.0 innings. Skipper hasn't allowed a run in his last 11 appearances and 11.2 innings dating back to July 22, lowering his ERA more than a point from 4.09 to 3.02.
Bryson Ware (Clearwater Threshers – Philadelphia Phillies)
2023 (19 games): .123/.240/.246, 10 R, 8 H, 2 2B, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 8 BB, 2 SB
Ware was drafted in the eighth round of the 2023 MLB Draft and made his professional debut with the FCL Phillies on July 27. He was promoted to Single-A Clearwater on Aug. 6 and hit his first professional home run in his second game with the club on Aug. 9. Ware's second professional homer came three games later, and he recently went 2-for-5 with a double in two games on Aug. 23-24.
ROOKIE
Nate LaRue (FCL Blue Jays – Toronto Blue Jays)
2023 (9 games): .074/.194/.074, 0 R, 2 H, 4 RBI, 4 BB, 1 SB
LaRue signed a non-drafted free agent deal with the Blue Jays on July 16 and was assigned to the FCL Blue Jays and Aug. 1. He collected his first professional hit and drove in his first run on Aug. 14 and recently turned in his best game to date on Aug. 21, going 1-for-2 with two walks and three RBI.
*Stats accurate as of Aug. 30.
Auburn Baseball in the Pros - Aug. 31
