As the calendar turns to August, 35 former players represent Auburn in professional baseball, including 15 at the Triple-A or Major League levels. Keep up with how all of our guys in pro ball are doing on the latest installment of Auburn Baseball in the Pros.
MLB
Garrett Cooper (Miami Marlins)
2023 (81 games): .258/.297/.430, 28 R, 78 H, 11 2B, 1 3B, 13 HR, 46 RBI, 16 BB
The 2023 season marks Cooper's seventh in the big leagues, including his sixth with the Marlins. The 2022 MLB All-Star has been heating up as the season goes on and is hitting .313 in his last 30 games. He collected multiple hits six times in nine games from July 4-17 and recently hit a go-ahead, two-run home run in the seventh inning of a win on July 30. Cooper is three home runs (13) and five RBI (46) shy of setting career bests in both categories. He ranks third on the Marlins in homers, fourth in RBI and fifth in hits (78).
Davis Daniel (Los Angeles Angels)
Daniel was placed on the 60-day IL with a right shoulder strain on Feb. 16, 2023, and is yet to pitch this season. He earned his MLB call-up on June 11, 2022.
Josh Donaldson (New York Yankees)
2023 (34 games): .142/.225/.434, 13 R, 15 H, 1 2B, 10 HR, 15 RBI, 12 BB
Playing in his 13th season in 2023, including his second with the Yankees, Donaldson is Auburn's longest-tenured big leaguer. 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. With 10 home runs this season, Donaldson has hit 276 career long balls – the second most by an Auburn player (Frank Thomas, 521).
Edouard Julien (Minnesota Twins)
2023 MLB (58 games): .298/.386/.536, 30 R, 54 H, 11 2B, 1 3B, 10 HR, 18 RBI, 25 BB, 2 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, 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, the 24 year old has turned in a .298/.386/.536 slash line with 11 doubles, one triple and 10 homers. In 20 games since July 3, Julien is hitting .393 (24-for-61) with six of his 10 home runs. He collected multiple hits six times in seven games from July 8-19, hitting .652 (15-for-23) with three doubles and two home runs. He leads the team by more than .100 points with a .387 average the last 30 days.
Casey Mize (Detroit Tigers)
Mize was placed on the 60-day IL with a right elbow injury on Feb. 17, 2023, and will not pitch this season.
Josh Palacios (Pittsburgh Pirates)
2023 MLB (44 games): .252/.284/.396, 10 R, 28 H, 8 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 15 RBI, 4 BB, 2 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 (10), hits (28), doubles (8), home runs (2) and RBI (15). In his brief stint back with Triple-A Indianapolis from July 17-28, Palacios homered four times in a span of six games, including a walk-off homer against Louisville on July 26. He was called up back to the Pirates the next day and in his second game back went 3-for-5 with a doubles and two-run walk-off homer on July 30, his birthday.
Triple-ARyan Bliss (Tacoma Rainiers – Seattle Mariners)
2023 (81 games): .332/.391/.556, 73 R, 116 H, 27 2B, 6 3B, 13 HR, 51 RBI, 29 BB, 35 SB
After 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 for the 2023 All-Star Futures Game, Bliss was promoted to Triple-A Reno on July 13. Bliss has racked up career highs in every offensive category including runs (73), hits (116), doubles (27), triple (6), home runs (13), RBI (51) and stolen bases (35). He is second in all of Minor League Baseball in hits, 10th in runs and 13th in doubles. Bliss' first Triple-A homer was a three-run shot that tied the game in the bottom of the 10th inning on July 30. He was traded from the Diamondbacks to the Mariners on July 31 and is rated by MLB Pipeline as the Mariners' No. 14 prospect.
Ben Braymer (Albuquerque Isotopes – Colorado Rockies)
2023 (11 games/starts): 1-3, 8.47 ERA, 45.2 IP, 68 H, 51 R/43 ER, 26 BB, 30 K, .345 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 four starts of 5.0 or more innings.
Bailey Horn (Iowa Cubs – Chicago Cubs)
2023 (34 games): 6-2, 3.53 ERA, 7 HLD, 1 SV, 43.1 IP, 31 H, 18 R/17 ER, 25 BB, 59 K, .204 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 six holds and tied for second with six wins. In nine appearances and 11.1 innings pitched in July, Horn has turned in a 2.38 ERA and has struck out 15 batters while holding opponents to a .184 average against. Seven of his last nine appearances have been scoreless outings.
Gabe Klobosits (Buffalo Bisons – Toronto Blue Jays)
2023 (2 games): 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 3.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R/ER, 1 BB, 4 K, .273 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. In two appearances with Triple-A Buffalo last week, Klobosits turned in two scoreless outings, including earning his first win of the season in 2.0 innings of relief on July 28.
Daniel Robert (Round Rock Express – Texas Rangers)
2023 (19 games/2 starts): 1-1, 3.99 ERA, 29.1 IP, 24 H, 17 R/13 ER, 18 BB, 30 K, .224 B/AVG
Robert has 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 his last six appearances and 12.0 innings. His first 17 appearances of the season came in relief before making the start in each of his last two outings. Robert turned in four straight scoreless outings from July 5-21, allowing just two hits in 7.1 innings. He turned in 2.0 scoreless innings in his most recent start on July 30.
Keegan Thompson (Iowa Cubs – Chicago Cubs)
2023 MLB (15 games): 2-2, 4.22 ERA, 3 HLD, 21.1 IP, 14 H, 10 R/ER, 14 BB, 16 K, .187 B/AVG
2023 MiLB (10 games): 2-0, 12.51 ERA, 13.2 IP, 19 H, 19 R/ER, 17 BB, 22 K, .322 B/AVG
Coming off a 10-win 2022 campaign, Thompson began the year in Chicago and boasted a 1.80 ERA through his first 10 appearances. However, he was optioned to Triple-A Iowa on May 19 and placed on the injured list on July 19. Thompson was activated from the injured list on July 26 and most recently turned in 2.0 scoreless innings with four strikeouts on July 29. Thompson made his MLB debut with the Cubs on May 2, 2021 and has pitched in 76 big league games since.
Ryan Watson (Norfolk Tides – Baltimore Orioles)
2023 (21 games/10 starts): 4-3, 5.01 ERA, 64.2 IP, 64 H, 38 R/36 ER, 38 BB, 63 K, .261 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. Used almost equally as a starter and reliver – 21 appearances and 10 starts – Watson ranks third on the club in innings pitched (64.2) and fourth in strikeouts (63). He is 1-0 with a 3.57 ERA in six appearances and four starts in July. Watson is rated by MLB Pipeline as the Orioles' No. 22 prospect.
Steven Williams (Rochester Red Wings – Washington Nationals)
2023 (7 games): .000/.286/.000, 0 R, 0 H, 1 RBI, 4 BB
Williams has played in seven games across three levels this season, most recently appearing as a pinch hitter for the Rochester Red Wings on July 7, marking his Triple-A debut. The third-year pro was recently assigned back to Rochester off the Development List on July 25.
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 (16 games/2 starts): 0-1, 10.67 ERA, 1 HLD, 1 SV, 14.1 IP, 16 H, 17 R/ER, 12 BB, 15 K, .286 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. He turned in a 3.86 ERA in five appearances upon his return and was recently recalled by Detroit on July 27, turning in 2.0 innings against the Angels that same day.
Double-ATanner Burns (Akron RubberDucks – Cleveland Guardians)
2023 (17 games/13 starts): 3-3, 3.45 ERA, 1 CG, 1 HLD, 70.1 IP, 58 H, 28 R/27 ER, 32 BB, 70 K, .223 B/AVG
A member of Akron's rotation 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 or recording an ERA higher than 3.72 for any month this season. The third-year pro has been used equally as a starter and reliever since the beginning of June and is third on the club in innings (70.1) and strikeouts (70). With a 3.38 ERA in four appearances and 13.1 innings during July, Burns is set to start Tuesday's series opener vs. Somerset.
Calvin Coker (Midland RockHounds – Oakland Athletics)
2023 (32 games): 1-3, 3.10 ERA, 5 HLD, 2 SV, 52.1 IP, 50 H, 19 R/18 ER, 14 BB, 32 K, .259 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 32 relief appearances this season, six more than any other RockHounds hurler. The sidearmer leads the team with five holds and is tied for the team lead with two saves. He has registered career-best numbers in appearances and innings (52.1) and is nearing career bests in strikeouts (32) and average against (.259). In eight appearances during July, Coker allowed just one earned run in 16.1 innings, good for a 0.55 ERA.
Sonny DiChiara (Rocket City Trash Pandas – Los Angeles Angels)
2023 (40 games): .239/.354/.738, 19 R, 33 H, 8 2B, 4 HR, 17 RBI, 21 BB
DiChiara missed the first two months of the season with an injury but has started to swing the bat well of late, hitting .333 (12-for-36) two doubles, two homers and 10 RBI in 10 games since July 18. DiChiara drove in a season-high four runs with a homer and bases-clearing double in a game on July 22 and drove in multiple runs three times in a span of four games from July 26-30. The second-year pro has eclipsed last years numbers in near every offensive category including average (.239), runs (19), hits (33), doubles (8), homers (4) and RBI (17).
Richard Fitts (Somerset Patriots – New York Yankees)
2023 (19 games/starts): 7-5, 3.80 ERA, 106.2 IP, 96 H, 46 R/45 ER, 26 BB, 118 K, .236 B/AVG
Fitts has been one of the steadiest starting pitchers in the Eastern League as he leads the league and ranks third in all of Minor League Baseball in innings (106.2) and ninth in strikeouts (118) while ranking fifth in the league in ERA (3.80). Rated by MLB Pipeline as the Yankees' No. 8 prospect, Fitts has struck out double-digit batters in three starts this season and has four more starts with eight strikeouts. Since holding a 6.21 ERA through May 18, he is 6-2 with a 2.81 ERA. Fitts turned in six straight quality starts from May 24-June 22 and has logged a quality start in 10 of his last 12 trips to the mound while also winning each of his last three starts. He helped lead Somerset to the Eastern League Northeast Division First-Half Championship.
Will Holland (Wichita Wind Surge – Minnesota Twins)
2023 (73 games): .216/.313/.342, 39 R, 48 H, 9 2B, 2 3B, 5 HR, 29 RBI, 31 BB, 19 SB
Holland is in his fourth professional season with the Twins and has played in 73 games for Double-A Wichita after spending the last couple months of the season with the club a year ago. July has been his best month of the season, hitting .255 (14-for-55) with 13 runs in 19 games this month. He has multiple hits three times in the last eight games and is hitting .375 (9-for-24) with two doubles and two home runs during the span.
Matt Scheffler (Arkansas Travelers – Seattle Mariners)
2023 (47 games): .221/.333/.266, 19 R, 34 H, 4 2B, 1 HR, 17 RBI, 22 BB, 7 SB
A steady contributor for Double-A Arkansas since the beginning of last season, Scheffler earned a non-roster invite to Marines Spring Training prior to the 2023 campaign and was hitting .287 through June 20. His average has dropped in July, but the savvy backstop is still finding his way on base with eight walks in 11 games this month. Scheffler has logged 388.0 innings behind the plate and has thrown out 17 would-be base stealers.
High-A
Mason Barnett (Quad Cities River Bandits – Kansas City Royals)
2023 (15 games/starts): 4-5, 3.24 ERA, 75.0 IP, 54 R, 31 R/27 ER, 35 BB, 89 K, .203 B/AVG
Barnett started his first full professional season strong – to the tune of a 1.77 ERA with 26 strikeouts in his first four starts and 20.1 innings pitched – and has been in Quad Cities' rotation for the entirety of the year thus far. Rated by MLB Pipeline as the Royals' No. 16 prospect, Barnett has turned in a 2.52 ERA in seven starts and 39.1 innings since the beginning of June. He has turned in a quality start in four of his last five outings and most recently struck out a season-high 10 batters in 5.0 scoreless innings on July 25.
Trace Bright (Aberdeen IronBirds – Baltimore Orioles)
2023 (18 games/14 starts): 1-4, 4.61 ERA, 66.1 IP, 49 H, 42 R/34 ER, 38 BB, 97 K, .201 B/AVG
Bright began his first full professional season by striking out a career-high 10 batters in 3.1 innings on Apr. 8 and has the eighth best strikeout-per-9.0-inning rate in Minor League Baseball at 13.2. He leads Aberdeen in starts (14) and strikeouts (97) and is fourth on the team in innings (66.1). In nine appearances and seven starts since the beginning of June, Bright has turned in a 3.00 ERA with 55 strikeouts in 39.0 innings. He recently struck out nine batters in 5.0 scoreless innings of relief on July 21.
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 (63 games): .264/.324/.411, 31 R, 61 H, 13 2B, 7 HR, 33 RBI, 20 BB, 13 SB
Miller started the season on the IL but came out swinging upon being activated as he went 5-for-9 with two doubles in his first two games. In his first season at High-A, the third-year pro has put together arguably his best all-around season with a .264 average and career-best 13 doubles to go along with seven homers and 33 RBI. Miller hit .304 in 19 games during June and raised his average to .282 with five hits in two games on July 6-7. He recently went 2-for-4 with a RBI on July 30.
Brody Moore (Peoria Chiefs – St. Louis Cardinals)
2023 (24 games): .198/.298/.253, 10 R, 18 H, 3 2B, 1 3B, 9 RBI, 13 BB, 5 SB
Moore started a rehab assignment with the FCL Cardinals last week, going 2-for-3 with two runs, a double, two walks and a RBI in his last rehab game on July 29, and was activated from the 60-day injured list on July 31. Moore started the season with Single-A Palm Beach before being promoted to High-A Peoria on May 12.
Jack Owen (Lansing Lugnuts – Oakland Athletics)
2023 (23 games/2 starts): 4-1, 3.94 ERA, 1 HLD, 2 SV, 45.2 IP, 42 H, 22 R/20 ER, 10 BB, 39 K, .237 B/AVG
Owen has remained steady in his third professional season, posting a 4-1 record with a 3.94 ERA in 23 appearances. He struck out a season-high six batters in 3.0 innings on July 7 and pitched 3.1 innings in his second start of the year on July 28, his second longest outing of the year. His 1.97 walks per 9.0 innings is the lowest clip by a Lugnuts pitcher this season. Owen is 13-7 with a 3.69 ERA in 64 pro appearances, including a 3.57 ERA over the last two years.
Blake Rambusch (Everett AquaSox – Seattle Mariners)
2023 (65 games): .229/.367/.314, 34 R, 40 H, 10 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 16 RBI, 30 BB, 18 SB
Seeing action in 65 games at High-A so far this season, Rambusch ranks fifth on the team with a .367 OBP and leads the team with 18 stolen bases. He hit .344 (11-for-32) with four doubles in 12 games from June 30-July 15, raising his average to .250 on the season. Primarily playing second base (31 games) while also getting time in left field (18 games) and center field (21 games), Rambusch has turned in a .982 fielding percentage among the three positions.
Single-A
Hayden Mullins (Salem Red Sox – Boston Red Sox)
Mullins continues to recover from an injury he suffered prior to the end of the 2022 season at Auburn and is yet to make his professional debut.
Carson Skipper (Fresno Grizzlies – Colorado Rockies)
2023 (28 games): 0-2, 3.89 ERA, 8 HLD, 34.2 IP, 43 H, 17 R/15 ER, 3 BB, 47 K, .297 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 efficient arms in Minor League Baseball in 2023, leading MiLB with a 15.67 strikeout-to-walk ratio and ranking second in MiLB with 0.78 walks per 9.0 innings. After logging a 5.40 ERA through May, Skipper has turned in a 2.75 ERA in 16 appearances since the beginning of June and didn't allow more than an earned run in an outing in all of July.
Rookie
Cole Foster (ACL Giants – San Francisco Giants)
2023 (1 game): .500/.500/.750, 2 R, 2 H, 1 2B, 1 RBI
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 a two runs, a double and RBI. He started at shortstop and registered a putout and assist.
Chase Isbell (TBD – Kansas City Royals)
Isbell was drafted in the 15th round of the 2023 MLB Draft but is yet to be assigned to a club.
Nate LaRue (FCL Blue Jays – Toronto Blue Jays)
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.
Bryson Ware (FCL Phillies – Philadelphia Phillies)
2023 (2 games): .222/.417/.333, 3 R, 2 H, 3 BB, 2 SB
Ware was drafted in the eighth round of the 2023 MLB Draft and made his professional debut with the FCL Phillies last week. Auburn's single-season home run leader has reached base five times and has stolen two bases in his first two games.
*Stats accurate through July 30
Auburn Baseball in the Pros - Aug. 1
