#ProPanthers Update – Top of the Standings
8/3/2019 12:00:00 PM | Baseball
PITTSBURGH – With just over a month to go in the regular season at the minor league level, former University of Pittsburgh baseball players are looking to help their teams stay on top of their divisions for the second half to make the postseason.
While in the midst of helping one team contend for a division title, pitcher Ray Black was recently traded to another in a deal that sent him to the San Antonio Missions of the Milwaukee Brewers farm system. Beginning the season with the Sacramento River Cats of the San Francisco Giant's organization, Black has appeared in 23 games, racking up 36 strikeouts and limiting opponents to just a .229 batting average in 22.2 innings. Black also made two appearances this year with the Giants, going 2.0 innings, striking out five and allowing one run. Currently, the Missions lead the Pacific Coast League American Southern Division by 3.5 games with just under 30 games remaining in the regular season.
After a hot start to the season, third baseman Liam Sabino continues to stay hot at the plate as the Johnson City Cardinals sit atop the Appalachian League West Division by 1.5 games. Sabino started the season strong and currently boasts a .406 on base mark along with a .291 average. The New York, N.Y., native also has been slugging the ball around the park with five home runs on the year so far, second best on the team. With less than 30 games remaining on the schedule, the Cardinals hope to stay ahead of the defending champions Elizabethton Twins.
Stepping into his first action at the professional level, pitcher Dan Hammer has been relied on early in his pro career to help the Aberdeen IronBirds get a hold on the New York-Penn League McNamara Division. With a 0.5 game lead on the Brooklyn Cyclones, the IronBirds have gone to Hammer often since joining the team earlier this month. In his four appearances, three of which were starts, the Philadelphia, Pa., native boasts a 1.59 ERA, allowing only two runs in 11.1 innings while striking out 14 and limiting opponents to a .205 average.
Below is a complete list of current #ProPanthers in the MLB ranks.
#H2P | Twitter | Instagram
While in the midst of helping one team contend for a division title, pitcher Ray Black was recently traded to another in a deal that sent him to the San Antonio Missions of the Milwaukee Brewers farm system. Beginning the season with the Sacramento River Cats of the San Francisco Giant's organization, Black has appeared in 23 games, racking up 36 strikeouts and limiting opponents to just a .229 batting average in 22.2 innings. Black also made two appearances this year with the Giants, going 2.0 innings, striking out five and allowing one run. Currently, the Missions lead the Pacific Coast League American Southern Division by 3.5 games with just under 30 games remaining in the regular season.
After a hot start to the season, third baseman Liam Sabino continues to stay hot at the plate as the Johnson City Cardinals sit atop the Appalachian League West Division by 1.5 games. Sabino started the season strong and currently boasts a .406 on base mark along with a .291 average. The New York, N.Y., native also has been slugging the ball around the park with five home runs on the year so far, second best on the team. With less than 30 games remaining on the schedule, the Cardinals hope to stay ahead of the defending champions Elizabethton Twins.
Stepping into his first action at the professional level, pitcher Dan Hammer has been relied on early in his pro career to help the Aberdeen IronBirds get a hold on the New York-Penn League McNamara Division. With a 0.5 game lead on the Brooklyn Cyclones, the IronBirds have gone to Hammer often since joining the team earlier this month. In his four appearances, three of which were starts, the Philadelphia, Pa., native boasts a 1.59 ERA, allowing only two runs in 11.1 innings while striking out 14 and limiting opponents to a .205 average.
Below is a complete list of current #ProPanthers in the MLB ranks.
| #ProPanthers | |||
| Name | Year | Current Team/League | Notes |
| Ray Black | 2011 | San Antonio/ AAA (Brewers) | Was traded to the Brewers Organization on July 31 |
| Yaya Chentouf | 2018 | West Michigan/ A (Tigers) | Went 3.0 scoreless innings on July 27 |
| RJ Freure | 2018 | Quad Cities/ A (Astros) | Competed for Team Canada at the Pan-Am games |
| Joe Harvey | 2014 | Albuquerque/ AAA (Rockies) | Was traded to the Rockies Organization on July 31 |
| Dan Hammer | 2019 | Aberdeen/ A-Short (Orioles) | |
| Hobie Harris | 2015 | Tampa/ A Advanced (Yankees) | |
| Alex Kowalczyk | 2016 | Frisco/ AA (Rangers) | Went 2-for-3 with an RBI on July 27 vs. the Arkansas Travelers |
| Charles Leblanc | 2016 | Frisco/ AA (Rangers) | Went 2-for-4 with a home run on August 1 vs. the Amarillo Sod Poodles |
| Cole MacLaren | 2019 | GCL Tigers East/ Rookie (Tigers) | Hitting .429 in 9 games this year |
| Isaac Mattson | 2017 | Mobile/ AA (Angels) | Has a 2.41 ERA in Double-A |
| Josh Mitchell | 2017 | Wilmington/ A Advanced (Royals) | |
| Manny Pazos | 2017 | West Virginia/ A (Mariners) | |
| Connor Perry | 2019 | GCL Tigers East / Rookie (Tigers) | |
| Matt Pidich | 2018 | Dayton/ A (Reds) | Has given up only 2 earned runs in his last 10 games |
| Liam Sabino | 2018 | Johnson City/ Rookie (Cardinals) | Went 2-for-4 with a home run on July 27 |
| Kevan Smith | 2011 | Los Angeles Angels/ MLB | Has a .349 OBP this season |
| Matt Wotherspoon | 2014 | Norfolk/ AAA (Orioles) | |
| Nick Yarnall | 2016 | Rancho Cucamonga/ A (Advanced) | |
| Derek West | 2019 | Tri-City/ Rookie (Astros) | |
| T.J. Zeuch | 2016 | Buffalo/ AAA (Blue Jays) | Struck out 5 and gave up 3 earned runs in 7.0 innings on July 29 against Rochester |
#H2P | Twitter | Instagram
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