University of Pittsburgh Athletics
#ProPanthers Update – Zeuch Makes MLB Debut; Minor League Wrap Up
9/7/2019 9:10:00 AM | Baseball
PITTSBURGH – As the 2019 baseball season wraps up, former University of Pittsburgh baseball players have moved up in their organizations since the beginning of the season, putting themselves in better positions to reach the next level in 2020.
The fifth Panther to appear in an MLB game this season, pitcher TJ Zeuch made his big-league debut on Tuesday against the Atlanta Braves. The highest-drafted player in program history, Zeuch went 4.0 innings in Atlanta, allowing two earned runs while striking out four batters. The Mason, Ohio native became the third Pitt player to make their MLB debut this year, joining pitchers Joe Harvey and Matt Wotherspoon.
Starting the season with the Dunedin Blue Jays after recovering from an injury, Zeuch made 13 starts with the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons, where he posted a 3.69 ERA and four wins in 78.0 innings while also recording four quality starts. The highlight of the summer came on August 19 when the righty recorded the second no-hitter in Buffalo history, recording three strikeouts while going all nine against the Rochester Red Wings.
Appearing on two MLB rosters this season, pitcher Ray Black has found a home in the Milwaukee Brewers bullpen since being called up on August 25. A seventh-round draft pick of the San Francisco Giants in 2011, Black is making his third stint in the majors after appearing in the big leagues last year and earlier this season.
After a mid-year trade sent him to Milwaukee this year, Black made a brief stint with the Triple-A San Antonio Missions before being called up to the Brewers. Since arriving in Wisconsin, the righty has made six appearances, posting a 2.70 ERA in 6.2 innings while limiting opposing batters to a .143 average. Black also owns an impressive 0.90 WHIP in his time with Milwaukee.
Starting the year off at Single-A Inland Empire, pitcher Isaac Mattson has taken a large step towards making a major league roster after being called up to the Triple-A Salt Lake Bees on August 19. Spending most of the year with the Double-A Mobile BayBears, Mattson flourished in his short time spent in the Southern League, recording a 2.68 ERA while striking out 61 batters in 43.2 innings in 24 games. Mattson also boasted a 0.98 WHIP while keeping the opposing batting average to a mere .196.
Since arriving to the Great Salt Lake, Mattson has picked up where he left off at the previous level, boasting a 3.86 ERA and striking out 19 batters in 9.1 innings. Just one step away from the big leagues, the Erie, Pa., native looks to continue his torrid pace and reach the majors in the near future.
After tearing up the Appalachian League with the Johnson City Cardinals this summer, infielder Liam Sabino was called up to the State College Spikes on August 28 of the New York-Penn League. Sabino was a major contributor for Johnson City during the season, posting a .385 on-base mark while recording 33 RBIs and six home runs in 51 games.
Joining fellow former Panthers Dan Hammer and Derek West in the New York Penn-League, the 35th-round pick of the St. Louis Cardinals in 2018 appeared in four games, recording four hits while averaging .286 at the plate with a .412 on-base mark.
Below is a complete list of current #ProPanthers in the MLB ranks.
#H2P | Twitter | Instagram
The fifth Panther to appear in an MLB game this season, pitcher TJ Zeuch made his big-league debut on Tuesday against the Atlanta Braves. The highest-drafted player in program history, Zeuch went 4.0 innings in Atlanta, allowing two earned runs while striking out four batters. The Mason, Ohio native became the third Pitt player to make their MLB debut this year, joining pitchers Joe Harvey and Matt Wotherspoon.
Starting the season with the Dunedin Blue Jays after recovering from an injury, Zeuch made 13 starts with the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons, where he posted a 3.69 ERA and four wins in 78.0 innings while also recording four quality starts. The highlight of the summer came on August 19 when the righty recorded the second no-hitter in Buffalo history, recording three strikeouts while going all nine against the Rochester Red Wings.
Appearing on two MLB rosters this season, pitcher Ray Black has found a home in the Milwaukee Brewers bullpen since being called up on August 25. A seventh-round draft pick of the San Francisco Giants in 2011, Black is making his third stint in the majors after appearing in the big leagues last year and earlier this season.
After a mid-year trade sent him to Milwaukee this year, Black made a brief stint with the Triple-A San Antonio Missions before being called up to the Brewers. Since arriving in Wisconsin, the righty has made six appearances, posting a 2.70 ERA in 6.2 innings while limiting opposing batters to a .143 average. Black also owns an impressive 0.90 WHIP in his time with Milwaukee.
Starting the year off at Single-A Inland Empire, pitcher Isaac Mattson has taken a large step towards making a major league roster after being called up to the Triple-A Salt Lake Bees on August 19. Spending most of the year with the Double-A Mobile BayBears, Mattson flourished in his short time spent in the Southern League, recording a 2.68 ERA while striking out 61 batters in 43.2 innings in 24 games. Mattson also boasted a 0.98 WHIP while keeping the opposing batting average to a mere .196.
Since arriving to the Great Salt Lake, Mattson has picked up where he left off at the previous level, boasting a 3.86 ERA and striking out 19 batters in 9.1 innings. Just one step away from the big leagues, the Erie, Pa., native looks to continue his torrid pace and reach the majors in the near future.
After tearing up the Appalachian League with the Johnson City Cardinals this summer, infielder Liam Sabino was called up to the State College Spikes on August 28 of the New York-Penn League. Sabino was a major contributor for Johnson City during the season, posting a .385 on-base mark while recording 33 RBIs and six home runs in 51 games.
Joining fellow former Panthers Dan Hammer and Derek West in the New York Penn-League, the 35th-round pick of the St. Louis Cardinals in 2018 appeared in four games, recording four hits while averaging .286 at the plate with a .412 on-base mark.
Below is a complete list of current #ProPanthers in the MLB ranks.
| #ProPanthers | |||
| Name | Year | Current Team/League | Notes |
| Ray Black | 2011 | Milwaukee Brewers/ MLB | Has a 2.70 ERA in 6 games with Milwaukee this year |
| Yaya Chentouf | 2018 | West Michigan/ A (Tigers) | Has 14 strikeouts in his last 10 games |
| RJ Freure | 2018 | Quad Cities/ A (Astros) | Has converted on all 3 of his save opportunities this season |
| Joe Harvey | 2014 | Albuquerque/ AAA (Rockies) | |
| Dan Hammer | 2019 | Aberdeen/ A-Short (Orioles) | Struck out 41 and boasts a 1.29 ERA in 10 games this summer |
| Hobie Harris | 2015 | Tampa/ A Advanced (Yankees) | Has 3 straight scoreless appearances |
| Alex Kowalczyk | 2016 | Frisco/ AA (Rangers) | |
| Charles Leblanc | 2016 | Frisco/ AA (Rangers) | Has a .329 OBP this season |
| Cole MacLaren | 2019 | Erie/ AA (Tigers) | Called up to Erie on August 30 |
| Isaac Mattson | 2017 | Salt Lake/ AAA (Angels) | Has 19 strikeouts in 9.1 innings with Salt Lake |
| Josh Mitchell | 2017 | Wilmington/ A Advanced (Royals) | Has a 3.30 ERA this season |
| Manny Pazos | 2017 | West Virginia/ A (Mariners) | |
| Connor Perry | 2019 | GCL Tigers East / Rookie (Tigers) | Boasts a .406 OBP this summer |
| Matt Pidich | 2018 | Dayton/ A (Reds) | Has a 2.22 ER with Dayton this year |
| Liam Sabino | 2018 | State College/ A-Short (Cardinals) | Has a .286 average and .412 OBP with State College |
| Kevan Smith | 2011 | Los Angeles Angels/ MLB | Has a .301 OBP with the Angels this year |
| Matt Wotherspoon | 2014 | Toledo/ AAA (Tigers) | Has 8 strikeouts in 6.0 innings with Toledo |
| Derek West | 2019 | Tri-City/ Rookie (Astros) | |
| T.J. Zeuch | 2016 | Toronto Blue Jays/ MLB | MLB debut - 4.0 innings, 2ER, 3 hits, 4 Ks |
#H2P | Twitter | Instagram
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