Gators in the Pros Update

Friday, August 2, 2019 | Baseball

By: Daniel Apple

With eight weeks to go in the regular season, the MLB postseason picture is coming into focus.

Anthony DeSclafani and Justin Shafer stood out on the mound in the month of July while Richie Martin has made improvements at the plate in his first season in the big leagues.

In the minor leagues, Taylor Gushue had a strong month at the plate -- hitting .321 with four homers and nine RBI -- while Logan Shore posted a 0.70 ERA over 25.2 innings with AA Erie Seawolves.

In addition, Baseball America released its 2019 list of "Best Tools" and several former Gators earned some recognition. The MLB awards are selected by a panel of MLB managers, coaches, scouts and executives. The minor league awards are voted on by league managers.

Baseball America 2019 Best Tools
MLB/National League Best Power – Pete Alonso, Mets Best Defensive OF – Harrison Bader, Cardinals	High Class A/Carolina League Best Pitching Prospect – Jackson Kowar, Wilmington (Royals) Best Fastball – Jackson Kowar, Wilmington (Royals) Best Changeup – Jackson Kowar, Wilmington (Royals)
AA/Texas League Best Changeup – Jackson Kowar, NW Arkansas (Royals) Best OF Arm – Buddy Reed, Amarillo (Padres)	High Class A/Florida State League Best Defensive 3B – Jonathan India, Daytona (Reds)

Below is a look at the rest of the active Gators in the pros and how they performed in July:

MLB | Player (Lettered at UF) | Team

Pete Alonso (2014-16) | New York Mets: played in 22 games in July and hit six home runs with 13 RBI
Shaun Anderson (2014-16) | San Francisco Giants: made five starts in July and had a 7.71 ERA over 23.1 innings
Harrison Bader (2013-15) | St. Louis Cardinals: hit .146 over 23 games; the Cardinals optioned him to AAA on July 29 and he went 3-for-9 in his first two games with the Memphis Redbirds
Anthony DeSclafani (2009-11) | Cincinnati Reds: went 1-1 over four starts with a 2.78 ERA and totaled 26 strikeouts in 22.2 innings pitched
Brian Johnson (2010-12) | Boston Red Sox: working his way back from injury and made three appearances with AAA Pawtucket
Richie Martin (2013-15) | Baltimore Orioles: had his best month in the Majors so far, hitting .233 with five RBI
Darren O'Day (2003-06) | Atlanta Braves: on DL all season, hopeful for return in second half of 2019
Bobby Poyner (2012-15) | Pawtucket Red Sox (AAA)/Boston Red Sox (40 man): had a 2.61 ERA in 10.1 innings with Pawtucket
Justin Shafer (2012-14) | Toronto Blue Jays: earned his first career save on July 31 and posted a 1.86 ERA for the month, allowing two earned runs in 9.2 innings with 11 strikeouts
Mike Zunino (2010-12) | Tampa Bay Rays: hit .109 over 16 games with two home runs

Minor Leagues | Player (Lettered at UF) | Team

Austin Maddox (2010-12) | Pawtucket Red Sox (AAA)/Boston Red Sox: injured, on DL
Paco Rodriguez (2010-12) | El Paso Chihuahuas (AAA)/San Diego Padres: allowed three earned runs in three innings in July, making just one appearance
Taylor Gushue (2012-14) | Fresno Grizzlies (AAA)/Washington Nationals: played in 15 games and hit .321 with four home runs, nine RBI and a .991 OPS
Josh Tobias (2012-15} | Portland Sea Dogs (AA)/Boston Red Sox: played in just 5 games in July due to injury, hitting .188 with two RBI
Danny Young (2013-15) | New Hampshire Fisher Cats (AA)/Toronto Blue Jays: went 1-0 with a 0.93 ERA over eight appearances (9.2 IP) in July
Eric Hanhold (2013-15) | Syracuse Mets (AAA)/New York Mets (40 man): went 1-0 with a 1.46 ERA over 12.1 innings between AA and AAA in the month of July
A.J. Puk (2014-16) | Las Vegas Aviators (AAA)/Oakland A's: went 2-1 with a 4.09 ERA over 11 innings while making his return from Tommy John surgery
Buddy Reed (2014-16) | Amarillo Sod Poodles (AA)/San Diego Padres: hit .280 over 25 games with four home runs and 18 RBI, his best month since moving up to AA last summer
Dane Dunning (2014-16) | Birmingham Barons (AA)/Chicago White Sox: injured, on DL
Kirby Snead (2014-16) | Buffalo Bisons (AAA)/Toronto Blue Jays: went 2-0 with a 2.16 ERA in 12 appearances (16.2 IP) with 20 strikeouts
Logan Shore (2014-16) | Erie SeaWolves (AA)/Detroit Tigers: had a strong month of July, going 2-0 with a 0.70 ERA over 25.2 innings pitched (just 2 ER allowed)
Scott Moss (2016) | Akron RubberDucks (AA)/Cleveland Indians: involved in a blockbuster trade on July 31, moving to the Indians organization; had a 3.25 ERA over five starts and 27.2 innings pitched in July before the trade
Frank Rubio (2014-17) | San Jose Giants (A Advanced)/San Francisco Giants: had a rough month after being promoted, posting an 8.31 ERA over 8.2 innings
Alex Faedo (2015-17) | Erie SeaWolves (AA)/Detroit Tigers: had a 5.32 ERA over four starts, striking out 28 over 22 innings with seven walks
Dalton Guthrie (2015-17) | Clearwater Threshers (A Advanced)/Philadelphia Phillies: hit .262 over 20 games with a home run and four RBI
Mark Kolozsvary (2015-17) | Daytona Tortugas (A Advanced)/Cincinnati Reds: played in 19 games and hit .161 with a home run and three RBI
Mike Rivera (2015-17) | Lynchburg Hillcats (A Advanced)/Cleveland Indians: played in nine games with a .250 average and five RBI despite dealing with an injury
JJ Schwarz (2015-18) | Beloit Snappers (A)/Oakland A's: placed on the DL on July 10
Brady Singer (2016-18) | NW Arkansas Naturals (AA)/Kansas City Royals: posted a 2.59 ERA over five starts and 31.1 innings with 31 strikeouts and seven walks
Deacon Liput (2016-18) | Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (A Advanced)/Los Angeles Dodgers: played in 27 games and hit .208 with four home runs and 16 RBI
Jackson Kowar (2016-18) | NW Arkansas Naturals (AA)/Kansas City Royals: made five starts and posted a 4.40 ERA over 28.2 innings with 31 strikeouts
Jonathan India (2016-18) | Chattanooga Lookouts (AA)/Cincinnati Reds: promoted to AA Chattanooga on July 22; was 18-for-79 (.228) on the month between Daytona and Chattanooga
Michael Byrne (2016-18) | Daytona Tortugas (A Advanced)/Cincinnati Reds: had a strong month, posting a 1.46 ERA over eight appearances and 12.1 innings
Nick Horvath (2016-18) | Delmarva Shorebirds (A)/Baltimore Orioles: played in 20 games and hit .152 with five RBI
Nelson Maldonado (2016-19) | South Bend Cubs (A)/Chicago Cubs: promoted to South Bend on July 28 after hitting .414 in 15 games with the Eugene Emeralds; went 5-for-12 (.417) in his first three games in South Bend
Tyler Dyson (2017-19) | Auburn Doubledays (A)/Washington Nationals: made four appearances and has a 1.80 ERA over 10 innings with a .171 batting average against
Brady McConnell (2018-19) | Idaho Falls Chukars (ROOK Advanced)/Kansas City Royals: played in 13 games and hit .167 with four RBI
Wil Dalton (2018-19) | Lowell Spinners (A)/Boston Red Sox: played in 14 games and hit .214 with a home run and seven RBI