Except for playoff games in both the majors and minors, professional baseball has completed its regular season. Jack Rogers is the only one still playing. Here’s a review of those I’m aware of.
Jake Rogers. Jake is the only “Greenie” currently playing in the majors in this his fourth season with the Detroit Tigers. In 2023, he hit .221 with 21 home runs but regressed considerably this year. This season he hit .197 in 310 at bats with 10 HR’s. He has the playoffs to impress further.
Ian Gibaut. Ian entered this season as an integral part of the Cincinnati bullpen after appearing in 74 games last year (75.2 innings and a 3.33 ERA), but injuries limited him to only 6 innings of a rehab stint in the minors this year and he spent the remainder of the season on IR.
Grant Witherspoon. After being released by the Toledo Mud Hens (AAA) last August, Grant was picked up this spring by the AA Arkansas Travelers. Unfortunately, he hit only .143 in 41 games and was released on June 25th. At 27 years old, his professional baseball career is probably over.
Kody Hoese. After hitting .188, .232, and .244 the past three seasons in AA ball, Kody, a one-time first round draft choice for the Dodgers, fell out of their “top 50” prospect list. Nonetheless, he was invited to the Dodger’s Spring training camp where he performed well enough to be advanced to their AAA team. He improved all of his numbers this year hitting .287 with 17 HR’s in 464 at bats. He may have increased his chances of getting to the majors at some point. He’s 27 years old so there is not that much time left.
Hudson Haskins. Since being drafted four years ago by Baltimore, Haskins moved steadily through their system landing in in AAA in 2023. There, he hit .268 with three HR’s in 82 at bats before injuries ended his season in June. This year, he’s also spent time on IR and his batting average has suffered accordingly, hitting only .212 in 316 AAA at bats this season.
Chase Solesksy. After being released by the Chicago White Sox and spending some time in an independent league, Solesky seems to have found a home in the Washington Nationals organization. He pitched in AA ball this year, starting 15 of his 17 appearances, throwing 83 innings to a 3.02 ERA. He only walked 20 during that time and held opponents to a .233 average—all good. The only downside is that he doesn’t miss many bats and only struck out 51. Still, that’s an encouraging season for a guy who will turn 27 later this month. Time is running out.
Brendon Cellucci. Brandon is another guy who may be running out of time at 26 years old, but who had a really good season until right at the end. He pitched 58.2 innings in 30 games of relief in AA this year to a 3.07 ERA. His stats were virtually the reverse of Solesky’s, however. He walked a lot (39) but struck out 84 (over 13 per 9 Innings) and held opponents to a .199 batting average. He was promoted to AAA late in the year where his lack of control put up some terrible numbers. In six innings, he walked ten, hit 3, allowed five hits and 10 earned runs for a 15.00 ERA.
Collin Burns. After close to an injury free summer, his first since leaving Tulane, Colin spent the year in AA where he hit .218 with 5 HR’s in 330 at bats. True to his recent history unfortunately, he was back on IR for the last week or so of the season. In a move that does not bode well for his future, he was moved to second base from shortstop, where glovework is less important than hitting. Still, he’s only 24 years old and a move up to AAA next year and improved hitting, could still lead to a major league career.
Donovan Benoit. Benoit spent this season in AA ball where he pitched in 31 games in relief to an ERA of 4.97 in 58 innings. He walked 30 while striking out 48, which is not a very good ratio, Opponents hit .279 against him.
Keagan Gillies. After dominating in the low minors the past couple years despite extended time on IR, Keegan appeared in 42 games in AA this year, throwing 47.1 innings to a 4.91 ERA. He walked 25 and struck out 54. He needs to get to AAA next year and improve his control.
Conner Pelerin. Connor has only pitched 33 innings so far in his professional career due to multiple injuries. This, his fourth year, ended before it started as he missed the entire season on IR. He really needs to get healthy to have any chance of progressing.
Tyler Hoffman. Tyler had a 7.23 ERA through 37.1 innings in A ball this season before going on IR in late August.
Dylan Carmouche. Dylan bypassed the rookie league in this, his first professional season. He started in A ball where he went 8-2 with an ERA of 2.74 in 90 innings before being promoted to an advanced A league where he didn’t fare as well with an 0-2 record and a 5.34 ERA in 30.1 innings. Still, a pretty good first year out of college.
Chandler Welch. After the Tulane season, Chandler got his “feet wet” as a pro appearing in one game in Class A. He pitched 1.2 innings, allowed 2 hits, no walks, 3 strikeouts and, best of all, no runs. A good way to start.
Brady Marget. Brady got to start his professional career this year in A ball as well where he played in 12 games, batted 36 times with 9 hits (.250) and 1 HR.
Colin Taft. Like Welch and Marget, Coiln got to play some this summer in A ball, splitting time between catcher, 1st base, and the outfield. In his 20 games, he went 11 for 62 (.177) with 1 HR. He struck out 27 times (44%) so that has to improve.
Teo Banks. Teo was assigned to the Washington National’s Class A team in Fredericksburg, VA, 40 minutes from my house, but did not play this summer. Hope to see him next year on his way to the top.
Players who played for Tulane but finished elsewhere:
J. P. France. After an excellent major league campaign in 2023, J.P. started poorly this year and was returned to the minors where an injury caused him to be placed on IR for the remainder of the year.
Bennet Lee. Bennet started the season on IR, but after a brief stint in A ball, was promoted to Advance A in early May. He finished the year hitting .173 in 173 at bats with 3 HR’s.
Anyway, our guys posted somewhat mixed results on the season but for many of them there will be a next year.
Roll Wave!!!
