July 18, 2008
ORLANDO, Fla. (www.ucfathletics.com) - Many current and former UCF baseball players are busy on the diamond this summer, representing the Knights in both the professional ranks and in collegiate summer leagues. Here's a quick look at what they have been up to through July 17.
After donning the Black and Gold uniform, several players have taken the next step into the minor leagues. From last year's UCF squad, five Knights have joined professional organizations, including Mitch Herold who has a 0.00 ERA in 5.0 innings for the Class A Lowell Spinners (Boston). Catcher Robert Lara is still dominating rookie ball with the Arizona League Padres, batting .362 with 15 RBI and only six strikeouts compared to 11 walks. And infielder Dwayne Bailey holds a .222 average with 13 runs for the rookie league Orem Owlz (Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim).
Outfielder Tyson Auer signed with the Angels and joined Bailey with the Owlz on July 16, while lefty Mitch Houck inked a deal and is now in the New York Mets organization.
One of UCF's all-time greatest hurlers, Justin Pope (1999-01) has recovered from a lengthy injury and is dealing with the Double-A Reading Phillies (Philadelphia). The reliever has a 1.47 ERA in 16 appearances, posting three saves and a .145 opposing batting average.
Also battling back from injury, Division I All-American Matt Fox (2002-04) holds a 5-4 record and a 3.72 ERA in 72.2 innings of work for the Class A Advanced Fort Myers Miracle (Minnesota). Fox also has racked up 62 strikeouts in the process.
Bo Hall is working in the Double-A level, pitching for the Trenton Thunder (New York Yankees) while he also spent three games with the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees earlier in 2008. At Trenton, Hall owns a 2-2 mark with a 2.93 ERA and 26 strikeouts in 30.2 innings.
On UCF's current roster, infielder Josh Siebenaler and pitchers Evan Stobbs and Brennan Dobbins were each named to the Florida Collegiate Summer League East Division All-Star Team, and infielders Chris Duffy and Shane Brown were selected to the Clark Griffith Collegiate Baseball League All-Star Team as well. Up in the Cape Cod League, righty Austin Hudson is a starter for the Hyannis Mets and owns a 1-1 record with a 1.63 ERA. Cody Allen, meanwhile, is a starter for the Bethesda Big Train in the Cal Ripken Sr. Collegiate Baseball League, going 2-2 with a 2.33 ERA in five starts. Allen has amassed 32 strikeouts in 27.0 innings.
To check out the rest of the Knights' statistics, check out the list below.
For more information on the UCF baseball program, head to www.ucfathletics.com. Also check out UCFPhotos.com, the exclusive fan source for UCF action sports pictures.
| Justin Pope holds a 1.47 ERA with the Double-A Reading Phillies (photo courtesy Ralph Trout). |
Former UCF Players in the Pros (Only includes players with MLB organizations and those who have seen time on the field in the last month)
Hitters
OF Tyson Auer - Orem Owlz (Rookie LAA) - Joined team on July 16
IF Dwayne Bailey - Orem Owlz (Rookie LAA) - .222 BA, 12-for-54, 13 R, 3 2B, 7 RBI, 3 SB
OF Dee Brown - Potomac Nationals (Class A WASH) - .255 BA, 53-for-208, 30 R, 9 2B, 5 HR, 30 RBI
C Drew Butera - New Britain Rock Cats (Double-A MIN) - .226 BA, 49-for-217, 31 R, 13 2B, 5 HR, 28 RBI
C Robert Lara - Arizona League Padres (Rookie SD) - .362 BA, 21-for-58, 1 HR, 15 RBI, 11 BB, 6 K, .910 OPS
OF Clay Timpner - Fresno Grizzlies (Triple-A SF) - .239 BA, 76-for-318, 15 2B, 2 HR, 39 RBI, 9 SB
Pitchers
RHP Tim Bascom - Frederick Keys (Class A BAL) - 3-3, 5.89 ERA, 11 GS, 55.0 IP, 36 ER, 29 BB, 39 K
RHP Matt Fox - Fort Myers Miracle (Class A MIN) - 5-4, 3.72 ERA, 24 GP, 7 GS, 72.2 IP, 30 ER, 22 BB, 64 K
RHP Bo Hall - Trenton Thunder (Double-A NYY) - 2-2, 2.93 ERA, 21 GP, 30.2 IP, 10 ER, 10 BB, 26 K
LHP Mitch Herold - Lowell Spinners (Class A BOS) - 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 3 GP, 5.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 K
LHP Mitch Houck - Drafted in 2008, member of the New York Mets organization
RHP Justin Pope - Reading Phillies (Double-A PHI) - 0-0, 1.47 ERA, 16 GP, 3 SV, 18.1 IP, 9 H, 3 ER, 5 BB, 10 K
Current Knights in Collegiate Summer Leagues
Hitters
IF Stephen Branca - Staunton Braves (Valley) - .268 BA, 33-for-123, 17 R, 3 2B, 2 HR, 6 SB
OF Shane Brown - Beltway Blue Caps (CGL) - .361 BA, 43-for-119, 30 R, 9 2B, 2 3B, 6 HR, 28 RBI, 1.065 OPS
IF/OF Chris Duffy - Beltway Blue Caps (CGL) - .291 BA, 37-for-127, 36 R, 7 2B, 5 HR, 29 RBI, 27 BB, 8 SB
IF Eric Kallstrom - Winter Park Diamond Dawgs (FCSL) - .187 BA, 14-for-75, 7 RBI, 2 SB, .954 FLD%
IF Josh Siebenaler - Orlando Suns (FCSL) - .330 BA, 29-for-88, 15 R, 10 RBI, 17 BB, 10 K, 11 SB
IF Evan Stobbs - Orlando Suns (FCSL) - .129 BA, 4-for-31, 1 2B, 1 HR
Pitchers
RHP Cody Allen - Bethesda Big Train (Ripken) - 2-2, 2.33 ERA, 6 GP, 5 GS, 27.0 IP, 7 ER, 15 BB, 32 K
RHP Brennan Dobbins - Orlando Suns (FCSL) - 2-1, 1.85 ERA, 6 GP, 6 GS, 34.0 IP, 7 ER, 16 BB, 32 K
RHP Austin Hudson - Hyannis Mets (Cape Cod) - 1-1, 1.63 ERA, 6 GP, 6 GS, 27.2 IP, 5 ER, 6 BB, 16 K
RHP Evan Stobbs - Orlando Suns (FCSL) - 0-2, 3.24 ERA, 5 GP, 4 GS, 25.0 IP, 9 ER, 9 BB, 33 K