ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – With the end of the Major League Baseball season, 16 former UCF baseball players wrapped up their 2017 campaigns.
Catcher Drew Butera spent the entirety of the year with the Kansas City Royals for his seventh season in the Major Leagues. The fifth-round selection in 2005 hit .227 with 14 RBI in 75 games, splitting duties behind the plate with Salvador Perez. Butera was honored with a Star Wars bobblehead on Sept. 10 and hosted Dining with Drew, a video blog for The Kansas City Star.
Butera was also the Royals' nomination for the Roberto Clemente Award, given to the player who best represents sportsmanship, community involvement and positive contributions. Butera hosted the "Top Dog Classic" at Top Golf in Overland Park, Kansas, and raised $40,000 for Wayside Waifs, a local animal shelter.
.@drewbutera is nominated for the 2017 Roberto Clemente Award for his contributions on and off the field.
— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) October 3, 2017
Vote now: https://t.co/IRImzdURUE pic.twitter.com/4NTBAgGUYN
The force is strong with Master Windrew. #RoyalsStarWars pic.twitter.com/2yq3drf65T
— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) September 10, 2017
Dan Winkler made his return to from an elbow injury that ended his 2016 season. After working his way through rehab appearances in the minors, Winkler finished the season with the Atlanta Braves, appearing in 16 games with a 2.51 ERA and 18 strikeouts.
A trio of former Knights pitchers earned their first call ups to the Show. Eric Skoglund (Kansas City Royals), Chase Bradford (New York Mets) and Ben Lively (Philadelphia Phillies).
Skoglund's first MLB action came on May 30 against the Detroit Tigers. Skoglund impressed in six and one third scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and striking out five in the victory. Finishing with the third longest scoreless debut in Royals franchise history, Skoglund retired 14 straight hitters at one point. The native of Sarasota, Fla., went 1-2 on the year in five starts with 14 strikeouts.
Win MLB debut ??
— UCF Baseball (@UCF_Baseball) May 31, 2017
Strike out '12 Triple Crown winner on 3 pitches ??
Defeat Cy Young winner ??
You earned this ??, @LBsTheZone! #BuiltByUCF pic.twitter.com/4qiqjq9Rhk
May 30th, 2017 #ForeverRoyal pic.twitter.com/Ka2X6FqKM8
— Eric Skoglund (@LBsTheZone) May 31, 2017
Lively followed suit for his first career start on June 3 against the San Francisco Giants. Lively tossed seven innings of four-hit ball and allowed just one earned run. He finished the season with four wins in 15 starts, striking out 52 batters for a 4.26 ERA.
That feeling when you win your MLB debut ????
— UCF Baseball (@UCF_Baseball) June 3, 2017
Congrats to our guy @BenLively19!#BuiltByUCF pic.twitter.com/kNYhZDgSNU
June 3, 2017 What a date to remember! pic.twitter.com/AE2Cd3nZPV
— Ben Lively (@BenLively19) June 4, 2017
Bradford split the season between the Mets and the Las Vegas 51s. In 28 games for the Mets, Bradford posted a 3.74 ERA, with 27 punchouts and 14 runs against. His first MLB appearance came out of the bullpen in San Francisco on June 25.
We once were tiny bear cubs but now have grown to full strength!!!! A brown bear (@Josh_Smoker) and a black bear! pic.twitter.com/8FaLFTSYWv
— Chasen Bradford (@CBbaseball46) August 26, 2017
.@CBbaseball46 throws a scoreless 7th.
— New York Mets (@Mets) September 24, 2017
3-3 | Bot-7 pic.twitter.com/bF5jo5ascm
After sending four pitchers into the 2017 MLB Draft, the Knights added to long list of players working their way up the minors. Below is a list of where each player finished this season.
AAA
- Beau Taylor | Nashville Sounds | Promoted from Midland Hounds (AA) in the middle of the year | Hit .295 with 24 RBI on the season
- Darnell Sweeney | Louisville Bats | Traded to the Cincinnati Reds organization from the Los Angeles Dodgers, after starting the year with the Oklahoma City Dodgers (AAA) | Drove in 44 RBI with 11 HR and a .266 clip at the plate
AA
- Dylan Moore | Mississippi Braves (AA) | .207 BA, 42 RBI, 7 HR, 15 2B
A
- James Vasquez | Daytona Tortugas (A+) | Promoted midseason from Dayton Dragons (A) | .258 BA, 59 RBI, 10 HR, 24 2B | Closed season with hits in 20 of final 25 games.
- Joe Rogers | Florida Fire Frogs (A+) | Played for Mississippi Braves (AA) and Rome Braves (A) | 2-3, 20 G, 43 K
- Andrew Deramo | Lansing Lugnuts (A) | 28 G, 49 IP, 43 K
- Jason Bahr | Salem-Keizer (A-) | 3-2, 13 G, 7 GS, 33 IP, 4.36 ERA, 36 K
- Andy Rohloff | Salem-Keizer Volcanoes (A-) | Promoted from AZL Giants (ROK) midway through the season | 1-2, 12 G, 14.1 IP, 21 K
ROOKIE
- Matt Diorio | Bristol Pirates (ROK) | Played in four games for West Virginia Black Bears (A-) | .253 BA, 25 RBI, 12 2B, 3 HR
- Jordan Scheftz | AZL Indians (ROK) | 1-2, 19 G, 27 IP, 31 K
INDEPENDENT
- Jonathan Griffin | New Britain Bees | .278 BA, 64 RBI, 13 HR
COACHING
- Justin Pope | Pitching Coach | Charleston Riverdogs
JOHN EULIANO PARK EXPANSION
The UCF Baseball Complex is getting a facelift. The new John Euliano Park is on the way and club seats are available now. Fans can call (407) 823-1000 or Click Here for information, to purchase tickets, or make a donation.
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