ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – As the MLB season draws closer to the All-Star Game, the UCF Knights have seen some solid performances from its alumni in the professional ranks. From one of the top relievers in The Show to one of the top pitching prosepects being traded to the rookies starting to roll, the month of July has provided a lot of bright spots for the Black and Gold in the pros.
Per usual, Dan Winkler has maintained is solid year out of the bullpen for the Atlanta Braves. The righty featured in five games since the start of July for 4 1/3 innings of action with five punchouts. Winkler is 2-0 on the year with one save, a 2.92 ERA and 47 strikeouts compared to just 10 walks. The Braves are a one-half game back of Philadelphia for the lead in the NL East. Winkler was also featured in an article by Sports Illustrated detailing his amazing comeback from an injury that derailed his 2016 and 2017 campaigns.
Dylan Moore played in the Triple-A All-Star earlier this week. The second baseman went drew a walk, stole a base and scored a run in two plate appearances in Columbus, Ohio. Over the last two weeks, Moore has hit .300 with one RBI for the Colorado Springs Sky Sox. Since his promotion to Triple-A, he is hitting .298 over 52 games with 22 runs driven in.
The other big news of the week surrounded 2017 MLB Draft pick Jason Bahr, who was traded from San Francisco Giants organization to the Texas Rangers along with Major Leaugers Austin Jackson and Cory Gearrin for a player to be named later or cash. Bahr made a trio of appearances for the San Jose Giants before the trade. He was 2-0 with a 1.69 ERA and 15 punchouts in 16 innings. This season, Bahr has struck out 103 batters in just 84 2.3 innings of work to post a 2.55 ERA. He will make his debut for the Down East Wood Ducks of the High-A Carolina League on Saturday, July 14.
After a slow start, Rylan Thomas has picked up where he left off during the 2018 UCF campaign. Over the last two weeks, Thomas hit a cool .300 with eight RBI, including a trio of homers for the Greenville Reds in the Appalachian League. Heading into Friday, Thomas was on a five-game hitting streak. In addition to the return of his power, Thomas has also been selective at the dish with 10 walks in 13 games.
MLB
• Chase Bradford (Seattle Mariners) – Made a trio of appearances over the last two weeks, tossing 4 1/3 innings with one strikeout and one earned run against. Has a 2.72 ERA and 27 punchouts on the year over 36 1/3 innings of work with a 5-0 record.
• Eric Skoglund (Kansas City Royals) – Continues to rehab from a Grad 1 UCL sprain that placed him on the 60-Day Disabled List. Will not be able to rejoin the Royals until after the All-Star Break.
• Drew Butera (Kansas City Royals) – Played in five games in July. Drove in a run at Seattle since July 1. Notched a 2-for-4 game against Boston on July 8.
TRIPLE-A
• Darnell Sweeney (Buffalo Bisons, Toronto) – Received his first call-up to the Major Leauges since 2015. Played in one game for the Toronto Blue Jays. Played in four games for the Bisons since July 1, including a 2-for-4, 1-RBI performance on July 7. Hitting .231 this season with 22 RBI and six home runs.
• Beau Taylor (Nashville Sounds, Oakland) - Recorded a pair of multi-hit games over the last two weeks, while drawing six walks over eight games. Hitting .257 with an on-base percentage of .376 through 58 games this season.
• Ben Lively (Lehigh Valley IronPigs, Philadelphia) – Continues to recuperate on the Disabled List. Has not made a start since June 20.
SINGLE-A ADVANCED
• Joe Rogers (Florida Fire Frogs, Atlanta) – Continues to rehab on the Disabled List. Has not made an appearance this season.
SINGLE-A FULL
• Andrew Deramo (Lansing Lugnuts, Toronto) – Came in from the bullpen in two games over the last two weeks. Fanned a pair on July 5 during a three-inning outing. Has a 7.99 ERA through 12 appearances this season with 22 strikeouts.
SINGLE-A SHORT
• Thad Ward (Lowell Spinners, Boston) – Made his professional debut on July 4. Tossed a trio of strikeouts over 1 2/3 innings. Struck out a pair in second start on July 9 in two innings of work.
• Jordan Scheftz (Mahoning Valley Scrappers, Cleveland) – Did not give up a run in three outings over the last two weeks, during which he fanned five. Has a 5.17 ERA through 11 games with 13 strikeouts in 15 2/3 innings.
• Eric Hepple (Boise Hawks, Colorado) – Saw his ERA tick up to 3.12 after giving up his first earned runs of the year in his seventh appearance. Fanned 12 batters in 8 2/3 innings, while only walking three.
• JJ Montgomery (Aberdeen Ironbirds, Baltimore) – After rehabbing at the spring training facility in Sarasota, reported to the Aberdeen Ironbirds earlier this week.
ROOKIE
• Andy Rohloff (AZL Giants Orange, San Francisco) – Threw 3 2/3 innings over four appearances in the last two weeks. Has a 5.40 ERA through 6 2/3 innings this season with a trio of punchouts.
• Cre Finfrock (Bluefield Blue Jays, Toronto) – Started his first professional game and went three innings without allowing a run, including four punchouts on July 1. Recorded a 3.00 ERA through four appearances and nine innings of action. Struck out 10 this summer.
• Bryce Tucker (AZL Giants, San Francisco) – Has yet to make his professional debut. Continues to rehab at the spring training facility in Scottsdale, Ariz.
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