ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – With the MLB Playoffs underway, the UCF baseball team has alumni scattered across the various levels of professional baseball. Here's a look at how the Knights closed out the baseball regular season.
Jason Bahr and Thad Ward have each been named Minor League Pitcher of the Year by their respective organizations.
Jason Bahr had a 1.71 ERA in 58 IP over 11 starts for the Down East Wood Ducks, with 58 Ks against 26 walks and two home runs allowed, and then put up 3.23 ERA in 64 IP over 12 starts for the Frisco Roughriders, with 68 Ks and 25 walks, again with two home runs allowed.
Thad Ward continued his upward trajectory after moving up to the Salem Red Sox in the Carolina League. The righty finished his season at Salem with a 2.33 ERA through 12 starts with 70 punchouts in 54 innings.
A lot of ?????? things coming from our alumni #BuiltByUCF? pic.twitter.com/UyEcCq1Nym
— UCF Baseball (@UCF_Baseball) October 10, 2019
MLB
Chasen Bradford, Seattle – After returning from the 60-day injury list, Bradford has made 12 appearances in relief, tossing 16.2 innings and carries a 4.86 ERA.
Dylan Moore, Seattle – Belted nine home runs on the year with 28 RBI and 11 stolen bases in his rookie year.
Drew Butera, Colorado – Hit .300 in Triple-A with 40 RBI and nine home runs this season. Got the call to return to the MLB and has played 11 games with the Colorado Rockies.
Eric Skoglund, Kansas City Royals – After making rehab starts, opened 2019 season in Triple-A and worked up to six starts at Kansas City.
Beau Taylor, Oakland – The catcher appeared in 10 games for the Athletics and belted his first two career home runs. Splitting time in AAA and the Big Leagues, Taylor hit .237 with 38 RBI over 83 games.
TRIPLE-A
Darnell Sweeney, Indianapolis Indians, Pittsburgh – After signing with the Pirates organization, hit .214 to finish the 2019 season, with 18 RBI and a pair of stolen.
Dan Winkler, Sacramento River Cats, San Francisco – Made 27 appearances for the Atlanta Braves and 30 appearances for Atlanta and San Francisco's minor league clubs. Picked up 49 K's in 52.1 innings of work.
DOUBLE-A
Jason Bahr, Frisco Roughriders, Texas – Following promotion, earned Texas Rangers Nolan Ryan Minor League Pitcher of the year after combining for 23 starts with 128 strikeouts over 122 innings across single A and AA.
SINGLE-A
Rylan Thomas, Dayton Dragons, Cincinnati – Moved up to Class A after rehabbing an injury.
Bryce Tucker, Augusta GreenJackets, San Francisco – Made 18 appearances with five saves in 21 innings in first year of professional ball. Opponents hit just .113 off the lefty.
Tyler Osik, Kannapolis Intimidators, Chicago White Sox – Played 31 games in Rookie ball, ended his season with Class A Kannapolis. Put together a .274 batting average with five HRs and 37 RBI across both leagues.
Cre Finfrock, Dunedin Blue Jays, Toronto – The 2018 draftee had 17 saves on the year and fanned 50 batters over 38.1 innings this season with the Lansing Lugnuts. Finfrock also made one appearance for the Dunedin Blue Jays of the Florida State League, collecting one save and two strikeouts.
SHORT-A
Jordan Spicer, Boise Hawks, Colorado – Did not allow a run in two starts with a strikeout per nine innings mark of 12.
Garrett Westberg, Everett AquaSox, Seattle – Appeared in 19 games with a 4-1 record. Struck out 24 in 22 innings of action.
Jordan Scheftz, Mahoning Valley Scrappers, Cleveland – Tossed 3 1/3 innings this summer.
Andy Rohloff, Salem-Keizer Volcanoes, San Francisco – Fanned 22 batters through 19.2 innings out of the bullpen this season.
ROOKIE
JJ Montgomery, GCL Orioles, Baltimore – After rehabbing from injury, made 10 appearances with seven starts for a 2.70 ERA and 37 strikeouts.
Matthew Mika, AZL Brewers Gold, Milwaukee – Added to Milwaukee's rookie team after signing as a free agent. Played in 28 games to hit for a .258 average with 16 RBI.
Chris Williams, Missoula Osprey, Arizona – Came out of the bullpen 19 times to strike out 26 batters in 27.1 innings.
Eric Hepple, Grand Junction Rockies, Colorado – Made 34 appearances in relief, with 38 strikeouts.
INTERNATIONAL
Ben Lively, Samsung Lions – Signed with the Samsung Lions of the Korean Baseball Organization – has made nine starts since signing in August.