Bulls in the Pros: Rise of the Phoenix

Sanders moved up to Triple-A; went 3-3 with 15 saves and a 1.86 ERA at Double-A Montgomery

TAMPA, AUGUST 2, 2019 – A former standout in USF baseball’s weekend rotation gets a promotion while former teammates continue to produce with their respective teams.

Sanders Makes Next Step
Righty Phoenix Sanders had been sensational at the Double-A level with the Montgomery Biscuits. He recorded 15 saves with a 1.86 ERA and 55 strikeouts in 48.1 innings. Sanders officially got called up to the Durham Bulls (Triple-A) and made his debut with the team on Thursday. He pitched 1.2 innings and struck out one.

Montes and Villar Extend Hit Streaks
Infielder Coco Montes is riding a seven-game hit streak and has hit safely in nine of the last 10 games. He has 63 RBI and 43 runs with 23 doubles in first full season for the Asheville Tourists (A, Colorado Rockies) of the South Atlantic League.

2018 All-American third baseman David Villar has also been hot of late, currently riding an eight-game hit streak. He’s hitting .351 over his last 10 games and had two home runs, seven RBI and seven runs in the last week. He’s batting .287 on the year with nine home runs, 46 RBI, 48 runs and 22 doubles for the San Jose Giants (A-Advanced) of the California League.

El Platino’s Prowess
Righty reliever Andrew Perez is having a great year in the White Sox system. He began the year with Kannapolis (A-Full), where he had two saves, a 2.25 ERA and 52 strikeouts in 19 appearances. USF’s closer in 2018 is currently with the Winston-Salem Dash (A-Advanced), where he has 18 strikeouts and a 1.59 ERA in 12 games. Perez has not allowed a run since July 2 and has struck out 16 in his last 10 appearances.

Find out how other former USF standouts are faring in pro baseball this season below:

Name	Organization	Position	League (Level)	Team	Stats
Austin Adams	Seattle	P	MLB	Seattle Mariners (10-day IL)	3.47 ERA, 41 Ks, 23.1 IP, 21 app.
Nelson Alvarez	N.Y. Yankees	P	Appalachian League (Rookie Advanced)	Pulaski Yankees	Minors 2019 (3 teams): 9 games, 2-1, 10.0 IP, 7 Ks
Joe Cavallaro	N.Y. Mets	P	Florida State (A Advanced)	St. Lucie Mets	5-3, 3.90 ERA, 55 Ks, 55.1 IP, 27 games, 3 saves
Tommy Eveld	Miami	P	Southern (AA)	Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp	2-3, 3.18 ERA, 3 saves, 21 Ks, 17.0 IP, 14 games
Jimmy Herget	Cincinnati	P	International League (AAA)	Louisville Bats	2-4, 3.65 ERA, 50 Ks, 38 games, 44.1 IP, 2 saves
Joe Genord	N.Y. Mets	1B	New-York Penn (A-Short Season)	Brooklyn Cyclones	.221 AVG, 6 HR, 8 doubles, 25 RBI, 20 runs, 40 games
Brandon Lawson	San Francisco	P	Eastern (AA)	Richmond Flying Squirrels	4-6, 3.88 ERA, 60 Ks, 95.0 IP, 18 starts
Shane McClanahan	Tampa Bay	P	Florida State (A-Advanced)	Port Charlotte Stone Crabs	5-1, 1.42 ERA, 8 games, 7 starts, 44.1 IP, 50 Ks
Kevin Merrell	Kansas City	SS	Texas (AA)	Northwest Arkansas Naturals	14 games, .228 AVG, 2 triples, 2 doubles, 5 stolen bases, 6 runs, 4 RBI
Coco Montes	Colorado	SS	South Atlantic (A-Advanced)	Asheville Tourists	.264 AVG, 9 HR, 23 doubles, 63 RBI, 43 runs, 102 games
Dan Otero	Cleveland	P	MLB	Indians (60-day IL)	4.56 ERA, 10 Ks, 23.2 IP, 20 games
Andrew Perez	Chicago White Sox	P	Carolina (A-Advanced)	Winston-Salem Dash	0-2, 1.59 ERA, 18 Ks, 17.0 IP (Dash ONLY)\| 2019: 2.04 ERA, 2 saves, 31 games, 53.0 IP, 70 Ks
Kevin Quackenbush	Los Angeles Dodgers	P	Pacific Coast (AAA)	Oklahoma City Dodgers	2-3, 3.88 ERA, 9 saves, 72 Ks, 48.2 IP, 43 games – PCL All-Star
Phoenix Sanders	Tampa Bay	P	International (AAA)	Durham Bulls	3-3, 1.86 ERA, 55 Ks, 50.0 IP, 15 saves, 36 games (AA) \| 1 game, 1.2 IP, 1 K (AAA)
Peter Strzelecki	Milwaukee	P	Midwest (A)	Wisconsin Timber Rattlers	0-1, 3.22 ERA, 3 saves, 47 Ks, 44.2 IP, 31 games
Ryan Valdes	Pittsburgh	P	Florida State (A-Advanced)	Bradenton Marauders	2-2, 5.79 ERA, 2 saves, 26.0 IP, 21 games, 22 Ks
David Villar	San Francisco	3B	California (A-Advanced)	San Jose Giants	.287, 9 HR, 22 doubles, 46 RBI, 48 runs, 86 games
Alec Wisely	Cleveland	RHP	Arizona League (Rookie)	AZL Indians	1-1, 6.94 ERA, 11.2 IP, 12 Ks, 7 games