BOCA RATON, Fla. – It’s been a busy summer for former Owls in professional baseball. As we enter the first weekend in August, 12 FAU baseball alums are currently holding spots in professional organizations. Here’s an update on what each has been up to in the past few months:
Austin Gomber, Colorado Rockies (MLB): Gomber has been arguably the Rockies’ most consistent pitcher since the start of June. In his last 11 starts, the lefty has allowed two earned runs or fewer seven times. He pitched exactly six innings in all five of his July starts. Cutting down on walks has been a major key to Gomber’s recent success. He’s conceded just two free passes in his last 26 innings.
Kyle Marman, Columbus Clippers (Cleveland Guardians Triple-A): After a strong start to the season, Marman went down with an elbow strain in mid-April that sidelined him until just recently. The Guardians 13th round pick in 2018 embarked on a rehab assignment to the Arizona Complex League on July 22. He’s made five appearances on the mound since with hopes of rejoining Columbus before the end of the minor league season.
B.J. Murray, Tennessee Smokies (Chicago Cubs Double-A): Murray is enjoying a solid campaign in his second season as a professional. The Cubs 15th round pick is hitting .262 with 12 home runs and 51 RBI as Tennessee’s everyday third baseman. Murray also earned a spot in the MLB Futures Game as a part of All-Star weekend in Seattle. Prior to the season, he represented Great Britain in the World Baseball Classic.
Pedro Pages, Springfield Cardinals (St. Louis Cardinals Double-A): Pages has established himself as the Cardinals’ everyday catcher and is hitting .253 with 13 home runs and 54 RBI. As St. Louis’ big club retools after a busy trade deadline, Pages could be in contention for a move to Triple-A in September.
Javi Rivera, Dayton Dragons (Cincinnati Reds High-A): Rivera made 10 appearances before an elbow strain shut him down in mid-June. Prior to that, he was maintaining a 4.01 ERA with 36 strikeouts in 42.2 innings.
Mike Ruff, Hartford Yard Goats (Colorado Rockies Double-A): Ruff has been a dependable long-relief/bullpen arm for the Yard Goats this season. He’s appeared in 18 games with a 6.79 ERA. He’s also made eight starts.
Francisco Urbaez, Chattanooga Lookouts (Cincinnati Reds Double-A): Urbaez has seen time at multiple positions this year, including a brief pitching appearance on July 27. Mainly though, the third-year undrafted free agent has been locked in at either second or third base. At the plate, Urbaez is hitting .289 with four home runs and 24 RBI in 49 games.
Cody Wilson, Wilmington Blue Rocks (Washington Nationals High-A): Wilson began the year with Triple-A Rochester before moving to High-A Wilmington where he’s played the last 20 games.
Eric Rivera, Gateway Grizzlies (Frontier League, Independent): Rivera has appeared in 62 games, logging 220 at-bats for the Grizzlies, located in Sauget, Illinois, just outside St. Louis. Seeing the majority of his starts in centerfield, Rivera has totaled four home runs and 28 RBI.
Gabriel Rincones, Jr., Jersey Shore Blue Claws (Philadelphia Phillies, High-A): The Phillies 2022 third round pick has adapted well in his first professional season. After 48 games in Single-A Clearwater, Rincones was promoted to High-A in mid-June. Since then, he’s hit .228 with five home runs and 19 RBI in 40 games for the Blue Claws.
Caleb Pendleton, Tri-City Dust Devils (Los Angeles Angels High-A): Pendleton made his professional debut for the Angels’ Arizona Complex League team on July 22. His first hit had a familiar feel to it. It was a game-tying RBI single that scored Nolan Schanuel. Pendleton was elevated to High-A on July 26 and has appeared in two games since.
Nolan Schanuel, Rocket City Trash Pandas (Los Angeles Angels Double-A): No one had a busier month of July than Nolan Schanuel. It began when the Boynton Beach native heard his name called with the 11th overall pick in the MLB Draft on July 9th. In the three weeks since, Schanuel has played 10 games for three teams, rapidly working his way up through the Angels’ system. He seems to have settled in as the everyday first baseman for Rocket City, the Angels’ Double-A affiliate in Madison, Ala. Schanuel is hitting .350 for the Trash Pandas with five RBI in five games. A move to Triple-A Salt Lake could be in the cards at some point in the final two months of the season.
