#ProTops: Minor League Baseball Midseason Update
We’re now just a little more than halfway through the Minor-League Baseball Season. WKU currently only has eight former players (four MLB affiliated, four independent leagues) pursuing their dream of becoming the first WKU Alum since Steve Stemle (05–06) to make it to the show. Here’s how each player’s season is going* and I’ll give my best guess if they’ll ever make it to the Majors.
*Stats thru 7/1
Major League Affiliated Players
Anderson Miller
Outfielder, Northwest Arkansas Naturals (Kansas City Royals AA)
The ProTopper closest to the majors has had an up and down season during his third year at the Double-A level. Miller was gunning for a promotion to Triple AAA Omaha as recently as June 14th but has slumped massively over the past two+ weeks ruining his progress. On June 14th he was in the middle of one of the most impressive streaks of his career
Since that high point, Miller has scuttled dramatically going 3 for his last 40 in his last ten games dropping his average from .304 down to .263 on the season. He’s also had trouble getting on base, having only walked 13 times in 224 at-bats (5.8%). Tie those on-base troubles with a massive drop in power (only 2 homers) and Miller’s career is in danger of topping out. He’ll have two months to get back on track but right now his stock is down.
Chance of making majors: 10%
Ben Morrison
Relief Pitcher, Inland Empire 66er’s (Los Angels Angels Advanced-A)
The former Hilltopper having the best minor league season is the Bowling Green native Morrison. Morrison dominated the Midwest League (the same league as the Bowling Green Hot Rods) over the first two months of the season (2–1 record with a 0.69 ERA) earning a promotion to High A ball in the California league. Over the course of the season, he’s put together amazing numbers including a 44 strikeouts to 12 walks and a .093 whip to go with that 1.43 ERA. Since the promotion to Inland Empire (San Bernardino, CA) his numbers have come back to earth but he’s continued to show the same potential that he displayed earlier in the season. He had his best performance in his most recent game
In that win, he struck out 4 batters only allowing one hit during those three innings. With a three-pitch repertoire, including a fastball that tops out a 96 miles per hour, Morrison could continue his meteoric rise in 2020. Should he close the season strong he probably will start next season in Double-A, just two stops away from the majors. Relievers fortunes can turn quickly but Morrison’s stock is way up thus far.
Chance of making majors: 10%
Jacob Rhinesmith
Outfielder, Hagerstown Suns (Washington Nationals A)
Despite being an 18th round draft pick, Jacob Rhinesmith has hit very well at both of his stops during his short minor league career. After earning All-Star honors at Auburn (short season A) in 2018, Rhinesmith repeated his All-Star ways earning South Atlantic League All-Star honors in 2019 as well. On the season Rhinesmith has not only displayed a solid batting average (.287) but has displayed spectacular on-base numbers (.378) over 282 at-bats with decent speed (13 stolen bases).
If you had to nitpick Rhinesmith’s game, his power numbers could certainly be better for a corner outfielder (only 4 homers) but his slugging percentage has gone up 38 points since last year. Rhinesmith could possibly get promoted before the end of the season, if not he’ll certainly make it to Advanced-A ball in 2020. Should he keep hitting like he has he’ll certainly be one to watch as his on-base skills are greatly appreciated in today’s major-league game.
Chance of making majors: 15%
Jake Sanford
Outfielder, Staten Island Yankees (New York Yankees Short Season-A)
The newest ProTopper is only seven games into his professional career but he’s already shown flashes of 2019 college performance translating to the professional game. After taking Sanford in the third round, the Yankees decided to send him to short-season A ball instead of Rookie ball, the same level that Rhinesmith started at last season. In those seven games, he’s already had three extra-base hits (two doubles & triple) and is riding a five-game hitting streak after going hitless in his first two games. Sanford might be able to ascend to A ball before the end of the season if he continues his hot streak. Either way, look for Sanford to start next season in Single-A Charleston (SC) as he looks to climb the minor league latter to the Bronx.
Chance of making majors 20%
Independent League Ball
Most of these players are hanging on the fringes of professional baseball, playing for the love of the game and that longshot of catching back on with an affiliated team. Here’s a quick rundown of the independent league ProToppers.
Steven Kraft- Lake Erie Crushers (Frontier League)
Despite a promising debut last year in rookie ball (.321/.405/.477), the Pirates cut Kraft after spring training. He has caught on as an outfielder with Lake Erie in the Frontier League, one of the better independent leagues, and is now slashing a respectable .266/.364/.352 in 36 games. Those numbers are respectable but his chances (like most listed here) are slim to make it back to affiliated ball.
Ryan Thurston- Gary Southshore Railcats (American Association)
Thurston is another former affiliated player that has found himself in independent ball despite a solid professional debut. In 2018 he went 1–2 with a 0.87 ERA in 13 games for the Blue Jays rookie ball teams. Despite those solid numbers, the 6'2 lefthander was cut after spring training this year. Thurston has performed decently as a reliever in 2019. His 3.54 ERA and 16/11 K/BB ratio don’t jump off the page, but as a left-handed pitcher, he might have the best chance of anyone of returning to affiliated baseball.
Hunter Wood- Sioux City Explorers (American Association)
Independent Baseball is mainly about playing for the love of the game and keeping your professional dream alive and Wood is the perfect example of that. After graduating WKU in 2017, he is in his third season of non-affiliated baseball. After playing in the United Shore Professional Baseball league in 2017 & 2018, he has caught on in the same league as Thurston. As a back-up catcher, he hit a paltry .222/.276/.222 and hasn’t played since June 10th. He is no longer listed on Sioux City’s roster so his baseball dreams may be over.
Colie Currie- Utica Unicorns (United Shore Professional Baseball League)
Currie was one player that recently played for WKU (graduated in 2018) that I was surprised didn’t at least get a shot at affiliated ball. After breaking through as a junior in 2017 (.311/.386/.495), Currie struggled during his senior season (.260/.324/.375) probably causing him to not get a sniff by major league organizations in 2018. Currie decided to keep his dream alive in 2019, playing in the same four-team league (all teams in Michigan) that Wood played in 2017 & 2018. Currie is playing for first place Utica and is slashing .263/.341/.408 while playing outfielder for the Unicorns. Currie was recently named the USPBL Player of the Week (6/24–30) after batting .500 with two homers and with a .538 OBP. His season runs through September 8th so he’ll have plenty of time to build on that strong week and attract higher-level scouts to sign him for 2020.
Reece Calvert- Florence Freedom (Frontier League)
After this piece was originally published it was announced that recent graduate Reece Calvert was signed by nearby Florence Freedom (Florence, KY)
After a tough 2019 season on the Hill where he finished with a 3–3 record and a 5.16 ERA, the Plano, Texas native will play in the same league as Steven Kraft. He is set to make his debut on Friday against Kraft’s Lake Erie squad. Good luck to Reece as he starts his professional career.
We’ll keep tracking the minor league Tops as their seasons run through September. Let’s hope each builds on their current stock and one finally breaks through and makes it to the majors over the next few seasons.
