Middle Tennessee State University Athletics

Brentz and Pro Raiders Heating Up this Summer
7/6/2017 4:30:00 PM | Baseball
Bryce Brentz has been selected to the Triple-A All-Star Game and HR Derby
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – With the summer heating up, so are the Blue Raiders in the professional ranks. Specifically, former Blue Raider standout Bryce Brentz has been on some kind of tear lately, being selected to the Triple-A Home Run Derby and International League All-Star Team.
Bryce Brentz | OF | Pawtucket Red Sox | Triple-A | Red Sox
Brentz has mashed 18 homers on the year, trailing only two players for the International League lead. The former Blue Raider two-way player hit 11 in the month of June to pace all IL players. Brentz has hit a homer once every 13.61 at-bats on the season to best the league.
Brentz has been among the hottest hitters in all of professional baseball since late-May. Since May 23 he is hitting .375 (51-for-1136) with 14 HR & 40 RBI. Only two players in baseball have more homers over that span (Cody Bellinger of the Dodgers and George Spring of the Astros each with 15 HR) while Brentz ranks 1st in all MLB and MiLB in RBI (40), OPS (1.241), and SLG (.779) since May 23. He had a superb June batting .340 with 11 HR & 27 RBI in 27 games.
He is also 6th in the IL with 49 RBI and 2nd in the league in slugging pct. (.564).
The Home Run Derby will be at Cheney Stadium in Tacoma, Wash., at 9 p.m. CT, while being streamed live onMilb.tv. The All-Star Game will take place on Wednesday July 12 at 8 p.m. CT.
Michael McKenry | C | Durham Bulls | Triple-A | Tampa Bay Rays
After a slow start to the season, McKenry has started to heat up, hitting .333 over his last 10 games to go along with 10 RBI. McKenry had his best performance of the season, two weeks ago against Charlotte, going 3-of-5 a home run and an unheard of six RBI.
Zac Curtis | P | Arkansas Travelers | Double-A | Seattle Mariners
Curtis is the only Blue Raider to make it to the majors so far this season. The lefty pitcher made two weekend appearances with the Mariners while throwing 4-2/3 scoreless innings in three games.
The former Blue Raider great, was named to the Texas League All-Star game, as he threw one scoreless inning in the game on June 27.
Curtis has appeared in 23 games this season out of the Travelers bullpen registering a 2.48 ERA with eight saves, tied for second-most in the league. In 29 innings he has struck out 36 while walking only eight.
Matt Blackham | P | Columbia Fireflies | Single-A | NY Mets
Blackham has been a key piece to the Fireflies bullpen, boasting a 3-1 record with an impressive 2.53 ERA in 21 appearances.
In 32 innings Blackham has compiled 46 strikeouts while only walking 15. The Murfreesboro native was on the same team as sports icon Tim Tebow, before Tebow was moved to Port St. Lucie, Fla., last month.
Bryce Brentz | OF | Pawtucket Red Sox | Triple-A | Red Sox
Brentz has mashed 18 homers on the year, trailing only two players for the International League lead. The former Blue Raider two-way player hit 11 in the month of June to pace all IL players. Brentz has hit a homer once every 13.61 at-bats on the season to best the league.
Brentz has been among the hottest hitters in all of professional baseball since late-May. Since May 23 he is hitting .375 (51-for-1136) with 14 HR & 40 RBI. Only two players in baseball have more homers over that span (Cody Bellinger of the Dodgers and George Spring of the Astros each with 15 HR) while Brentz ranks 1st in all MLB and MiLB in RBI (40), OPS (1.241), and SLG (.779) since May 23. He had a superb June batting .340 with 11 HR & 27 RBI in 27 games.
He is also 6th in the IL with 49 RBI and 2nd in the league in slugging pct. (.564).
The Home Run Derby will be at Cheney Stadium in Tacoma, Wash., at 9 p.m. CT, while being streamed live onMilb.tv. The All-Star Game will take place on Wednesday July 12 at 8 p.m. CT.
Bryce Brentz since May 23:
— PawSox (@PawSox) July 3, 2017
OPS: 1.241 (1st in MLB/MiLB)
SLG: .779 (1st in MLB/MiLB)
RBI: 40 (1st in MLB/MiLB)
HR: 14 (t-3rd in MLB/MiLB) pic.twitter.com/FAILpQBl2H
Michael McKenry | C | Durham Bulls | Triple-A | Tampa Bay Rays
After a slow start to the season, McKenry has started to heat up, hitting .333 over his last 10 games to go along with 10 RBI. McKenry had his best performance of the season, two weeks ago against Charlotte, going 3-of-5 a home run and an unheard of six RBI.
Zac Curtis | P | Arkansas Travelers | Double-A | Seattle Mariners
Curtis is the only Blue Raider to make it to the majors so far this season. The lefty pitcher made two weekend appearances with the Mariners while throwing 4-2/3 scoreless innings in three games.
The former Blue Raider great, was named to the Texas League All-Star game, as he threw one scoreless inning in the game on June 27.
Curtis has appeared in 23 games this season out of the Travelers bullpen registering a 2.48 ERA with eight saves, tied for second-most in the league. In 29 innings he has struck out 36 while walking only eight.
Matt Blackham | P | Columbia Fireflies | Single-A | NY Mets
Blackham has been a key piece to the Fireflies bullpen, boasting a 3-1 record with an impressive 2.53 ERA in 21 appearances.
In 32 innings Blackham has compiled 46 strikeouts while only walking 15. The Murfreesboro native was on the same team as sports icon Tim Tebow, before Tebow was moved to Port St. Lucie, Fla., last month.
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