Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Pro Raiders report: Pitchers performing well in minors
7/17/2015 2:35:00 PM | Baseball
Curtis dominant in closer role
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – In the first edition of the Pro Raiders report, Andy Haines is coaching for the Triple-A (Florida Marlins) News Orleans Zephyrs and several pitchers have performed very well during the summer.
Andy Haines heads up Triple-A New Orleans
The former Blue Raider assistant coach is in his second season with the Marlins' Triple-A squad - the New Orleans Zephyrs. Haines has coached within the Marlins' organization for seven seasons, moving up after every two seasons. In 2011, Haines led the Greensboro Grasshoppers to a South Atlantic League Championship. You can catch Haines and the Zephyrs next Friday through Monday against the Nashville Sounds at First Tennessee Park.
Zac Curtis | LHP | Kane County Cougars | Class A – Arizona Diamondbacks | Midwest League
The former Blue Raider standout has performed exceptionally in a closer's role in his first season with Kane County, contributing to the Cougars' 17-3 record and first-place standing in the Midwest League Western Division. Curtis leads the league with 19 saves with a 1.57 ERA in 34-1/3 innings pitched, striking out 48 batters with just nine walks. He has not allowed a run in his last 11 appearances while limiting hitters to a paltry .179 hitting clip. In his most previous outing against the Cedar Rapids Kernels, Curtis recorded a save along with two strikeouts in one inning.
Matt Blackham | RHP | Brooklyn Cyclones | Class A Short Season – New York Mets | New York-Penn League
The right-hander has had a solid first season with the first-place Cyclones (15-10) with a 2-1 record and 2.76 ERA in four starts. Blackham has pitched in 29-1/3
innings, striking out 30 batters with only 10 walks. He has struck out at least five batters in each of his last four starts and has limited hitters to a .165 clip during this stretch. He picked up his first win in a Brooklyn uniform on June 22 against the Tri-City Valleycats where he pitched seven strong while scattering three hits and striking out three. In his only loss of the season, Blackham went six strong allowing just one run and striking out a career-high 10 batters.
Ronnie Jebavy | OF | Salem Keizer Volcanoes | Class A Short Season – San Fransisco Giants | Northwest League
Jebavy has adjusted nicely to professional ball with a .269 average in 18 games with the Volcanoes. The outfielder has notched a hit in 15-of-18 games. His best performance of the season came in a 4-for-5 effort with a home run and three RBI in just his third game of his career against the Boise Hawks. He also came away with another four-hit showcase against the Spokane Indians. Jebavy came away with his first professional walk-off home run in the final inning on Wednesday to give the Volcanoes the victory over Boise.
Jonathan Frebis | LHP | Arizona White Sox | Rookie League | Chicago White Sox
The recent draftee is putting forth an excellent season in his rookie campaign with the Arizona White Sox. Frebis has yet to allow a run in five appearances and nine innings of work with a 1-0 record. Opponents have hit just .138 off Frebis who has yet to allow more than two hits in any appearance. In his last two trips to the mound, Frebis has allowed no hits in four innings. The southpaw earned his first win of his professional career in his season debut with a two-inning performance allowing one hit and striking out three batters.
Nathan Foriest | LHP | Arizona Padres | Rookie League | San Diego Padres
Foriest has taken advantage of his opportunities in his first season with the Arizona Padres. The southpaw hasn't allowed a run in his past five outings since giving up two in his rookie debut. Foriest is 1-0 with a save and an ERA of two in six appearances. The Kingston Springs, Tenn., native has walked just two batters while striking out nine at the dish. He's allowed opponents to hit only .200 from the plate. His first win of the season came on June 25 against the Brewers and his first save against the Rangers on July 4.
Heath Slatton | LHP | Arizona Giants | Rookie League | San Francisco Giants
Like his former teammates in the Rookie League, Slatton has pitched solidly thus far with the Padres. The recent 2015 draftee has appeared six times on the mound while recording two saves and allowing no runs in five innings of work. He has yet to give up more than two hits in any appearance and just two hits total in the previous four appearances. He has notched two straight saves as well.
You can follow all Blue Raider pros by clicking the link below:
Michael McKenry - MLB - Colorado Rockies
Kenny Roberts - Triple - A - Albuquerqe Isotopes (Colorado Rockies)
Heath Slatton - Rookie League - Arizona Giants (San Fransisco Giants)
Zac Curtis - Single A - Kane County Cougars (Arizona Diamondbacks)
Matt Blackham - Class A Short Season - Brooklyn Cyclones (New York Mets)
Ronnie Jebavy - Class A Short Season - Salem Keizer Volcanoes (San Fransisco Giants)
Brynce Brentz - Triple A - Pawtucket Red Sox (Boston Red Sox)
Andy Haines heads up Triple-A New Orleans
The former Blue Raider assistant coach is in his second season with the Marlins' Triple-A squad - the New Orleans Zephyrs. Haines has coached within the Marlins' organization for seven seasons, moving up after every two seasons. In 2011, Haines led the Greensboro Grasshoppers to a South Atlantic League Championship. You can catch Haines and the Zephyrs next Friday through Monday against the Nashville Sounds at First Tennessee Park.
Zac Curtis | LHP | Kane County Cougars | Class A – Arizona Diamondbacks | Midwest League
The former Blue Raider standout has performed exceptionally in a closer's role in his first season with Kane County, contributing to the Cougars' 17-3 record and first-place standing in the Midwest League Western Division. Curtis leads the league with 19 saves with a 1.57 ERA in 34-1/3 innings pitched, striking out 48 batters with just nine walks. He has not allowed a run in his last 11 appearances while limiting hitters to a paltry .179 hitting clip. In his most previous outing against the Cedar Rapids Kernels, Curtis recorded a save along with two strikeouts in one inning.
Matt Blackham | RHP | Brooklyn Cyclones | Class A Short Season – New York Mets | New York-Penn League
The right-hander has had a solid first season with the first-place Cyclones (15-10) with a 2-1 record and 2.76 ERA in four starts. Blackham has pitched in 29-1/3
innings, striking out 30 batters with only 10 walks. He has struck out at least five batters in each of his last four starts and has limited hitters to a .165 clip during this stretch. He picked up his first win in a Brooklyn uniform on June 22 against the Tri-City Valleycats where he pitched seven strong while scattering three hits and striking out three. In his only loss of the season, Blackham went six strong allowing just one run and striking out a career-high 10 batters.
Ronnie Jebavy | OF | Salem Keizer Volcanoes | Class A Short Season – San Fransisco Giants | Northwest League
Jebavy has adjusted nicely to professional ball with a .269 average in 18 games with the Volcanoes. The outfielder has notched a hit in 15-of-18 games. His best performance of the season came in a 4-for-5 effort with a home run and three RBI in just his third game of his career against the Boise Hawks. He also came away with another four-hit showcase against the Spokane Indians. Jebavy came away with his first professional walk-off home run in the final inning on Wednesday to give the Volcanoes the victory over Boise.
Jonathan Frebis | LHP | Arizona White Sox | Rookie League | Chicago White Sox
The recent draftee is putting forth an excellent season in his rookie campaign with the Arizona White Sox. Frebis has yet to allow a run in five appearances and nine innings of work with a 1-0 record. Opponents have hit just .138 off Frebis who has yet to allow more than two hits in any appearance. In his last two trips to the mound, Frebis has allowed no hits in four innings. The southpaw earned his first win of his professional career in his season debut with a two-inning performance allowing one hit and striking out three batters.
Nathan Foriest | LHP | Arizona Padres | Rookie League | San Diego Padres
Foriest has taken advantage of his opportunities in his first season with the Arizona Padres. The southpaw hasn't allowed a run in his past five outings since giving up two in his rookie debut. Foriest is 1-0 with a save and an ERA of two in six appearances. The Kingston Springs, Tenn., native has walked just two batters while striking out nine at the dish. He's allowed opponents to hit only .200 from the plate. His first win of the season came on June 25 against the Brewers and his first save against the Rangers on July 4.
Heath Slatton | LHP | Arizona Giants | Rookie League | San Francisco Giants
Like his former teammates in the Rookie League, Slatton has pitched solidly thus far with the Padres. The recent 2015 draftee has appeared six times on the mound while recording two saves and allowing no runs in five innings of work. He has yet to give up more than two hits in any appearance and just two hits total in the previous four appearances. He has notched two straight saves as well.
You can follow all Blue Raider pros by clicking the link below:
Michael McKenry - MLB - Colorado Rockies
Kenny Roberts - Triple - A - Albuquerqe Isotopes (Colorado Rockies)
Heath Slatton - Rookie League - Arizona Giants (San Fransisco Giants)
Zac Curtis - Single A - Kane County Cougars (Arizona Diamondbacks)
Matt Blackham - Class A Short Season - Brooklyn Cyclones (New York Mets)
Ronnie Jebavy - Class A Short Season - Salem Keizer Volcanoes (San Fransisco Giants)
Brynce Brentz - Triple A - Pawtucket Red Sox (Boston Red Sox)
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