Pro Terps Update: 9/19/16

Chris Rogers-Spatuzzi Terps in the Pros

As the Toronto Blue Jays make a push for the postseason, they will look to LHP Brett Cecil, the lone Terrapin currently in the majors, to continue his recent success. In 47 appearances this season, he owns a 1-7 record and a 4.22 ERA, but over his last 15 games, his ERA sits at a sparkling 1.80. The Blue Jays currently hold the second AL Wild Card spot, and sit four games behind the Boston Red Sox in the AL East.

With Minor League Baseball wrapped up for 2016, RHP Mike Shawaryn and LHP Rob Galligan have finished their first professional seasons after signing contracts earlier this summer. Shawaryn, drafted 5th round (148th overall) by the Boston Red Sox, pitched in six games for the Short-Season A Lowell Spinners. The most-decorated pitcher in Maryland history, he finished the season with an 0-1 record, 2.87 ERA and 22 strikeouts in 15.2 innings of work. Galligan was drafted in the 36th round by the Arizona Diamondbacks and spent the 2016 season in rookie ball. The southpaw struggled at first with the Missoula Osprey, with a 6.92 ERA over 13 innings, but since improved with the AZL D-Backs, allowing two earned runs in 6.1 innings of work.

Splitting time between the Double-A Montgomery Biscuits and the Triple-A Durham Bulls (Tampa Bay Rays), LHP Adam Kolarek turned in one of the best seasons of his professional career. In 13 outings for the Biscuits, he went 3-2 with a 3.32 ERA. With Durham, he lowered his ERA to 3.05, struck out 46 batters in 41.1 innings, and held opponents to a .194 average.

A pair of 2015 southpaw draftees excelled in their second professional seasons. LHP Zach Morris made 48 appearances out of the bullpen for the Class-A Lakewood Blue Claws (Philadelphia Phillies), going 8-3 with a 2.57 ERA while converting five of seven save opportunities. In 15 appearances with the rookie-ball Elizabethton Twins (Minnesota Twins), LHP Alex Robinson posted a 3.00 ERA and held opponents to a .162 average.

RHP Kevin Mooney appeared 21 times for the Class-A Auburn Doubledays (Washington Nationals). After a stellar first half (1.96 ERA, .156 BAA over 18.1 innings), he struggled in August and September (7.50 ERA in six innings), but nevertheless turned in a fine sophomore campaign, finishing with a 3.33 ERA and .209 opponents’ average. RHP Jake Drossner split time between the bullpen and rotation for the Class-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Milwaukee Brewers). Overall, he went 6-6 with a 4.69 ERA in 25 appearances (15 starts), but fared much better out of the bullpen (4-0, 3.55 ERA, 33 IP).

csznhkcumaakgkk
Stinnett (center) with former Maryland baseball radio broadcasters (now Myrtle Beach Pelicans broadcasters) John Vittas (left) and Scott Kornberg (right).

RHP Jake Stinnett made the Carolina League All-Star Team as a member of the High-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans (Chicago Cubs), thanks to his first half performance (5-3, 3.78 ERA, 11 starts), but struggled in the second half, with a 4.88 ERA and .291 opponents’ batting average over nine outings. Stinnett and the Pelicans won the 2016 Carolina League Championship.

Outfielder LaMonte Wade flourished in his second professional season, splitting time between the Class-A Cedar Rapids Kernels and the High-A Fort Myers Miracle (Minnesota Twins). He was named a Midwest League All-Star for his success in Cedar Rapids, as he hit .280 with four homers, 27 RBI and 32 runs scored in 56 games. He kept it up, and then some, after his promotion to Fort Myers, hitting .318 with eight doubles and four homers in 32 games before being sidelined with an injury. He finished 2016 with a .293/.402/.438 slash line across the two levels.

After missing 2015 with a foot injury, second baseman Brandon Lowe has put together a solid first season with the Class-A Bowling Green Hot Rods (Tampa Bay Rays), posting a .248/.357/.343 slash line with 67 runs scored in 107 games. He set a franchise record earlier this season with an 18-game hitting streak.

However, Lowe’s former teammates third baseman Jose Cuas and catcher Kevin Martir have not found the same success. Cuas played for the High-A Brevard County Manatees (Milwaukee Brewers), hitting .170 with four homers and 27 RBI over 120 games. Cuas will spend this winter

Martir appeared in 25 games for the Short-Season A Tri-City Valley Cats (Houston Astros), hitting .165 with a homer and five RBI. This fall, he has returned to Maryland as a student assistant coach.

Overseas in the Korean Baseball Organization, Justin Maxwell appeared in 23 games for the Lotte Giants after signing with them in July. The 32-year-old outfielder slashed .287/.418/.500 with four homers and 16 RBI in 99 plate appearances.