Pro Terps Update: 7/3/18

Connor Newcomb Terps in the Pros

Two 2018 Terps were selected in the 2018 MLB and two more have since signed professional baseball contracts, as the number of Maryland baseball players in the pros continues to grow. Here’s a look at how all of those guys are performing during the 2018 season.

LHP Brett Cecil, St. Louis Cardinals (MLB)

While more Terps should make it to the show soon, Cecil is still the only former Terrapin in Major League Baseball. Cecil, who turned 32 on July 2, is in his 10th big league season, and his second with the Cardinals.

He missed a chunk of the 2018 season with an injury, but has been solid since returning to the mound, posting a 4.00 ERA with 11 strikeouts over 18 innings of work. However, Cecil’s walk rate is currently the highest of his career, and because of that has not been used in many high-leverage situations.

LHP Adam Kolarek, Durham Bulls (Tampa Bay Rays, AAA)

After seven seasons in the minors, Adam Kolarek made his major league debut last June, and worked in 12 games for the Rays in 2017. This season, Kolarek has not yet gotten the call-up, but has been absolutely filthy in Durham.

The lefty has posted a 1.09 ERA over 41.1 innings this season, and his 10.89 K/9 is the best mark of his career since he got to the Triple-A level. With only nine walks and five earned runs allowed in the entire season, it shouldn’t be long before Kolarek gets another chance with the big club.

2B/OF Brandon Lowe, Durham Bulls (Tampa Bay Rays, AAA)

After again dominating at the Double-A level this season, Brandon Lowe finally got the call-up to Durham on June 7. Since then, Lowe has been on fire. He is hitting .341 with a 1.147 OPS at the Triple-A level and has eight home runs.

Those eight long balls came in a 10-game span from June 21 to June 29 and led Lowe to be named Minor League Player of the Week on June 25. Lowe’s ridiculous stats in June have but him on the major league radar.

OF LaMonte Wade, Rochester Red Wings (Minnesota Twins, AAA)

LaMonte Wade, like Lowe, was again tearing it up at Double-A this season, and just two days after Lowe got his call-up to Triple-A, Wade got his as well. The bat hasn’t been quite as hot for Wade, but he has continued to do what he has done at every level — get on base.

Through 22 games with Rochester, Wade is hitting .250, but is sporting a .397 on-base percentage as he has drawn 17 walks and struck out only 11 times. The power is also starting to come along for Wade, who has already matched a minor league career-high with nine overall home runs in 2018.

RHP Mike Shawaryn, Portland Sea Dogs (Boston Red Sox, AA)

In his first year at the Double-A level, Mike Shawaryn may be putting together his best minor league season. Through 15 starts this season, Shawaryn has posted a 3.55 ERA with 77 strikeouts and only 22 walks in 88.2 innings of work.

While his strikeouts are down from last season at Single-A, his walks, home runs, and batting average against are down, as well, as Shawaryn continues to find ways to get guys out. As the Red Sox No. 9 overall prospect according to MLB.com, The Unicorn could be on his way to the big leagues, or possibly the centerpiece of a deal at the trade deadline.

RHP Jake Stinnett, Tennessee Smokies (Chicago Cubs, AA)

After fighting his way back from injury in 2017, Jake Stinnett is in his first full Double-A season with the Smokies this year. Stinett has made a full-time transition to the bullpen since the injury, and has found success there this season. In 32 innings of work, he has pitched to a 4.78 ERA with 38 strikeouts and just 14 walks.

In this new role, Stinnett has the best strikeout rate of his career, and has recently been moved into the closer role for the Smokies. Since then, he has converted four saves in a row, and has struck out four batters without allowing a baserunner in those four innings since June 26.

SS/3B Kevin Smith, Dunedin Blue Jays (Toronto Blue Jays, High-A)

Kevin Smith starting the season in Single-A Lansing, but quickly proved that his bat was due for a promotion. After hitting .355 in 46 games for the Lugnuts, Smith was promoted to High-A Dunedin on May 28. Since then he has continued to swing a hot bat, batting .301 with six home runs in 29 games at the High-A level.

After another strong week for Smith in Dunedin in which he batted .414, he was named the Florida State League Player of the Week on July 1. Now the No. 18-ranked prospect in the Blue Jays system according to MLB.com, Smith could earn himself another promotion soon.

LHP Alex Robinson, Fort Myers Miracle (Minnesota Twins, High-A)

Alex Robinson battled injuries early in the 2018 season, but has finally made it back to the mound consistently here lately. In 17.2 innings at Fort Myers this season, Robinson has a 3.57 ERA and has struck out 20 batters compared to just 10 walks.

Opponents are batting only .206 against the power lefty this season, and Robinson’s last appearance may have been his best of the year. He worked 2.1 scoreless frames while striking out three batters.

RHP Brian Shaffer, Kane County Cougars (Arizona Diamondbacks, A)

Brian Shaffer’s first season at full-season Single-A has been a dominant one. Over 15 starts this season, Shaffer has worked 84.2 innings and has posted a 2.98 ERA.

And the righty has continued to do exactly what he did in College Park — throw strikes. Shaffer has 86 strikeouts on the year and has walked on 18 batters. In his last four starts dating back to June 12, he has 28 strikeouts and has not walked a batter over 25 innings.

OF Marty Costes, Quad Cities River Bandits (Houston Astros, A)

After being drafted by the Houston Astros for the second straight year, this time in the 22nd round, Marty Costes decided to sign his first pro contract. He started the season in short-season Single-A, where his first professional hit was a triple, but played only four games there before getting the call-up to full season ball on June 24.

Since the promotion, Costes is hitting .235 with an RBI and is currently on a three-game hitting streak.

RHP Jose Cuas, Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, (Milwaukee Brewers, A)

Jose Cuas spent his entire college career and his first three minor league seasons as an infielders, but he decided to transfer to the rubber in 2018. His first 12 appearances on the mound have been rough this year, however. He has a 9.92 ERA in 16.1 innings, but has recorded 16 strikeouts in that time.

2B Nick Dunn, State College Spikes (St. Louis Cardinals, Short-Season A)

After an incredible junior season at Maryland, Nick Dunn was drafted by the Cardinals in the fifth round of the 2018 MLB Draft and signed with St. Louis. Dunn has started his career at the short-season Single-A level, and has continued to hit the baseball.

Through 15 games, Dunn is hitting .302 with eight RBI and has more walks (9) than strikeouts (8). And he had an incredible start to July, going 5-for-9 in his first two games of the month.

RHP Jamal Wade, Everett AquaSox (Seattle Mariners, Short-Season A)

After spending all of 2017 in rookie ball, Jamal Wade started 2018 on the disabled list, but he returned on June 14 and was promoted to short-season Single-A. Wade has appeared six times out of the bullpen this season for the AquaSox and has a 1.82 ERA. In 10 innings of work he has allowed just two earned runs on five hits while striking out nine batters and walking only two.

In his most recent appearance on July 2, Wade recorded his first save of the season, working a rare three-pitch inning to shut the door.

RHP Kevin Biondic, Lowell Spinners (Boston Red Sox, Short-Season A)

Kevin Biondic was not selected in this year’s draft after his final season at Maryland, but on June 21, the Boston Red Sox took a chance on Biondic, signing him as a pitcher. Biondic made his pro debut on July 1, allowing just one run on one hit and recording a strikeout in two innings of relief.

RHP Ryan Selmer, Brooklyn Cyclones (New York Mets, Short-Season A)

In second pro season, Ryan Selmer started the year at High-A with the St. Lucie Mets, but was sent to Brooklyn after just two appearances. Selmer has appeared seven times at short-season Single-A this season and has an 8.38 ERA with one save.

LHP Jake Drossner, Milwaukee Brewers Organization

Jake Drossner has struggled with injury over the past two years, and will most likely miss the entire 2018 season. He last pitched for Single-A Wisconsin last season, making one start and going four innings after pitching 94 innings there in 2016.

RHP Taylor Bloom, Washington Wild Things (Frontier League, Independent)

After an incredible four-year career at Maryland, Taylor Bloom was not selected in the MLB Draft, but he will get a chance at a pro career. On June 30 Bloom signed a contract with the Washington Wild Things, and independent team in Washington, Pennsylvania that plays in the Frontier League.

Bloom started for the Wild Things on the same night he was signed, and allowed four runs on six hits and struck out four over five innings.

*All stats are updated through games played on July 2, 2018*