Auburn Baseball Players in Major League Baseball
Single-A
Anfernee Grier
The latest Auburn star to be draft, Grier was taken with the 39th overall pick in the 2016 MLB Draft. He was then sent to play rookie ball in the pioneer league, but after just two games he was moved up to Arizona’s Low-A affiliate in Hillsboro, Ore., the Hillsboro Hops. In Grier’s first 13 professional plate appearances he has just one hit, but don’t expect that to be the story for long. The Diamondbacks are hoping Grier can move quickly through their system.
Trey Wingenter
Try Wingenter was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 17th round of the 2015 MLB Draft. After playing for the Padres rookie ball team and Low-A affiliate in 2015, he has spent 2016 with the clubs Single-A and High-A teams where he has a dazzling ERA of 2.08 in 21.2 innings with 25 strikeouts and a WHIP of 0.97. If Winngenter can keep this up he’ll find his way into the San Diego bullpen very soon.
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Damek Tomscha
Damek Tomscha had the rare opportunity of hearing his name called at four different MLB Drafts with his round improving each time. He was first drafted by the Phillies in the 50th round in 2010, then by the Marlins in the 36th round in 2011, then the Cubs took him in the 19th round in 2012, and then the Phillies took him again in 2014, but this time in the 17th round and he ultimately signed.
He spent all of 2014 in rookie ball where he hit .243 with a couple of home runs. Last year he spent the entire season with the Phillies Single-A team hitting .283 with 8 home runs. This year he starting back at Single-A, but after hitting .303 in 35 games they moved him up to the club’s High-A team in Clearwater, Fla.
Jay Gonzalez
Another player that was drafted multiple times, Jay Gonzalez finally found a home in 2014 when the Baltimore Orioles took him in the 10th round of the draft. He has worked his way up to the Orioles High-A team in Frederick, Md. Where he’s hitting .246 in 211 at-bats with 33 stolen bases. In 562 plate appearances in 2015 he stole 34 bags, so he’s well on pace to break that mark. Hopefully that speed will continue to move him up the chains.
Slade Smith
The 6-foot-2 pitcher from Fort Payne, Ala. was taken with the 17th round of the 2012 MLB Draft by the Detroit Tigers. After several years of going back-and-forth between the team’s Single-A and Double-A teams, he’s spent all of 2016 in Lakeland, Fla. with the Tiger’s Single-A team. Through 8.2 innings he’s given up 6 earned runs on 11 hits and 2 walks with 4 strikeouts. This could be the make-or-break season for Smith so hopefully het gets it going soon.
Next: Double-A