Huskies in the Pros: Minor League Baseball Mid-season Update

UConn alumni are spread all over baseball’s minor leagues as Husky head coach Jim Penders has done a great job of preparing players for success at the next level. There are 14 former Huskies in the minor leagues, including the four that were drafted in the 2017 MLB First Year Player Draft.

How are the rest faring in their assignments?

John Andreoli was the 17th round pick of the Chicago Cubs in 2011 and has spent 2017 with Triple-A Iowa. He has a slash line of .238 AVG/.347 OBP/.423 SLG with 32 RBI in 72 games. He is 15-for-20 stealing bases and has eight home runs.

Anthony Kay was drafted 31st overall in the first round in 2016 by the New York Mets and is yet to make his debut after having Tommy John surgery on October 4. The left-handed pitcher is expected to return in 2018.

David Fischer was picked in the 18th round by the Washington Nationals in 2012 and was released in 2014. He is back in the minor leagues this year in the Minnesota Twins organization, pitching for Class A Advanced Fort Myers. He has made 17 appearances and 13 were starts. He has a 3-6 record and a 3.72 ERA in 67 2/3 innings pitched. He has struck out 56 batters with a BAA of .226 and a WHIP of 1.40.

Anthony Marzi was picked up out of independent baseball by the Minnesota Twins and is pitching for Class A Grand Rapids. He has pitched 13 2/3 innings in two starts, striking out 14 batters against two walks. He has a WHIP of 0.51 and a BAA of .114.

LJ Mazzilli was the fourth round pick of the New York Mets in 2013. He has spent 2017 splitting time between Double-A Binghamton and Triple-A Las Vegas with a slash line of .260/.346/.377 in 65 games. He has 25 RBI, scored 34 runs and three home runs to go along with 14 doubles.

Max McDowell was drafted in the 13th round by the Milwaukee Brewers in 2015 and has spent this year with Carolina, their Class A Advanced team. He has hit .190/.290/.251 in 54 games as a catcher. He has scored 17 runs and racked up 23 RBI.

Bobby Melley was taken by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2016 in the 34th round. He was in extended spring training and played six games for Hudson Valley in short season Class A before being promoted to Class A Bowling Green. He has slashed .250/.351/.344 between the two levels. He has scored 10 runs and has seven RBI. He has worked 10 walks and struck out 13 times.

In 2016, the San Francisco Giants selected right-handed pitcher Patrick Ruotolo in the 19th round. He has spent 2017 with Class A Augusta and has made 26 appearances. He has pitched 28 1/3 innings and is 8-for-9 in save opportunities. He has struck out 37 batters to seven walks and owns a 0.74 WHIP along with a .144 BAA and 1.59 ERA.

Vinny Siena, the 2015 14th round pick of the New York Mets, has split time between Class A Columbia and Class A Advanced Port St. Lucie this year. He was demoted on June 26. Between the two teams, he has slashed .155/.240/.236 with 16 RBI and he has scored 16 runs in 54 games.

Jack Sundberg was the 18th round pick of the Washington Nationals in 2016 and has spent the entire season with Class A Advanced Potomac. In 65 games, playing primarily left field, he has hit .287/.371/.335 and is 14-for-18 stealing bases.