Bulldogs in Baseball
Mississippi State has had 22 former players active in professional baseball this season. Each week BulldogBlitz takes a look at their performances. Come see how your favorite former Diamond Dogs are doing.
Bulldogs in MLB
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Adron Chambers
Position: Centerfield
Team: St. Louis Cardinals
Height/ Weight: 5-10, 185
Bats/ Throws: Left/ Left
Played at MSU: 2005-06 (football)
MLB Stats: .222 AVG, 54 AB, 12 H, 4 R, 0 2B, 2 3B, 0 HR, 4 RBI, 5 BB, 18 K, 1 SB
Postseason Stats: .000 AVG, 2 AB, 0 H, 2 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1 BB, 0 K, 0 SB
Info: Former Mississippi State defensive back Adron Chambers received his first Major League call-up last September and helped St. Louis claim their World Series championship. Chambers pinch hit in Monday's 9-0 loss to the Giants in game seven of the NLCS.
Paul Maholm
Position: Pitcher
Team: Atlanta Braves
Height/ Weight: 6-2, 220
Bats/ Throws: Left/ Left
Lettered at MSU: 2001-03
2012 Stats: 3.67 ERA, 13-11, 0 SV, 189 IP, 178 H, 80 R, 77 ER, 53 BB, 140 K
Info: Paul Maholm is a former first round draft pick of the Pirates. Maholm has started 215 career games in the big leagues. Maholm did not pitch in the Braves wild card loss to the Cardinals on Friday.
Chris Maloney
Postion: First base coach
Team: St. Louis Cardinals
2012 Record: 91-79
Overall Record as a minor league manager: 1,350-1,250
Lettered at MSU: 1982-83
Info: Chris Maloney is in his first season with the Cardinals at the big league level after spending 17 years in the organization's farm system. He managed for 20 years total in the minor leagues including five years for AAA Memphis and won the Pacific Coast League in 2009.
Tyler Moore
Position: First Base/ Left Field
Team: Washington Nationals
Height/ Weight: 6-2, 215
Bats/ Throws: Right/ Right
Lettered at MSU: 2008
MLB Stats: .263 AVG, 156 AB, 41 H, 20 R, 9 2B, 0 3B, 10 HR, 29 RBI, 14 BB, 46 K, 3 SB
Postseason Stats: .1000 AVG, 1 AB, 1 H, 0 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 0 BB, 0 K, 0 SB
Info: Tyler Moore is in his fifth professional season and got his first big league call up this year. Moore was drafted in the 16th round in 2008 and his younger brother Reid Humphreys is also committed to the Diamond Dogs in the 2013 class. Moore had the eventual game-winning pinch hit, two-run single in the 3-2 win over the Cardinals in game one of the NLDS.
Mitch Moreland:
Position: First base/ Right field
Team: Texas Rangers
Height/ Weight: 6-2, 230
Bats/ Throws: Left/ Left
Lettered at MSU: 2005-07
2012 Stats:.275 AVG, 327 AB, 90 H, 41 R, 18 2B, 0 3B, 15 HR, 50 RBI, 23 BB, 71 K, 1 SB
Postseason Stats: .000 AVG, 1 AB, 0 H, 0 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 BB, 1 K, 0 SB
Info: Mitch Moreland has helped the Rangers reach the World Series in each of the past two seasons and has blasted three postseason home runs. Moreland struck out in his only at bat during the 5-1 wild card loss to the Orioles.
Jonathan Papelbon
Position: Pitcher
Team: Philadelphia Phillies
Height/ Weight: 6-4, 225
Bats/ Throws: Right/ Right
Lettered at MSU: 2001-03
2012 Stats: 2.44 ERA, 5-6, 38 SV, 70 IP, 56 H, 22 R, 19 ER, 18 BB, 92 K
Info: Jonathan Papelbon is a five-time All-star in his eighth season as one of baseball's elite closers with 257 career saves. He is the Red Sox franchise leader in saves with 219.
Buck Showalter
Postion: Manager
Team: Baltimore Orioles
2012 Record: 92-69
Overall Record: 1,077-1,018
Lettered at MSU: 1977
Info: Buck Showalter took over Baltimore in late in the 2010 season after serving as an analyst on ESPN's Baseball Tonight. The Orioles are the fourth team Showalter has managed in the big leagues with previous stints with the Yankees, Diamondbacks and Rangers and has been named the American League Manager of the Year twice. The Orioles are tied 2-2 in the ALDS with the Yankees after knocking off the Rangers in the wild card game.
Bulldogs in AAA
Craig Tatum
Position: Catcher
Team: Scranton/ Wilkes-Barre Yankees (Yankees)
Height/ Weight: 6-1, 225
Bats/ Throws: Right/ Right
Lettered at MSU: 2003-04
2012 Stats: .179 AVG, 28 AB, 5 H, 3 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 6 RBI, 3 BB, 6 K, 0 SB
Info: Craig Tatum has spent part of the past three years at the big league level with the Orioles and Reds as a reserve catcher. The Yankees claimed Tatum off wavers from the Diamondbacks at the end of spring training. He is currently on the disabled list.
Bulldogs in AA
Ed Easley
Position: Catcher
Team: Mobile BayBears (Diamondbacks)
Height/ Weight: 6-0, 205
Bats/ Throws: Right/ Right
Lettered at MSU: 2005-07
2012 Stats: .265 AVG, 204 AB, 54 H, 18 R, 7 2B, 0 3B, 2 HR, 23 RBI, 31 BB, 30 K, 1 SB
Info: Ed Easley is in his sixth minor league season. The former All-American was the 61st overall player selected in 2007 after winning the Johnny Bench Award as the top catcher in college baseball and the Ferris Trophy as the best college baseball player in Mississippi.
Jared Wesson
Position: Pitcher
Team: Erie Seawolves (Tigers)
Height/ Weight: 6-5, 190
Bats/ Throws: Left/ Left
Lettered at MSU: 2009
2012 Stats: 5.61 ERA, 7-12, 0 SV, 138 IP, 159 H, 93 R, 86 ER, 63 BB, 98 K*
Info: Jared Wesson is in his fourth minor league season. Wesson went undrafted and signed a free agent deal with the Detroit Tigers in 2009. He went 15-10 with a 4.27 ERA, 96 strikeouts and 66 walks during his second full season in 2011.
Bulldogs in A
Ricky Bowen
Position: Pitcher
Team: Fort Myers Miracle (Twins)
Height/ Weight: 6-3, 178
Bats/ Throws: Right/ Right
Lettered at MSU: 2007-09
2012 Stats: 2.95 ERA, 4-6, 5 SV, 76.1 IP, 77 H, 30 R, 25 ER, 29 BB, 67 K
Info: Ricky Bowen is in his fourth minor league season and second in the Twins organization. Bowen spent his first two seasons in the Reds farm system after being drafted in the 43rd round of the 2009 draft. He went 1-2 with one save and a 3.38 ERA, 48 strikeouts and 16 walks in 2011. Bowen was selected to pitch in the Florida State League All-Star game this season.
Kolby Byrd
Position: Catcher
Team: Batavia Muckdogs (Cardinals)
Height/ Weight: 6-1, 215
Bats/ Throws: Left/ Right
Redshirted at MSU: 2010
2012 Stats: .222 AVG, 72 AB, 16 H, 8 R, 4 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 7 RBI, 6 BB, 16 K, 0 SB
Info: Kolby Byrd is in his second season of minor league baseball in the New York-Penn League. Byrd was drafted in the 13th round (410th overall) of the 2011 draft. He hit .233 with one home run and 15 RBIs as a rookie.
Will DuPont
Position: Second Base
Team: GCL Blue Jays (Blue Jays)
Height/ Weight: 6-0, 170
Bats/ Throws: Left/ Right
Signed with MSU: 2012
2012 Stats: .214 AVG, 42 AB, 9 H, 9 R, 1 2B, 1 3B, 0 HR, 3 RBI, 8 BB, 15 K, 4 SB
Info: William DuPont signed with the Diamond Dogs this year but inked a pro contract after being drafted by the Blue Jays in the 16th round. DuPont hit .413 with four home runs, 25 RBIs and 46 runs scored as a senior at Lafayette (Mo.) High School. He also swiped 28 bases this past season.
Grant Hogue
Position: Centerfield
Team: Lancaster JetHawks (Astros)
Height/ Weight: 6-1, 190
Bats/ Throws: Right/ Right
Lettered at MSU: 2008-09
2012 Stats: .361 AVG, 144 AB, 52 H, 40 R, 8 2B, 3 3B, 0 HR, 17 RBI, 17 BB, 22 K, 27 SB
Info: Grant Hogue begins his fourth minor league season. Hogue has 100 steals over his career after being drafted in the 35th round in 2009. He has received the Defensive Player of the Month in the Astros organization on multiple occasions during his career. Hogue is currently on the disabled list.
Devin Jones
Position: Pitcher
Team: Frederick Keys (Orioles)
Height/ Weight: 6-2, 170
Bats/ Throws: Right/ Right
Lettered at MSU: 2009-11
2012 Stats: 2.72 ERA, 8-7, 3 SV, 109 IP, 102 H, 38 R, 33 ER, 23 BB, 80 K*
Info: Devin Jones is in his second minor league season. Jones was selected by the Baltimore Orioles in the ninth round (275th overall). He was 2-4 with two saves, a 6.08 ERA, 21 strikeouts and 13 walks as a rookie.
Matt Lane
Position: Pitcher
Team: Kanapolis Intimidators (White Sox)
Height/ Weight: 6-6, 195
Bats/ Throws: Right/ Left
Pitched at MSU: 2010
2012 Stats: 4.55 ERA, 4-5, 0 SV, 120.2 IP, 145 H, 81 R, 61 ER, 41 BB, 93 K
Info: Matt Lane is in his second minor league season . Lane was selected by the Chicago White Sox in the ninth round (291st overall) in 2011. He was 1-2 with an 11.02 ERA, 13 strikeouts and seven walks during his rookie season.
Jarrod Parks
Position: Third base
Team: Cedar Rapids Kernals (Angels)
Height/ Weight: 6-2, 180
Bats/ Throws: Right/ Right
Lettered at MSU: 2009-11
2012 Stats: .240 AVG, 96 AB, 23 H, 20 R, 6 2B, 0 3B, 4 HR, 19 RBI, 14 BB, 28 K, 1 SB *
Info: Jarrod Parks is in his second minor league season. Parks was picked by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the 24th round (735th overall) in 2011. He hit a combined .273 with three home runs and 17 RBIs at three different levels of Class A ball during his short rookie season. He was released in late August.
Connor Powers
Position: First base
Team: Fort Wayne TinCaps (Padres)
Height/ Weight: 6-2, 220
Bats/ Throws: Right/ Right
Lettered at MSU: 2007-10
2012 Stats: .228 AVG, 364 AB, 83 H, 40 R, 18 2B, 1 3B, 10 HR, 50 RBI, 32 BB, 108 K, 3 SB *
Info: Connor Powers is in his third minor league season. Powers was drafted in the 21st round by the San Diego Padres in 2010. Last season Powers hit .338 with eight home runs and 45 RBIs in his first full season in the minors. He is currently on the disabled list.
Nick Routt
Position: Pitcher
Team: Billings Mustangs (Reds)
Height/ Weight: 6-4, 215
Bats/ Throws: Left/ Left
Lettered at MSU: 2009-12
2012 Stats: 4.76 ERA, 1-1, 0 SV, 22.2 IP, 22 H, 16 R, 12 ER, 17 BB, 22 K
Info: Nick Routt is in his rookie season in the Pioneer League. Routt was selected in the 16th round (502nd overall) of the 2012 draft after going 3-5 with a 3.80 ERA, 39 strikeouts and 15 walks this past season at MSU.
Jaron Shepherd
Position: Outfield
Team: Tri-City Dust Devils (Rockies)
Height/ Weight: 6-1, 175
Bats/ Throws: Left/ Right
Lettered at MSU: 2010-11
2012 Stats: .000 AVG, 0 AB, 0 H, 0 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 BB, 0 K, 0 SB
Info: Jaron Shepherd is in his second minor league season. Shepherd was selected by the Colorado Rockies in the 33rd round (1,008th overall) in 2011. He hit .272 with no homers and four RBIs in a shortened rookie season. Shepherd is currently on the disabled list after playing in only one game.
Chris Stratton
Position: Pitcher
Team: Salem-Keizer Volcanoes (Giants)
Height/ Weight: 6-3, 186
Bats/ Throws: Right/ Right
Lettered at MSU: 2010-12
2012 Stats:2.76 ERA, 0-1, 0 SV, 16.1 IP, 14 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 10 BB, 16 K
Info: Chris Stratton is in his rookie season in the Northwest League. Stratton was selected in the first round (20th overall) of the 2012 draft after going 11-2 with one save and an SEC best 2.38 ERA and 127 strikeouts this past season. Stratton is on the disabled list after being struck in the head by a line drive during batting practice.
Wes Thigpen
Position: Catcher
Team: Lakeland Flying Tigers (Tigers)
Height/ Weight: 6-0, 200
Bats/ Throws: Right/ Right
Lettered at MSU: 2010-11
2012 Stats: .175 AVG, 40 AB, 7 H, 3 R, 3 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 9 K, 1 SB*
Info: Wes Thigpen is in his second season in the minor leagues. Thigpen signed as a free agent in 2011 and hit .250 with two home runs and seven RBIs in a partial season following the Diamond Dogs Super Regional run. Thigpen retired in late July.
Nick Vickerson
Position: Second Base
Team: Spokane Indians (Rangers)
Height/ Weight: 5-11, 205
Bats/ Throws: Right/ Right
Lettered at MSU: 2007-10
2012 Stats: .132 AVG, 76 AB, 10 H, 6 R, 2 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 3 RBI, 11 BB, 27 K, 3 SB
Info: Nick Vickerson is in his second season in the minor leagues. Vickerson was drafted in the 20th round (624th overall) in 2011. He hit .201 with one home run and 11 RBIs during his rookie season after completing his senior year with the Diamond Dogs.
Combined Minor League Statistics*
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