Deacons in the Pros Update
7/1/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
July 1, 2008
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Below is an update of what the Demon Deacons in the professional ranks have been up to over the past couple of weeks.
Matt Antonelli (2004-2006) is playing second base for the Portland Beavers, a Triple-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres in the Pacific Coast League. In 63 games, he is hitting .194 with 11 doubles, 2 triples, and 3 home runs. He has also managed to draw 48 walks on the year.
Dave Bush (1999- 2002) is currently with the Milwaukee Brewers as a starting pitcher. So far this season he has posted a 4-8 record with a 5.06 ERA. He has appeared in 16 games, making starts in 15 of them. His best start of the season came on June 19 when he took a no-hit bid into the eighth inning his former team, the Toronto Blue Jays. Bush won the game, allowing a run on two hits in eight innings, but his no-hitter was broken up by Lyle Overbay, the player that the Blue Jays acquired when they traded Bush to the Brewers. Other notable starts include the game against the St. Louis Cardinals on May 12 in which he went six innings and only allowed one run on four hits. He also went seven innings against the Atlanta Braves and Houston Astros on May 27th and June 1st allowing only two runs and one run respectively.
Jamie D'Antona (2001-2003) is starting at third base for the Triple-A Tucson Sidewinders, an affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks in the Pacific Coast League. In 78 games, he is hitting a team-leading .383 with 28 doubles and 10 home runs.
Josh Ellis (2004-2007) is playing for the Visalia Oaks in the Single-A Advanced California League. The Oaks are a minor league affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks. While relieving for the Oaks he has amounted a 1.97 ERA while striking out 40 in 40.2 innings of work. He has collected five saves in 23 games so far this season.
Mike MacDougal (1997-1999) is currently playing for the Charlotte Knights, the Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. He did, however, begin the season with the White Sox in the majors and threw 8.2 innings while only allowing two earned runs and striking out seven. Since joining the Knights on April 26, he has logged a 5.48 ERA while striking out 30 in 23.0 innings of work. He has been playing the role of closer for the staff and has collected four saves in 20 games.
Eric Niesen (2005-2007) is pitching for the St. Lucie Mets in the Single-A Advanced Florida State League. They are a minor league affiliate of the New York Mets. While starting for St. Lucie this season, he has a 4-8 record while posting a 4.40 ERA over 73.2 innings of work.
Cory Sullivan (2000-2001) is currently playing the outfield for the Colorado Springs Sky Sox, the Triple-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies. In 58 starts for the Sky Sox, he is hitting a respectable .300 with 21 doubles and 4 homeruns. Sullivan has also seen time at the Major League level with the Rockies this season. He earned playing time in nine games, hitting .167 in 12 at-bats.
Ryan Braun (2000-2002) a hard-throwing reliever for the Kansas City Royals, underwent reconstructive elbow surgery earlier this year and is out for the season. In the previous two seasons, he appeared in 35 games for the Royals with a 6.66 ERA and 2-1 record. He was assigned this spring to Triple-A Omaha but never pitched before undergoing surgery.
