Deacons in Professional Baseball
7/8/2010 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
July 8, 2010
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - The professional baseball season is at the half way point. Here's a look at how former Wake Forest baseball players are faring in the pros.
Dave Bush (1999-2002) has pitched in 17 games, including 16 starts, this season for the Milwaukee Brewers. Bush has a 3-6 record on the year for Milwaukee with a 4.23 ERA. He pitched well in his most recent start against the San Francisco Giants on July 5, giving up just one run on five hits over 6.0 innings, but did not receive a decision.
Cory Sullivan (2000-01) played in 57 games this season as an outfielder for the Houston Astros. He hit .188 with four RBIs on the year. Sullivan was designated for assignment on June 20 and is currently a free agent.
Jamie D'Antona (2001-03) has played in 68 games this season for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows of Japan's Central League. D'Antona is hitting .211 on the year with 11 homers and 40 RBIs. D'Antona ranks second on the team in home runs and paces the team in RBIs.
Mike MacDougal (1997-99) pitched in 18 games this season for the Washington Nationals' AA (Harrisburg) and AAA (Syracuse) teams. MacDougal appeared in eight games for Harrisburg and had a 2-1 record with a 7.36 ERA. While with Syracuse, MacDougal compiled a 2-0 record with a 3.29 ERA in 10 outings. MacDougal opted out of his contract with the Nationals on July 1 and signed a contract with the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday. MacDougal made his debut with Memphis, St. Louis' triple A affiliate on Wednesday night, and gave up two runs on two hits with two walks in an inning.
Matt Antonelli (2004-06) has yet to play this season for the Portland Beavers, the Triple-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres, while recovering from surgery on his hand. Before getting injured, Antonelli enjoyed a strong spring training, hitting .378 with a homer and eight RBIs.
Josh Ellis (2004-07) has appeared in 22 games this season between AAA Reno and AA Mobile, minor league affiliates of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Ellis pitched in 11 games with Reno and had a 4.26 ERA with no record. Currently with Mobile, Ellis has not allowed a run in 11 outings and has a 1-0 record. In 14.1 innings with Mobile, Ellis has struck out 15 and allowed 13 hits.
Eric Niesen (2005-07) has started 12 games on the mound this season for the Binghamton Mets, the double A affiliate of the New York Mets. Niesen has a 4-3 record with a 3.61 ERA. In 47.1 innings, Niesen has surrendered 24 runs, 19 of them earned, on 35 hits with 35 strikeouts.
Allan Dykstra (2006-08) has played in 65 games this season for the Lake Elsinore Storm, the Advanced Class A affiliate of the San Diego Padres. Dykstra is hitting .222 with six homers and 35 RBIs. Over his last 10 games, Dykstra is batting .303, including a 3-for-5 performance on July 5 against Visalia.
Phil Negus (2007-09) is pitching for the Kannapolis Intimidators, the single A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. Negus, who is currently on the seven-day disabled list, has pitched in four games this season for the Intimidators and has no record with a 2.45 ERA.
Garrett Bullock (2006-09) has made six relief appearances on the season with the Greeneville Astros, the rookie league affiliate of the Houston Astros. Bullock has recorded a 1-0 record with a 2.61 ERA for the Astros. In 10.1 innings, Bullock has allowed four runs, three earned, on nine hits with eight strikeouts.
Joel Ernst (2007-10) has started his professional career with the Cincinnati Reds' rookie league team in Arizona. Ernst made his professional debut on July 4, throwing a perfect inning in relief with a strikeout.
Mike Murray (2007-10) has played in four games for the San Francisco Giants' rookie league team in Arizona. Murray is hitting .333 on the season with a double. He went 3-for-4 with a double against the Angels' rookie league team on June 27.
Eric Williams (2006-08) has played in 37 games with the Wichita Wingnuts, a team in the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball. Williams is batting .280 with three RBIs. Williams has drawn a team-high 28 walks and is second on the team with a .423 on-base percentage.
