Photo by: Austin Friedline/Indianapolis Indians
Deacs in the Pros: July 18
7/18/2019 10:08:00 AM | Baseball
A look at former Demon Deacon baseball players now playing in the professional ranks.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- A total of 19 Demon Deacon alumni are playing in professional baseball, including several knocking on the door of the big leagues. Here's a look at the Deacs in the pros.
AAA
Will Craig, Indianapolis Indians (PIT) -- Craig was among the top prospects selected to participate in the MLB Futures Game, where he became the first-ever player to be hit by two pitches in a game. Craig has enjoyed a successful season so far, totaling 18 homers and 15 doubles. He is hitting .250 to go along with 54 RBIs and a pair of stolen bases.
Parker Dunshee, Las Vegas Aviators (OAK) -- Dunshee had a dominant start to the year in AA en route to being promoted to AAA for the first time. With the Midland Rockhounds, Dunshee had a 2-2 record and 1.89 ERA and opponents batted just .195 against him. Overall this season, Dunshee is 4-6 with a 4.52 ERA, striking out 81 batters in 93.2 innings while foes are batting .235.
Mac Williamson, Tacoma Rainiers (SEA) -- Williamson has spent time at the big-league level with both the Sna Francisco Giants and Seattle Mariners this season. While he has four big-league homers, the average has yet to match the power and he was returned to AAA this week. At that level, Williamson has hit .378 with nine homers in 23 games.
AA
Stuart Fairchild, Chattanooga Lookouts (CIN) -- Fairchild was promoted to AA for the second time this season on Wednesday. In five games at AA, Fairchild has batted .429 with a homer and stolen base. Between Chattanooga and Daytona, the five-tool threat has combined to bat .267 with 19 doubles, two triples, nine home runs and four stolen bases.
Aaron Fossas, Chattanooga Lookouts (CIN) -- Fossas has had an up-and-down season, recording a 4-3 record and 6.70 ERA, striking out 36 batters in 45.2 innings. Over his four-year pro career, Fossas has a 15-6 record to go along with a 4.33 ERA.
Connor Johnstone, Mississippi Braves (ATL) -- Johnstone has been back-and-forth between the AA and AAA levels, primarily working out of the bullpen. Over both levels he has a 5-1 record and 3.59 ERA and a save, striking out 34 foes in 52.2 innings. Those numbers mirror his career stats, as he's 9-5 with a 3.54 ERA over three pro seasons.
Nate Mondou, Midland Rockhounds (OAK) -- While his average has dipped a bit this year, Mondou is still performing in other areas. He has racked up nine doubles, three triples and three homers in addition to six stolen bases. The fourth-year pro is hitting .271 in his career and has an impressive .987 fielding percentage this year.
Gavin Sheets, Birmingham Barons (CWS) -- Sheets has been one of the hotest hitters in the country as of late. He has reached base safely in 30 consecutive games, raising his average more than 30 points. He is hitting .278 with 11 doubles, 12 homers, and a Southern League-best 63 RBIs. In his three pro seasons, Sheets is batting .285 with 51 doubles and 22 longballs.
High A
Garrett Kelly, Myrtle Beach Pelicans (CHC) -- Kelly has become the Pelicans' closer while he continues his dominant run in pro ball. He has a 2.05 ERA and four saves in 15 appearances, allowing only 12 hits in 22 innings (.158 average). Kelly's career ERA is 2.25, including a mark of 1.68 over the last two years.
Griffin Roberts, Palm Beach Cardinals (STL) -- Roberts has shown flashes of brilliance since returning to the mound last month. His best outing came June 29, when he allowed one earned run on five hits and a walk over 6.0 innings with five strikeouts. He has struggled to regain his command much of the year and currently has a 6.44 ERA.
Donnie Sellers, Dunedin Blue Jays (TOR) -- Sellers has missed all of the season so far with an injury. In two pro seasons, the High Point native is 10-4 with a 3.96 ERA.
A
Johnny Aiello, Lansing Lugnuts (TOR) -- Aiello has homered in back-to-back games as he's getting his swing going after missing six weeks of the year with an injury. In 41 games, he's batting .237 with nine doubles, four homers, 20 RBIs and three stolen bases.
Ben Breazeale, Delmarva Shorebirds (BAL) -- A seventh-round pick in 2017, Breazeale is batting .249 with nine doubles, a homer and 20 RBIs this year. In his career, he is a .269 hitter with 33 doubles and nine homers.
Short Season A
Patrick Frick, Everett AquaSox (SEA) -- After a slow start, Frick has come on strong as of late. Over his last eight games, Frick is hitting .357 with eight walks. He has drawn 20 total walks in 28 games, hitting .228 with a .371 on-base percentage, four doubles and 11 RBIs while starting at least six games each at second base, third base and shortstop.
Morgan McSweeney, Aberdeen IronBirds (BAL) --- McSweeney has appeared in five games since being drafted last month. His best outing came when he earned the win on July 6, striking out three over 2.0 perfect frames. McSweeney is 1-0 with a 5.00 ERA and 11 strikeouts in 9.0 innings.
Colin Peluse, Vermont Lake Monsters (OAK) -- A ninth-round pick last month, Peluse has performed well in limited action. Including a suspended game yesterday, he has made four starts, has a 0-0 record and 2.89 ERA, allowing 10 hits and two walks in 9.1 innings. He has yet to concede more than one earned run in an outing.
Rayne Supple, Boise Hawks (COL) -- Supple has thrown scoreless outings in five of his seven appearances. Outside of one six-run outburst, he has a 1.29 ERA in 7.0 innings. Supple has struck out seven batters in 8.0 innings so far this year.
Rookie
Carter Bach, Princeton Rays (TB) -- Bach recorded a pair of saves in a stellar three-game stretch, when he struck out eight over 7.0 innings without an earned run. He has struggled outside of that, though, and has an 8.36 ERA overall.
Bruce Steel, AZL Royals (KC) -- Steel signed a free-agent contract after the draft and is currently in the Arizona League. In three games, he's hitting .300 with a double and two walks.
AAA
Will Craig, Indianapolis Indians (PIT) -- Craig was among the top prospects selected to participate in the MLB Futures Game, where he became the first-ever player to be hit by two pitches in a game. Craig has enjoyed a successful season so far, totaling 18 homers and 15 doubles. He is hitting .250 to go along with 54 RBIs and a pair of stolen bases.
Parker Dunshee, Las Vegas Aviators (OAK) -- Dunshee had a dominant start to the year in AA en route to being promoted to AAA for the first time. With the Midland Rockhounds, Dunshee had a 2-2 record and 1.89 ERA and opponents batted just .195 against him. Overall this season, Dunshee is 4-6 with a 4.52 ERA, striking out 81 batters in 93.2 innings while foes are batting .235.
Mac Williamson, Tacoma Rainiers (SEA) -- Williamson has spent time at the big-league level with both the Sna Francisco Giants and Seattle Mariners this season. While he has four big-league homers, the average has yet to match the power and he was returned to AAA this week. At that level, Williamson has hit .378 with nine homers in 23 games.
AA
Stuart Fairchild, Chattanooga Lookouts (CIN) -- Fairchild was promoted to AA for the second time this season on Wednesday. In five games at AA, Fairchild has batted .429 with a homer and stolen base. Between Chattanooga and Daytona, the five-tool threat has combined to bat .267 with 19 doubles, two triples, nine home runs and four stolen bases.
Aaron Fossas, Chattanooga Lookouts (CIN) -- Fossas has had an up-and-down season, recording a 4-3 record and 6.70 ERA, striking out 36 batters in 45.2 innings. Over his four-year pro career, Fossas has a 15-6 record to go along with a 4.33 ERA.
Connor Johnstone, Mississippi Braves (ATL) -- Johnstone has been back-and-forth between the AA and AAA levels, primarily working out of the bullpen. Over both levels he has a 5-1 record and 3.59 ERA and a save, striking out 34 foes in 52.2 innings. Those numbers mirror his career stats, as he's 9-5 with a 3.54 ERA over three pro seasons.
Nate Mondou, Midland Rockhounds (OAK) -- While his average has dipped a bit this year, Mondou is still performing in other areas. He has racked up nine doubles, three triples and three homers in addition to six stolen bases. The fourth-year pro is hitting .271 in his career and has an impressive .987 fielding percentage this year.
Gavin Sheets, Birmingham Barons (CWS) -- Sheets has been one of the hotest hitters in the country as of late. He has reached base safely in 30 consecutive games, raising his average more than 30 points. He is hitting .278 with 11 doubles, 12 homers, and a Southern League-best 63 RBIs. In his three pro seasons, Sheets is batting .285 with 51 doubles and 22 longballs.
High A
Garrett Kelly, Myrtle Beach Pelicans (CHC) -- Kelly has become the Pelicans' closer while he continues his dominant run in pro ball. He has a 2.05 ERA and four saves in 15 appearances, allowing only 12 hits in 22 innings (.158 average). Kelly's career ERA is 2.25, including a mark of 1.68 over the last two years.
Griffin Roberts, Palm Beach Cardinals (STL) -- Roberts has shown flashes of brilliance since returning to the mound last month. His best outing came June 29, when he allowed one earned run on five hits and a walk over 6.0 innings with five strikeouts. He has struggled to regain his command much of the year and currently has a 6.44 ERA.
Donnie Sellers, Dunedin Blue Jays (TOR) -- Sellers has missed all of the season so far with an injury. In two pro seasons, the High Point native is 10-4 with a 3.96 ERA.
A
Johnny Aiello, Lansing Lugnuts (TOR) -- Aiello has homered in back-to-back games as he's getting his swing going after missing six weeks of the year with an injury. In 41 games, he's batting .237 with nine doubles, four homers, 20 RBIs and three stolen bases.
Ben Breazeale, Delmarva Shorebirds (BAL) -- A seventh-round pick in 2017, Breazeale is batting .249 with nine doubles, a homer and 20 RBIs this year. In his career, he is a .269 hitter with 33 doubles and nine homers.
Short Season A
Patrick Frick, Everett AquaSox (SEA) -- After a slow start, Frick has come on strong as of late. Over his last eight games, Frick is hitting .357 with eight walks. He has drawn 20 total walks in 28 games, hitting .228 with a .371 on-base percentage, four doubles and 11 RBIs while starting at least six games each at second base, third base and shortstop.
Morgan McSweeney, Aberdeen IronBirds (BAL) --- McSweeney has appeared in five games since being drafted last month. His best outing came when he earned the win on July 6, striking out three over 2.0 perfect frames. McSweeney is 1-0 with a 5.00 ERA and 11 strikeouts in 9.0 innings.
Colin Peluse, Vermont Lake Monsters (OAK) -- A ninth-round pick last month, Peluse has performed well in limited action. Including a suspended game yesterday, he has made four starts, has a 0-0 record and 2.89 ERA, allowing 10 hits and two walks in 9.1 innings. He has yet to concede more than one earned run in an outing.
Rayne Supple, Boise Hawks (COL) -- Supple has thrown scoreless outings in five of his seven appearances. Outside of one six-run outburst, he has a 1.29 ERA in 7.0 innings. Supple has struck out seven batters in 8.0 innings so far this year.
Rookie
Carter Bach, Princeton Rays (TB) -- Bach recorded a pair of saves in a stellar three-game stretch, when he struck out eight over 7.0 innings without an earned run. He has struggled outside of that, though, and has an 8.36 ERA overall.
Bruce Steel, AZL Royals (KC) -- Steel signed a free-agent contract after the draft and is currently in the Arizona League. In three games, he's hitting .300 with a double and two walks.
Players Mentioned
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