KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The Major League Baseball season has nearly reached its halfway point while other professional leagues are also well into their respective seasons.
Tennessee is well-represented at all levels of professional baseball this season with numerous former players on rosters, including five VFLs currently in the Major Leagues.
Check out how UT’s former players are doing so far this season below. Updates will be posted throughout the summer on UTSports.com.
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
Nick Senzel — OF, Cincinnati Reds
Season: 40 G, 26 R, 43 H, 11 2B, 2 3B, 6 HR, 19 RBI, 15 BB, 5 SB, .261 AVG, .320 OBP, .461 SLG
Senzel has established himself as the starting center fielder for the Reds after being called up from the Triple-A Louisville Bats back in May. Since his Major League debut on May 3, he has recorded an on-base streak of 20 games that spanned from May 10 to June 1. In the Reds recent road-trip, Senzel averaged .286 with five doubles and 16 total bases. Senzel hit his sixth home run of the season in a loss to the Rangers on June 14 and has two hits, two runs and three RBI over his past three games.
Christian Stewart — OF, Detroit Tigers
Season: 52 G, 19 R, 43 H, 13 2B, 1 3B, 5 HR, 24 RBI, 24 BB, .234 AVG, .322 OBP, .397 SLG
In his first full season in the Major Leagues, Stewart has solidified himself as an everyday starter in the Tigers’ outfield. The Atlanta native is batting .279 in the month of June after struggling at the plate last month. Stewart went 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI in an 8-7 loss at Pittsburgh on June 19.
Zack Godley — P, Arizona Diamondbacks
Season: 18 App, 8 GS, 3-4, 6.52 ERA, 59.1 IP, 44 R, 43 ER, 64 H, 28 BB, 46 K, 1.52 WHIP
Through 18 appearances in 2019, Godley has split time as a relief and starting pitcher for the Diamondbacks. Godley is 2-0 in June and had allowed just one run on four hits in four appearances to start the month, but struggled in his most recent appearance, giving up six runs on seven hits in 4.2 innings of relief against Washington on June 16.
Drew Steckenrider — RP, Miami Marlins
Season: 15 App, 0 GS, 0-2, 6.28 ERA, 14.1 IP, 10 R, 10 ER, 9 H, 5 BB, 14 K, 0.98 WHIP
Steckenrider has appeared in 15 games this season for the Marlins, giving up 10 runs through 14.1 innings pitched. However, he is holding opposing hitters to a .173 average and has a WHIP of 0.98. Steckenrider is currently on the 60-day injured list with a right flexor strain and will remain idle until the beginning of July.
Yan Gomes — C, Washington Nationals
Season: 47 G, 9 R, 34 H, 7 2B, 2 HR, 19 RBI, 17 BB, .224 AVG, .302 OBP, .309 SLG
Gomes has split time at catcher this season for the Nationals with appearances in 46 games (44 starts). He has amassed nine runs on 34 hits with a .224 average. Gomes had a two-run double in Washington’s last road game on June 11 against the White Sox and has a four-game hit streak snapped on June 16 versus Arizona.
MINOR LEAGUES
Hunter Martin — P, Round Rock Express (AAA – Houston Astros)
Fayetteville Woodpeckers (A-Adv): 10 App, 0 GS, 1-0, 6.52 ERA, 19.1 IP, 16 R, 14 ER, 15 H, 16 BB, 17 K, 1.60 WHIP
Corpus Christi Hooks (AA): 4 App, 0 GS, 0-1, 6.43 ERA, 7.0 IP, 5 R, 5 ER, 8 H, 0 BB, 4 K, 1.14 WHIP
Quad Cities River Bandits (A): 1 App, 0 GS, 0-0, 4.50 ERA, 2.0 IP, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 H, 1 BB, 3 K, 1.50 WHIP
Round Rock Express (AAA): 1 App, 0 GS, 0-0, 63.00 ERA, 1.0 IP, 7 R, 7 ER, 8 H, 1 BB, 1 K, 9.00 WHIP
Martin has bounced around this season, already seeing action with four different teams. After being called up from the Double-A Quad Cities River Bandits on June 14, Martin made an appearance for the Express but gave up seven runs on eight hits in just one inning.
Will Maddox — 2B, Richmond Flying Squirrels (AA – San Francisco Giants)
Erie SeaWolves (AA): 8 G, 4 R, 4 H, 2 RBI, 2 BB, .154 AVG, .207 OBP, .154 SLG
Richmond Flying Squirrels (AA): 31 G, 10 R, 17 H, 3 2B, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 6 BB, 4 SB, .189 AVG, .240 OBP, .278 SLG
Maddox has appeared in 31 games thus far for the Flying Squirrels after being released by the Erie SeaWolves. He has amassed 17 hits and scored 10 runs with one home run. Maddox went 0-for-4 with a walk in a loss to the Trenton Thunder on Wednesday.
Jordan Rodgers — 3B, Florida Fire Frogs (A-Advanced – Atlanta Braves)
Season: 19 G, 6 R, 14 H, 3 2B, 4 RBI, 2 BB, .259 AVG, .293 OBP, .315 SLG
Rodgers has played in 19 games this season for the Fire Frogs, recording 14 hits and 17 total bases. Over his last two contests, Rodgers has three hits, a run scored and an RBI. He also has a hit in five of his last 10 games played.
A.J. Simcox — SS, Lakeland Flying Tigers (A-Advanced – Detroit Tigers)
Erie SeaWolves (AA): 4 G, 0 R, 2 H, 1 3B, 4 RBI, .154 AVG, .143 OBP, .308 SLG
Lakeland Flying Tigers (A-Adv): 48 G, 18 R, 45 H, 8 2B, 3 3B, 1 HR, 10 RBI, 15 BB, .254 AVG, .314 OBP, .350 SLG
After starting the year with the Double-A Erie SeaWolves, Simcox has spent most of this season with the A-Advanced Lakeland Flying Tigers. In 48 games with the Tigers, he has racked up 45 hits, in eight doubles and three triples.
Andy Cox — P, Daytona Tortugas (A-Advanced – Cincinnati Reds)
Dayton Dragons (A): 11 App, 0 GS, 0-1, 6.60 ERA, 1 SV, 15.0 IP, 15 R, 11 ER, 14 H, 17 BB, 21 K, 1.78 WHIP
Chattanooga Lookouts (AA): 1 App, 0 GS, 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 1.0 IP, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 H, 1 BB, 2 K, 2.00 WHIP
Daytona Tortugas (A-Adv): 11 App, 0 GS, 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 5 SV, 13.0 IP, 0 R, 0 ER, 8 H, 7 BB, 23 K, 1.08 WHIP
After starting the season in Dayton and a brief stint in Chattanooga, Cox has emerged as one of the top relievers for the Daytona Tortugas this season. He has recorded five saves and not allowed a run in any of his 11 appearances. Through 13.0 innings, he has totaled 23 strikeouts while giving up just eight hits. Cox slammed the door with a scoreless ninth inning to pick up his fifth save of the year on Wednesday in a 5-4 victory over the Florida Fire Frogs.
Andrew Lee — P, Potomac Nationals (A-Advanced – Washington Nationals)
Season: 14 App, 9 GS, 2-4, 3.45 ERA, 62.2 IP, 28 R, 24 ER, 48 H, 26 BB, 65 K, 1.18 WHIP
Since being called up to the Potomac Nationals on March 31, Lee has started nine games and picked up two wins with a 3.45 ERA. In 62.2 innings pitched, he has racked up 65 strikeouts, which currently leads the team. Lee picked up a no-decision in his last start on June 16 after allowing four runs in 5.2 innings pitched while striking out five.
Zach Warren — P, Clearwater Threshers (A-Advanced – Philadelphia Phillies)
Season: 20 App, 0 GS, 1-0, 3.41 ERA, 2 SV, 29.0 IP, 14 R, 11 ER, 22 H, 23 BB, 49 K, 1.55 WHIP
Warren has appeared in 20 games for the Threshers, posting a 1-0 record and two saves. In 29.0 innings of work, Warren has amassed 49 strikeouts, which ranks fifth on the team, and has posted a 3.41 ERA. Warren has not allowed a run and has given up just six hits over his last six appearances. He racked up four strikeouts in 1.2 innings against Bradenton in his last outing on Wednesday.
Benito Santiago — C, Johnson City Cardinals (Rookie-Advance – St. Louis Cardinals)
Season: N/A
Santiago was assigned to the Cardinals Extended Spring Training on June 12.
Kyle Serrano — P, GCL Astros (Rookie – Houston Astros)
Season: N/A
Serrano and the GCL Astros begin their season on June 24 against the GCL Marlins at 12 p.m. ET.
Matt Ramsey — P, Free Agent
Salt Lake Bees (AAA): 12 App, 0 GS, 0-3, 5.27 ERA, 13.2 IP, 12 R, 8 ER, 16 H, 8 BB, 15 K, 1.76 WHIP
Los Angeles Angels (MLB): 1 App, 0 GS, 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 1.0 IP, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 BB, 1 K, 0.00 WHIP
Ramsey made 12 appearances for the Salt Lake Bees before making his Major League debut for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in a 11-5 victory over the New York Yankees on April 25. In that outing, Ramsey threw one scoreless inning and recorded his first-career strikeout in the big leagues. Ramsey was optioned back down to Salt Lake on April 26 and made five more appearances with the Bees before being released from the Angels organization on June 4.
-UT Athletics
