Kansas State Baseball In The Pros: June 25

Throughout the hottest months of the year, JOS will be tracking K-State’s own professional “boys of summer.” As they attempt to earn a promotion to the major leagues. we will the progress of each toward their ultimate goal of making it to the major leagues. Hit the jump for the latest installment.

This week, we will be focusing on those players who find themselves right on the cusp of the major leagues. I define “on the cusp” as currently playing at the Triple A level. There are two players currently playing in Triple A: Carlos Torres and Jared Goedert. Next week–barring a slew of promotions that changes the landscape–we will be looking out the Double A K-State alumni. These include Evan Marshall, the recently-promoted Justin Bloxom, and Nate Tenbrink.

Carlos Torres is the closest Wildcat alum to the majors, in that he has been up with the Colorado Rockies’ big club this season. He pitched in four games, giving up 3 runs on 5 hits and 5 walks, with 4 strikeouts over six innings of work. Torres’ ERA in Triple A skyrocketed from 3.10 to 4.59 after he struggled mightily in his last start for the Colorado Springs Sky Sox. In that start, he gave up 9 runs, 8 hits, and 5 walks, while striking out two batters over only 2 2/3 innings. Even with his recent struggles, Torres is the most likely of the two K-Staters currently at the Triple A level to see major league action later this season.

Playing for the Columbus Clippers in the Cleveland Indians’ minor league system, Jared Goedert’s recent experience at the Triple A level has been much happier. Goedert started the year absolutely raking for Double A Akron, hitting for a .395 average, and compiling a stunning .476/.613/1.089 slash line over 35 games. Promoted to Triple A, he initially struggled, but has gone 9-21 (.429), with 3 doubles, 3 runs, and 3 RBI, over his last five games to raise his Triple A batting average to .266, and his slash line at that level to .322/.477/.798. He also has 7 home runs, 19 runs scored, and 29 RBI at the Triple A level. However, Goedert is not next in line for promotion among the Indians’ Triple A position players, and even if his hot streak continues, he may not find himself drinking the proverbial “cup of coffee” with the big club later this season. One thing working against Goedert is that he does not currently have a spot on the Indians’ 40-man roster. Also, at 27, his age is advanced for a player who’s not yet seen major league action.

Below are capsules for all of the K-State alumni who are currently playing professionally (including Torres and Goedert), courtesy of Kstatesports.com:

"James Allen (Low A: Dayton/Cincinnati): A seventh-round pick by Cincinnati last year, Allen pitched in one game following last week’s all-star break for the Dayton Dragons of the Low A Midwest League, surrendering an unearned run on three hits in two innings against Bowling Green on Saturday… In 21 games, Allen holds a 4-2 record and a 3.77 ERA, allowing 19 earned runs on 42 hits in 45.1 innings to go along with 18 walks and 37 strikeouts… Dayton, which finished eighth in the first half of the eastern division, is 0-3 to begin the second half and is 30-43 overall.Allen’s page on MiLB.com Kayvon Bahramzadeh (Rookie Arizona League: AZL Athletics/Oakland): A 24th-round selection this year by Oakland, Bahramzadeh began his professional career with a pair of relief outings last week for the AZL Athletics of the Rookie Arizona League… The right-hander picked up the win on Thursday against the AZL Cubs when he tossed two innings, allowing a run on three hits with no walks and four strikeouts… He came back with another two innings on Sunday at the AZL Indians, surrendering a run on one hit with no walks and another four fanned batters… His eight strikeouts this year are tied for second in the Arizona League… The AZL Athletics are a perfect 4-0 to begin the 2012 season and lead the east division by one game over the AZL Cubs.Bahramzadeh’s page on MiLB.com Justin Bloxom (Double A: Harrisburg/Washington): Bloxom, a 2009 draft pick by Washington, was promoted from High A Potomac to Double A Harrisburg of the Eastern League on Tuesday… The third baseman has played in six games for the Senators, including a 2-for-4 outing with three RBI against Portland on Wednesday, while he also doubled home a run at New Hampshire on Friday… In his six games, Bloxom is 4-for-22 (.182)… Bloxom was hitting .259 with 13 doubles, 12 homers and 34 RBI for Potomac before being promoted… His 12 homers for the Nationals are still tied for third the Carolina League, while he is ninth in slugging percentage (.478)… Harrisburg is second in the Eastern League Western Division with an even 37-37 mark.Bloxom’s page on MiLB.com Jake Brown (Rookie: Bristol/Chicago AL): A 30th round selection in this year’s draft by the Chicago White Sox, Brown has played in two games for the Bristol White Sox of the Rookie Appalachian League… The shortstop went 0-for-1 in a pinch-hit appearance against Bluefield on Tuesday before a 1-for-2 outing with a walk against the Blue Jays on Thursday… The White Sox are fourth in the west division with a 2-4 record.Brown’s page on MiLB.com Jared Goedert (Triple A: Columbus/Cleveland): A ninth-round pick by Cleveland in 2006, Goedert carded a pair of three-hit games last week for the Columbus Clippers of the International League… The outfielder went 3-for-4 with a RBI against Charlotte on Tuesday and came back with another 3-for-4 outing with two doubles and a RBI against the Knights on Wednesday… He followed that up with another multi-hit game, going 2-for-5 with a double and another RBI on Thursday… Goedert is hitting .266 (34-for-128) with six doubles, seven home runs and 29 RBI in 34 games this year for Triple A Columbus… He began his year playing for Double A Akron, hitting .395 (49-for-124) with 10 doubles, one triple, five homers and 17 RBI in 35 games… The Clippers are second in the International League West Division with a 37-40 record.Goedert’s page on MiLB.com Wade Hinkle (Rookie: Orem/Los Angeles AL): Hinkle, a 27th-round selection by the Los Angeles Angles in this year’s draft, began his professional career on a high note last week as he went 8-for-25 (.320) with a double, two home runs and seven RBI in the first seven games of the year for the Orem Owlz of the Rookie Pioneer League… In his first game as a pro, Hinkle went 2-for-5 with a double and two RBI at Idaho Falls on Monday… Following a pair of hitless games, Hinkle exploded with a 4-for-4 performance with two homers and four RBI in Orem’s home opener against Ogden on Thursday… His two homers are tied for first in the Pioneer League, while he is fourth in runs scored (8) and tied for sixth in both RBI and walks (5)… The Owlz are fourth in the south division with a 1-6 record to begin the season.Hinkle’s page on MiLB.com Kyle Hunter (Low A: Clinton/Seattle): Hunter, a 31st-round draft pick last year by Seattle, pitched in one game following the all-star break for the Clinton LumberKings of the Low A Midwest League… The left-hander tossed 2.2 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit with no walks and a strikeout against Kane County on Sunday… In 18 games this year, Hunter holds a 0-5 record despite a low 2.97 ERA… He has allowed just 12 earned runs in 36.1 innings with only four walks and 28 strikeouts… Clinton finished eighth in the western division first-half standings and is tied for fifth with a 1-2 mark to begin the second half.Hunter’s page on MiLB.com Carter Jurica (High A: San Jose/San Francisco): A third-round selection by San Francisco in 2010, Jurica remains on the disabled list after being placed on the DL on June 7… Jurica, a member of the San Jose Giants of the High A California League, is hitting .262 with five doubles, one triple, two home runs and 22 RBI in 51 games… San Jose finished second in the first half of the north division and is 2-2 to begin the second half.Jurica’s page on MiLB.com Jason King (Low A: West Michigan/Detroit): King, a fourth-round draft pick by Detroit last year, had a hit in all three games following the all-star break for the West Michigan Whitecaps of the Low A Midwest League… King went 1-for-4 with a RBI double against South Bend on Friday before a 2-for-4 effort with a double on Saturday and a 1-for-4 outing on Sunday… King, who began his season late due to an injury late last year, is hitting .211 with 10 doubles, three home runs and 15 RBI in 43 games… West Michigan finished third in the eastern division during the first half and is tied for fourth in the second half at 1-2.King’s page on MiLB.com Dan Klein (Class A Short-Season: Vancouver/Toronto): Klein, a 28th-round pick by Toronto this year, went 3-for-12 in three games last week for the Vancouver Canadians of the Class A Short-Season Northwest League… The catcher opened his week by going 2-for-5 with a double, a home run and four RBI in a 9-1 victory at Spokane on Monday… He also doubled and scored a run against Tri-City on Saturday… In five games this season, Klein is hitting .263 (5-for-19) with two doubles, two home runs and five RBI… His two homers are tied for fourth in the Northwest League… The Canadians lead the west division with an 8-2 record, one game ahead of Everett.Klein’s page on MiLB.com Evan Marshall (Double A: Mobile/Arizona): A fourth-round selection by Arizona in 2011, Marshall continues to be one of the top relievers in the Southern League (Double A) for the Mobile BayBears… Marshall, who tossed 0.2 scoreless innings in the Southern League All-Star Game last week, came back with another save on Friday when he worked around two hits with a strikeout in one inning against Montgomery… Marshall holds a 3-1 record and a 1.78 ERA with a league-leading 15 saves, two more than the pitcher in second place… The right-hander has surrendered only five earned runs on 26 hits in 25.1 innings… The BayBears, who won the first-half south division title, are tied for second at 2-2 to begin the second half, while they are 42-32 overall.Marshall’s page on MiLB.com Nick Martini (Low A: Quad Cities/St. Louis): Martini, a seventh-round selection of St. Louis last year, was hitless in three games following the all-star break last week for the Quad Cities River Bandits of the Low A Midwest League… The outfielder drew walks at Peoria on both Friday and Saturday… In 70 games, Martini is hitting .251 with nine doubles, one triple, two home runs and 31 RBI… The Crystal Lake, Ill., product leads the Midwest League with 46 walks and is second with 53 runs scored… The River Bandits tied for third in the western division during the first half and are tied for second to begin the second half with a 2-1 record.Martini’s page on MiLB.com A.J. Morris (High A: Daytona/Chicago NL): Morris, a fourth-round draft choice of Washington in 2009, threw in relief in three games last week for the Daytona Cubs of the High A Florida State League… The right-hander tossed a perfect inning with a strikeout against Tampa on Monday and then earned the win against the Yankees on Wednesday with a scoreless inning… Morris then suffered the loss on Saturday when he allowed four runs on two hits and two walks without recording an out at Clearwater… Morris holds a 2-2 record and a 3.68 ERA in 20 outings this year, allowing nine earned runs on 17 hits in 22 innings to go along with eight walks and 17 strikeouts… Daytona finished fourth in the first half of the north division and is 2-1 to begin the second half.Morris’ page on MiLB.com Nate Tenbrink (Double A: Jackson/Seattle): A seventh-round draft pick by Seattle in 2008, Tenbrink played for the AZL Mariners on Wednesday, going 4-for-4 with a triple and two RBI in his first game of the year following off-season surgery… After the game, the third baseman was sent to Double A Jackson, a team he played for during the entire 2011 season… Tenbrink went 1-for-2 with three walks and a RBI for the Generals on Friday against Huntsville before a 1-for-3 outing with a double on Sunday… Jackson, which captured the first-half north division title with a 42-28 record, is 2-2 to begin the second half.Tenbrink’s page on MiLB.com Carlos Torres (Triple A: Colorado Springs/Colorado): Torres, a 15th-round pick of the White Sox in 2004, struggled in his only start last week for the Colorado Springs Sky Sox of the Pacific Coast League… The right-hander lasted just 2.2 innings, allowing nine runs on eight hits with five walks and two strikeouts against Salt Lake City… In 11 starts for the Sky Sox, Torres holds a 3-4 record and a 4.59 ERA, surrendering 25 earned runs on 52 hits with 23 walks and 47 strikeouts in 49 innings… The right-hander has also pitched in four games this year for the Colorado Rockies, allowing three runs on five hits with five walks and four strikeouts in six innings… The Sky Sox are third in the Pacific Northern division with an even 38-38 mark.Torres’ page on MiLB.com"