Kansas State Baseball In The Pros: July 2

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’s edition of Kansas State Baseball In The Pros will focus on the three KSU alumni plying their trade in Double A: Evan Marshall, Justin Bloxom, and Nate Tenbrink.

To this point in the 2012 season, Evan Marshall is probably the closest of the three to promotion, either to the Triple A level, or to the Diamondbacks big club. Though he’s not on their 40 man roster, he has been pitching very well in the closer’s role for the Double A Mobile BayBears. Just this past week, the Diamondbacks’ 2011 4th round pick pitched two more scoreless innings for the BayBears, adding another save, bringing his league-leading total to 16. Marshall is now 3-1 on the season, with a 1.65 ERA in 27 1/3 innings over 26 appearances. He has issued only 5 bases on balls, while collecting 17 strikeouts. Marshall’s BayBear squad won the First Half South Division title, with Marshall earning an All-Star nod. They have stumbled a bit out of the gate in the second half, going 5-6, bringing their overall record to 45-36. (Marshall’s page on MiLB.com)

The other two KSU alumni playing at Double A are fairly recent promotions. Justin Bloxom, playing for the Washington Nationals’ Double A Harrisburg Senators squad, managed to hit in five of six games last week. Even given his recent hot streak, Bloxom is hitting only .244 (11-45) over his 12 games at the Double A level. Within those 11 hits, however, are 2 doubles, 1 home run, and 7 runs batted in. Drafted in 2009, at the time of his promotion from Single A Potomac, he had hit 12 home runs for the team, which still ranks him 4th in the Carolina League. Bloxom’s Harrisburg club is currently in a tie for second in the Eastern League’s Western Division, sporting a 41-40 record. (Bloxom’s page on MiLB.com)

Meanwhile, Nate Tenbrink’s first six games since being promoted to the Seattle Mariner’s Double A Jackson Generals club could not have gone much better. Drafted in the 7th round of the 2008 draft, Tenbrink went 4-5, while hammering a home run, and driving in 2 runs on the road against the Pensacola Blue Wahoos. In just six games at the Double A level, Tenbrink has put together a .400 average (8-20), while hitting two home runs, one double, and driving in five runs. Tenbrink’s Generals team won the first-half north division title. They now find themselves in a tie for second after the first 11 games of the second half, with a 6-5 record, that has moved their overall record to 48-33. (Tenbrink’s page on MiLB.com)

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

"James Allen (Low A: Dayton/Cincinnati): Allen was outstanding in his only appearances of the week for the Dayton Dragons of the Low A Midwest League… A seventh-round pick by Cincinnati in 2011, Allen worked five scoreless innings, allowing just two hits with no walks and four strikeouts to lead Dayton to a 10-3 victory over Lake County on Wednesday… In 22 games this season, Allen is 5-2 with a 3.40 ERA, allowing 19 earned runs on 44 hits in 50.1 innings to go along with 18 walks and 41 strikeouts… His five victories are the most in the Midwest League among relief pitchers… The Dragons are in eighth in the eastern division during the second half with a 2-8 record, while they are 32-48 overall.Allen’s page on MiLB.comKayvon Bahramzadeh (Rookie Arizona League: AZL Athletics/Oakland): Bahramzadeh, a 24th-round selection this year by Oakland, pitched three innings of relief on Friday for the AZL Athletics of the Rookie Arizona League… The right-hander gave up a pair of solo home runs in three innings against the AZL Brewers, but he did not walk a batter and struck out four for the third-straight time… His 12 strikeouts this year are tied for eighth in the Arizona League… The AZL Athletics are tied for first in the east division with an 8-2 record.Bahramzadeh’s page on MiLB.comJustin Bloxom (Double A: Harrisburg/Washington): Bloxom recorded hits in five of his six games last week for the Harrisburg Senators of the Double A Eastern League… A 2009 draft pick by Washington, the third baseman went 2-for-4 with his first home run in Double A on Monday at New Hampshire and came back with another two-hit game with two RBI against Altoona on Tuesday… He also doubled against Erie on Saturday… In 12 games for the Senators, Bloxom is hitting .244 (11-for-45) with two doubles, one home run and seven RBI… He was hitting .259 with 13 doubles, 12 homers and 34 RBI for High A Potomac before being promoted… His 12 homers for the Nationals are still tied for fourth the Carolina League, while he is eighth in slugging percentage (.478)… Harrisburg is tied for second in the Eastern League Western Division with a 41-40 record.Bloxom’s page on MiLB.comJake Brown (Rookie: Bristol/Chicago AL): Brown, a 30th-round selection in this year’s draft by the Chicago White Sox, played in just one game last week for the Bristol White Sox of the Rookie Appalachian League… The shortstop was 0-for-1 as he drove in a run on a fielder’s choice, while he walked twice and scored a run against Princeton on Friday… In three games, Brown is 1-for-4 with a RBI and three walks… Bristol is fourth in the west division with a 4-9 mark.Brown’s page on MiLB.comJared Goedert (Triple A: Columbus/Cleveland): Three two-hit games highlighted Goedert’s week for the Columbus Clippers of the International League… A ninth-round pick by Cleveland in 2006, Goedert was 2-for-4 with a double on Monday against Lehigh Valley and on Thursday against Norfolk, while he added a RBI against the Tides… He finished his week with another two-hit game with two runs scored against Norfolk on Friday… In 39 games in Triple A, Goedert is hitting .279 with eight doubles, seven home runs and 30 RBI… 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… Columbus is second in the International League West Division with a 41-42 record.Goedert’s page on MiLB.comWade Hinkle (Rookie: Orem/Los Angeles AL): A 27th-round selection by the Los Angeles Angles in this year’s draft, Hinkle recorded five hits last week for the Orem Owlz of the Rookie Pioneer League… The first baseman went 2-for-4 with a solo home run at Grand Junction on Tuesday and homered again against the Rockies on Saturday before finishing the week with another RBI on Sunday… In 14 games as a professional, Hinkle is hitting .295 (13-for-44) with one double, four home runs and 11 RBI… His four homers lead the Pioneer League, while he is tied for fourth in walks (9), fifth in slugging percentage (.591), sixth in OPS (1.030), tied for sixth in runs scored (12) and tied for eighth in RBI… Orem is fourth in the south division with a 5-9 record.Hinkle’s page on MiLB.comKyle Hunter (Low A: Clinton/Seattle): Hunter pitched in two games last week for the Clinton LumberKings of the Low A Midwest League… A 31st-round draft pick last year by Seattle, the left-hander gave up a run on two hits without recording an out at Beloit on Thursday… He also pitched on Sunday at Burlington, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits with a walk and a strikeout in two innings… Hunter has not recorded a win in five decisions despite a low 3.29 ERA in 20 outings… He has allowed just 14 earned runs in 38.1 innings with only five walks and 29 strikeouts… The LumberKings are tied for second in the western division during the second half with a 6-4 record and are 29-49 overall.Hunter’s page on MiLB.comCarter Jurica (High A: San Jose/San Francisco): Jurica came off the disabled list to play in two games last week for the San Jose Giants of the High A California League… A third-round selection by San Francisco in 2010, Jurica went 0-for-3 with a walk in his first game in 24 days on Saturday at Lake Elsinore… He bounced back on Sunday at Stockton by going 3-for-5 with a double, a triple and two RBI in a 10-3 San Jose win… In 53 games this year, Jurica is hitting .267 with six doubles, two triples, two home runs and 24 RBI… The Giants are 5-6 to begin the second half to sit in fourth in the north division, while they are 43-38 overall.Jurica’s page on MiLB.comJason King (Low A: West Michigan/Detroit): King recorded consecutive two-hit games to begin the week for the West Michigan Whitecaps of the Low A Midwest League before going on the disabled list… A fourth-round draft pick by Detroit last year, King was 3-for-5 against Bowling Green on both Monday and Tuesday, driving in a run and scoring twice on Tuesday… King, who began his season late due to an injury towards the end of 2011, is hitting .233 with 10 doubles, three home runs and 16 RBI in 45 games… The Whitecaps are tied for second in the eastern division with a 6-4 second-half record and are 42-38 overall.King’s page on MiLB.comDan Klein (Class A Short-Season: Vancouver/Toronto): A 28th-round pick by Toronto this year, Klein played in five games last week for the Vancouver Canadians of the Class A Short-Season Northwest League… He drove in two runs with two walks on Thursday against Eugene, while he went 1-for-4 with a double and a RBI against the Emeralds on Friday… Klein is hitting .176 (6-for-34) with three doubles, two home runs and eight RBI in 10 games as a professional… His two homers are tied for seventh in the Northwest League… Vancouver is second in the west division at 10-6.Klein’s page on MiLB.comEvan Marshall (Double A: Mobile/Arizona): Marshall registered two more scoreless outings last week for the Mobile BayBears of the Double A Southern League… A fourth-round selection by Arizona in 2011, the right-hander worked a perfect inning with a strikeout on Wednesday at Huntsville before collecting a save against the Stars on Saturday… In 26 games this season, Marshall holds a 3-1 record and a 1.65 ERA with a league-leading 16 saves, three more than the pitcher in second place… Marshall has allowed just five earned runs on 27 hits in 27.1 innings with five walks and 17 strikeouts… Mobile, which won the first-half south division title, is tied for third during the second half with a 5-6 record and is 45-36 overall.Marshall’s page on MiLB.comNick Martini (Low A: Quad Cities/St. Louis): Martini recorded at least one hit in four of his six games last week for the Quad Cities River Bandits of the Low A Midwest League… A seventh-round selection of St. Louis last year, the outfielder went 3-for-5 with a triple on Tuesday at Wisconsin before a two-hit game with a double on Wednesday against Cedar Rapids… Martini is hitting .257 with 10 doubles, two triples, two home runs and 31 RBI in 76 games… He leads the Midwest League with 50 walks and is tied for first with 56 runs scored… Quad Cities leads the western division during the second half with a 7-3 record and is 42-37 overall.|Martini’s page on MiLB.comA.J. Morris (High A: Daytona/Chicago NL): Morris put together three scoreless outings last week for the Daytona Cubs of the High A Florida State League… A fourth-round draft choice of Washington in 2009, the right-hander pitched a perfect inning with a strikeout on Monday at St. Lucie before earning the win by tossing two perfect innings with one strikeout on Thursday against Dunedin… He finished the week on Sunday with another two perfect innings of work with a pair of strikeouts against Lakeland… In 23 appearances, Morris holds a 3-2 record with a 3.00 ERA, allowing nine earned runs on 17 hits in 27 innings to go along with eight walks and 21 strikeouts… The Cubs are fourth in the north division with a 6-5 record during the second half and are 36-43 overall.Morris’ page on MiLB.comNate Tenbrink (Double A: Jackson/Seattle): Tenbrink carded six hits in four games last week for the Jackson Generals of the Double A Southern League… A seventh-round draft pick by Seattle in 2008, Tenbrink began his week on fire as he went 4-for-5 with a home run and two RBI on Tuesday at Pensacola before a solo home run and two RBI against the Blue Wahoos on Thursday and another hit on Saturday… In six games in Double A, Tenbrink is hitting .400 (8-for-20) with a double, two home runs and five RBI… The third baseman started his season late due to off-season surgery and played in one game for the AZL Mariners on a rehab assignment, going 4-for-4 with a triple and two RBI… The Generals, who captured the first-half north division title, are tied for second during the second half at 6-5 and hold a 48-33 overall record.Tenbrink’s page on MiLB.comCarlos Torres (Triple A: Colorado Springs/Colorado): Torres bounced back from a rough start two weeks ago with a pair of wins last week for the Colorado Springs Sky Sox of the Pacific Coast League… A 15th-round pick of the White Sox in 2004, Torres allowed one run on six hits with no walks and three strikeouts for the win on Monday against Tacoma… Then on Friday, the right-hander surrendered just two runs (one earned) on three hits with a pair of walks and six strikeouts in six innings for the victory at Tucson… In 13 starts for the Sky Sox, Torres holds a 5-4 record and a 4.05 ERA, surrendering 27 earned runs on 61 hits with 25 walks and 56 strikeouts in 60 innings… Torres 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 a 40-42 record.Torres’ page on MiLB.com"