MiLB Season Recap: Cougars in the Pros
9/3/2014 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
HOUSTON - Houston Baseball was well represented across all levels of Minor League Baseball (MiLB) during the 2014 season as several earned accolades and promotions throughout the year. Nine Cougars were active, including three from the 2014 Regional Championship team.
Two Cougars are currently on MLB rosters in outfielder Michael Bourn (Cleveland Indians) and relief pitcher Jesse Crain (Houston Astros).
Casey Grayson - INF - Houston '14
Johnson City Cardinals (MLB Club: St. Louis Cardinals)
Rookie - Appalachian League
Awards: Postseason All-Star; Player of the Week (July 7)
Grayson played an integral part in the Johnson City Cardinals success this season, being named a Postseason All-Star and Player of the Week (July 7) this season. The first baseman played in 64 games, hit .283 with 64 hits in 226 at-bats. He slugged .434 with 17 doubles and five homeruns, while driving in 46 RBI to accompany 36 walks for a .813 ops.
Chase Wellbrock - RHP - Houston '14
Lansing Lugnuts (MLB Club: Toronto Blue Jays)
Class A - Midwest League
Awards: Pitcher of the Week (Aug. 11)
Wellbrock continued his success from collegiate ball into the Minor Leagues when he appeared in 20 games for Rookie-level Bluefield Blue Jays out of the Appalachian League. He notched an impressive 0.37 ERA with a 2-2 record and two saves in 24.1 innings pitched. Wellbrock allowed just one earned run and held opponents to a .153 average, while fanning 34 to just one walk. With those numbers, Wellbrock was promoted to Class A (full season) as part of the Lansing Lugnuts. With his current team, he made two appearances for 7.0 innings, striking out five. On the season, Wellbrock finished with a 1.44 ERA, a 2-2 record with two saves and allowed just five earned runs in 31.1 innings. He went on to strikeout 39 to just two walks. For his efforts, he was named Pitcher of the Week (Aug. 11).
Tyler Ford - LHP - Houston '14
Lakeland Flying Tigers (MLB Club: Detroit Tigers)
Class A Advanced - Florida State League
Ford went 4-1 with a 1.69 ERA in 10 appearances with the GCL Tigers at the Rookie Level. He added three saves and in 21.1 innings, he fanned 25 and held opponents to an average of .145. These numbers promoted him to Lakeland in the Class A Advanced level, where he finished the year 1-1 with a 2.89 ERA. In four games and 9.1 innings tossed, he fanned seven. During the year, he also appeared in two games for the Connecticut Tigers in the New York Penn League (A-Short).
Austin Pruitt - RHP - Houston '13
Charlotte Stone Crabs (MLB Club: Tampa Bay Rays)
Class A Advanced - Florida State League
Awards: Charlotte Team Pitcher of the Year; Pitcher of the Week (Aug. 4)
Pruitt led the Charlotte Stone Crabs in wins (9), strikeouts (106) and won six consecutive starts with an ERA of 1.07 from July 5- Aug. 1 en route to being named the Team's Pitcher of the Year following the season. He finished 9-7 with a 3.73 ERA in 26 appearances and 25 starts. In 147.0 innings, he struck out 106 and walked just 31 for an WHIP of 1.19.
Caleb Ramsey - OF- Houston '11
Harrisburg Senators (MLB Club: Washington Nationals)
Double A - Eastern League
Ramsey played in 127 for the Senators, notching 116 hits, including 16 doubles, two triples and one homerun. He finished second on the team with 20 stolen bases, while tallying 43 RBI, 42 walks and a .245 average as the starting right fielder.
Chris Wallace - C - Houston '10
Columbus Clippers (MLB Club: Cleveland Indians)
Triple A - International League
Wallace finished the 2014 season on the disabled list and only appeared in 18 games during the year. During that stretch, he had nine hits, including two doubles, and scored seven runs.
John Cannon - C - Houston '12
Ogden Raptors (MLB Club: Los Angeles Dodgers)
Rookie - Pioneer League
Cannon finished 2014 with the Odgen Raptors out of the Pioneer League after being sent down to recover from injury. On the year, Cannon hit .317 in a limited 16 games played. He drove in seven RBI and slugged .488. He began the year at the Triple A level with the Albuquerque Isotopes and in six games, hit .571, but injury occurred and sent him to Ogden where he finished the year, appearing in 10 games, hitting .265 with two homeruns and seven RBI.
Brad Lincoln - RHP - Houston '06
Lehigh Valley IronPigs (MLB Club: Philadelphia Phillies)
Triple A - International League
Awards: Pitcher of the Week (June 9)
Lincoln made 22 starts and appeared in 27 games for Lehigh in 2014, tallying a 6-11 record with one complete game. In 123.1 innings, he fanned 112 and tallied a 5.11 ERA.
Donnie Joseph - LHP - Houston '09
New Orleans Zephyrs (MLB Club: Miami Marlins)
Triple A - Pacific Coast League
Joseph began the 2014 season with the Kansas City Royals and the Omaha Storm Chasers, appearing in 19 games. He tallied a 1-1 record with one save and a 3.86 ERA during that span, while also striking out 30 in 25.2 innings out of the bullpen. He was traded on June 30 to the Miami Marlins organization after that stint and finished the 2014 MiLB season on the disabled list with the New Orleans Zephyrs. In nine games and 10.1 innings, Joseph went 1-0 with a 9.58 ERA.
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