University of Houston Athletics
Photo by: Maddie Meyer/Getty Images
Pro Coogs: Aug. 31
8/31/2023 9:00:00 AM | Baseball
September Call Ups are right around the corner as multiple MLB teams make a push for the playoffs with former Cougars on their MLB rosters with others awaiting a call to the Big League roster.
The September update of Pro Coogs keeps you as a fan of Houston baseball in the know of what's going around the league.
The September update of Pro Coogs keeps you as a fan of Houston baseball in the know of what's going around the league.
Pro Coogs |
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| Player | MLB Team | Notes | ||
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Connor Wong |
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Boston Red Sox Major League (MLB) |
Wong has been Boston's everyday catcher in 2023 and is making a strong case for the same role moving forward as the Red Sox stay within arms reach of the third Wild Card playoff spot. Over his last 15 games, Wong is hitting .317 with 7 RBI and a pair of home runs.
2023: .250 AVG, .303 OBP, .712 OPS, 49 R, 77 H, 8 HR, 32 RBI, 6 SB |
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John King |
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St. Louis Cardinals Major League (MLB) |
King was acquired by St. Louis from the Texas Rangers on June 30. King has been unscored upon in eight of his nine appearances with the Cardinals. He spent his entire career in Rangers organization after being selected in the 10th round in 2017. King was 1-1 with a 5.79 ERA in 15 games (18.2 IP) for Texas and 2-2 with a 3.32 ERA in 12 games (3 starts) for Triple-A Round Rock.
2023: 1-1, 4.33 ERA, 23 G, 27.0 IP, 14 K, 1.41 WHIP |
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Austin Pruitt |
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Oakland Athletics Major League (MLB) |
Pruitt has been exceptional in 38 appearances for the Oakland A's in 2023. In seven games, including one start in August, Pruitt limited hitters to a .167 average and did not allow a run alongside eight strikeouts in 9.0 innings pitched. He is currently on the injured list with a strained right forearm (Aug. 17-present).
2023: 2-6, 2.98 ERA, 38 G, 6 GS, 48.1 IP, 30 K, 1.16 WHIP |
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Corey Julks |
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Houston Astros Major League (MLB) |
Julks batted .245 with the Houston Astros and spent August between Houston and Triple-A Sugar Land. The former Cougar standout batted .300 (21 for 70) with 11 runs as part of a red-hot April with the Astros.
2023: .245 AVG, .297 OBP, .649 OPS. 35 R, 13 H, 6 HR, 33 RBI, 15 SB |
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Jared Triolo |
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Indianapolis Indians Triple-A |
Triolo has reached new heights this season between Pittsburgh and Triple-A Indianapolis. He owns the Pirates longest hitting streak of the season (13 games, July 3-21). In 186 Minor League at-bats this season, he is hitting .306 including 16 doubles and 35 walks in 52 games.
2023: .273 AVG, .350 OBP, .664 OPS, 16 R, 33 H, 1 HR, 16 RBI, 3 SB |
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Kyle Dowdy |
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Norfolk Tides Triple-A |
Dowdy has spent the entire season in AAA for Baltimore after signing a Minor League Contract in the offseason. The righty has pitched solely out of the bullpen in Norfolk. He made his MLB Debut in 2019 for the Texas Rangers.
2023: 8-3, 5.12 ERA, 31 G, 51.0 IP, 60 K, 1.75 WHIP |
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Robert Gasser |
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Nashville Sounds Triple-A |
The International League's strikeout leader, Robert Gasser, is certainly deserving of a promotion to the big leagues. A top prospect with little left to prove in Triple-A, Gasser would fit the classic mold of a September call up.
2023: 9-1, 3.85 ERA, 23 G, 22 GS, 119.1 IP, 147 K, 1.25 WHIP |
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Jake Scheiner |
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Tacoma Rainiers Triple-A |
Scheiner has turned heads with Tacoma, batting .360 (32 of 89) during the month of May highlighted by 23 runs, 20 RBIs and 13 walks as part of the 24-game stretch. On the season, he is hitting .300 (42 of 140) with runners in scoring position.
2023: .249 AVG, .365 OBP, .860 OPS, 88 R, 108 H, 27 HR, 93 RBI, 5 SB |
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Nick Hernandez |
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El Paso Chihuahuas Triple-A |
Hernandez has turned in a strong 2023 season thus far, limiting opponents to a .207 average in 54.1 innings. In 11.1 innings in the month of July, he held opponents to a .154 average and did not allow a run in eight of his nine appearances.
2023: 5-1, 3.48 ERA, 42 G, 6 SV, 54.1 IP, 76 SO, 1.07 WHIP |
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Connor Hollis |
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San Antonio Missions Double-A |
Hollis spending the majority of his fifth professional season at Double-A, Hollis had a strong month of May, hitting .250 over the late spring month with five extra-base hits and a .356 on-base percentage. The injury bug has plagued Hollis from getting back to his 2022 production where he hit .329 over two levels.
2023: .204 AVG, .320 OBP, .611 OPS, 27 R, 40 H, 3 HR, 14 RBI, 9 SB |
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Clay Aguilar |
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Hudson Valley Renegades High-A |
After missing the entire 2022 season due to injury, Aguilar has spent the entire season at High-A for the New York Yankees organization, with outstanding success pitching to a 13.26 strikeouts-per-nine rate over 37.1 innings. The lefty has finished 12 of the 29 games he has appeared in.
2023: 3-3, 2.65 ERA, 29 G, 1 GS, 2 SV, 37.1 IP, 55 SO, 1.18 WHIP |
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Logan Clayton |
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Hillsboro Hops High-A |
After dominating in Single-A with a 1.35 ERA over eight appearances this year, Clayton was promoted to High-A where he didn't have the same success over 22 games although the right-hander posted 9.67 strikeouts-per-nine in High-A. Clayton returned to Single-A on Aug. 29.
2023: 2-2, 4.95 ERA, 30 G, 3 SV, 40.0 IP, 44 SO, 1.80 WHIP |
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Jaycob Deese |
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Greensboro Grasshoppers High-A |
The 2022 draft pick has spent the entire season at the High-A level, completely leapfrogging Single-A in his first full professional season. The right-hander has had a chance to pitch in just about every situation – starting, in relief, as a closer – and has demonstrated solid command with just 16 walks in 62.1 innings this year.
2023: 3-3, 5.78 ERA, 29 G, 3 GS, 1 SV, 62.1 IP, 58 SO, 1.35 WHIP |
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Steven Rivas |
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Tri-City Dust Devils High-A |
Rivas was reactivated to High-A in late July and has had a good run of games in the month of August. The left-handed hitting outfielder has five hits and four walks this month.
2023: .181 AVG, .241 OBP, .479 OPS, 6 R, 19 H, 1 HR, 9 RBI, 1 SB |
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Ben Sears |
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Quad City Bandits Single-A |
In his first full professional season, Sears posted a strong 31 games at Single-A before an Aug. 22 promotion to High-A. The power-throwing righty amassed a 6.89 strikeout-to-walk ratio before his promotion and will most likely finish the season at High-A.
2023: 3-1, 3.46 ERA, 33 G, 9 SV, 65.0 IP, 64 K, 1.12 WHIP |
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Zach Arnold |
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Clearwater Threshers Single-A |
In his first professional season, Arnold is off to a hot start in Clearwater. The 2023 All-Conference First Team selection rattled off hits in seven of eight games to start his career and put together a three-game stretch with multiple hits in all three games (8/13-16). Arnold has seen action at two differnet levels this year (Rookie and Single-A).
2023: .300 AVG, .411 OBP, .844 OPS, 13 R, 18 H, 1 HR, 8 RBI, 5 SB |
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Josh Ekness |
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Jupiter Hammerheads Single-A |
Ekness has made just three appearances since signing in late July. The 12th round pick from this year's draft is most likely on an innings limit after twirling 67.0 innings in 2023 for the Cougars, a nearly 50-inning increase from his previous career-high in 2022.
2023: 0-0, 10.13 ERA, 3 G, 1 SV, 2.2 IP, 4 K, 2.63 WHIP |
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Thursday, May 22
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