Monday MLB Update: Rebels in the Pros

May 12, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Drew Pomeranz (13) throws a pitch against the Boston Red Sox during the first inning at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports

Currently, there are 30 former Ole Miss Rebels under contract with Major League baseball teams. Six of those players are on the Big League level with the other 24 lurking in the Minor Leagues for their chance at the Show. Each Monday throughout the season, we will update you on how the ex-Diamond Rebs (plus former football player Anthony Alford) are faring between the lines.

Chris Coghlan, OF Chicago Cubs

Of the 750 players currently on Major League rosters, no one has played in more consecutive games than Coghlan. The former National League Rookie of the Year has benefitted from fellow Cubs outfielder Jorge Soler missing time, and the relatively pedestrian play of the team’s other outfielders such as Mike Baxter and Chris Denorfia.

Coghlan has made the most of his opportunities and is hitting .254 with eight home runs and 19 RBI. He’s also walked 35 times and stolen seven bases on eight attempts. The Cubs may add an outfield bat before the July 31 trade deadline, but it would be more of a platoon player to spell the oft-injured Soler and Dexter Fowler, and sometimes Coghlan, rather than a permanent left field replacement.

Zack Cozart, SS Cincinnati Reds

Cozart began the season by asserting himself as one of the more powerful shortstops in all of baseball, racking up 10 doubles, nine home runs and 28 RBI in the first two months of the season. It all came to a crushing end as the Memphis native tore ligaments and a tendon in his right knee on June 10, effectively ending his season.

Seth Smith, OF Seattle Mariners

Following an Ole Miss career that saw him become an All-American in baseball and serve as a backup quarterback behind Eli Manning, Smith quickly made it to the Majors at the age of 24. Since then, the 32-year-old has played for four teams: Colorado Rockies, Oakland A’s, San Diego Padres and the Seattle Mariners.

This is Smith’s first season with the Mariners, and he’s been a pretty regular starter batting between the five-seven spots in the order. So far, he’s hitting a modest .257 with seven homers and 22 RBI. His numbers are slightly down from his career marks but the power-hitting lefty has a plethora of other good hitters in the lineup that could help him see better pitches sooner rather than later.

Aaron Barrett, P Washington Nationals

Barrett was an important cog in the Nationals bullpen last year as a rookie. The righty posted a 2.66 ERA with 49 strikeouts in 50 appearances last year for the team that finished with the best record in the NL.

This year has been a different story for the Evansville, Indiana product. Barrett has a 5.06 ERA, a 3-2 record with eight holds and one blown save. He’s allowed as many earned runs, 12, as he did all of last season. He has not pitched since June 11 after being placed on the 15-day Disabled List, and is currently at High-A Potomac completing a rehab assignment.

Lance Lynn, P St. Louis Cardinals

At 6’5 and 250 Lbs., Lynn is a massive presence on the mound, and his statistics since joining the Cardinals in 2011 reflects as such. Since then, Lynn is 55-32 with a 3.34 ERA, was a 2012 All-Star and a 2011 World Series champion.

This year has been much of the same for Lynn as he has been a consistent force in the Cardinal rotation. In 2015, he is 6-4 with a career-best 2.53 ERA and over a 3:1 strikeout to walk ratio. It would be a bit of a surprise if he does not get named to the All-Star team tonight and an even bigger surprise if he isn’t a key part to the team’s October success.

Drew Pomeranz, P Oakland A’s

Pomeranz is one of the most dominant pitchers in Ole Miss history and earned the No. 4 overall pick in the 2010 MLB Draft. He was the top prospect shipped from the Cleveland Indians to the Colorado Rockies in a deal that netted Cleveland ace Ubaldo Jiminez. Unfortunately for Pomeranz, and the Rockies, his time in Colorado was largely forgettable. In his three seasons in the mountains, the southpaw posted ERAs of 5.40, 4.93 and 6.23 before being dealt to the A’s.

Since then, it appears as though the 26-year-old has righted the ship. In 2014, he was 5-4 with a 2.35 ERA and 1.12 WHIP. After losing several pieces of their rotation in the offseason, Pomeranz found a spot in the rotation. The results were up and down and he was eventually moved to the bullpen where he has thrived. He currently has an ERA of 3.65 and has not allowed a run in his last seven appearances. It remains to be seen what role Pomeranz will have going forward, but he has proved to be a valuable piece to club.

Rebels in AAA:

Alex Presley, OF Houston Astros

Cody Satterwhite, P New York Mets

Alex Yarbrough, 2B Los Angeles Angels

David Goforth, P Milwaukee Brewers

AA:

Matt Tracy, P New York Yankees

Bobby Wahl, P Oakland A’s

Matt Snyder, 1B New York Yankees

Stuart Turner, C Minnesota Twins

Chris Ellis, P Los Angeles Angels

Mike Mayers, P St. Louis Cardinals

Advanced-A:

Anthony Alford, OF Toronto Blue Jays

Auston Bousfield, OF San Diego Padres

Braxton Lee, OF Tampa Bay Rays

Matt Crouse, P Detroit Tigers

Aaron Greenwood, P Houston Astros

R.J. Hively, P Arizona Diamondbacks

Short-A:

Will Allen, C Detroit Tigers

Austin Anderson, 3B Baltimore Orioles

Jordan Henry, OF Greenville Drive

Hawtin Buchanan, P Seattle Mariners

Josh Laxer, P Detroit Tigers

Scott Weathersby, P Houston Astros

Rookie:

Christian Trent, P Milwaukee Brewers

Sikes Orvis, 1B Chicago White Sox