Former Diamond 'Dogs shine in the Pros

FRESNO, Calif. - With the minor league season recently coming to a close and the playoff chase in the major leagues heading down the home stretch, 21 former Bulldogs found themselves in the major/minor leagues in the 2016 season, including seven who appeared in the major leagues. With the selections of Jimmy Lambert and Dylan Lee in this past June's amateur draft, head coach Mike Batesole has now had 66 players drafted since becoming head coach of the Bulldogs in 2003.

Here is a quick rundown of how all the former 'Dogs fared this year in both the majors/minors this season

MLB
Doug Fister, Pitcher, Houston Astros, eighth year in MLB, first with Astros
Fister is in first year as a starting pitcher for the Houston Astros after spending the last two seasons with the Washington Nationals. He is currently 12-12 on the season with a 4.45 ERA in 30 starts for a Astro club currently fighting for the final wild card spot in the playoffs. The Merced native, who played for the Bulldogs from 2005-06, leads the team in wins (12), quality starts (16) and innings pitched (174.0) and ranks fourth in strikeouts (110). Fister got off to a fantastic start to the season posting an 8-3 mark in his first 14 starts pitching at least six innings in 11 of those starts collecting 55 strikeouts in those appearances. In his major league career, Fister is 77-75 with a 3.57 ERA and has 842 career strikeouts.

Matt Garza, Pitcher, Milwaukee Brewers, 11^th year in MLB, third with Brewers
Garza is in his third year with the Milwaukee Brewers and his 11^th season overall in the major leagues. After spending 2003-05 at Fresno State and earning the WAC Pitcher of the Year honors in his final season, Garza was drafted in the first round in 2005 by the Minnesota Twins. Playing for the Twins for two years, he moved onto the Tampa Bay Rays for three years helping the Rays reach the World Series in 2008. He made four starts in the 2008 postseason notching two wins in the ALCS over the Boston Red Sox and made an appearance in game three of the World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies. A native of Fresno, Garza has a 5-7 record this season with a 4.22 ERA and 64 strikeouts in 91.2 innings. He had a great start on Aug. 31 at home against the St. Louis Cardinals tossing 7.0 innings allowing only three hits, one earned run and struck out eight. In his big-league career, he is 86-96 with a 4.01 ERA and has notched 1,295 strikeouts in 1,586 innings tossed.

Casey McGehee, Infielder, Detroit Tigers, eighth year in MLB, first with Tigers
McGehee is in eighth year in the major leagues and has appeared in 27 games for the Detroit Tigers this season where he is hitting .228 from the plate with 21 hits, one double, an RBI and has scored four runs. A Bulldog from 2001-03, McGhee was a 10^th-round selection of the Chicago Cubs in 2003 and made his debut with the club in 2008. The Santa Cruz, Calif., native has also appeared in the majors with the Brewers, Pittsburgh Pirates and New York Yankees. In 847 career games, he is hitting .258 with 721 hits, 67 home runs, 285 runs scored and 380 RBIs.

Justin Miller, Pitcher, Colorado Rockies, third year in MLB, second with Rockies
Miller is in his third year in the major leagues and second year with the Rockies. After appearing in 34 games for the Rockies last season, Miller has made 36 appearances this season posting a 1-1 mark with a 4.99 ERA. The Bakersfield native has 42 strikeouts in 39.2 innings and has posted 11 multi-strikeout games. In his three-year career in the major leagues, Miller, who played for the Detroit Tigers in 2014, is 5-4 with a 4.64 ERA in 78 appearances and has 85 strikeouts in 85.1 innings pitched. Drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 16^th round in 2008, Miller helped the 'Dogs win the 2008 College World Series in his lone season at Fresno State. In parts of seven minor league seasons, he went 18-11 with a 3.17 ERA, 34 saves, and picked up 313 strikeouts in 289.1 innings tossed.

Tanner Scheppers, Pitcher, Texas Rangers, fifth year in MLB/Rangers
Scheppers is in his fifth year as a relief pitcher for the Texas Rangers. He recently returned to the AL West-leadin Rangers on Sept. 7 after missing the first five months of the season with torn cartilage in his left knee. Since his return, he has appeared in five games pitching 3.1 innings and picked up a win over the Los Angeles Angels (9/10) and a save against the Astros (9/13). After playing for the 'Dogs from 2006-08 and helping Fresno State capture the 2008 College World Series, the Mission Viejo native was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2008. After playing independent ball for the St. Paul Saints in 2009, he went back in the draft that year and was selected by the Rangers in the first round. In his MLB career, he is 12-5 with a 4.20 ERA in 173.2 innings pitched. In 170 total appearances, he has tossed 140 strikeouts and allowed only 67 walks.

Justin Wilson, Pitcher, Detroit Tigers, fifth year in MLB, first with Tigers
Wilson is also in his fifth year as a relief pitcher in the major leagues after being a fifth-round selection of the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2008. A teammate of Scheppers & Miller on the 2008 National Championship squad, Wilson has made a team-high 62 relief appearances in his first season with the Detroit Tigers. A Bulldog from 2006-08, Wilson is 4-5 with a 4.28 ERA and 61 strikeouts in 54.2 innings pitched this season. He picked up his first career save at Fenway Park on July 27 in a 4-3 win over the Boston Red Sox pitching a three-up, three-down bottom of the ninth.

The Clovis native spent 2015 with the New York Yankees going 5-0 with a 3.10 ERA in 74 appearances after breaking into the major leagues with the Pittsburg Pirates in 2012. Wilson, who spent 2012-14 with the Pirates, has appeared in 272 career games tallying an 18-10 overall record with a 3.30 ERA in 254.0 innings worked and has tossed 254 strikeouts. Looking to pitch for the third time in the last four years, Wilson and the Tigers are currently two game behind the Toronto Blue Jays for the final Wild Card spot. Wilson has made three career appearances in the postseason, all with the Pirates, appearing in two games in the 2013 NLDS against the St. Louis Cardinals and in the 2014 NL Wild Card game against San Francisco Giants.

Aaron Judge, Outfielder, New York Yankees, first year in MLB/Yankees
A first-round selection of the New York Yankees in 2013, Judge made his long-anticipated major league debut on Aug. 13 when he smacked a solo home run in his first career at-bat. Along with fellow rookie Tyler Austin, the pair became the first set of teammates to hit home runs in the first at-bat of their major league debuts in the same game. Judge, who was ruled out for the season with a strained oblique on Sept. 14, finished his rookie season appearing in 27 games hitting .179 from the plate with four home runs, 15 hits, 10 RBIs and 10 runs scored in 84 at-bats.

Before making his appearance in the Bronx, Judge spent the beginning of the 2016 season with the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRaiders appearing in 93 games hitting .270 smacking 19 home runs and 18 doubles along with scoring 62 runs and driving in 65 RBIs. A three-time first-team all-conference selection in his time at Fresno State from 2011-13, the Linden, Calif., native posted a career .346 batting average, and connected for 18 home runs and smacked 41 doubles and seven triples.

Minors
Jimmy Lambert, Pitcher, AZL White Sox (R)/Kannapolis Intimidators (A), Chicago White Sox
A fifth-round selection of the Chicago White Sox in the 2016 MLB Draft, Lambert made his professional debut on June 23 with the AZL White Sox picking up a win working one inning in relief and struck out one. After making four appearances and two starts in Rookie ball, Lambert was promoted to the Single-A Kannapolis Intimidators on July 12. The 2016 Mountain West Co-Pitcher of the Year and first-team All-MW selection made 11 starts for the team out of the South Atlantic League posting a 0-5 mark with a 5.76 ERA. The San Dimas native tossed 29.2 innings with 30 strikeouts, notching a pair of five-strikeout performances in his first and final starts with the Intimidators. Lambert finished up his three-year Bulldog career this past spring with 15 wins, including 10 in 2016, and had 150 strikeouts in 229 innings.

Dylan Lee, Pitcher, GCL Marlins (R) /Batavia Muckdogs (SS), Miami Marlin
A 10^th-round selection of the Miami Marlins in the 2016 MLB Draft, Lee made his professional debut with the GCL Marlins on June 26. The Dinuba native made four relief appearances with the team out of Jupiter, Fla., pitching six innings and struck out six before being promoted to the Short-Season Batavia Muckdogs on July 11. In nine outings, including six starts, with the New York-based Muckdogs, Lee was 0-1 with a 2.35 ERA working 23.0 innings while holding opponents to a .220 batting average and struck out seven. Lee appeared in 42 games in his two-year career at Fresno State picking up six wins and had 74 strikeouts in 86 innings.

Taylor Ward, Catcher, Inland Empire 66ers (Adv. A), Los Angeles Angels
Taken with the 26^th overall pick in the 2015 MLB Draft, Ward spent the 2016 season with the Advanced-A Inland Empire 66ers after a strong start to his professional career in 2015 was split between the Orem Owlz (R) and Single-A Burlington Bees. Ward appeared in 123 games for the 66ers, located in San Bernardino, hitting .249 from the dish with 116 hits, including 21 extra-base knocks, and added 56 RBIs and 61 runs scored.

The third-ranked prospect in the Angels minor league system, Ward finished the season with 26 multi-hit games, including six contests with three hits apiece. In a 12-0 win over Lake Elsinore on Aug. 18, Ward smacked two of his 10 home runs of the season and added three runs scored and four RBIs. The 2012 Shadow Hills High School (Calif.) graduate will continue his season in October when he plays for the Scottsdale Scorpions in the Arizona Fall League. Ward finished up his three-year Fresno State career in 2015 earning first-team Mountain West honors and totatled 157 hits, 83 runs scored and 98 RBIs in 162 games.

Jake Shull, Pitcher, Western Michigan Whitecaps (A), Detroit Tigers
An 11^th-round selection of the Detroit Tigers in the 2015 MLB Draft, Shull appeared in 16 games in relief for the Single-A Western Michigan Whitecaps in 2016 before being placed on the disabled list. He went 1-0 with a 1.23 ERA and was a perfect 7-for-7 in save opportunities. The San Ramon native threw 22.0 innings allowing only three earned runs and struck out 18. Shull, who played for the 'Dogs from 2013-15, finished his Bulldog career with 10 wins, 11 saves and 85 strikeouts in 131 innings pitched.

Garrett Mundell, Pitcher, Charleston RiverDogs (A), New York Yankees
A 23^rd-round selection of the New York Yankees in 2015, Mundell split time in his first season between the Pulaski Yankees (R) and the Single-A Charleston River Dogs. After appearing in five games with the River Dogs to close out his 2015 season, the Lake Forest, Calif., native spent the entire 2016 season in Charleston where he pitched in nine games posting a 1-2 mark with a 4.26 ERA. Mundell had an impressive 21 strikeouts in only 12.2 innings of work and had two or more strikeouts in seven of his nine appearances. He picked up a win in relief in extra-innings on July 9 tossing 1.2 innings with three strikeouts. A four-year Bulldog from 2012-15, Mundell finished his career with 94 appearanceson the mound picking up eight wins, seven saves, and tossed 167 strikeouts in 187 innings.

Manny Argomaniz, Catcher, Staten Island Yankees (SS)/ Pulaski Yankees (R), New York Yankees
Argomaniz was signed by the New York Yankees as a non-drafted free agent on July 1, 2015 and appeared in 24 games for the GCL Yankees1 in Rookie ball last summer. He began the 2016 season appearing in a pair of games for the Short-Season Staten Island Yankees, picking up an RBI, before moving on to the Pulaski Yankees. An Advanced Rookie League team in the Appalachian League, Argomaniz played in 25 games hitting .149 with 10 hits, including lacing a double and triple and scored 12 runs. Making the transition to catcher after playing third base as a Bulldog, Argomaniz was a 2015 co-captain and wrapped up his two-year career at Fresno State hitting .252 from the plate with 93 hits and added 45 runs scored and 58 RBIs in 109 career games.

Jordan Luplow, Outfielder, Bradenton Marauders (Adv. A), Pittsburgh Pirates
A third-round selection by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2014, Luplow spent the entire 2016 season with the Bradenton Marauders in Advanced-A ball. After hitting .264 from the plate in 106 games with the West Virginia Power in Single-A in 2015, the Clovis native helped lead the Marauders to their first Florida State League championship on Sept. 12. Luplow appeared in 104 games hitting .254 with 90 hits, 36 for extra-bases (23 doubles, three triples & 10 home runs) and added 54 RBIs and 63 runs scored. He had 26 multi-hit games and had a season-best three-hit performance with a double and two RBIs in a 7-2 win over Charlotte on July 6. The 2014 Mountain West Player of the Year, Luplow started all 157 games in his three-year Bulldog career finishing with a .314 career average, 188 hits, 96 runs scored and 103 RBIs.

Derick Velazquez, Pitcher, Tri-City ValleyCats (SS), Houston Astros
A seventh-round selection of the Houston Astros in 2014, Velazquez spent time on disabled list this season for the ValleyCats located in Troy, N.Y. After appearing in 18 games in relief in 2014 with the ValleyCats, the Los Banos native posted a 2-1 mark with a 1.57 ERA. He converted all four of his save opportunities and tossed 23.0 innings allowing only four earned runs and struck out 24. He missed the entire 2015 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery.

Jordan Brink, Pitcher, Eugene Emeralds (SS)/AZL Cubs (R), Chicago Cubs
Brink was an 11^th round selection of the Chicago Cubs in 2014 and after being limited to only seven appearances in his first two seasons as a professional, Brink made 12 appearances on the mound in 2016. The Fresno native made 10 appearances, including three starts, for the AZL Cubs (R) posting a 2-1 mark with a 3.18 ERA and converted a save in 17.0 innings of work. Brink struck out 21 batters in his time with the AZL Cubs and limited batters to a .203 average. A Fresno native, Brink played for the 'Dogs from 2012-14 appearing in 105 games as a position player and added 32 more appearances on the mound.

Chris Mariscal, Infielder, Clinton Lumberkings (A), Seattle Mariners
A 14^th-round selection by the Seattle Mariners in the 2014 MLB Draft, Mariscal remained with the Clinton LumberKings in Single-A in 2016 after appearing in 105 games with the club out of Clinton, Iowa in 2015. Helping the LumberKings advance to the Midwest League Championship Series, where they fell to the Great Lakes Loons (Dodgers A) in a best-of-five series on Sunday, the Fresno native completed a standout postseason run hitting .342 (13-38) with a pair of home runs, scored five runs and drove in 11 RBIs over a nine-game stretch. Mariscal hit .301 from the plate in the regular season with 101 hits, 41 RBIs and 42 runs scored in 97 games. In his three-year Bulldog career, Mariscal played in 171 games and finished with 180 hits, 78 RBIs and 83 runs scored.

Trent Woodward, Catcher, Corpus Christi Hooks (AA)/ Lancaster JetHawks (Adv. A), Houston Astros
A 20^th round selection of the Houston Astros in the 2014 MLB Draft, Woodward advanced all the way to Triple-A in 2015 returning to Fresno to play for the Grizzles in his final four games of the season. Now in his third year in professional baseball, the Chino Hills, Calif., native began the season in Double-A with the Corpus Christi Hooks appearing in 13 games collecting four doubles and a home run before finishing the season in Advanced-A with the Lancaster JetHawks.

Competing in the California League, Woodward made his debut in Lancaster on June 11 and finished the season hitting .263 from the plate with 11 doubles, six home runs, 31 runs scored and 36 RBIs in 54 games. Helping the JetHawks advance to the second round of the California League playoffs, where they fell to eventual champion High Desert Mavericks (Rangers Adv. A), Woodward hit .296 with three extra-base hits in seven playoff games. After redshirting the 2013 season, Woodward played one season as a Bulldog in 2014 starting all 57 games hitting .290 with 60 hits, 26 RBIs and 38 runs scored.

Austin Wynns, Catcher, Frederick Keys (Adv. A)/ Bowie Baysox (AA)/ Norfolk Tides (AAA), Baltimore Orioles
Along with Judge, the only other member of the 2013 draft class still playing, Wynns was a 10^th-round selection of the Baltimore Orioles and spent time at three different levels in 2016. Now in his fourth professional season, Wynns began the season with the Frederick Keys in Advanced-A before getting promoted to the Double-A Bowie Baysox on May 31. Playing for the Eastern League affiliate located in Bowie, Md., Wynns appeared in 21 games hitting .247 with seven doubles, 10 RBIs and 11 runs scored.

The Poway, Calif., native moved onto the Triple-A Norfolk Tides for four games on July 26 collecting hits in three of the contests before heading back to the Keys. In two different stints with the Keys of the Carolina League, Wynns appeared in 51 games with a .303 average from the dish and finished with 10 doubles, five home runs, 20 RBIs and 23 runs scored. Over his four-year minor league career, he has played with five Orioles affiliates and has a .265 batting average in 302 games and has 275 hits and 123 RBIs in his career. A four-year Bulldog from 2010-13, he was a key part of three conference championship teams as a stalwart behind the plate and played in 199 games finishing with 167 hits, 41 doubles, 81 RBIs and 111 runs scored.

Justin Haley, Pitcher, Portland Sea Dogs (AA)/ Pawtucket Red Sox (AAA), Boston Red Sox
The only draft selection from the 2012 draft still playing, Haley was the highest of the six Bulldogs selected that June as he was taken in the sixth round by the Boston Red Sox. After spending the 2015 season with the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs, Haley began 2016 back in Oregon starting 12 games on the mound and went 5-4 with a 2.20 ERA in 61.1 innings and struck out 59. He was rewarded with a promotion to Triple-A Pawtuckett on June 17 and a day later made his debut for the Red Sox by tossing eight innings allowed only three hits, one earned run and struck out seven against the Louisville Bats (Cincinnati Reds AAA).

Haley finished the season in Pawtuckett making 15 appearances, 14 starts, and went 8-6 with a 3.59 ERA in 85.1 innings and struck out 67. The Sacramento native finished his season on Sept. 4 with a stellar outing as he tossed eight scoreless innings allowing two hits and struck out seven in a 1-0 win over the Buffalo Bison (Blue Jays AAA). Much like Wynns, Haley has spent time with five different Red Sox affiliates and is 35-44 with a 3.41 ERA in 118 career minor league games. He has made 106 starts tossing 559 innings and has 485 strikeouts. He wrapped up his two-year career at Fresno State in 2012 earning second-team All-WAC honors and posted an 8-4 record and a 3.02 ERA in 31 career appearances on the mound.

Danny Muno, Infielder, Las Vegas 51's (Mets AAA)/ Charlotte Knights (White Sox AAA)/ Jacksonville Suns (Marlins AA)
After making his major league debut with the New York Mets on Apr. 17, 2015, Muno appeared in 17 games collecting four hits, including a double and scored a pair of runs during his time in the big leagues in 2015. Spending the remainder of his 2015 season in Triple-A with the Las Vegas 51's, Muno started his 2016 season there appearing in 47 games hitting .239 with 21 hits, three doubles, two triples, 10 RBIs and 12 runs scored before being released on June 28.

An eighth-round selection of the New York Mets in 2011, Muno was quickly picked up by the Charlotte Knights where he appeared in 33 games for the Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox and totaled 23 hits, eight doubles and 14 RBIs. Muno was released by the Knights on Aug. 17 and was picked up by the Jacksonville Suns two days later. He appeared in eight games for the Miami Marlins Double-A affiliate where he had four hits and scored a pair of runs. A four-year Bulldog from 2008-11, Muno ended his career earning All-WAC honors all four seasons and ranks among the top 10 in program history in games played, at-bats, runs, hits, doubles, RBIs, stolen bases and walks.

Garrett Weber, Infielder, Frisco Rough Riders (Rangers AA)/ Jupiter Hammerheads (Marlins Adv. A)/ Jacksonville Suns (Marlins AA)/ New Orleans Zephyrs (Marlins AAA)
Rounding out the Bulldogs in the pros, the well-traveled former 'Dog was claimed by the Round Rock Express (Rangers AAA) on December 10, 2015 and went through extended spring training with the Texas Rangers. He was assigned to the Frisco Rough Riders (Rangers AA) on Apr. 25 where he played in 22 games and hit .288 from the plate with 10 RBIs and 13 runs scored before being released on May 20.

A 22^nd-round selection of the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2011 MLB Draft, Weber was then picked up by the Jupiter Hammerheads (Marlins Adv. A) on June 2 where he played in six games before being promoted to the Jacksonville Suns (Marlins AA) on June 10. He made 20 appearances with the Suns before being promoted to the New Orleans Zephyrs (Marlins AAA) on July 8 for two games, where he had three hits and two runs scored, before returning to the Suns on July 15. He appeared in 28 games for the Suns in his second stint from July 16- Aug. 19 and went back to the Zephyrs for a four-game stretch. He wrapped up his long journey of a season by heading back to Jacksonville for the final eight games of the season. Over his 56 games with the Suns, the second baseman hit .208 with 32 hits, four doubles, two home runs, 12 runs scored and 16 RBIs. In his six-year minor league career, the infielder has played in 583 games and has a .291 career batting average, 592 hits, 277 RBIs and 278 runs scored. A 2007 graduate of Clovis High School, Weber played for the Bulldogs in 2010-11 earning All-WAC honors in both seasons after spending his first two years out of high school at Fresno City College.

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Fresno State Athletics

Former Diamond 'Dogs shine in the Pros

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Manny Argomaniz

Jimmy Lambert

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Garrett Mundell

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Taylor Ward

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