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Diamond Dogs in the Pros: Summer Update
8/5/2022 3:00:00 PM | Baseball
FRESNO, Calif. - With the calendar turning to August and the stretch run of the minor league season heating up, let's take a look at the 24 former Diamond 'Dogs in the major and minor leagues have fared so far this summer.
Majors
Aaron Judge, Outfielder, New York Yankees
Judge continues his torrid pace this season leading the major league with 43 home runs, 89 runs scored, 93 RBI & 261 total bases.
With a base hit in 69 games, Judge went 4-for-5 with two doubles, two RBI and a stolen base in a 6-3 loss to the Baltimore Orioles on July 23.
The Yankees are 70-36 overall sporting the best record in the American League while leading the AL East by 10.5 games.
RHP Jimmy Lambert – Chicago White Sox
Lambert has made 19 appearances for the White Sox with a pair of starts this season. Posting a 0-2 record with a 2.05 ERA, the San Dimas native has worked 26.1 innings while striking out 20 and allowed six earned runs.
Lambert has worked a season-best two innings twice against Detroit (July 7) and Cleveland (July 22). Chicago is 53-52 and third in the AL Central.
LHP Dylan Lee – Atlanta Braves
Lee has made 23Â relief appearances for the defending World Series champion Atlanta Braves this season.
The Dinuba native has tossed 28.0 innings striking out 31 and walking only four while posting a 1.61 ERA. Lee has struck out a season-high three in five games, including three straight appearances in mid-July.
Atlanta is 63-43 overall and second in the NL East behind the New York Mets.
Jordan Luplow, Outfielder, Arizona Diamondbacks
In 63 games in his first season with the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Clovis native has 27 hits, including 11 home runs, five doubles, scored 24 runs and drove in 26 RBI.
After six home runs in May and four more in June, Luplow added one more on July 9 in a 9-2 win over the Colorado Rockies.
The Diamondbacks are 46-58Â sitting in fourth in the NL West Division.
Justin Wilson, Pitcher, Cincinnati Reds
Wilson made five relief appearances earlier this season for the Cincinnati Reds before being placed on the 60-day injured list on April and underwent Tommy John surgery in early June that will sideline for the remainder of the season.
In 3.2 innings, Wilson only allowed three hits, one earned run and struck out seven while walking none.
Taylor Ward,Outfielder, Los Angeles Angels
Ward has seen action in 81 games this season for the Angels hitting .272Â from the plate with 80 hits. Ranking third on the team with 14 home runs, the former All-American has added 11 doubles, two triples, 36 RBI and 49 runs scoredÂ
In a 9-1 win at the Atlanta Braves on July 24, Ward went 3-for-5 with a home run and two runs scored. The Angels are 44-61 overall and fourth in the AL West.
Austin Wynns, Catcher, San Francisco Giants
After Wynns was traded from the Philadelphia Phillies organization to the Giants on June 8, the former Bulldog backstop has played in 35 games in San Francisco.
The San Diego native has 16 hits with three doubles, a home run, six runs scored and 10 RBI for the Giants who are 51-55 overall, third in the NL West.
Minors
Carter Bins, Catcher, Indianapolis Indians (Pirates AAA)
Since being promoted to Triple A Indianapolis on May 10, Bins has seen action in 46Â contests with the Indians.
The Fairfield native has 33 base knocks with 11 doubles, one triple and six home runs along with 21 runs scored and 21 RBI.
Bins has 11 multi-hit games with the most recent one coming on Aug. 4 against the Louisville Bats (Reds AAA) with a double and run scored in a 5-3 win.
Indianapolis is 49-51 overall and tied for sixth in the International League West Division.
Jordan Brink, Pitcher, El Paso Chihuahuas (Padres AAA)
Brink has gotten his first taste of Triple A this season making 23 appearances in relief for the El Paso Chihuahuas despite making a month-long stint on the injured list from June 7 to July 7.
Over 24.2 innings of work, the Fresno native has earned a pair of wins vs. Reno (Diamondbacks AAA) on April 30 and Sugar Land (Astros AAA) on May 24 while striking out 29, walking 13 and has held opponents to a .301Â average. He has struck out at least one batter in all six appearances since returning from the injured list.
El Paso is 57-45 on the season and is second in the Pacific Coast League East Division.
Jaime Arias, Pitcher, Akron RubberDucks (Indians AA)
Arias has seen action over three levels this season getting started in High-A earning a win on April 9 with the Lake County Captains before making a start in Triple A on April 21 against Indianapolis (Indians AAA).
Moving down to Double A, the Woodland, Calif. native has made seven starts & nine appearances for the Akron RubberDucks striking out 27 in 31.2 innings.
On June 21, he moved down to Lake County making six appearances and two starts before moving back up to Akron on July 26.
In a season-best 5.2 innings in his last outing on Aug. 3, he limited Altoona (Pirates AA) to five hits, two earned runs and struck out three in a 4-2 win.
Akron is 52-44 overall with a first-half record of 40-29, second in Eastern League Southwest Division, and 12-15 in second half.
Ryan Jensen, Pitcher, Tennessee Smokies (Cubs AA)
Jensen has made 13 starts at Double A Tennessee this season posting a 1-3 record with a 5.00 ERA.
In 45.0 innings of work, Jensen has struck out 42 and held opponents to a .219 average. Making his return to the starting rotation on June 14, Jensen has made eight starts earning a win on July 31 against the Birmingham Barons (White Sox AA) throwing five innings striking out five and walking one.
The 2019 Mountain West Pitcher of the Year and All-American entered the season as the No. 17 prospect in the Chicago Cubs farm system and third-highest ranked right-handed pitcher.
The Smokies finished second in the Southern League North Division with a 37-32 record and are 17-13 in the second half to lead the division.
Zach Ashford, Outfielder, Binghamton Rumble Ponies (Mets AA)
Ashford continues his season in Double A with the Binghamton Rumble Ponies playing in 74 games hitting .250 from the plate with 23 of his 63 hits going for extra bases totaling 18 doubles, one triple and four home runs.
With a season-best three hits in a pair of games, the Clovis native went for 3-for-5 with a double, two walks and scored a run in a 9-7 loss to the Erie SeaWolves (Tigers AA) on July 16.
The Rumble Ponies finished 28-41 in the first half of the Eastern League Northeast Division and are 9-19 in the second half.
Tyler Thomas, Pitcher, Frisco RoughRiders (Rangers AA)
Thomas has made 25 relief appearances this season in Double A for the Frisco RoughRiders. In 39.2 innings of work, Thomas has struck out 50 and held batters to a .242 average.
Posting a 1-1 record with a 6.58 ERA, the San Diego native earned a win over the Midland RockHounds (Athletics AA) on June 16 and struck out four in an 8-4 loss to the  on July 17.
Frisco went 36-33 in the first half of the season and is 18-12 so far in the second half Texas League South Division.
Edgar Gonzalez, Pitcher, Springfield Cardinals (Cardinals AA)
Gonzalez has been on the 60-day injured list so far this season for Springfield who is 46-53 overall.
Fred Schlichtholz, Pitcher, San Antonio Missions (Padres AA)
Schlichtholz made four relief appearances this season for the High-A Fort Wayne TinCaps earning a win on June 10 over the Lake County Captains (Indians High A) before being promoted to Double A San Antonio Missions on June 14.
In 13 appearances in Double A in San Antonio, the Coronado, Calif. native has a stellar 1.02 ERA in 17.2 innings. He has struck out 22 and walked four while only allowing two earned runs on the season.
The Missions won the first half of the Texas League South Division with a 38-29 overall record and are 14-16 in the second half of the season.
Davis Moore, Pitcher, Wilmington Blue Rocks (Nationals High A)
Moore has been on the 60-day injured list this season after appearing in 33 games in relief between Single-A and High-A in 2021.
McCarthy Tatum, Pitcher, Jersey Shore BlueClaws (Phillies High A)
Tatum has seen action in 36 games this season with 32 contests in High A with the BlueClaws along with two apiece in Single A and two at the Rookie Level.
The Clovis native is hitting .280 on the season with 35 hits, including nine doubles, one triple and three home runs along with 19 RBI, 22 runs scored and four stolen bases.
The 2019 Tony Gwynn Co-Player of the Year made his return to the field on July 30 and then went on to two games at Single A Clearwater where he went 4-for-6 with two doubles and three runs scored on Aug. 2 in a 9-1 win over the Tampa Tarpons (Yankees A).
Jersey Shore went 25-41 in the first half and is 10-23 in the second half of the South Atlantic League North Division.
Jamison Hill, Pitcher, Hillsboro Hops (Diamondbacks High A)
Hill has made 18 starts for High-A Hillsboro posting a 7-5 mark with an impressive 3.86Â ERA. The San Diego native has struck out 98 in 86.1 innings while holding opponents to a .208Â average.
Hill is coming off back-to-back strong starts striking out a season-high 13 in 5.2 innings allowing no hits and one unearned run in a 5-4 loss to the Eugene Emeralds (Giants High A) on July 29 and went six innings earning a win on Aug. 4 striking out eight while only allowing two earned runs in a 6-2 win over Everett (Mariners High A).
For his recent efforts, Hill was the Diamondbacks' Minor League Pitcher of the Month for July.
The Hops were 29-35 in the first half and are 13-20 in the second half of the Northwest League.
Ryan Higgins, Infielder, Aberdeen IronBirds (Orioles High A)
Higgins is in his first full season in the minors being promoted to High A Aberdeen IronBirds on June 28.
In 25 games, Higgins has tallied 16 hits with four doubles, a triple and two home runs, drove in seven RBI and scored 10 runs. Prior to his promotion, Higgins saw action in 45 contests in Single A Delmarva, he hit .203 with 31 hits with eight doubles, two triples and two home runs, 18 RBI and 25 runs scored.
The IronBirds won the first half of the South Atlantic League North Division with a 43-23 record and are 16-15 in the second half of the season.
JJ Santa Cruz, Pitcher, Fredericksburg Nationals (Nationals Single A)
Making his season debut on June 9 at the Rookie level, the Madera native made five appearances striking out 15 in 8.2 innings of relief while earning a pair of wins.
Promoted to Single A San Jose on June 30, Santa Cruz has made nine relief appearances for the Giants, including his latest against in Fresno (Rockies A) against the Grizzlies on Aug. 2.
In 9.2 innings, Santa Cruz has struck out nine, walked three, allowed four earned runs and picked up a win at Modesto (Mariners A) on July 22.
JT Arruda, Infielder, Fredericksburg Nationals (Nationals Single A)
Arruda made his return to the field on a rehab assignment with the FCL Nationals on June 7 before moving up to Class A Fredericksburg on June 12.
In 26 games with Fredericksburg, the Clovis native is hitting .224 from the plate with 17 hits, including six doubles, one triple and two home runs.
In his second game back with the Nationals on June 16, Arruda went 3-for-3 with a double, home run, two runs, four RBI, a walk and stolen base in a 9-1 win over Myrtle Beach (Cubs A).
The Nationals went 33-33 in first half of the Carolina League North Division and are 23-9 in the second half to lead the division.
EJ Andrews, Jr., Outfielder, Fresno Grizzlies (Rockies Single A)
Andrews Jr. continues his first full season in the minors in Single A with the Fresno Grizzlies appearing in 58 games with 42 hits with 16 going for extra bases, including 11 doubles, two triples and three home runs.
He has driven in 19 RBI, drawn 23 walks and scored 29Â runs. The Long Beach native went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles, RBI and scored a run in a 8-3 win over Stockton Ports (Athletics A) on July 3Â
The Grizzlies won the first half of the California League North Division with a 41-25 mark and are 17-16 in the second half.
Zach Morgan, Catcher, (Giants)
A seventh-round selection in the 2022 MLB Draft, Morgan signed with the Giants on July 29 and will look to get back on the field this summer in the minors.
Andrew Kachel, Infielder (Giants)
Joining Morgan in the San Francisco organization is Kachel who was selected in the 16th round of this year's MLB Draft. Also signing on July 29, Kachel will look to return to the field this summer in the minors.
Majors
Aaron Judge, Outfielder, New York Yankees
Judge continues his torrid pace this season leading the major league with 43 home runs, 89 runs scored, 93 RBI & 261 total bases.
With a base hit in 69 games, Judge went 4-for-5 with two doubles, two RBI and a stolen base in a 6-3 loss to the Baltimore Orioles on July 23.
The Yankees are 70-36 overall sporting the best record in the American League while leading the AL East by 10.5 games.
RHP Jimmy Lambert – Chicago White Sox
Lambert has made 19 appearances for the White Sox with a pair of starts this season. Posting a 0-2 record with a 2.05 ERA, the San Dimas native has worked 26.1 innings while striking out 20 and allowed six earned runs.
Lambert has worked a season-best two innings twice against Detroit (July 7) and Cleveland (July 22). Chicago is 53-52 and third in the AL Central.
LHP Dylan Lee – Atlanta Braves
Lee has made 23Â relief appearances for the defending World Series champion Atlanta Braves this season.
The Dinuba native has tossed 28.0 innings striking out 31 and walking only four while posting a 1.61 ERA. Lee has struck out a season-high three in five games, including three straight appearances in mid-July.
Atlanta is 63-43 overall and second in the NL East behind the New York Mets.
Jordan Luplow, Outfielder, Arizona Diamondbacks
In 63 games in his first season with the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Clovis native has 27 hits, including 11 home runs, five doubles, scored 24 runs and drove in 26 RBI.
After six home runs in May and four more in June, Luplow added one more on July 9 in a 9-2 win over the Colorado Rockies.
The Diamondbacks are 46-58Â sitting in fourth in the NL West Division.
Justin Wilson, Pitcher, Cincinnati Reds
Wilson made five relief appearances earlier this season for the Cincinnati Reds before being placed on the 60-day injured list on April and underwent Tommy John surgery in early June that will sideline for the remainder of the season.
In 3.2 innings, Wilson only allowed three hits, one earned run and struck out seven while walking none.
Taylor Ward,Outfielder, Los Angeles Angels
Ward has seen action in 81 games this season for the Angels hitting .272Â from the plate with 80 hits. Ranking third on the team with 14 home runs, the former All-American has added 11 doubles, two triples, 36 RBI and 49 runs scoredÂ
In a 9-1 win at the Atlanta Braves on July 24, Ward went 3-for-5 with a home run and two runs scored. The Angels are 44-61 overall and fourth in the AL West.
Austin Wynns, Catcher, San Francisco Giants
After Wynns was traded from the Philadelphia Phillies organization to the Giants on June 8, the former Bulldog backstop has played in 35 games in San Francisco.
The San Diego native has 16 hits with three doubles, a home run, six runs scored and 10 RBI for the Giants who are 51-55 overall, third in the NL West.
Minors
Carter Bins, Catcher, Indianapolis Indians (Pirates AAA)
Since being promoted to Triple A Indianapolis on May 10, Bins has seen action in 46Â contests with the Indians.
The Fairfield native has 33 base knocks with 11 doubles, one triple and six home runs along with 21 runs scored and 21 RBI.
Bins has 11 multi-hit games with the most recent one coming on Aug. 4 against the Louisville Bats (Reds AAA) with a double and run scored in a 5-3 win.
Indianapolis is 49-51 overall and tied for sixth in the International League West Division.
Jordan Brink, Pitcher, El Paso Chihuahuas (Padres AAA)
Brink has gotten his first taste of Triple A this season making 23 appearances in relief for the El Paso Chihuahuas despite making a month-long stint on the injured list from June 7 to July 7.
Over 24.2 innings of work, the Fresno native has earned a pair of wins vs. Reno (Diamondbacks AAA) on April 30 and Sugar Land (Astros AAA) on May 24 while striking out 29, walking 13 and has held opponents to a .301Â average. He has struck out at least one batter in all six appearances since returning from the injured list.
El Paso is 57-45 on the season and is second in the Pacific Coast League East Division.
Jaime Arias, Pitcher, Akron RubberDucks (Indians AA)
Arias has seen action over three levels this season getting started in High-A earning a win on April 9 with the Lake County Captains before making a start in Triple A on April 21 against Indianapolis (Indians AAA).
Moving down to Double A, the Woodland, Calif. native has made seven starts & nine appearances for the Akron RubberDucks striking out 27 in 31.2 innings.
On June 21, he moved down to Lake County making six appearances and two starts before moving back up to Akron on July 26.
In a season-best 5.2 innings in his last outing on Aug. 3, he limited Altoona (Pirates AA) to five hits, two earned runs and struck out three in a 4-2 win.
Akron is 52-44 overall with a first-half record of 40-29, second in Eastern League Southwest Division, and 12-15 in second half.
Ryan Jensen, Pitcher, Tennessee Smokies (Cubs AA)
Jensen has made 13 starts at Double A Tennessee this season posting a 1-3 record with a 5.00 ERA.
In 45.0 innings of work, Jensen has struck out 42 and held opponents to a .219 average. Making his return to the starting rotation on June 14, Jensen has made eight starts earning a win on July 31 against the Birmingham Barons (White Sox AA) throwing five innings striking out five and walking one.
The 2019 Mountain West Pitcher of the Year and All-American entered the season as the No. 17 prospect in the Chicago Cubs farm system and third-highest ranked right-handed pitcher.
The Smokies finished second in the Southern League North Division with a 37-32 record and are 17-13 in the second half to lead the division.
Zach Ashford, Outfielder, Binghamton Rumble Ponies (Mets AA)
Ashford continues his season in Double A with the Binghamton Rumble Ponies playing in 74 games hitting .250 from the plate with 23 of his 63 hits going for extra bases totaling 18 doubles, one triple and four home runs.
With a season-best three hits in a pair of games, the Clovis native went for 3-for-5 with a double, two walks and scored a run in a 9-7 loss to the Erie SeaWolves (Tigers AA) on July 16.
The Rumble Ponies finished 28-41 in the first half of the Eastern League Northeast Division and are 9-19 in the second half.
Tyler Thomas, Pitcher, Frisco RoughRiders (Rangers AA)
Thomas has made 25 relief appearances this season in Double A for the Frisco RoughRiders. In 39.2 innings of work, Thomas has struck out 50 and held batters to a .242 average.
Posting a 1-1 record with a 6.58 ERA, the San Diego native earned a win over the Midland RockHounds (Athletics AA) on June 16 and struck out four in an 8-4 loss to the  on July 17.
Frisco went 36-33 in the first half of the season and is 18-12 so far in the second half Texas League South Division.
Edgar Gonzalez, Pitcher, Springfield Cardinals (Cardinals AA)
Gonzalez has been on the 60-day injured list so far this season for Springfield who is 46-53 overall.
Fred Schlichtholz, Pitcher, San Antonio Missions (Padres AA)
Schlichtholz made four relief appearances this season for the High-A Fort Wayne TinCaps earning a win on June 10 over the Lake County Captains (Indians High A) before being promoted to Double A San Antonio Missions on June 14.
In 13 appearances in Double A in San Antonio, the Coronado, Calif. native has a stellar 1.02 ERA in 17.2 innings. He has struck out 22 and walked four while only allowing two earned runs on the season.
The Missions won the first half of the Texas League South Division with a 38-29 overall record and are 14-16 in the second half of the season.
Davis Moore, Pitcher, Wilmington Blue Rocks (Nationals High A)
Moore has been on the 60-day injured list this season after appearing in 33 games in relief between Single-A and High-A in 2021.
McCarthy Tatum, Pitcher, Jersey Shore BlueClaws (Phillies High A)
Tatum has seen action in 36 games this season with 32 contests in High A with the BlueClaws along with two apiece in Single A and two at the Rookie Level.
The Clovis native is hitting .280 on the season with 35 hits, including nine doubles, one triple and three home runs along with 19 RBI, 22 runs scored and four stolen bases.
The 2019 Tony Gwynn Co-Player of the Year made his return to the field on July 30 and then went on to two games at Single A Clearwater where he went 4-for-6 with two doubles and three runs scored on Aug. 2 in a 9-1 win over the Tampa Tarpons (Yankees A).
Jersey Shore went 25-41 in the first half and is 10-23 in the second half of the South Atlantic League North Division.
Jamison Hill, Pitcher, Hillsboro Hops (Diamondbacks High A)
Hill has made 18 starts for High-A Hillsboro posting a 7-5 mark with an impressive 3.86Â ERA. The San Diego native has struck out 98 in 86.1 innings while holding opponents to a .208Â average.
Hill is coming off back-to-back strong starts striking out a season-high 13 in 5.2 innings allowing no hits and one unearned run in a 5-4 loss to the Eugene Emeralds (Giants High A) on July 29 and went six innings earning a win on Aug. 4 striking out eight while only allowing two earned runs in a 6-2 win over Everett (Mariners High A).
For his recent efforts, Hill was the Diamondbacks' Minor League Pitcher of the Month for July.
The Hops were 29-35 in the first half and are 13-20 in the second half of the Northwest League.
Ryan Higgins, Infielder, Aberdeen IronBirds (Orioles High A)
Higgins is in his first full season in the minors being promoted to High A Aberdeen IronBirds on June 28.
In 25 games, Higgins has tallied 16 hits with four doubles, a triple and two home runs, drove in seven RBI and scored 10 runs. Prior to his promotion, Higgins saw action in 45 contests in Single A Delmarva, he hit .203 with 31 hits with eight doubles, two triples and two home runs, 18 RBI and 25 runs scored.
The IronBirds won the first half of the South Atlantic League North Division with a 43-23 record and are 16-15 in the second half of the season.
JJ Santa Cruz, Pitcher, Fredericksburg Nationals (Nationals Single A)
Making his season debut on June 9 at the Rookie level, the Madera native made five appearances striking out 15 in 8.2 innings of relief while earning a pair of wins.
Promoted to Single A San Jose on June 30, Santa Cruz has made nine relief appearances for the Giants, including his latest against in Fresno (Rockies A) against the Grizzlies on Aug. 2.
In 9.2 innings, Santa Cruz has struck out nine, walked three, allowed four earned runs and picked up a win at Modesto (Mariners A) on July 22.
JT Arruda, Infielder, Fredericksburg Nationals (Nationals Single A)
Arruda made his return to the field on a rehab assignment with the FCL Nationals on June 7 before moving up to Class A Fredericksburg on June 12.
In 26 games with Fredericksburg, the Clovis native is hitting .224 from the plate with 17 hits, including six doubles, one triple and two home runs.
In his second game back with the Nationals on June 16, Arruda went 3-for-3 with a double, home run, two runs, four RBI, a walk and stolen base in a 9-1 win over Myrtle Beach (Cubs A).
The Nationals went 33-33 in first half of the Carolina League North Division and are 23-9 in the second half to lead the division.
EJ Andrews, Jr., Outfielder, Fresno Grizzlies (Rockies Single A)
Andrews Jr. continues his first full season in the minors in Single A with the Fresno Grizzlies appearing in 58 games with 42 hits with 16 going for extra bases, including 11 doubles, two triples and three home runs.
He has driven in 19 RBI, drawn 23 walks and scored 29Â runs. The Long Beach native went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles, RBI and scored a run in a 8-3 win over Stockton Ports (Athletics A) on July 3Â
The Grizzlies won the first half of the California League North Division with a 41-25 mark and are 17-16 in the second half.
Zach Morgan, Catcher, (Giants)
A seventh-round selection in the 2022 MLB Draft, Morgan signed with the Giants on July 29 and will look to get back on the field this summer in the minors.
Andrew Kachel, Infielder (Giants)
Joining Morgan in the San Francisco organization is Kachel who was selected in the 16th round of this year's MLB Draft. Also signing on July 29, Kachel will look to return to the field this summer in the minors.
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