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Players Mentioned

8

Micah Coffey

IF
/ Baseball
43

Lucas Gilbreath

LHP
/ Baseball
17

Brian Glowicki

RHP
/ Baseball
21

Jordan Jess

LHP
/ Baseball
28

Nick Lackney

LHP
/ Baseball
28

Ben Meyer

RHP
/ Baseball
30

Dan Motl

OF
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37

Jackson Rose

RHP
/ Baseball
37

Dalton Sawyer

LHP
/ Baseball
3

Brett Schulze

RHP
/ Baseball
29

DJ Snelten

LHP
/ Baseball
38

Jake Stevenson

RHP
/ Baseball
6

Terrin Vavra

IF
/ Baseball
4

Eli Wilson

C
/ Baseball
38

Tom Windle

LHP
/ Baseball
D.J. Snelten (pitching)

Gophers in the Pros: August 6 Update

8/6/2019 9:31:00 AM | Baseball

With the Major League Baseball season now past the trade deadline and into its final two months, Golden Gophers throughout the minors are looking to leave lasting impressions on their 2019 campaigns. As it stands today, the number of Minnesota alumni competing across various levels of professional baseball resides at 14.
 
In the Maroon & Gold's history, Minnesota has seen 36 alumni reach the Major Leagues, including two MLB Hall of Famers in Dave Winfield ('73) and Paul Molitor ('77). Each of the following players now look to extend this legacy of success at the highest level, having been prepared by one of the finest collegiate coaching staffs in the country.
 
Here are the Gophers competing in affiliated minor league baseball.
 
Lucas Gilbreath | SP, Lancaster JetHawks | MiLB.com
After working through struggles for much of the 2019 season, it appears as though Gilbreath ('17) has turned a corner and is beginning to translate his ability to miss bats into results. Over his past three starts, the southpaw has registered a 2.55 ERA across 12 2/3 innings, tallying an eye-popping 26-to-four strikeout-to-walk ratio in the process. In that span, the Westminster, Colo. native went 1-0 with two quality starts. The recent string of success moves Gilbreath's season ERA from 6.31 down to 5.70, as he continues to produce a healthy amount of punch-outs with a 9.25 K/9 on the year.
 
 
Brian Glowicki | RP, South Bend Cubs | MiLB.com
Glowicki ('17) remains embedded in a late-season renaissance in his new home with the South Bend Cubs. In his most recent six appearances, Glowicki allowed just two runs across 6 1/3 frames out of the bullpen. Working in a closer role, the 24-year-old right-hander has recorded four saves, bringing his season total up to 11 in that department. In those outings, Glowicki has struck out five and walked none, as his overall ERA with the Cubs now sits at 2.70.
 
Nick Lackney | LHP, GCL Phillies East | MiLB.com
The 22-year-old rookie southpaw has not thrown in game action since the mid-July update, holding a 5.40 ERA across 6 2/3 relief innings this season. As noted previously, Lackney's ('19) season numbers are a bit deceiving, as he has only surrendered runs in one of his six outings. Aside from a four-run showing on July 17, Lackney has thrown 5 2/3 innings of shutout baseball for Phillies East and will look to get back out on the mound in the near future.
 
Ben Meyer | SP, Hartford Yard Goats | MiLB.com
On July 21, the Yard Goats placed Meyer ('15) on the 7-day injured list. Prior to the injury, Meyer made just one new appearance following the mid-July update, throwing two innings of one run ball with two strikeouts against the Trenton Thunder. Rose undoubtedly aims to return to the field quickly and finish strong on a campaign that has seen him accumulate a 7.61 ERA over 71 combined innings in AA and AAA.
 
Jackson Rose | RHP, Batavia Muckdogs | MiLB.com
Although the past two weeks have not been great for Rose ('18), the former 35th round pick is still enjoying a largely successful season. Over the course of his last four games, Rose allowed 12 earned runs across 17 innings on the hill, whiffing 16 batters against just one walk. Even with the rough stretch, Rose is still the proud owner of a 5-3 record with a 4.29 ERA/1.05 WHIP with the Class-A Muckdogs, totaling 42 innings and 36 strikeouts thus far.
 
Dalton Sawyer | SP, AZL Athletics Gold | MiLB.com
There remains no update or timetable for return for Sawyer ('16), who is rehabbing from Tommy John Surgery in hopes of resuming his professional career. Prior to the injury, Sawyer amounted 149 1/3 innings of 3.56 ERA ball in the minor leagues, reaching as high as the AAA level in 2017. He also whiffed an eye-popping 166 batters during the course of that time.
 
Brett Schulze | RHP, Williamsport Crosscutters | MiLB.com
The string of dominance has not slowed for Schulze ('19) even after being promoted to Single-A, as the seventh round pick still has yet to allow a run in professional baseball. With his most recent three appearances, Schulze has elevated his scoreless innings streak to 12 1/3 frames to begin his career. In those three games, the Maple Grove, Minn. native threw six shutout innings, retiring nine batters on strikes and delivering his first professional save. With a perfect 0.00 ERA on the campaign, Schulze possesses an equally impressive WHIP of 0.67.
 

Jake Stevenson | RHP, Billings Mustangs | MiLB.com
Already in the midst of a terrific debut season, Stevenson ('19) was recently named to the Pioneer League All-Star team. Although the past couple of weeks have not represented Stevenson's strongest, the young righty still appeared in five games and notched four innings of two-run ball. With seven strikeouts and three hits allowed in those outings, Stevenson brought his year-long totals up to 19 and seven in those categories over 12 2/3 innings, respectively. With a 2.13 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP, Stevenson is clearly justifying the Cincinnati Reds' selection of him in the 10th round of the MLB Draft.
 
Terrin Vavra | SS, Asheville Tourists | MiLB.com
Vavra ('18) has maintained his torrid year at the plate in Single-A, prompting the Colorado Rockies organization to raise his ranking up to the seventh overall prospect in the organization. With a strong end of July, Vavra is now slashing .318/.409/.489 across 374 at bats, including 10 homers, 43 extra-base hits, 79 runs, 52 RBI and 18 stolen bases. In recent weeks, the former third round pick has even enhanced his approach at the dish, now boasting more walks (62) than strikeouts (61). With the minor league season close to its finish, it remains in question whether Vavra will earn a promotion, but the shortstop is primed to open the 2020 season at the AA level. At the very least, Vavra will undoubtedly receive a wide array of South Atlantic League MVP consideration for his performance on the diamond in 2019.
 

Eli Wilson | C, Bristol Pirates | MiLB.com
Over the last 10 games, Wilson ('19) has put his season back on track by hitting .379 with one homer, eight runs and nine RBI. Overall, the backstop now owns a .240/.359/.365 batting line with three long balls, 19 runs and 14 RBI. Less than two months into his pro career, Wilson has already exhibited a mature ability to bounce back and handle the cold stretches that every ballplayer experiences at one time or another.
 
 
Tom Windle | RP, Lehigh Valley IronPigs | MiLB.com
Windle ('13) polished off a solid last two weeks of July, hurling 8 2/3 innings of 4.15 ERA ball with five strikeouts, one walk and only four hits allowed. In his last three outings alone, the former second rounder pitched four innings without surrendering a run or even a baserunner, lowering his ERA to 4.35 and his WHIP to 1.49. Additionally, Windle is 7-2 out of the pen this season with 48 strikeouts across 49 2/3 innings.
 
In addition to the Gophers competing in affiliated minor league baseball, there are also a few former players chasing the big-league dream in the independent American Association.
 
Micah Coffey | IF, Windy City Thunderbolts | WCThunderbolts.com
After two full months with the Thunderbolts, Coffey ('18) is batting .202/.263/.266 with nine runs, six RBI and six extra-base hits. Since latching on in the Frontier League, Coffey has proved capable with the glove all across the infield, making just two combined errors while splitting his time across first, second and third base.
 
Jordan Jess | RP, St. Paul Saints | SaintsBaseball.com
The 26-year-old lefty finished off a strong month of July, reducing his ERA to an even 3.00 while improving to a perfect 5-0 on the mound. In the 2019 campaign, Jess ('16) sports 42 innings pitched across 32 appearances, in which he has struck out 42 batters (9.0 K/9) and walked a mere 12 (2.6 BB/9). His performance has helped lead the Saints to a widely successful season, in which they are tied for first in the North Division with a 59-41 record.
 
 
Dan Motl | OF, St. Paul Saints | SaintsBaseball.com
Lauded for his work on defense, Motl's ('16) performance at the plate this season is by far the best of his professional career. Since mid-July, he has added one homer, 11 runs, seven RBI and two steals to his resume. Overall, Jess is slashing .345/.439/.443 with three bombs, 55 runs, 31 RBI and 16 steals.
 
 
DJ Snelten | SP, Chicago Dogs | Am-Association.com
Snelten ('13) has made three starts since the last update, going 1-1 with a 3.00 ERA in that span. On July 24, the southpaw fired six innings of shutout baseball against the Milwaukee Milkmen, then turned around to chuck seven innings with just one run allowed on August 3 against St. Paul. Following the trio of starts, Snelten is now 5-3 on the year with a 3.96 ERA across 81 2/3 innings pitched. After a brief relief stint in the bigs with the San Francisco Giants last season, Snelten is reviving his career with the Dogs as he looks to return to the show.
 
For more information on all things tied to Gophers in the Pros, follow the Golden Gophers on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching for "Minnesota Baseball."
 

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