Jayhawks in the Pros (Update #3)
May 10, 2011
Major Leagues
Tom Gorzelanny
Former Kansas pitcher Tom Gorzelanny is in his seventh major league season and his first with the Washington Nationals. The 6-foot-2 lefty, who played at KU in 2002, is 2-2 with the Nationals this season after picking up a win on Saturday evening. Gorzelanny has posted a 2.87 ERA with 29 strikeouts in 37 1/3 innings this season. In his seven big league seasons, Gorzelanny has posted a 38-39 record and made 101 starts. He was originally drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the second round of the 2003 MLB Amateur Draft.
Class AAA
Mike Zagurski
Left-handed pitcher Mike Zagurski, who pitched at KU from 2004-05, was called up to the Philadelphia Phillies roster in mid-April and made two appearances with the team. In those two games, Zagurski allowed two hits while striking out two batters in 1 1/3 innings. Zagurski is still on the Phillies 40-man roster but is now pitching for their Triple-A affiliate, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. This year in the minors, Zagurski has a 1-0 record with a 1.08 ERA and four saves in 8 1/3 innings. He was originally selected by the Phillies in the 12th round of the 2005 MLB Amateur Draft.
Class AA
Sam Freeman
Left-handed pitcher Sam Freeman, who pitched at KU in 2008, was called up to the Double-A level in the St. Louis Cardinals’ organization. Freeman has pitched in three games with the Springfield Cardinals, allowing no runs and no hits with a strikeout. The 5-foot-11 lefty was originally drafted by the Cardinals in the 32nd round of the 2008 MLB Amateur Draft.
Shaeffer Hall
Left-handed pitcher Shaeffer Hall, who pitched at KU from 2008-09, has posted a 2-2 record with a 2.92 ERA in six starts for the Trenton Thunder – an affiliate of the New York Yankees. Hall has posted a remarkable 22 strikeouts compared to only three walks in 37 innings. In his last start, on Friday, Hall pitched 6 1/3 innings and allowed two earned runs on seven hits with a walk and five strikeouts. The 6-foot-1 lefty was a 25th round draft pick by the New York Yankees in the 2009 MLB Amateur Draft.
Erik Morrison
Second baseman Erik Morrison, who played at KU from 2005-08, is currently on the seven-day disabled list for the Frisco RoughRiders – an affiliate of the Texas Rangers. Morrison missed the early part of the season due to a death in the family and has played in just one game for Frisco. He was a 48th-round draft pick of the Rangers in 2008.
Paul Smyth
Right-handed pitcher Paul Smyth, who pitched at KU from 2006-09, earned his second victory of the season on Sunday, pitching an inning of scoreless relief for the Midland RockHounds – an affiliate of the Oakland Athletics. Smyth is 2-1 on the season with a 3.57 ERA in 10 appearances out of the bullpen. He has recorded 24 strikeouts to go with nine walks in 17 2/3 innings this season. Smyth was originally a 35th-round draft choice of the Oakland A’s in the 2009 MLB Amateur Draft.
Class A
Nick Czyz
Left-handed pitcher Nick Czyz, who pitched at KU from 2006-08, is currently pitching for the High Desert Mavericks – an affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. Czyz enjoyed his best start of the season on May 4, pitching six shutout innings against Modesto, allowing one hit and one walk with three strikeouts. Czyz is 1-2 on the season with a 6.38 ERA and 10 strikeouts in four starts. He was originally drafted by the Mariners in the 35th-round of the 2008 MLB Amateur Draft.
Brian Heere
Outfielder Brian Heere, who played at KU from 2008-10, has hit safely in each of his last three games, including a 1-for-5 night on Monday with a run scored for the Lake County Captains – an affiliate in the Cleveland Indians’ system. Heere struggled early in the season, but has come around lately, going 3-for-11 with a homer in his last three games. He is currently hitting .189 with one round-tripper and five RBIs. He was a 41st-round draft pick by the Indians in the 2010 MLB Amateur Draft.
Robby Price
Infielder Robby Price, who played at KU from 2007-10, went 1-for-5 Monday with an RBI for the Bowling Green Hot Rods – an affiliate in the Tampa Bay Rays organization. For the season, Price is batting .233 with two doubles, two homers and 19 runs scored in 27 games. He was a 13th-round draft choice by the Rays in the 2010 MLB Amateur Draft.
Cameron Selik
Right-handed pitcher Cameron Selik, who pitched at KU from 2009-10, was called up last week to the High-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals, the Potomac Nationals. In his first start for the P-Nats, Selik suffered his first loss, allowing two earned runs on four hits over six innings with four walks and three strikeouts. The 6-foot-3 righty was a 22nd-round draft choice of Washington in the 2010 MLB Amateur Draft.
Tony Thompson
Third baseman Tony Thompson, who played at KU 2008-10, has cooled off after a hot start with the Burlington Bees – an affiliate in the Oakland Athletics’ organization. Thompson is batting .291 with three homers and 21 RBIs in 27 games for the Bees. The second-year pro has reached base at a .336 clip. Thompson was a sixth-round draft pick of the A’s in the 2010 MLB Amateur Draft.
