Jayhawks in the Pros

June 13, 2012

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Throughout the course of the 2012 season, kuathletics.com will check in with the 14 former Jayhawks that are playing professional baseball. Left-handed pitcher Sam Freeman highlights this week’s edition as the recent call-up made back-to-back scoreless appearances for the St. Louis Cardinals.

Jayhawks in the Majors

• LHP Tom Gorzelanny, who pitched at KU in 2002, is in his second season with the Washington Nationals. Gorzelanny is 2-1 with a 3.26 ERA in 18 appearances out of the Nationals’ bullpen with 11 walks and 26 strikeouts. The veteran lefty pitched a scoreless inning on June 10 against the Boston Red Sox in his latest action. In six big league seasons, Gorzelanny is 42-44 with a 4.52 ERA in 166 games for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago Cubs and Nationals. Gorzelanny was originally selected by Pittsburgh in the 2003 Draft.
• LHP Sam Freeman, who pitched at KU in 2008, was recently called up to the St. Louis Cardinals from their Double-A affiliate. In his first five appearances in the majors, Freeman is 0-0 with a 4.15 ERA with two walks and five strikeouts. Freeman has made two-straight scoreless appearances at Houston (June 7) and against Cleveland (June 8). He was originally selected by the Cardinals in the 32^nd round of the 2008 Draft.
• LHP Mike Zagurski, who pitched at KU from 2004-05, was recalled to the major leagues by the Arizona Diamondbacks on April 24. In 14 appearances for the Diamondbacks, Zagurski has pitched 14 innings and allowed seven runs on 12 hits with seven walks and 15 strikeouts. In four seasons in the majors, Zagurski has a 1-0 record with a 6.11 ERA in 51 relief appearances with 26 walks, 51 strikeouts and a 1.64 WHIP for the Philadelphia Phillies and the Diamondbacks. Zagurski was originally selected by the Phillies in the 12^th round of the 2005 Draft.

Jayhawks in Double-A

• RHP Brett Bochy, who pitched at KU from 2008-10, is in his first season with the Richmond Flying Squirrels – an affiliate of the San Francisco Giants. Bochy threw two scoreless innings and picked up a win at Portland (June 10), bringing his record to 4-2 with a 1.84 ERA with seven saves and 34 strikeouts in 29 1/3 innings. Bochy did not allow an earned run in his first 18 innings of the season. The right-handed reliever was a 20^th round selection by the Giants in 2010.
• LHP Shaeffer Hall, who pitched at KU from 2008-09, is in his second season with the Trenton Thunder – an affiliate of the New York Yankees. In his first 13 starts of the year, Hall is 5-6 with a 4.19 ERA with 14 walks and 46 strikeouts in 78.1 innings pitched. Hall picked up his last win against New Hampshire on June 4^th, pitching six innings and striking out four. He was originally drafted by the Yankees in the 25^th round in 2009.
• IF Erik Morrison, who played at KU from 2005-08, is in his first season with the Birmingham Barons – an affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. Through 24 games this season, Morrison is 23-for-88 (.261) with five doubles, nine RBIs and 10 runs scored. Morrison is hitting .333 during the month of June, and building on his hot start to the season. He was originally drafted by the Texas Rangers in 2008 and played four years in the Rangers’ organization before being picked up by the White Sox this offseason.
• RHP Cameron Selik, who pitched at KU from 2009-10, was recently promoted to the Double-A Harrisburg Senators after starting his second season with the Potomac Nationals. Selik pitched well in Single-A, going 2-1 with a 3.68 ERA and eight saves in 18 relief appearances for the Nationals. He has only made one appearance thus far in Double-A. He was selected by the Nationals in the 22^nd round of the 2010 Draft.
• RHP Paul Smyth, who pitched at KU from 2006-09, is in his second season with the Midland Rockhounds – an affiliate of the Oakland Athletics. Smyth has 1-1 record with a 4.28 ERA in his first 22 appearances. He has managed to record 26 strikeouts in 27 1/3 innings. He was originally a 35^th round draft pick by the Oakland A’s in 2009.

Jayhawks in Single-A

• SS Brandon Macias, who played at KU from 2010-11, is in his first season with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers – an affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. Macias has played in 59 games for the Timber Rattlers and is batting .267 with 15 doubles, three homers and 39 runs scored this season. He went 2-for-4 with a home run, three RBIs and two runs scored against Burlington (June 11). Macias signed as an undrafted free agent with the Brewers’ organization following his senior year at KU.
• RHP Colton Murray, who pitched at KU from 2009-11, is in his first season with the Lakewood BlueClaws – an affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies. Murray got off to a slow start this year, but has not allowed an earned run in his last five appearances and recorded his first victory of the season on April 28 against Greenville. In 19 games this season, Murray is 1-3 with a 3.94 ERA and 24 strikeouts in 29 2/3 innings. He was selected in the 13^th round by the Phillies in the 2011 Draft.
• IF Robby Price, who played at KU from 2007-10, is in his first season with the Charlotte Stone Crabs – the Advanced Single-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays. Price has also swung the bat well recently after a slow start. The former KU infielder went 2-for-4 in his June 10 game against St. Lucie with a home run, a double and an RBI. In 47 games this season, Price is 37-for-165 (.224) with seven doubles, two homeruns and 12 RBIs. He was originally drafted by the Rays in the 13^th round of the 2010 Draft.
• 3B Tony Thompson, who played at KU from 2008-10, is in his first season with the Stockton Ports – the Advanced Single-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics. Through his first 49 games, Thompson is batting .257 with 16 doubles, four homers and 18 RBIs. He got off to a fast start, batting .270 with 12 extra base hits in April, but has cooled off recently. Thompson went 1-for-3 with a home run and two RBIs in a game against Bakersfield last night. The 6-foot-4 infielder was drafted by the A’s in the sixth round of the 2010 Draft.
• RHP T.J. Walz, who pitched at KU from 2008-11, is in his first season with the Stockton Ports – the Advanced Single-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics. Walz has made eight starts for the Ports and is 4-4 with a 3.45 ERA and 60 strikeouts in 57 1/3 innings on the hill. The 6-foot righty was recently moved to the bullpen, where he hasn’t given up a run in his last five appearances. Walz was selected by the A’s in the 15^th round of the 2011 Draft.