Rebel Baseball Players in Pro’s

Drew Pomeranz
hardballtalk.nbcsports.com

Ole Miss Baseball has a history of student-athletes playing professionally following their careers as Rebels. Currently, six former Rebels are on Major League Baseball rosters, while 22 others are working their way up through the minor leagues. Each week during the summer, OleMissSports.com will update Rebel fans about the current #ProRebs making their mark on professional baseball diamonds across the country.

Here is a look at how the former Rebels are performing on the field during the 2015 season. For a complete look of season stats for #ProRebs, click here.

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Major League Baseball Rebels

#30 Aaron Barrett | RHP | Washington Nationals  Drafted: 2010
Barrett was the latest former Rebel in MLB to get hit with the injury bug as strained biceps placed him on the disabled list since June 13. In 30 games out of the bullpen, the former Rebel has a 3-2 record on the mound, already matching his win total from his 2014 rookie campaign.

#8 Chris Coghlan | LF | Chicago Cubs  Drafted: 2006
Coghlan continues to increase his batting average as the season progresses. Last week, he bumped his average up seven points to a .258 clip. Over the past seven games, the former Rebel is hitting .353 while also adding an on base percentage of .542. In a weekend series against the National League leading St. Louis Cardinals, Coghlan went 5-for-9 (.556) with two doubles and three walks. Coghlan is currently baseball’s active “Iron Man” for holding the longest active streak of consecutive games played in Major League Baseball. He has appeared in 140 consecutive games dating back to the 2014 season. Coghlan has also showed off his power at the plate this year with eight home runs, just one shy of his career-high. The left fielder hit nine home runs during the 2009 and 2014 seasons. The 2009 National League Rookie of the Year is in his second season with the Chicago Cubs.

#2 Zack Cozart | SS | Cincinnati Reds  Drafted: 2007
Through one-third of the 2015 season, his fourth as the Reds’ starting shortstop, Cozart was on pace to post career bests in nearly every statistical category. However, he hurt his right knee in a June 10 game versus the Philadelphia Phillies, an injury that required season-ending surgery. Prior to the injury, the former Ole Miss shortstop was hitting .258 with 10 doubles and nine home runs. In the two games before he was sidelined, he smacked five hits, including two home runs, to lead the Reds to a pair of wins over the Phillies.

#31 Lance Lynn | RHP | St. Louis Cardinals  Drafted: 2008
After spending time on the 15-day disabled list due a strain in his right forearm, Lynn returned to the Cardinals’ rotation, June 25, and did not missed a beat. In his two starts since coming off the disabled list, the right-hander surrendered one run over 12.0 innings to go along with 12 strikeouts. He collected a win against the Miami Marlins, June 25, before getting a no decision versus the Chicago White Sox. Lynn is a regular in the Cardinals’ rotation for the fourth consecutive season and currently posts a record of 5-4 with a 2.74 ERA. (VIDEO: Lynn tosses six strong frames-June 30)

#13 Drew Pomeranz | LHP | Oakland Athletics Drafted: 2010
Pomeranz has become comfortable out of the bullpen since coming back from the disabled list. Since his return, the lefty has allowed just two runs over 13 relief appearances. The former Rebel had four outings over the last eight days, tossing a combined 4.0 innings and not allowing a run. In just his second season with the Athletics following a three-year stint in Colorado, Pomeranz began the season in the team’s rotation before a shoulder injury placed him on the 15-day disabled list. The southpaw earned two victories prior to his injury, including his season debut in which he pitched seven scoreless innings against the Mariners.

#7 Seth Smith | DH/OF | Seattle Mariners Drafted: 2004
Smith is hitting .256 in 2015, while playing multiple positions in the field. The former Rebel showed his versatility starting as the Mariners’ designated hitter, left fielder and right fielder this season. He has had 27 of his 54 hits go for extra bases, including 18 doubles, three triples and six home runs. Smith is in his first season in Seattle after getting traded by the San Diego Padres during the offseason.

Minor League Baseball Rebels

#30 Will Allen | C | Connecticut Tigers (Class A Short Season) – Detroit Tigers  Drafted: 2014
Allen, a 2014 All-American for the Rebels, has played in eight games for the Connecticut Tigers this season. The catcher is hitting .222, but has three hits over his last two contests to get off to a hot start this week.

#26 Auston Bousfield | CF | Lake Elsinore Storm (Class A Advanced) – San Diego Padres  Drafted: 2014
In a weekend series versus Rancho Cucamonga, Bousfield recorded a hit in each of the four games. Moving up to the Class A Advanced Lake Elsinore Storm, he has knocked the cover off the ball in 2015. The 2014 All-American is hitting at a .290 clip through 61 games for the 18th-best batting average in the California League. Bousfield also ranks fifth in the league with 15 stolen bases.

#11 Hawtin Buchanan | RHP | Clinton LumberKings (Class A) – Seattle Mariners Drafted: 2014
Buchanan has made nine appearances this season for the LumberKings and has not allowed a run in seven of them. The right-hander continued to see his ERA drop as he pitched 8.1 scoreless innings over his past five outings. His last time out on the mound, Buchanan tossed a season-high 2.1 innings of relief without allowing a run to cross the plate.

#57 Matt Crouse | LHP | Lakeland Flying Tigers (Class A Advanced) – Detroit Tigers  Drafted: 2011
Crouse is having a solid 2015 campaign, posting a 4-1 record with a 2.03 ERA. In 13 appearances totaling 44.1 innings, the southpaw has struck out 31 hitters while issuing just four walks. Mixing time between relief appearances and starts, the southpaw made a start in his last outing. Crouse threw 5.0 scoreless innings to earn the win over Tampa, June 26.

#34 Chris Ellis | RHP | Arkansas Travelers (Double-A) – Los Angeles Angels Drafted: 2014
Ellis, the No. 9 prospect for the Angles, was called up to the Double-A Arkansas Travelers after dominating the California League as a member of the Inland Empire 66ers to start the season. Making the move up against better completion, the former Rebel continued to thrive on the mound. In four starts with the Travelers, Ellis is 2-0 with a 3.05 ERA through 20.2 innings of work. He is also holding opposing hitters to just a .211 clip at the dish.

#32 David Goforth| RHP | Colorado Springs Sky Sox (Triple-A) – Milwaukee Brewers  Drafted: 2011
Since returning to the Sky Sox after a brief stint with the Milwaukee Brewers, Goforth has not let the move affect his pitching as he continues to get the job done out of the bullpen. In his last 23 appearances between the big leagues and the minors, Goforth has allowed just three runs over 26.1 innings of work. Last week, he was called upon three times and pitched a total of 2.2 innings at the end of the games, earning a pair of saves along the way. Goforth initially got called up to the Brewers on May 25. One day later, the former Ole Miss pitcher made his major league debut versus the San Francisco Giants; he picked off a runner for his first MLB out before retiring his first big league hitter.

#6 Aaron Greenwood | RHP | Lancaster JetHawks (Class A Advanced) – Houston Astros Drafted: 2014
Greenwood reported to the Quad Cities River Bandits in the middle of May and was effective immediately upon arrival, earning him a call up to the Lancaster JetHawks. The former Rebel right-hander surrendered only one run over nine appearances, giving him an ERA of 0.63. Greenwood is also holding opposing hitters to a .182 average at the plate. He has not allowed a run in any of his last seven outings, spanning 16.0 innings. Greenwood has not pitched in a game for the JetHawks yet.

#25 R.J. Hively | RHP | Mobile BayBears (Double-A) – Arizona Diamondbacks  Drafted: 2012
Hively pitched in 19 games this season for the Mobile BayBears before making the transition to the Visalia Rawhide. For the Bay Bears, he posted a 4.23 ERA over 38.1 innings of work. In his first start with the Rawhide, the righty struck out six over four innings and allowed two runs on five hits.

#49 Josh Laxer | RHP | Connecticut Tigers (Class A Short Season) – Detroit Tigers Drafted: 2014
Laxer has not appeared in a game for the Tigers yet, spending time on the disabled list.

#30 Braxton Lee | CF | Charlotte Stone Crabs (Class A Advanced) – Tampa Bay Rays Drafted: 2014
Lee is hitting .277 through 63 games with the Stone Crabs. The former Rebel has crossed the plate 32 times this season to go along with 56 hits. Against Fort Meyers, June 26, he reached base three times with two hits and a walk, scoring twice.

Mike Mayers | RHP | Springfield Cardinals (Double-A) – St. Louis Cardinals Drafted: 2013
Mayers is currently on the disabled list, having last pitched on May 12. Earlier this season, May 2, the former Rebel tossed a four-hit complete-game shutout.

#25 Sikes Orvis | 1B | Great Falls Voyagers (Rookie) – Chicago White Sox Drafted: 2015
A month ago, he was still a fan favorite in an Ole Miss uniform. Now, Orvis has taken his power and personality to the professional ranks after being selected in the 2015 MLB Draft. The slugger was chosen in the 17th round by the Chicago White Sox and quickly signed to begin his professional career. Orvis has played in seven games for the Great Falls Voyagers, the White Sox’s rookie team, recording five hits and five runs. In his last game, the former Rebel went 2-for-4 with two runs and one RBI for his first multi-hit game as a professional.

#25 Alex Presley | LF | Fresno Grizzlies (Triple-A) – Houston Astros  Drafted: 2006
Presley has produced for the Fresno Grizzlies in hopes of earning a call up to the majors. The former Ole Miss Rebel has hit .308 this season (63 games) for the Houston Astros’ Triple-A affiliate. In a series versus Reno last week, he smacked six hits throughout the weekend. Presley recorded his first triple of the season as well as his second home run in 2015.

#55 Cody Satterwhite | RHP | Las Vegas 51s (Triple-A) – New York Mets  Drafted: 2008
Satterwhite has been productive in the minor leagues and has worked his way up to the Mets’ Triple-A club this season. For the 51s, the former Rebel has made 30 appearances. Satterwhite has a 2-0 record to go along with a pair of saves; he has not allowed a run in 13 of his last 17 outings. In his last outing, June 28, the right-hander tossed a pair of scoreless innings to allow Las Vegas a chance to mount a comeback and tie the game in the ninth.

#29 Matt Snyder | 1B | Trenton Thunder (Double-A) – New York Yankees Drafted: 2012
Snyder returned to the field, June 17, for the first time since May 10 after being nagged with an injury. In his return, he went 1-for-3 for the Trenton Thunder, but unfortunately had to return to the disabled list. The former Reb has hit .359 in 28 games between the Trenton and the Tampa Yankees this season. Snyder was called up to the Thunder and played his first game with the club, May 8.

#55 Matt Tracy | LHP | Trenton Thunder (Double-A) – New York Yankees Drafted: 2011
Tracy is currently a teammate of fellow Rebel Matt Snyder, pitching for the Trenton Thunder, the Double-A affiliate of the Yankees. He appeared in a game with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, June 25, before moving to the Thunder. Earlier this season, April 11, Tracy was called up by the New York Yankees following a marathon game against the Boston Red Sox. Needing pitching in the bullpen, the lefty made his MLB debut against Boston, tossing a pair of innings.

#32 Christian Trent | LHP | Arizona League Brewers (Rookie) – Milwaukee Brewers Drafted: 2015
After being picked in the 24th round in the 2015 MLB Draft by the Milwaukee Brewers, Trent decided to sign with the club and begin his professional career. In his debut with the Brewers’ rookie league team in Arizona, June 22, Trent pitched a scoreless inning by retiring all three batters he faced. That performance moved the southpaw up to the Helena Brewers, where he has made two relief appearances. Trent tossed two innings without allowing a run the last time he got the ball, June 30, and earned the first win of his professional career.

#30 Stuart Turner | C | Chattanooga Lookouts (Double-A) – Minnesota Twins Drafted: 2013
A 2013 All-American at Ole Miss, Turner has played in 51 games this season for the Lookouts. The catcher has three home runs to his credit and has crossed the plate a total of 20 times. He has also thrown out 14 baserunners in 2015.

#62 Jacob Waguespack | RHP | Gulf Coast League Phillies (Rookie) – Philadelphia Phillies Drafted: 2015
Waguespack, who signed as a free agent with the Phillies following the 2015 MLB Draft, has not yet made his professional debut.

#28 Bobby Wahl | RHP | Midland RockHounds (Double-A) – Oakland Athletics  Drafted: 2013
Wahl has not pitched in a game since June 12. In 20 outings, the right-hander sports a 1-0 record with a 4.45 ERA. Wahl has also appeared out of the back end of the bullpen for the RockHounds, making four saves this season.

#37 Scott Weathersby | RHP | Tri-City ValleyCats (Class A Short Season) – Houston Astros
The Rebel drafted highest in the 2015 MLB Draft, selected in the 10th round of the Houston Astros, Weathersby has made two appearances for the Tri-City ValleyCats. In his last outing, he allowed one run in 2.1 innings against the Connecticut Tigers; during the appearance, he forced a groundball double play out of former Rebel teammate Will Allen.

#9 Alex Yarbrough | 2B | Salt Lake Bees (Triple-A) – Los Angeles Angels
For the Angels’ Triple-A affiliate Salt Lake Bees, Yarbrough put together an impressive week in which he increased his batting average by 12 points. In the last six games, the former Rebel recorded 10 hits, seven runs and five RBI. Against Albuquerque, he went 3-for-5 with two doubles, two runs and a pair of RBI. For the season, Yarbrough is hitting at a .248 clip with 29 RBI. An All-American during his time at Ole Miss, Yarbrough is in his third full season in the minors as the Angels’ No. 14 prospect. He has been promoted after each year, and his next call up will be to the big leagues.

Courtesy of Ole Miss Athletics