Frogs in the Pros: August 20-26, 2015

Here's a look at how the 7 MLB Frogs fared the week of August 20-26, 2015:

Jake Arrieta (P/Chicago Cubs) –  After a bit of an off week last week, Arrieta’s talent really showed this week.  The Cubs played the Braves at home on August 20, and Arrieta was highly responsible for the 7-1 victory.  In six innings, he held the Braves to four hits, but no runs.  He walked one and struck out seven.  Arrieta and the Cubs played the Giants in San Francisco on August 25.  Arrieta pitched six innings and allowed one unearned run.  He walked one and struck out eight for the 8-5 win.  He also hit a double in the top of the 6^th and was brought home by Dexter Fowler.  This was Arrieta’s 16^th win this season, and he’s won 10 of the last 11 games he’s pitched.  The only one he didn’t win?  That no-hitter by Cole Hamels, so we’re giving Arrieta a free pass on that one.  He has a 2.22 ERA with a .98 WIHP.  You can see more stats from his 2015 season here.

Matt Carpenter (3B/St. Louis Cardinals) –  During a 3-game series against the Padres August 21-23, Carpenter was completely hitless in 11 at-bats.  When the Cardinals met the Diamondbacks on August 24, Carpenter finally got a piece of the ball in the top of the 3^rd for his 19^th homerun of the season.  He walked in the top of the 7^th and was able to get home to add to the Cardinals score.  The Cardinals won 5-3.  When the Cardinals played the Reds on August 25, Carpenter was walked in the top of the 1^st and scored.  He was hit by a pitch in the top of the 4^th and was able to come around to score.  The Cardinals ran away with the game that ended 9-1.  Carpenter didn’t see much action on August 26.  In two at-bats he had a single to right that brought in a run.  It wasn’t much, but it did help the Cardinals bring home a 3-1 victory.  He currently has 66 RBIs, and his AVG is currently .259.  For more stats from Carpenter's 2015 season, click here.

Andrew Cashner (P/San Diego Padres) –  As mentioned above, the Padres and Cardinals met on August 21.  Cashner kept fellow Frog Matt Carpenter hitless (though he did walk him in the 3^rd), and he only allowed four hits for the night.  He walked two and struck out eight.  He only allowed one unearned run in the game that ended with a Padres 9-3 victory.  Cashner also got on base on a fielder’s choice in the bottom of the 5^th and was able to get home to help his team with the win.  His ERA is currently 4.03 with a 1.35 WHIP.  For more of Cashner's stats, click here.

Taylor Featherston (3B/Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim) – Featherston is still on his 15-day DL rest due to an upper back strain (refer to last week’s FITP picture for how that happened).  He’s eligible for return on August 31 but was scheduled to begin a rehab assignment with the Salt Lake Triple-A team on August 23.  So far, he’s had three games with the Bees, and has had two runs, two hits, and an RBI in his last 10 at-bats.  His MiLB AVG is currently at .200, with his MLB AVG still sitting at .130.  You can see more of his MiLB season here and his MLB season here.

Brandon Finnegan (P/Cincinnati Reds) –  Cincinnati fans are counting the days until Finnegan's first appearance with the Reds in September.  We’re counting down the days and keeping his seat warm for him up here in the MLB recap section.  Between football season and Finnegan’s return to the MLB, we really can’t wait for September.  For stats on Finnegan’s minor league season, check out the recap below.

Bryan Holaday (C/Detroit Tigers) – The Tigers moved Holaday to their Triple-A team in Toledo on July 3^rd.  Check out stats on his Triple-A season below.  You can find his MLB stats here.

Chad Huffman (OF/Chiba Lotte Marines) –  Huffman continues to stay on the insanely huge Lotte roster.  We’re hoping to see him play soon.  In the meantime, his AVG still sits at .260.  You can continue to follow his season here and here.

And now here's a look at the 25 Frogs currently competing in Minor League Baseball:
(Click on a player's name for full stats. Click on a team name for full team information.)

Jason Coats – OF/Charlotte Knights (Chicago White Sox AAA) - Seasons at TCU: 2009-2013. Seasons in Pro Baseball: 2013-Present. – Jason Coats has picked up at least one hit in each of his four starts since our last update. The outfielder is 5-14 in that span with a home run and three RBI. He also struck out once and stole two bases. Coats’ batting average has remained pretty consistent as of late and is currently sitting at .268 on the year. The Charlotte Knights are 4.5 games out of a playoff spot and will have to make that ground up quickly as the team only has 12 games remaining on the year.

Brandon Finnegan – P/Louisville Bats (Cincinnati Reds AAA) - Seasons at TCU: 2012-2014. Seasons in Pro Baseball: 2014-Present. – Since our last update, Brandon Finnegan has made two starts for the Louisville Bats. On August 20, Finnegan tossed 4.0 innings and allowed three earned runs on five hits while walking one and striking out three against the Gwinnett Braves. Then, on August 25, he pitched 4.0 innings against the Indianapolis Indians, allowing one earned run on four hits while walking two and striking out five. After the performance, his season ERA dropped to 6.00. The Cincinnati Reds organization has a decision to make with Finnegan this week. With the Bats already eliminated from playoff contention, it is likely that Finnegan will be called up to Cincinnati’s MLB team when rosters expand on September 1. The lefty is scheduled to start on August 30 against the Columbus Clippers, in what could be his last start with Louisville this season.

Bryan Holaday – C/Toledo Mud Hens (Detroit Tigers AAA) - Seasons at TCU: 2008-2010. Seasons in Pro Baseball: 2010- Present. – Bryan Holaday was activated off the Mud Hens’ disabled list on August 26 but has yet to make an appearance since returning. The catcher dislocated his thumb during a 10^th inning play at the plate on August 17. With Toledo eliminated from playoff contention, there is a chance that we could see Holaday back with the Detroit Tigers once MLB rosters expand on September 1.

Matt Purke – P/Harrisburg Senators (Washington Nationals AA) - Seasons at TCU: 2010-2011. Seasons in Pro Baseball: 2011-Present. – Matt Purke was added to the Senators’ disabled list on August 21 after suffering an undisclosed injury. His last start came on August 18. The lefty currently maintains a 7.11 ERA on the season. The Senators are on the brink of elimination in the Eastern League – six games out of a playoff spot with just 12 contests remaining.

Kyle Winkler – P/Arkansas Travelers (Los Angeles Angels AA) - Seasons at TCU: 2009-2011. Seasons in Pro Baseball: 2011 –Present. – Kyle Winkler has made two appearances for the Arkansas Travelers since our last report, combining to pitch 3.0 scoreless innings. In that span, Winkler has allowed just two hits while striking out one. His ERA has since dropped to 3.51 on the year. It is looking more and more like Winkler’s Travelers will get to play postseason baseball. The team currently has a four game lead in the North Division of the Texas League with 12 games remaining.

Jantzen Witte – 1B/Portland Sea Dogs (Boston Red Sox AA) - Seasons at TCU: 2009-2013. Seasons in Pro Baseball: 2013-Present. – Jantzen Witte remains on the Sea Dogs’ Disabled List. The first baseman hasn’t made an appearance since July 16 after suffering an undisclosed injury. In 85 games with the Sea Dogs this season, Witte is batting .283 with 89 hits and 48 RBI. There’s a chance that we might not see Witte for the remainder of the season. The Sea Dogs only have 12 games remaining and have already been eliminated from playoff contention.

Stefan Crichton – P/Frederick Keys (Baltimore Orioles A-Advanced) - Seasons at TCU: 2011-2013. Seasons in Pro Baseball: 2013- Present. – Stefan Crichton made just one relief appearance since our last update. On August 26, he pitched a perfect inning against the Potomac Nationals, striking out two in the process. His ERA dropped to a miniscule 1.08 on the year. The Keys are slipping in the standings as of late and have fallen to five games out of first place.

Kevin Cron – 1B/Visalia Rawhide (Arizona Diamondbacks A-Advanced) - Seasons at TCU: 2012-2014. Seasons in Pro Baseball: 2014-Present. – Kevin Cron is on fire. He has started each of Visalia’s seven games since our last update and has combined to hit 9-27 with three doubles, a home run, two RBI while also drawing five walks. His only speed bump this week was a combined 10 strikeouts in the seven contests. His batting average is steadily climbing and is sitting at .277 on the year. The Visalia Rawhide have already clinched a spot in the California League Playoffs by virtue of winning the North Division in the first half of the season.

Paul Hendrix – SS/Lynchburg Hillcats (Cleveland Indians A-Advanced) - Seasons at TCU: 2013. Seasons in Pro Baseball: 2013-Present. – Paul Hendrix’ hitting slump has carried into this week. In five starts since our last report, the shortstop combined to hit 2-19 with a double, a walk, and 11 strikeouts. His batting average continues to take a hit and has fallen to .246 for the season. Despite his cold bat, the Hillcats have built a five game lead in the Northern Division of the Carolina League and are barreling toward an appearance in the playoffs.

Jordan Kipper – P/Inland Empire 66ers (Los Angles Angels A-Advanced) - Seasons at TCU: 2014. Seasons in Pro Baseball: 2014-Present. – Jordan Kipper has made one start this week. On August 22, he took a loss against the High Desert Mavericks after allowing four earned runs on five hits in five innings of work. Kipper allowed a home run while also walking one and striking out two. His ERA bounced up to 5.42 after the outing. The Inland Empire 66ers need everything to go their way to keep their season alive. The team is on the brink of elimination with an 11 game deficit in the South Division of the California League with only 12 games to play.

Trevor Seidenberger – P/Brevard County Manatees (Milwaukee Brewers A-Advanced) - Seasons at TCU: 2013. Seasons in Pro Baseball: 2013-Present. – Since our last update, Trevor Seidenberger has made just one relief appearance for Brevard County. He tossed three shutout innings against the Clearwater Threshers on August 22, allowing just two hits and a walk while striking out two. His ERA is down to 2.12 while his opponent’s batting average is .182 on the year. Unfortunately for Seidenberger, the Manatees have been eliminated from playoff contention in the Florida State League.

Tejay Antone – P/Dayton Dragons (Cincinnati Reds A-Full Season) - Seasons at TCU: 2013. Seasons in Pro Baseball: 2014-Present. – Tejay Antone had a pretty successful start against the Great Lakes Lions on August 21. The righty tossed 5.0 innings, allowing two runs on nine hits while walking one and striking out five. His ERA rose slightly to 2.87 on the year. The Dragons have some work to do to continue their season as the team is 8.5 games out of a playoff spot with 12 remaining.

Riley Ferrell – P/Quad Cities River Bandits (Houston Astros A-Full Season) - Seasons at TCU: 2013-2015. Seasons in Pro Baseball: 2015-Present. – Riley Ferrell has now spent 20 of his 61 days with the Quad Cities River Bandits on the team’s disabled list. After being activated from the DL on August 13, he was sent back just five days later. Ferrell has been productive for the River Bandits this season, as his ERA is 1.08 after 16.2 innings of work. Quad Cities trails Peoria by one game for a playoff spot in the Western Division of the Midwest League.

Nick Frey – P/Peoria Chiefs (St. Louis Cardinals A-Full Season) - Seasons at TCU: 2011-2014. Seasons in Pro Baseball: 2014-Present. – Nick Frey has made three relief appearances for Peoria this week. Frey struggled a bit in those three appearances, as he combined to allow three earned runs on five hits in three total innings of work. In that span, he walked two and struck out three. After allowing two runs in his most recent appearance, his ERA jumped up to 6.39. Peoria is clinging to a one game lead for a playoff spot in the Western Division of the Midwest League.

Andrew Mitchell – P/Kannapolis Intimidators (Chicago White Sox A-Full Season) - Seasons at TCU: 2011-2013. Seasons in Pro Baseball: 2013-Present. – Mitchell’s last appearance in a MiLB game came one year ago this week. He remains on the team’s disabled list, and unless something drastic happens, we won’t see Mitchell again until at least 2016.

Jerrick Suiter – OF/West Virginia Power (Pittsburgh Pirates A-Full Season) - Seasons at TCU: 2012-2014. Seasons in Pro Baseball: 2014-Present. – Jerrick Suiter has started five games for the West Virginia Power since our last update. His bat has cooled off a bit in that span, as the power-hitting outfielder has combined to go 2-20 with two walks and three strikeouts. His batting average has dipped below .300 – a rarity for Suiter this season – and currently sits at .290. The Power are running away with the Northern Division of the South Atlantic League and currently hold a nine game lead for first place.

Trey Teakell – P/West Michigan Whitecaps (Detroit Tigers A-Full Season) - Seasons at TCU: 2011-2015. Seasons in Pro Baseball: 2015-Present. – Trey Teakell’s one start of the week came on August 22 against the Lake County Captains. He pitched 4.1 innings of scoreless baseball, giving up only three baserunners while striking out five. His ERA continues to fall and is down to an impressive 0.63 on the year. We are likely going to see Teakell in the postseason, as the Whitecaps are sitting pretty with a six game lead for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Division of the Midwest League.

Tyler Alexander – P/Connecticut Tigers (Detroit Tigers A-Short Season) - Seasons at TCU: 2014-2015. Seasons in Pro Baseball: 2015-Present. – Tyler Alexander started an August 21 contest against the Vermont Lake Monsters in his only appearance of the week. He was a hit batter away from tossing a perfect three innings, striking out four in the process. Like his former teammate Trey Teakell, Alexander’s ERA is sitting at an impressive 0.87 on the year. The Tigers are hanging around in the New York-Penn League and are only three games out of a Wild Card spot.

Keaton Jones – SS/Connecticut Tigers (Detroit Tigers A-Short Season) - Seasons at TCU: 2012-2015. Seasons in Pro Baseball: 2015-Present. – Keaton Jones has been in the midst of a minor hitting slump as of late. In five starts this week, Jones hit just 3-20 with two RBI and six strikeouts. His slash line has taken a hit and is currently .152/.171/.241 this season.

Preston Morrison – P/Eugene Emeralds (Chicago Cubs A-Short Season) - Seasons at TCU: 2012-2015. Seasons in Pro Baseball: 2015-Present. – Preston Morrison did something this week that he hadn’t done in 35 days – allow an earned run. PMo made a relief appearance on August 22 against the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes where he pitched 2.1 innings and allowed one run on five hits while recording three strikeouts. The run he gave up doubled his season total and caused his ERA to jump slightly to 1.13 on the year. The Emeralds are clinging to a one game lead in the South Division of the Northwest League.

Alex Young – P/Hillsboro Hops (Arizona Diamondbacks A-Short Season) - Seasons at TCU: 2013-2015. Seasons in Pro Baseball: 2015-Present. – Since our last update, Alex Young has made just one relief appearance for Hillsboro. He pitched a perfect inning with two strikeouts against the Boise Hawks on August 22. In five total innings of work this season, Young has allowed just two hits and no runs. His Hillsboro Hops trail Preston Morrison’s Eugene Emeralds by one game in the South Division of the Northwest League.

Cody Jones – OF/Idaho Falls Chukars (Kansas City Royals Rookie League) - Seasons at TCU: 2013-2015. Seasons in Pro Baseball: 2015-Present. – Cody Jones had a hot and cold week for Idaho Falls. From August 20-23, he combined to hit 7-16 with two RBI and five strikeouts. However, from August 24-26, Jones was just 1-12 with an RBI and three strikeouts. Despite his recent slump, his batting average remains above .300, as it has all season, and currently sits at .303. The Chukars currently have a two game lead for first place in the South Division of the Pioneer League.

Patrick O'Brien - P/GCL Yankees2 (New York Yankees Rookie League) - Seasons at TCU: 2013. Seasons in Pro Baseball: 2015-Present. – Patrick O’Brien made two relief appearances for the GCL Yankees2 since our last update. He allowed three runs on two hits with a walk and four strikeouts in 1.1 innings on August 22 before bouncing back for 1.2 innings of no-hit baseball on August 26. In the later contest, O’Brien walked four, hit one batter, and struck out five. O’Brien’s season is all but over as the GCL Yankees2 have only two games remaining and have been eliminated from playoff contention.

Scott Atchison – P/Free Agent - Seasons at TCU: 1995-1999. Seasons in Pro Baseball: 1999-Present. – Atchison’s days as a professional baseball player could be numbered. He was released from the Minnesota Twins’ AA club following a relief appearance on July 13. The 17-year veteran is currently a free agent.

Josh Elander – OF/Free Agent - Seasons at TCU: 2010-2013. Seasons in Pro Baseball: 2013-Present. – As we reported earlier this week, Josh Elander has left minor league baseball for a coaching position at TCU. Elander was released by the Arizona Diamondbacks’ A-Full Season squad in May. The outfielder is a career .273 hitter with 220 hits and 135 RBI.

With less than two weeks in the MiLB season and many former Frogs fighting for playoff spots, it should be an exciting end to the regular season. Stay tuned!