Summer Virginia Baseball Update
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July 6, 2016
Cavaliers in the Pros | Current Cavaliers in Summer Baseball
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Clement Flourishing Cape Cod League
Ernie Clement is having a monster summer with the Harwich Mariners in the prestigious Cape Cod League. Clement leads the league in batting (.390), hits (32) and stolen bases (12) and ranks 10th in runs scored (12). He was named the league’s Player of the Week on June 27 after putting up a pair of four-hit games over the previous week.
Smith and Haseley Also Having Big Summers at Cape
Two more Cavaliers, Pavin Smith (Harwich) and Adam Haseley (Orleans), also are competing and having solid summers at the Cape. Smith ranks seventh in the league in batting (.324) and owns 24 hits (3 2B, 1 HR), as well as seven RBI. A two-way standout for UVA, Haseley is only batting and playing outfield for the Firebirds and is batting .299 with three doubles, two homers and seven RBI.
Harwich and Orleans rank first and second, respectively, in the CCBL’s East Division. Harwich plays at Bourne at 6 p.m. Wednesday (July 6) in a game that will be televised by FOX College Sports.
Doyle Starts Strong in NECBL
Right-hander Tommy Doyle has been terrific with the Keene Swamp Bats of the NECBL while primarily starting. He is 2-1 with a 2.07 ERA in four appearances (three starts), with 23 strikeouts in 21 2/3 innings.
Doyle put together his best outing in his last start as he flirted with a no-hitter before giving up a two-out single in the eighth inning against the Newport Gulls. Perfect through four innings, Doyle worked 7 2/3 innings, allowing an earned run, one hit and two walks with nine strikeouts.
Simmons’ Hot Finish Carries into Summer
Cameron Simmons was hot over the final six weeks of UVA’s 2016 season and has continued that into the summer. Playing for the league-leading Baltimore Redbirds of the Cal Ripken League, Simmons is batting .344 (22-64) with 11 RBI in 22 games.
Weber Swinging Hot Stick in Northwoods League
Playing north of the border in Thunder Bay, Ontario, rising sophomore Andy Weber has batted .307 for the Thunder Bay Border Cats. He has played in 21 games and racked up 27 hits as well as eight RBI while primarily manning second base.
Harrington Dealing
Chesdin Harrington is off to a tremendous start with the Alexandria Aces in the Cal Ripken League. In four games (three starts), Harrington is 2-1 with a 1.42 ERA. He has recorded 16 strikeouts in 19 innings.
Thaiss, Jones and Pinero Move on to Professional Ranks
All three Cavaliers who were selected in the 2016 MLB Draft have signed contracts — Matt Thaiss (Angels), Connor Jones (Cardinals) and Daniel Pinero (Tigers). Thaiss is off to a solid start with the Orem Owlz (rookie ball), batting .313 with a pair of homers and nine RBI in 11 games. Pinero in hitting .318 with two home runs and six RBI in six games with the Tigers’ Gulf Coast League rookie team. Jones has yet to make his pro debut with the Cardinals’ GCL rookie team.
With the addition of this trio, Virginia currently has 25 former players competing in Minor League Baseball. Eight former Cavaliers are playing in Major League Baseball as of July 6.
Cavaliers in the Pros Notes
• Infielder Chris Taylor was traded from Seattle to the Los Angeles Dodgers on June 19 and currently is on the Dodgers’ 25-man roster. He tripled in his first at bat with the Dodgers against the Pirates.
• Infielder Mark Reynolds (Colorado Rockies) is in the midst of one of his best seasons in his 10-year MLB career. He currently owns career highs in batting average (.287) and on base percentage (.354) and has eight homers and 33 RBI. With 18 doubles, he also is on pace to shatter his previous high of 30, set in 2009.
• Reliever Javier Lopez (San Francisco Giants) currently is in his 15th MLB season, marking the second-longest MLB tenure of any former UVA player, behind only MLB Hall of Famer Eppa Rixey, who played 22 seasons.
• Playing for the Corpus Christi Hooks (Houston, double-A), outfielder Derek Fisher earned a spot in the Texas League All-Star game and also competed in the All-Star Game’s Home Run Derby. Fisher is batting .263 with 13 homers and 48 RBI this year.
• Right-handed pitcher Josh Sborz, currently with the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes of the California League (Dodgers, high-A), earned a spot in the California-Carolina League All-Star Game. He is 7-3 with a 2.66 ERA in 84 2/3 innings over 15 starts.
• Pitcher Artie Lewicki was promoted to the Tigers’ double-A team in Erie, Pa., last week.
• Outfielder Joe McCarthy was promoted to the Rays’ high-A team in Port Charlotte, Fla., on June 23. He hit his first home run with the Charlotte Stone Crabs on Tuesday.
• Pitcher Whit Mayberry signed with the Washington Nationals and currently is playing with the Potomac Nationals (high-A).