By @ProBallHoosiers • Feb 3
Hoosier pitchers and catchers will soon be reporting to Spring Training in either Florida or Arizona. Here is an update on the busy offseason, including some #iubase alumni with new organizations.
- Alex Dickerson (Giants), Kyle Schwarber (Cubs) and Aaron Slegers (Rays) resigned with their 2019 clubs. While Dickerson and Schwarber hope to continue their strong performances from last season, Slegers will start Spring Training looking for a way to get on the 40-man roster.
- Catcher Josh Phegley will join former Hoosier backstop Schwarber in Mesa, AZ in a few weeks. The Cubs will be his 3rd MLB organization, after playing the last 5 season for the Oakland A’s. Phegley will come off his best season to try to make the Cubs MLB roster.
- LHP Kyle Hart was added to the Red Sox 40-man roster. He participated in the Red Sox Rookie Development Program.
- RHP Jonathan Stiever also participated in a development program, but for the White Sox. He was also invited to the Big League Camp for Spring Training.
- Sam Travis was traded from the Red Sox to the Rangers. While not on the Rangers 40-man roster, he will likely get a better shot in the Big Leagues with Texas, as Boston had a logjam at 1st base. Travis played in Puerto Rico’s Liga de Beisbol Professional Roberto Clemente Winter League, where he hit .261 with 2 HRs in 13 games played.
- RHP Scott Effross also played in the offseason. Now throwing sidearm, Effross pitched 10 innings over 8 games in the Arizona Fall League. He had a 1.80 ERA with a 9:1 strike out to walk ratio.
- Other Hoosiers looking forward to another pro season include Caleb Baragar (Giants organization), Cam Beauchamp(Phillies), Scotty Bradley (Blue Jays), Cade Bunnell(Braves), Craig Dedelow (White Sox), Ryan Fineman (Rays), Tanner Gordon (Braves), Matt Gorski (Pirates), Ryan Halstead(Giants), Tim Herrin (Indians), Matt Lloyd (Reds), Luke Miller (Phillies), Pauly Milto (White Sox), Andrew Saalfrank(Diamondbacks), and BJ Sabol(Independent League).
- On January 13th, RHP Christian Morris announced his retirement from professional baseball. Drafted by the New York Yankees in 2015, Morris spent 4 years in the Yankees minors league system, reaching as high as the Advanced-A Level. Last season, he played for the Independent Windy City Thunderbolts. His best pro season was 2017, with stats of a 2.24 ERA and a 63:16 strike out to walk ratio, while playing for 3 Yankee affiliates. Recent shoulder issues led Morris to retirement. The #ProBallHoosiers and #iubase community thank him for his hard work and positive attitude when representing Indiana Baseball and wish him the best in his next career.
