University of Georgia Athletics
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Farmer, Twins Open Playoffs With A Win
October 04, 2023 | Baseball
ATHENS-----Former Bulldog Kyle Farmer helped the Minnesota Twins snap a record postseason winless streak Tuesday with a 3-1 decision over Toronto in game one of the American League Wild Card Series.
A utility infielder for the American League Central champions, Farmer pinch-hit in the seventh and played the final two innings at third base. Minnesota had made six postseason appearances without a victory (18 games) since beating New York in game one of the 2004 AL Division Series. Farmer, now in his seventh season in the Majors, is the only one of the four Bulldog Major Leaguers whose team advanced to the playoffs this season. Game two of the Wild Card series with the Blue Jays is Wednesday at 4:38 p.m. ET (ESPN).
Along with Farmer, pitchers Emerson Hancock (Seattle Mariners), Alex Wood (San Francisco Giants) and first baseman Jared Walsh (Los Angeles Angels) played in the Major Leagues this year. Below is a summary of how all the former Bulldog professionals fared this season.
MLB
In the regular season, Farmer batted .253 with 11 home runs and 46 RBI, appearing in 120 games. He played every position in the infield along with left field and as a designated hitter. He has made 32 starts at third base, 20 at second base and 27 at shortstop for the Twins. Also, he served as one of the "co-managers" for the Twins in their final game of the regular season in case he pursues that after his playing career.
For more on that, check this out: https://www.mlb.com/video/polanco-farmer-on-managing
Hancock made his MLB debut on Aug. 9 after getting promoted from Double-A where he went 11-5 with a 4.32 ERA in 20 starts. He got a no decision against the San Diego Padres. He allowed one run on two hits over five innings with three walks and three strikeouts. Hancock made two more starts before a shoulder strain landed him on the 60-day disabled list to end his season. He finished 0-0 with a 4.50 ERA in 12 innings with three walks and six strikeouts. He is on track to be ready by Spring Training.
Hancock Debut: https://www.mlb.com/mariners/news/emerson-hancock-yields-1-run-in-mlb-debut
Wood started and pitched in relief for the Giants. He went 5-5 with a 4.33 ERA in 29 games including 12 starts. He had 74 strikeouts in 97.2 innings. Wood's Final outing in 2023: https://www.mlb.com/giants/video/alex-wood-fans-five-x9392
Walsh split time between the Angels in Los Angeles and their Triple-A club in Salt Lake while getting healthy. He ended the year with the Angels and logged 39 games in the Majors while batting .125 with four doubles, four home runs and 11 RBI. He made 27 starts and saw action at first base, right field and as a designated hitter.
One Of Walsh's Home Runs In 2023: https://www.mlb.com/angels/video/pablo-lopez-in-play-run-s-to-jared-walsh
Triple-A
Third baseman Aaron Schunk batted .290 with 14 home runs and 77 RBI for Albuquerque Isotopes. Schunk went to Spring Training with the Rockies earlier this year.
Infielder LJ Talley had reached Triple-A with the Toronto organization. In 60 games with Buffalo this season, he batted .219 with four home runs and 27 RBI. However, the one-time seventh-round pick was released in late July after five years of professional baseball. He had spent time in Spring Training with the Blue Jays earlier this year.
Double-A
After beginning the season in Triple-A Omaha, outfielder Tucker Bradley finished in Double-A Northwest Arkansas (NWA). For the year, he batted .277 with 22 doubles, four triples, seven home runs and 45 RBI. In 69 games with Omaha, he hit .267-4-36 plus had 10 stolen bases. In 27 games with NWA, Bradley hit .301-3-19. He went to Spring Training with the Royals earlier this year.
Pitcher Jonathan Cannon (Chicago White Sox) finished the year with the Birmingham Barons where he was 1-4 with a 5.77 ERA in 11 starts. In 48.1 innings, he had 39 strikeouts and 15 walks. He began the year in High A with Winston Salem. After going 5-2 with a 3.59 ERA in 14 starts, he received a promotion. In a combined 121 innings this year, Cannon had 106 strikeouts and 39 walks.
Pitcher Ben Harris (Los Angeles Dodgers) played for the Tulsa Drillers, and he went 2-3 with a 4.88 ERA and two saves in 46 relief appearances covering 51.2 innings. He had 74 strikeouts and 48 walks.
Pitcher Zac Kristofak (Los Angeles Angels) pitched for the Rocket City Trash Pandas. He went 4-3 with a 4.07 ERA in 16 games including six starts. In 42 innings, he had 33 strikeouts and 16 walks. In mid-June, he was placed on the injured list and did not see any action for the rest of the season.
Pitcher Cole Wilcox (Tampa Bay Rays) pitched for the Montgomery Biscuits. He posted a 6-8 mark with a 5.23 ERA in 25 starts. In 106.2 innings, he had 99 strikeouts and 44 walks.
Single/Advanced-A
Infielder Cory Acton (Atlanta Braves) began the year in Rome (Ga.) and moved up to Augusta (Ga.) in early August. For the year, he batted .237 with eight doubles, three home run, 29 RBI and 24 stolen bases in 75 games before being released in mid-September.
Pitcher Garrett Brown (Chicago Cubs) has spent time with the ACL Cubs and in Myrtle Beach while getting healthy. For the year, he went 0-1 with a 3.00 ERA and two saves in seven relief outings spanning nine innings with 11 strikeouts and nine walks.
Pitcher Will Childers (Milwaukee Brewers) saw action with the Carolina Mudcats. He posted a 2-4 mark and 5.95 ERA in 14 games including eight starts. In 59 innings, he tallied 42 strikeouts and 27 walks.
Pitcher Liam Sullivan, a 14th-round pick of the Washington Nationals this past July, made his debut with the Fredericksburg Nationals. He went 1-0 with a 4.96 ERA in seven games including six starts. In 16.1 innings, he had 25 strikeouts and 12 walks.
Pitcher Ryan Webb (Cleveland Guardians) served as a starter for the Lake County Captains. He went 3-4 with a 3.29 ERA in 17 starts. In 82 innings, he tallied 83 strikeouts and 34 walks. Currently, he's playing in the Arizona Fall League for the Peoria Javelinas as their season began Monday and runs through Nov. 11.
Pitcher Jaden Woods, who was a seventh-round pick of the Pittsburgh Pirates this past July, made his debut with the Bradenton Marauders. He went 0-1 with a 3.14 ERA in 10 relief appearances. In 14.1 innings, he had 21 strikeouts and just three walks.
In August, pitcher Tim Elliott was released after five years in the Seattle Mariners organization. He last pitched with the Everett (Wash.) AquaSox. He was 3-1 with a 4.01 ERA in 25 relief appearances this past season. Also, pitcher Jack Gowen (Miami Marlins) was released by the Jupiter Hammerheads. He was 2-1 with a 4.00 ERA and two saves in 14 relief appearances. He was in his second season in the minors. Pitcher Tony Locey (Tampa Bay Rays) was released by the Bowling Green Hot Rods. He had made 16 relief appearances in 2023 and was 3-0 with a 4.74 ERA and one save in 19 innings. He had 17 strikeouts and six walks. In five minor league seasons, he was 10-8 with a 5.13 ERA in 63 games including 30 starts.
Additionally, Shane Marshall (Chicago Cubs) and Dylan Ross (New York Mets) have yet to make their professional debut due to injuries after being drafted in 2022. Former free agent infielder Cole Tate (Minnesota Twins), who went on the 60-day injured list in late June, retired in August.
FOLLOW THE BULLDOGS: For the latest Georgia baseball news, visit www.georgiadogs.com and follow the Bulldogs on X (@BaseballUGA), Facebook (@GeorgiaBaseball) and Instagram (@baseballuga).
A utility infielder for the American League Central champions, Farmer pinch-hit in the seventh and played the final two innings at third base. Minnesota had made six postseason appearances without a victory (18 games) since beating New York in game one of the 2004 AL Division Series. Farmer, now in his seventh season in the Majors, is the only one of the four Bulldog Major Leaguers whose team advanced to the playoffs this season. Game two of the Wild Card series with the Blue Jays is Wednesday at 4:38 p.m. ET (ESPN).
Along with Farmer, pitchers Emerson Hancock (Seattle Mariners), Alex Wood (San Francisco Giants) and first baseman Jared Walsh (Los Angeles Angels) played in the Major Leagues this year. Below is a summary of how all the former Bulldog professionals fared this season.
MLB
In the regular season, Farmer batted .253 with 11 home runs and 46 RBI, appearing in 120 games. He played every position in the infield along with left field and as a designated hitter. He has made 32 starts at third base, 20 at second base and 27 at shortstop for the Twins. Also, he served as one of the "co-managers" for the Twins in their final game of the regular season in case he pursues that after his playing career.
For more on that, check this out: https://www.mlb.com/video/polanco-farmer-on-managing
Hancock made his MLB debut on Aug. 9 after getting promoted from Double-A where he went 11-5 with a 4.32 ERA in 20 starts. He got a no decision against the San Diego Padres. He allowed one run on two hits over five innings with three walks and three strikeouts. Hancock made two more starts before a shoulder strain landed him on the 60-day disabled list to end his season. He finished 0-0 with a 4.50 ERA in 12 innings with three walks and six strikeouts. He is on track to be ready by Spring Training.
Hancock Debut: https://www.mlb.com/mariners/news/emerson-hancock-yields-1-run-in-mlb-debut
Wood started and pitched in relief for the Giants. He went 5-5 with a 4.33 ERA in 29 games including 12 starts. He had 74 strikeouts in 97.2 innings. Wood's Final outing in 2023: https://www.mlb.com/giants/video/alex-wood-fans-five-x9392
Walsh split time between the Angels in Los Angeles and their Triple-A club in Salt Lake while getting healthy. He ended the year with the Angels and logged 39 games in the Majors while batting .125 with four doubles, four home runs and 11 RBI. He made 27 starts and saw action at first base, right field and as a designated hitter.
One Of Walsh's Home Runs In 2023: https://www.mlb.com/angels/video/pablo-lopez-in-play-run-s-to-jared-walsh
Triple-A
Third baseman Aaron Schunk batted .290 with 14 home runs and 77 RBI for Albuquerque Isotopes. Schunk went to Spring Training with the Rockies earlier this year.
Infielder LJ Talley had reached Triple-A with the Toronto organization. In 60 games with Buffalo this season, he batted .219 with four home runs and 27 RBI. However, the one-time seventh-round pick was released in late July after five years of professional baseball. He had spent time in Spring Training with the Blue Jays earlier this year.
Double-A
After beginning the season in Triple-A Omaha, outfielder Tucker Bradley finished in Double-A Northwest Arkansas (NWA). For the year, he batted .277 with 22 doubles, four triples, seven home runs and 45 RBI. In 69 games with Omaha, he hit .267-4-36 plus had 10 stolen bases. In 27 games with NWA, Bradley hit .301-3-19. He went to Spring Training with the Royals earlier this year.
Pitcher Jonathan Cannon (Chicago White Sox) finished the year with the Birmingham Barons where he was 1-4 with a 5.77 ERA in 11 starts. In 48.1 innings, he had 39 strikeouts and 15 walks. He began the year in High A with Winston Salem. After going 5-2 with a 3.59 ERA in 14 starts, he received a promotion. In a combined 121 innings this year, Cannon had 106 strikeouts and 39 walks.
Pitcher Ben Harris (Los Angeles Dodgers) played for the Tulsa Drillers, and he went 2-3 with a 4.88 ERA and two saves in 46 relief appearances covering 51.2 innings. He had 74 strikeouts and 48 walks.
Pitcher Zac Kristofak (Los Angeles Angels) pitched for the Rocket City Trash Pandas. He went 4-3 with a 4.07 ERA in 16 games including six starts. In 42 innings, he had 33 strikeouts and 16 walks. In mid-June, he was placed on the injured list and did not see any action for the rest of the season.
Pitcher Cole Wilcox (Tampa Bay Rays) pitched for the Montgomery Biscuits. He posted a 6-8 mark with a 5.23 ERA in 25 starts. In 106.2 innings, he had 99 strikeouts and 44 walks.
Single/Advanced-A
Infielder Cory Acton (Atlanta Braves) began the year in Rome (Ga.) and moved up to Augusta (Ga.) in early August. For the year, he batted .237 with eight doubles, three home run, 29 RBI and 24 stolen bases in 75 games before being released in mid-September.
Pitcher Garrett Brown (Chicago Cubs) has spent time with the ACL Cubs and in Myrtle Beach while getting healthy. For the year, he went 0-1 with a 3.00 ERA and two saves in seven relief outings spanning nine innings with 11 strikeouts and nine walks.
Pitcher Will Childers (Milwaukee Brewers) saw action with the Carolina Mudcats. He posted a 2-4 mark and 5.95 ERA in 14 games including eight starts. In 59 innings, he tallied 42 strikeouts and 27 walks.
Pitcher Liam Sullivan, a 14th-round pick of the Washington Nationals this past July, made his debut with the Fredericksburg Nationals. He went 1-0 with a 4.96 ERA in seven games including six starts. In 16.1 innings, he had 25 strikeouts and 12 walks.
Pitcher Ryan Webb (Cleveland Guardians) served as a starter for the Lake County Captains. He went 3-4 with a 3.29 ERA in 17 starts. In 82 innings, he tallied 83 strikeouts and 34 walks. Currently, he's playing in the Arizona Fall League for the Peoria Javelinas as their season began Monday and runs through Nov. 11.
Pitcher Jaden Woods, who was a seventh-round pick of the Pittsburgh Pirates this past July, made his debut with the Bradenton Marauders. He went 0-1 with a 3.14 ERA in 10 relief appearances. In 14.1 innings, he had 21 strikeouts and just three walks.
In August, pitcher Tim Elliott was released after five years in the Seattle Mariners organization. He last pitched with the Everett (Wash.) AquaSox. He was 3-1 with a 4.01 ERA in 25 relief appearances this past season. Also, pitcher Jack Gowen (Miami Marlins) was released by the Jupiter Hammerheads. He was 2-1 with a 4.00 ERA and two saves in 14 relief appearances. He was in his second season in the minors. Pitcher Tony Locey (Tampa Bay Rays) was released by the Bowling Green Hot Rods. He had made 16 relief appearances in 2023 and was 3-0 with a 4.74 ERA and one save in 19 innings. He had 17 strikeouts and six walks. In five minor league seasons, he was 10-8 with a 5.13 ERA in 63 games including 30 starts.
Additionally, Shane Marshall (Chicago Cubs) and Dylan Ross (New York Mets) have yet to make their professional debut due to injuries after being drafted in 2022. Former free agent infielder Cole Tate (Minnesota Twins), who went on the 60-day injured list in late June, retired in August.
FOLLOW THE BULLDOGS: For the latest Georgia baseball news, visit www.georgiadogs.com and follow the Bulldogs on X (@BaseballUGA), Facebook (@GeorgiaBaseball) and Instagram (@baseballuga).
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