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2024 Review Of The Bulldogs In Professional Baseball
October 01, 2024 | Baseball
ATHENS-----The 2024 professional baseball regular season concluded this week, and here's a look at how the former Bulldogs fared this year.
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Seven former Bulldogs appeared in the Major Leagues while another 14 were working their way up the professional ladder.
The Bulldogs who played in the Majors this season included pitcher Jonathan Cannon (Chicago White Sox), infielder Kyle Farmer (Minnesota), pitcher Emerson Hancock (Seattle), pitcher Zac Kristofak (Los Angeles Angels), infielder Aaron Schunk (Colorado), infielder Jared Walsh (Texas) and pitcher Alex Wood (Oakland).
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The 24-year-old Cannon completed his first year in the Majors with a 5-10 mark, a respectable 4.49 ERA in 23 appearances including 21 starts for the White Sox. He tallied 91 strikeouts in 124.1 innings. He started and won his final start on the last day of the regular season as Chicago set the modern record for most losses by a team with 121 to go with 41 wins. Twice during the season, he helped the White Sox snap a double-digit losing streak including ending a 21-game streak that matched the longest in American League history.
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After a slow start to the season including battling injuries, the 34-year-old Farmer posted a strong finish with the Twins playing around the infield. A veteran presence in the clubhouse, he played in 107 games and hit .214 with five home runs and 25 RBI. A career .250 hitter, he heads into the winter as a free agent with eight seasons in the Major Leagues.
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The 25-year-old Hancock spent time in the Majors with Seattle and with their Triple-A affiliate in Tacoma. He made 12 starts for the Mariners and went 4-4 with a 4.75 ERA. In 60.2 innings with Seattle, he tallied 39 strikeouts. In Tacoma, he was 7-3 with a 3.43 ERA in 17 starts with 66 strikeouts in 94.1 innings.
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The 26-year-old Kristofak made one relief appearance with the Angles and then was shut down the rest of the season due to an arm injury and surgery. He pitched two innings and allowed two unearned runs with two strikeouts in his MLB debut on April 28 against Minnesota. Earlier in the season in Triple-A with Salt Lake, he went 1-0 with a 3.38 ERA in six games including three starts over a span of 18.2 innings.
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The 27-year-old Schunk made his MLB debut with the Rockies on June 29 and remained with the club the rest of the season. He made spot starts and ended up playing in 39 games with 28 starts around the infield (14-2B, 10-3B, 4-SS). He batted .234 with three doubles, two home runs and seven RBI in 94 at bats. His first Major League home run was a 429-foot solo shot in an 8-2 win over Miami.
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The 31-year-old Walsh, a one-time All-Star, made the Texas Rangers coming out of Spring Training, but his tenure with the club lasted 17 games after hitting .226 with two doubles, a home run and seven RBI. Then in May, he signed with the White Sox and played in Triple-A with Charlotte. He played in 41 games and was batting .185 with four doubles, one home run and eight RBI when he was released in July.
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The veteran Wood, a one-time All-Star and World Series Champion, signed with the Athletics in the off-season as they provided an opportunity for him to be a starter. He got the nod on Opening Day, but injuries cut short his season after nine starts. He finished 1-3 with a 5.26 ERA and 33 strikeouts in 39.1 innings. The 33-year-old Wood has appeared in 278 games in the Majors including 211 starts. He is 77-68 with a 3.78 ERA. In 1,258 innings, he has registered 1,173 strikeouts.
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Below is a summary of the Bulldogs who played exclusively in the minor leagues including their most recent level.
Triple-A
Pitcher Ben Harris (Los Angeles Dodgers) opened the season as a reliever for the Double-A Tulsa Drillers and was promoted in September to the Triple-A Oklahoma City Baseball Club. The 24-year-old left-hander posted a combined 4-5 record and 5.44 ERA in 42 relief appearances with 65 strikeouts in 48 innings.
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Pitcher Cole Wilcox (Tampa Bay Rays) began the year in the starting rotation for the Double-A Montgomery Biscuits and moved up in early August to the Triple-A Durham Bulls. The 25-year-old right-hander went a combined 10-7 with a 3.57 ERA in 28 starts with 110 strikeouts in 143.2 innings. With the Bulls, he posted a 3-3 mark and 4.62 ERA in eight starts.Â
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Pitcher Ryan Webb (Cleveland Guardians) started the year in the rotation for the Double-A Akron RubberDucks and was promoted in early August to the Triple-A Columbus Clippers. The 25-year-old left-hander posted a combined 6-7 record and 2.80 ERA in 27 starts with 151 strikeouts in 14.1 innings. With the Clippers, he finished with an impressive 2-0 record and 2.60 ERA in seven starts with 33 strikeouts in 34.2 innings.
Double-A
In July, pitcher Will Childers (Milwaukee Brewers) was promoted to the Double-A Biloxi Shuckers after beginning the season at the A+ level with the Wisconsin Timber Rattler. For the year, the 23-year-old right-hander went 5-5 with a 4.15 ERA in 43 relief appearances and 56 strikeouts in 52 innings. Childers, who battled injuries while at UGA and signed as an undrafted free agent in 2023, is one of seven prospects in the Brewers organization selected to play in the prestigious Arizona Fall League. (AFL) He is a member of the Peoria Javelinas as they begin play Oct. 7 and conclude Nov. 16. Each fall, every MLB club can send seven of its prospects to play for one of the six teams in the AFL.Â
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In late June, pitcher Jaden Woods (Pittsburgh Pirates) was promoted to the Double-A Altoona Curve after beginning the year at the A+ level with the Greensboro Grasshoppers. For the year, the 22-year-old left-hander posted a 4-3 mark, a 3.75 ERA, 4 saves and 74 strikeouts in 60 innings.Â
Single/Advanced-A (A+)
Pitcher Garrett Brown (Chicago Cubs) spent time with the ACL Cubs and the Myrtle Beach Pelicans before being released in late July. He battled injuries during his Georgia and professional career. For the year, the 24-year-old right-hander went 2-1 with a 9.33 ERA over a span of 14 relief outings with 13 strikeouts in 18.1 innings.
Pitcher Liam Sullivan (Washington Nationals) saw his season end in April due to injury and surgery. The 22-year-old left-hander had made a pair of starts for the Fredericksburg Nationals, going 0-0 with a 1.93 ERA. He had 17 strikeouts in 9.1 innings.
After two years of battling injuries, former catcher turned pitcher Shane Marshall (Chicago Cubs) enjoyed an impressive professional debut this year with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans. A former 14th round pick in 2022, he had Tommy John surgery in August of 2022 and spent 2023 getting healthy. The 24-year-old right-hander made 33 relief appearances and went 2-3 with a 2.52 ERA and seven saves. In 39.1 innings, he tallied 42 strikeouts. Recently, the Cubs made him one of their seven picks to play in the Arizona Fall League where he will suit up for the Mesa Solar Sox from Oct. 7-Nov. 16.
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Two years after he was drafted, pitcher Dylan Ross (New York Mets) successfully battled back from arm surgery to make his professional debut on Sept. 7 and struck out the side. A former 13th-round pick in 2022, the 24-year-old right-hander pitched one scoreless inning for the St. Lucie Mets. Now, he'll get to pitch more as one of the seven Mets minor leaguers recently selected to play in the Arizona Fall League. He will be a member of the Scottsdale Scorpions from Oct. 7-Nov. 16.
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Five Bulldogs off the 2024 team signed this summer and got their first taste of professional baseball. Outfielder/infielder Charlie Condon (Colorado/1st Round, 3rd overall), infielder/outfielder Corey Collins (New York Mets/6th Round) and catcher Fernando Gonzalez (San Francisco/20thround) were selected in the annual MLB Draft while pitchers Chandler Marsh (New York Mets) and Christian Mracna (Toronto) signed as free agents. Condon helped the Spokane Indians, the Rockies High-A affiliate, win the Northwest League title for the first time since 2008. Collins and Marsh played for the St. Lucie Mets while Mracna made his debut with the Dunedin Blue Jays, all members of the Florida State League. Gonzalez has yet to play in an official game for the Giants.
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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Seven former Bulldogs appeared in the Major Leagues while another 14 were working their way up the professional ladder.
The Bulldogs who played in the Majors this season included pitcher Jonathan Cannon (Chicago White Sox), infielder Kyle Farmer (Minnesota), pitcher Emerson Hancock (Seattle), pitcher Zac Kristofak (Los Angeles Angels), infielder Aaron Schunk (Colorado), infielder Jared Walsh (Texas) and pitcher Alex Wood (Oakland).
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The 24-year-old Cannon completed his first year in the Majors with a 5-10 mark, a respectable 4.49 ERA in 23 appearances including 21 starts for the White Sox. He tallied 91 strikeouts in 124.1 innings. He started and won his final start on the last day of the regular season as Chicago set the modern record for most losses by a team with 121 to go with 41 wins. Twice during the season, he helped the White Sox snap a double-digit losing streak including ending a 21-game streak that matched the longest in American League history.
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After a slow start to the season including battling injuries, the 34-year-old Farmer posted a strong finish with the Twins playing around the infield. A veteran presence in the clubhouse, he played in 107 games and hit .214 with five home runs and 25 RBI. A career .250 hitter, he heads into the winter as a free agent with eight seasons in the Major Leagues.
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The 25-year-old Hancock spent time in the Majors with Seattle and with their Triple-A affiliate in Tacoma. He made 12 starts for the Mariners and went 4-4 with a 4.75 ERA. In 60.2 innings with Seattle, he tallied 39 strikeouts. In Tacoma, he was 7-3 with a 3.43 ERA in 17 starts with 66 strikeouts in 94.1 innings.
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The 26-year-old Kristofak made one relief appearance with the Angles and then was shut down the rest of the season due to an arm injury and surgery. He pitched two innings and allowed two unearned runs with two strikeouts in his MLB debut on April 28 against Minnesota. Earlier in the season in Triple-A with Salt Lake, he went 1-0 with a 3.38 ERA in six games including three starts over a span of 18.2 innings.
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The 27-year-old Schunk made his MLB debut with the Rockies on June 29 and remained with the club the rest of the season. He made spot starts and ended up playing in 39 games with 28 starts around the infield (14-2B, 10-3B, 4-SS). He batted .234 with three doubles, two home runs and seven RBI in 94 at bats. His first Major League home run was a 429-foot solo shot in an 8-2 win over Miami.
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The 31-year-old Walsh, a one-time All-Star, made the Texas Rangers coming out of Spring Training, but his tenure with the club lasted 17 games after hitting .226 with two doubles, a home run and seven RBI. Then in May, he signed with the White Sox and played in Triple-A with Charlotte. He played in 41 games and was batting .185 with four doubles, one home run and eight RBI when he was released in July.
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The veteran Wood, a one-time All-Star and World Series Champion, signed with the Athletics in the off-season as they provided an opportunity for him to be a starter. He got the nod on Opening Day, but injuries cut short his season after nine starts. He finished 1-3 with a 5.26 ERA and 33 strikeouts in 39.1 innings. The 33-year-old Wood has appeared in 278 games in the Majors including 211 starts. He is 77-68 with a 3.78 ERA. In 1,258 innings, he has registered 1,173 strikeouts.
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Below is a summary of the Bulldogs who played exclusively in the minor leagues including their most recent level.
Triple-A
Pitcher Ben Harris (Los Angeles Dodgers) opened the season as a reliever for the Double-A Tulsa Drillers and was promoted in September to the Triple-A Oklahoma City Baseball Club. The 24-year-old left-hander posted a combined 4-5 record and 5.44 ERA in 42 relief appearances with 65 strikeouts in 48 innings.
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Pitcher Cole Wilcox (Tampa Bay Rays) began the year in the starting rotation for the Double-A Montgomery Biscuits and moved up in early August to the Triple-A Durham Bulls. The 25-year-old right-hander went a combined 10-7 with a 3.57 ERA in 28 starts with 110 strikeouts in 143.2 innings. With the Bulls, he posted a 3-3 mark and 4.62 ERA in eight starts.Â
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Pitcher Ryan Webb (Cleveland Guardians) started the year in the rotation for the Double-A Akron RubberDucks and was promoted in early August to the Triple-A Columbus Clippers. The 25-year-old left-hander posted a combined 6-7 record and 2.80 ERA in 27 starts with 151 strikeouts in 14.1 innings. With the Clippers, he finished with an impressive 2-0 record and 2.60 ERA in seven starts with 33 strikeouts in 34.2 innings.
Double-A
In July, pitcher Will Childers (Milwaukee Brewers) was promoted to the Double-A Biloxi Shuckers after beginning the season at the A+ level with the Wisconsin Timber Rattler. For the year, the 23-year-old right-hander went 5-5 with a 4.15 ERA in 43 relief appearances and 56 strikeouts in 52 innings. Childers, who battled injuries while at UGA and signed as an undrafted free agent in 2023, is one of seven prospects in the Brewers organization selected to play in the prestigious Arizona Fall League. (AFL) He is a member of the Peoria Javelinas as they begin play Oct. 7 and conclude Nov. 16. Each fall, every MLB club can send seven of its prospects to play for one of the six teams in the AFL.Â
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In late June, pitcher Jaden Woods (Pittsburgh Pirates) was promoted to the Double-A Altoona Curve after beginning the year at the A+ level with the Greensboro Grasshoppers. For the year, the 22-year-old left-hander posted a 4-3 mark, a 3.75 ERA, 4 saves and 74 strikeouts in 60 innings.Â
Single/Advanced-A (A+)
Pitcher Garrett Brown (Chicago Cubs) spent time with the ACL Cubs and the Myrtle Beach Pelicans before being released in late July. He battled injuries during his Georgia and professional career. For the year, the 24-year-old right-hander went 2-1 with a 9.33 ERA over a span of 14 relief outings with 13 strikeouts in 18.1 innings.
Pitcher Liam Sullivan (Washington Nationals) saw his season end in April due to injury and surgery. The 22-year-old left-hander had made a pair of starts for the Fredericksburg Nationals, going 0-0 with a 1.93 ERA. He had 17 strikeouts in 9.1 innings.
After two years of battling injuries, former catcher turned pitcher Shane Marshall (Chicago Cubs) enjoyed an impressive professional debut this year with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans. A former 14th round pick in 2022, he had Tommy John surgery in August of 2022 and spent 2023 getting healthy. The 24-year-old right-hander made 33 relief appearances and went 2-3 with a 2.52 ERA and seven saves. In 39.1 innings, he tallied 42 strikeouts. Recently, the Cubs made him one of their seven picks to play in the Arizona Fall League where he will suit up for the Mesa Solar Sox from Oct. 7-Nov. 16.
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Two years after he was drafted, pitcher Dylan Ross (New York Mets) successfully battled back from arm surgery to make his professional debut on Sept. 7 and struck out the side. A former 13th-round pick in 2022, the 24-year-old right-hander pitched one scoreless inning for the St. Lucie Mets. Now, he'll get to pitch more as one of the seven Mets minor leaguers recently selected to play in the Arizona Fall League. He will be a member of the Scottsdale Scorpions from Oct. 7-Nov. 16.
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Five Bulldogs off the 2024 team signed this summer and got their first taste of professional baseball. Outfielder/infielder Charlie Condon (Colorado/1st Round, 3rd overall), infielder/outfielder Corey Collins (New York Mets/6th Round) and catcher Fernando Gonzalez (San Francisco/20thround) were selected in the annual MLB Draft while pitchers Chandler Marsh (New York Mets) and Christian Mracna (Toronto) signed as free agents. Condon helped the Spokane Indians, the Rockies High-A affiliate, win the Northwest League title for the first time since 2008. Collins and Marsh played for the St. Lucie Mets while Mracna made his debut with the Dunedin Blue Jays, all members of the Florida State League. Gonzalez has yet to play in an official game for the Giants.
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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