Florida Gators in MLB: Mark Ellis on a Four-Game Hitting Streak

Six Florida Gators were selected in the 2014 MLB Draft and hopefully soon they will join this list. Taylor Gushue (Pittsburgh Pirates), Justin Shafer (Toronto Blue Jays), and Casey Turgeon (St. Louis Cardinals) have all signed contracts and will begin their stints in the minor leagues in the near future. Preston Tucker was also promoted to the Houston Astros Triple-A affiliate after tearing up Double-A. They’ll be on this list one day, joining the 11 Gators in MLB on 40-man rosters:

LHP Kevin Chapman (2007, 2009-2010), Houston Astros
The Astros reassigned Chapman to Houston’s Triple-A affiliate, the Oklahoma City Redhawks April 16th. Since then, he’s been spectacular. In Triple-A, Chapman has pitched 21 innings, giving up just 14 hits and f0ur runs (two earned), striking out 26 batters, and has notched two saves. The past week saw Chapman adding 3 innings, only allowing one hit while striking out two. He lowered his ERA to an impressive 0.86 since joining the Redhawks, On the season in the majors, he has a 12.27 ERA in 3 2/3 innings with six strikeouts. With his domination in the minor leagues, look for Chapman to make his way back up to the majors.

OF Matt den Dekker (2007-2010), New York Mets
Matt den Dekker finally made it to the big leagues after an impressive stint in the minors. With the Las Vegas 51s (Triple-A), den Dekker hit .269 with four homers, 26 RBI, and 32 runs scored. Over the past week or so, he’s added five hits, including a double, and three runs to his big league totals. He’s regularly in the Mets lineup as he took Eric Young‘s spot when he landed on the disabled list.

RHP Anthony DeSclafani (2008-2011), Miami Marlins
In two starts with Miami, DeSclafani went 1-1 with a 5.56 ERA. The Marlins have since optioned him to the minors where he’s compiled a 3-5 record with a 3.92 ERA in time with the Double-A Jacksonville Suns and Triple-A New Orleans Zephyrs. In 64 1/3 innings, DeSclafani has struck out 59.

INF Mark Ellis (1996-1999), St. Louis Cardinals
Ellis has been on a hot streak since we last left off. He’s got a four-game hitting streak in which he’s hit .364 (4-for-11) with an RBI and three runs scored. He’s also been patient, walking three times. With his little hot streak, Ellis has raised his average from .165 to .191.

INF Cole Figueroa (2007-2008), Tampa Bay Rays
The Rays optioned Figueroa to Triple-A Durham. During his time in the majors, he hit .250 with a double, RBI, and run scored. With the Bulls, Figueroa has hit .290 with three home runs, 20 RBI, and 23 runs scored.

LHP Nick Maronde (2009-2011), Los Angeles Angels
Maronde has been reassigned to Triple-A Salt Lake Bees. He struggled as of late, leaving the majors with a 5.68 ERA after 6 1/3 innings and appearances in 11 games. He hasn’t fared much better in the minor with control being an issue. He’s walked 26 in 14 1/3 innings pitched. Maronde’s allowed 14 runs on 13 hits, posting a 8.79 ERA in time split between Triple-A Salt Lake City and Double-A Arkansas.

RHP Darren O’Day (2003-2006), Baltimore Orioles
O’Day blew his third save of the season Friday against the Oakland Athletics. He threw one inning in that game, allowing a hit, a walk, and, most importantly, a run. He did manage to strike out three. Over the week, he pitched 3 2/3 innings, only allowing two more hits, while striking out six total. He’s now 2-0 with two saves and a 0.98 ERA.

INF Ryan Raburn (2000), Cleveland Indians
Raburn has increasingly been inserted into Terry Francona‘s lineup for Cleveland. But this past week saw mixed results. Raburn went 1-for-3 with an RBI in Sunday’s win over the Texas Rangers, but only managed one more hit and RBI for the rest of the time. He scored two runs and walked once over the same span.

LHP Paco Rodriguez (2010-2012), Los Angeles Dodgers
Paco has bounced back and forth between the Los Angeles and Triple-A Albuquerque. But his time lately has been spent with the Isotopes. He’s pitched 14 innings with Albuquerque, giving up 14 hits and seven runs (six earned) for a 3.86 ERA. Rodriguez has also struck out 21. In his time with the Dodgers, he pitched seven innings with a 6.43 ERA, striking out eight.

C David Ross (1998), Boston Red Sox
Ross played in three games and did pretty well. After going hitless in two at-bats in his first game, he’s had back-to-back games with a double. He’s hit .333 in his last two games with a run scored. He also raised his average 14 points to .179 on the season.

C Mike Zunino (2010-2012), Seattle Mariners
Zunino’s been struggling lately. He’s hitting only .181 (4-for-22) his last six games and hasn’t registered an RBI since June 2nd. Z did manage two doubles and two runs scored.

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