Marshall University Athletics
@HerdBaseball Players with Major League Organizations
6/24/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. -- Marshall baseball's presence in Major League organizations has grown by five after the record-breaking 2016 season.
In June's MLB First-Year Player Draft, Corey Bird (Seventh Round, Miami Marlins), Burris Warner (22nd Round, Detroit Tigers), JD Hammer (24th Round, Colorado Rockies) and Parker Danciu (39th Round, Atlanta Braves) were all selected in the 40-round draft. Bird, Warner and Danciu have decided to forgo their senior seasons and have signed with their respective teams. Hammer, a senior from Fort Collins, Colo., agreed to terms with the Rockies.
Aaron Bossi, a four-year starter for the Thundering Herd, signed a free agent contract with the New York Yankees on June 21.
Bird has been assigned to the Batavia Muckdogs of the New York-Penn League, a Class A Short Season league on Friday. Hammer is with the Grand Junction Rockies of the Pioneer League, a rookie affiliate league. Warner (GCL Tigers West), Danciu (GCL Braves) and Bossi (GCL Yankees East) are playing in the Gulf Coast League, a rookie affiliate league in Florida that begins its season on Friday.
The five will join five other former Thundering Herd players to play for a MLB organization. Aaron Blair (2011-13) and Dan Straily (2008-09) are currently in the Majors with the Atlanta Braves and Cincinnati Reds, respectively. Isaac Ballou (2010-13) and Kevin Shackelford (2008-10) are in Double-A, while Greg Williams (2008-11) is in Class A Advanced. Details of their seasons are below:
Aaron Blair -- Starting Pitcher -- Atlanta Braves
Blair started off the season in Triple-A Gwinnett and dominated. The 6-4 right-handed pitcher won his first three starts, including a win over Durham with 10 strikeouts. Blair got his first call up to the Majors on April 24 against the New York Mets. Blair went 5.1 innings and allowed three runs, but gave the Braves the chance to win. His best outing for Atlanta came on May 28 against Miami, when he tossed 5.2 innings with two earned runs and five strikeouts. Blair will start against the New York Mets on Friday and looks for his first career win.
Blair's season stats with Atlanta: 10 G, 10 GS, 0-4, 7.19 ERA, 46.1 IP, 53 H, 39 R, 37 ER, 26 BB, 27 K
Blair's season stats with Triple-A Gwinnett: 4 G, 4 GS, 3-0, 1.64 ERA, 22 IP, 14 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 8 BB, 26 K
Dan Straily -- Starting Pitcher -- Cincinnati Reds
After being picked up off waivers by the Reds before the beginning of the season, Straily has found a home in the Cincinnati rotation as the third starter. Straily started the season in the bullpen with three appearances before breaking into the rotation. Straily has earned wins against San Francisco, Philadelphia, Colorado and Oakland. He had a career-high 11 strikeouts at Los Angeles. Straily's next probable start will be against the Chicago Cubs on Monday.
Straily's season stats: 16 G, 13 GS, 4-4, 3.83 ERA, 84.2 IP, 62 H, 36 R, 36 ER, 37 BB, 72 K
Isaac Ballou -- Outfielder -- Harrisburg Senators (Eastern League; Double-A Affiliate of the Washington Nationals)
Ballou had a career night for Harrisburg on Wednesday, as he had seven RBIs and a grand slam against the Portland Sea Dogs. The outfielder began his season with the Senators, but was called up to Triple-A Syracuse for nine games through April 22-May 11. Ballou has started 47 games for Harrisburg with a .238 batting average and 26 RBIs. He holds a .615 on-base percentage and a 1.000 fielding percentage. Harrisburg's next game is at New Hampshire on Friday.
Ballou's season stats with Triple-A Syracuse: 9 G, .296 AVG, 27 AB, 8 H, 2 R, 2 RBI, 4 BB
Ballou's season stats with Harrisburg: 47 G, .238 AVG, 172 AB, 41 H, 17 R, 26 RBI, 9 BB
Kevin Shackelford -- Relief Pitcher -- Pensacola Blue Wahoos (Southern League; Double-A Affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds)
Shackelford is off to his best start in the minor leagues. Through nine games, the right-handed pitcher holds an impressive 0.75 ERA with a 1-0 record. Used in relief, Shackelford pitched a season-high three innings against the Jacksonville Generals with three strikeouts. His last appearance was on Thursday against the Tennessee Smokies. The Blue Wahoos' next game is scheduled for Friday at Tennessee.
Shackelford's season stats: 9 G, 1-0, 0.75 ERA, 12.0 IP, 10 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 11 K
Greg Williams -- Relief Pitcher -- Daytona Tortugas (Florida State League; Class A Advance Affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds)
Williams, who didn't pitch in 2015 due to injury, returned to make nine appearances so far for Daytona. Williams pitched a season-high 2.1 innings against the Lakeland Flying Tigers on May 15, and only surrendered one hit. His last appearance came on May 27 against Dunedin Blue Jays. He is currently on the 7-day disabled list.
Williams' season stats: 9 G, 0-0, 4.22 ERA, 10.2 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 4 BB, 7 K
