NORMAL, Ill. – Former Redbird Ryan Court is back in affiliated baseball and putting up some of the best numbers of his career.
The former Redbird, who starred at Illinois State from 2008 to 2011, was selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 23rd round of the 2011 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. He advanced as high as the Double-A level, in both 2013 and 2014, but was released by the organization early in 2015.
Court played for the independent Sioux City Explorers in 2015, and started the 2016 season there as well before catching the eye of the Boston Red Sox organization, who signed Court to a minor-league contract on May 2.
Assigned to the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs of the Eastern League, Court has played to a .323/.412/.444 line with eight extra-base hits and 13 RBIs over his first 30 games, playing primarily at both corner infield positions.
He had a 10-game hitting streak snapped in the second game of a doubleheader June 6, and has nine multi-hit games under his belt so far this season. His best outing came May 26 at Harrisburg, when he went 3-for-4 with two triples and a home run, hitting third in the batting order and playing shortstop.
Court is one of 10 former Redbirds currently playing affiliated baseball. They include:
Neal Cotts | Triple-A | Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders | MiLB bio
- Started 2016 with Los Angeles Angels' Triple-A affiliate Salt Lake and was released May 18 before signing with the New York Yankees and being assigned to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
- Owns a 3.57 ERA and 1.02 WHIP, with 15 strikeouts in 17.2 innings across two minor-league stops.
Paul DeJong | Double-A | Springfield Cardinals | MiLB bio
- Has compiled a .236/.302/.432 batting line over 54 games, with 13 doubles, eight home runs and 33 RBIs.
- Hit first home run at Double-A level May 1, and finished the month with seven home runs.
Chad Hinshaw | Double-A | Arkansas Travelers | MiLB bio
- Batting .191 with a .289 on-base percentage over 55 games, with five home runs and 13 stolen bases.
- Has seven multi-hit games as well as two games with multiple stolen bases.
Brock Stewart | Double-A | Tulsa Drillers | MiLB.com bio
- Owns a 5-3 record, 1.07 ERA and 0.80 WHIP, with 72 strikeouts in 67.1 innings of work, across two minor-league levels.
- Has only allowed more than one earned run once during the 2016 season, and has turned in eight-consecutive quality starts for Tulsa.
Eric Aguilera | Double-A | Arkansas Travelers | MiLB.com bio
- Slashing .267/.306/.419 with six home runs and 30 RBIs in 56 games at the Double-A level.
- Blasted two home runs in the season opener against Midland April 7.
Jeremy Rhoades | Class A Advanced | Inland Empire 66ers | MiLB.com bio
- Owns a 1-7 record and 6.82 ERA in 12 appearances, all starts, at the Class A Advanced level this spring.
- Turned in solid outing against Lancaster May 22, allowing just one earned run and striking out six in a no-decision.
Dylan Craig | Class A | Asheville Tourists | MiLB.com bio
- Currently 3-1 with one save, a 6.10 ERA and 33 strikeouts over 48.2 innings of work.
- Turned in best outing of the season May 16 against Augusta, tossing eight shutout innings and allowing just three hits against five strikeouts.
Will Headean | Class A | Fort Wayne TinCaps | MiLB.com bio
- Started the season 1-0 with two saves and a 5.00 ERA in eight outings before being assigned to San Diego Padres extended spring training May 14.
- Earned first professional save with three innings of relief work against South Bend April 15.
Ryan Koziol | Class A | Augusta GreenJackets | MiLB.com bio
- Owns a 3-2 record and 2.43 ERA over 19 relief appearances, with 25 strikeouts in 33.1 innings of work.
- Has not allowed an earned run in seven-consecutive appearances, dating back to May 19 and spanning 12.2 innings.
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