Summer Baseball Update #1: Cotts Returns To Major League Baseball

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June 5, 2013

NORMAL, Ill. - Former Redbird pitcher Neal Cotts highlights four Illinois State baseball alums currently playing in affiliated professional baseball. The left-hander made his 2013 Major League Baseball debut for the Texas Rangers on May 21, and remains a member of their bullpen. Pitchers Jeremy Accardo and Kenny Long join infielder Ryan Court as former Redbirds playing for Minor League Baseball teams.

Additionally, fourteen current Redbirds have been assigned to summer collegiate baseball leagues. Each Wednesday, we will highlight their summer progress right here on GoRedbirds.com, with daily updates occurring on the official Illinois State baseball twitter account @REDBIRDBaseball.

 

Illinois State Baseball Players in Collegiate Summer Leagues - Stats Updated as of Wednesday, June 5 (Batters splits are Average/On-base Percentage/Slugging Percentage)

Sean Beesley | Southland Vikings | Midwest Collegiate League | Link to Southland Stats

Season Began 6/3/2013 - Appeared in 48 games for the Redbirds in 2013, making 27 starts. - Batted .247/.369/.280, stole 17-of-21 bases and scored 19 runs in his true freshman season..

Jack Czeszewski | Northwest Indiana Oilmen | Midwest Collegiate League | Link to Northwest Indiana Stats

.400/.667/.400, 2 RBI - Went 1-for-3 with two RBI and one walk May 31 at Michigan City. - Made 16 starts for the Redbirds in 2013, batting .182/.286/.200 with one double and four RBI.

Paul DeJong | DuPage County Hounds | Midwest Collegiate League | Link to DuPage County Stats

.143/.143/.286, 1 RBI, 1 2B, 1 R - Doubled, collected one RBI and scored one run June 2 versis Lexington. - Appeared in 39 games, making 32 starts for the Redbirds last season, batting .260/.420/.320 with six doubles and 17 RBI.

Steve Heilenbach | DuPage County Hounds | Midwest Collegiate League | Link to DuPage County Stats

Has Not Yet Appeared In A Game - Went 1-0 with a 0.52 ERA in his freshman season at Illinois State. - Completed 17.1 innings, limiting opponents to a .185 batting average against.

Mike Hollenbeck | Lakeshore Chinooks | Northwoods League | Link to Madison Stats

.238/.238/.286, 1 2B, 1 R - Went 2-for-5 with one double and one run scored in his Northwoods League debut, May 30. - Batted .296/.377/.344 with one home run, 26 RBI and six doubles for the 2013 ISU Redbirds.

Jack Landwehr | Lombard Orioles | Chicago Suburban Baseball League | Link to Lombard Stats

Season Began 6/2/2013 - Appeared in nine games and made two starts during his freshman season at Illinois State. - Went 2-1 with a 6.16 ERA. He worked 19.0 innings and struck out eight batters in 2013.

JD Learnard | Lexington Snipes | Midwest Collegiate League | Link to Lexington Stats

1-0, 2.25 ERA, 4.0 IP, 8 K, 1 BB - Started and earned the victory June 1 versus McLean County - Fired four innings, tallying eight strike outs with just one walk..

Jeremy Rhoades | Orleans Firebirds | Cape Cod League | Link to Orleans Stats

Season Opens 6/12/2013 - Emerged as the ISU closer in 2013, recording a team-best six saves. - Went 2-1 with a 1.54 ERA, striking out 37 batters in 41.0 innings of work for Illinois State.

Brian Rodemoyer | DuPage County Hounds | Midwest Collegiate League | Link to DuPage County Stats

.286/.286/.286, 1 RBI, 1 R - Went 2-for-4 with one run scored and one RBI June 2 versus Lexington. - Collected one hit and tallied one RBI for ISU in 2013.

Brock Stewart | Wareham Gatemen | Cape Cod League | Link to Wareham Stats

Season Opens 6/12/2013 - Appeared in 33 games, all as a starter, for the 2013 Redbirds. - Batted .330/.402/.496 with three home runs, 34 RBI and 10 doubles, splitting time between LF, 2B and DH.

Clint Stroud | Lexington Snipes | Midwest Collegiate League | Link to Lexington Stats

Has Not Yet Appeared In A Game - Redshirted his junior season at Illinois State..

David Suarez| Lexington Snipes | Midwest Collegiate League | Link to Lexington Stats

0-0, 0.00 ERA, 4 IP, 7 K, 0 BB - Worked four scoreless relief innings June 1 versus McLean County. - Made 16 relief appearances for the Redbirds in 2013, going 0-0 with a 3.31 ERA in 16.1 innings.

Cam Verbeke | Madison Mallards | Northwoods League | Link to Madison Stats

0-0, 0.00 ERA, 2 IP, 2 K, 2 BB - Worked two scoreless innings June 2 at Green Bay. - Made nine appearances for the Redbirds in 2013, going 0-0 with a 9.00 ERA.

Cody Voelker | Saratoga Brigade | New England Collegiate Baseball League | Link to Saratoga Stats

Season Opens 6/6/2013 - Earned a victory after tossing five scoreless innings, with five strikeouts and only one walk Thursday, July 19, versus Colfax.

Former Illinois State Baseball Players in the Pros - Stats Updated Wednesday, June 5

Jeremy Accardo | Syracuse Chiefs | Triple-A (Washington Nationals) - International League | Link to Syracuse Stats

2-0, 6.57 ERA, 12.1 IP, 10 K, 8 BB, .280 BAA - Worked two scoress innings, tallying three strike outs,, May 27 against Gwinnett. - Left-handed batters are hitting just .211 versus Accardo in AAA this season.

Neal Cotts | Texas Rangers | American League - Major League Baseball | Link to Texas Rangers Stats

0-0, 1.08 ERA, 8.1 IP, 9 K, 2 BB, 1.74 BAA - Did not allow an earned run in each of his first six outings. - Made his 2013 debut, May 21 against Oakland. It marked Cotts' first MLB appearance since 5/25/2009 when he was a member of the Chicago Cubs.

Ryan Court | Visalia Rawhide | Class A-Advanced (Arizona Diamondbacks) California League | Link to Visalia Stats

.320/.412/.588, 6 HR, 15 RBI, 6 2B, 1 3B - Went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and one run scored June 4 at Lake Elsinore. - Tallied three hits, including one home run and one run scored at Lancaster, June 2.. 

Kenny Long | Corpus Christi Hooks | Double-A (Houston Astros) Texas League | Link to Corpus Christi Stats

0-0, 7.36 ERA, 7.1 IP, 4 K, 6BB - Fired 1.2 scoreless innings with a pair of strike outs May 26 against Arkansas.. - Worked 0.1 of an inning, retiring the only batter he faced in his Texas League debut, May 10.

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Neal Cotts photo courtesy of the Texas Rangers.