Summer Baseball Update #5: Kay Launches First Pro Home Run

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July 10, 2013

NORMAL, Ill. - Former Redbird infielder Brett Kay launched his first professional home run this week. The Arlington Heights, Ill., native is a member of the San Francisco Giants organization, after being selected in the 20th round of the 2013 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft in June.

Each Wednesday, we highlight the summer progress of all current and former Redbirds playing baseball 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, July 10 (Batters splits are Average/On-base Percentage/Slugging Percentage)

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

.339/.382/.403, 8 RBI, 2 2B, 1 3B, 15 R, 13-13 SB - Collected one hit and scored a pair of runs July 1 at Chicago. - Currently has a four-game hitting streak and a seven-game run streak for Southland.

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

.329/.462/.400, 13 RBI, 4 2B, 1 3B, 18 R, 10-12 SB - Doubled and drew two walks July 7 versus Michigan City. - Knocked three hits and scored three runs June 30 against DuPage County.

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

.250/.347/.344, 1 HR, 9 RBI, 3 2B, 7 R - Launched a home run and added three RBI July 7 at Lexington. - Reached base three times in a 13-12 win at Northwest Indiana June 30.

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

1-1, 4.10 ERA, 15.1 IP, 15 K, 6 BB - Made his longest start of the year June 21, allowing two earned runs in 6.1 innings of work. Heilenbach struck out eight and walked none. - Allowed an unearned run in five innings of work June 5 at Chicago

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

.333/.397/.432, 1 HR, 15 RBI, 8 2B, 10 R - Went 4-for-7 with two RBI July 9 versus La Crosse. - Doubled and drove in one run July 3 at Eau Claire.

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

2-0, 1.12 ERA, 8.0 IP, 11 K, 1 BB | .148/.207/.185, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 R - Has struck out at least one batter in all five outings this summer. - Went 1-for-3 with one double July 2 versus Crystal Lake.

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

3-0, 2.67 ERA, 27.0 IP, 23 K, 12 BB - Lasted seven innings, throwing a no-decision June 19 at Northwest Indiana. - Fired seven innings, allowing two earned runs, with four strike outs and only two walks June 13 at Southland.

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

0-1, 4.90 ERA, 11.0 IP, 9 K, 2 BB - Struck out one in two scoreless innings July 8 versus Bourne. - Pitched two scoreless relief innings July 5 versus Brewster.

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

.359/.406/.516, 2 HR, 10 RBI, 4 2B, 13 R, 7-10 SB - Homered and scored two runs July 7 at Lexington. - Currently has a 10-game hitting streak, raising his batting average from .333 to .359.

Dan Savas | Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox | Cape Cod League | Link to Yarmouth-Dennis Stats

1-0, 2.02 ERA, 13.1 IP, 10 K, 2 BB - Pitched seven scoreless innings, adding seven strike outs, July 5 versus Cotuit. - Was named the Cap Cod Baseball League pitcher of the week, following his July 5 start.

Brock Stewart | Madison Mallards | Northwoods League | Link to Madison Stats

.389/.450/.556, 3 RBI, 6 R - Has collected a hit in five of his six Northwoods League games. - Went 1-for-2 with two RBI in his Northwoods League debut, July 5 versus Eau Claire.

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

1-0, 0.00 ERA, 2 SV, 7.0 IP, 3 K, 0 BB - Worked two perfect relief innings, adding one strike out, en route to a win July 7 versus DuPage County. - Fired one perfect inning to earn a save June 30 at Chicago.

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

3-1, 0.95 ERA, 19 IP, 19 K, 8 BB - Struck out five batters in five innings of work July 2 versus the U.S. Military All-Stars. - Struck out two in four innings, earning a win, June 17 against Champaign.

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

4-1, 2.75 ERA, 32.2 IP, 41 K, 7 BB - Struck out seven over six innings, earning the win July 9 versus Eau Claire. - Allowed no runs in 2.1 innings July 3 at La Crosse, collecting this third win of the season.

Cody Voelker | Dodge City A's | Jayhawk League | Link to Dodge City Stats

.257/.422/.314, 4 RBI, 2 2B, 6 R - Collected two hits and drew two walks July 7 versus Liberal. - Drove home two runs July 6 versus Fort Collins.

Former Illinois State Baseball Players in the Pros - Stats Updated Wednesday, July 10

Eric Aguilera | Orem Owlz | Rookie (Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim) - Pioneer League | Link to Orem Stats

.258/.278/.545, 4 HR, 20 RBI, 7 2B, 6 R - Went 2-for-5 with two doubles, two RBI and one run scored July 7 versus Ogden. - Homered on back-to-back games, July 3 and 4.

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

4-1, 1.09 ERA, 24.2 IP, 31 K, 9 BB, .195 BAA - Struck out the side in a scoreless relief inning July 7 versus Houston. - Worked one perfect inning, adding two strike outs, July 3 against Seattle.

Ryan Court | Mobile Bay Bears | Double-A (Arizona Diamondbacks) - Southern League | Link to Mobile Stats

.294/.439/.373, 10 RBI, 4 2B, 7 R, 1-1 SB - Went 3-for-3 with two doubles, two RBI, one walk and one run scored July 6 against Montgomery. - Has reached base safely in seven-consecutive games. 

Chad Hinshaw | Orem Owlz | Rookie (Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim) - Pioneer League | Link to Orem Stats

.276/.364/.276, 2 RBI, 6 R - Went 2-for-5 with one run scored June 25 versus Grand Junction. - Has a pair of two-hit games. 

Brett Kay | AZL Giants | Rookie (San Francisco Giants) - Arizona League | Link to AZL Giants Stats

.313/.385/.406, 1 HR, 8 RBI, 8 R - Launched his first professional home run, July 6 at AZL Mariners. - Went 2-for-5 with one RBI and three runs scored July 7 at AZL Royals. 

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

0-0, 6.87 ERA, 18.1 IP, 11 K, 15 BB - Struck out one in 1.2 scoreless innings July 7. - Worked 0.1 of an inning, retiring the only batter he faced in his Texas League debut, May 10.

Chris Razo | Helena Brewers | Rookie (Milwaukee Brewers) - Pioneer League | Link to Helena Brewers Stats

3-0, 1.13 ERA, 8.0 IP, 4 K, 3 BB - Allowed a pair of unearned runs over two innings July 6. - Struck out one and allowed zero runs in his professional debut, June 21.

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