Summer Baseball Update #8: Summer Ball Nearly Complete

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August 7, 2013

NORMAL, Ill. - With less than two weeks until Illinois State begins the 2013-14 academic year, 17 current Redbirds are concluding summer league action. Additionally, seven Redbirds, led by Texas Rangers relief pitcher Neal Cotts, are currently playing professional baseball.

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, August 7 (Batters splits are Average/On-base Percentage/Slugging Percentage)

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

.331/.404/.359, 14 RBI, 2 2B, 1 3B, 33 R, 28-21 SB | Playoffs: .294/.368/.353, 6 RBI, 1 2B - Went 2-for-5 with one stolen base and one run scored August 4 versus Northwest Indiana. - Reached base three times and scored two runs July 31 against DuPage County.

Joe Claver | Madison Mallards | Northwoods League | Link to Madison Stats

0-0, 5.40 ERA, 3.1 IP, 3 K, 7 BB - Struck out two batters in 2.0 innings of work August 3 against La Crosse. - Fanned one in 1.1 relief innings July 30 versus Mankato.

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

.333/.470/.409, 17 RBI, 6 2B, 2 3B, 27 R, 22-25 SB | Playoffs: .450/.476/.500, 3 RBI, 1 2B, 5 R - Tallied two hits and drove home one RBI August 3 versus Southland. - Collected five hits, including one double, with one walk, two RBI, three runs scored and one stolen base July 31 at Lexington.

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

.282/.393/.419, 1 HR, 16 RBI, 9 2B, 2 3B, 23 R, 2-2 SB | Playoffs: .400/.625/1.000, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 R, 1-1 SB - Homered and walked July 31 at Southland. - Ended the season on a seven-game hitting streak.

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

2-2, 5.40 ERA, 23.1 IP, 20 K, 14 BB - Allowed one run in six innings of work, adding two strike outs, winning July 18 at Northwest Indiana. - Worked one perfect inning July 6, adding two strike outs versus the U.S. Military All-Stars.

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

.315/.385/.418, 1 HR, 29 RBI, 12 2B, 2 3B, 21 R, 1-2 SB - Doubled home two runs August 4 at La Crosse. - Reached base four times and added two RBI August 3 versus Wisconsin.

Joe Kelch | Springfield Sliders | Prospect League | Link to Springfield Stats

.278/.358/.306, 3 RBI, 2 2B, 10 R, 2-2 SB - Reached base five times, scored one run and stole one base July 15 at Hannibal. - Went 1-for-2 with one RBI and one run scored against Terre Haute July 14.

Jack Landwehr | Lakeshore Chinooks | Northwoods League | Link to Lakeshore Stats

0-1, 3.37 ERA, 8.0 IP, 8 K, 2 BB - Worked one scoreless inning, with one strike out, August 6 versus Waterloo. - Tallied two strike outs in two scoreless relief innings August 5 at La Crosse.

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

3-1, 2.50 ERA, 36.0 IP, 27 K, 16 BB - Allowed zero earned runs ni two innings of work July 31 against Northwest Indiana. - Lasted four innings, adding two strike outs, July 27 versus Chicago.

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

1-2, 4.21 ERA, 21.1 IP, 19 K, 8 BB | Playoffs: 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 2.0 IP, 4 K, 0 BB - Struck out four over two perfect relief innings August 6 versus Harwich. - Did not allow a run in 1.2 innings, with two strike outs, August 3 at Chatham.

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

.342/.397/.500, 3 HR, 24 RBI, 9 2B, 21 R, 8-10 SB | Playoffs: .250/.250/.250 - Went 1-for-4 July 31 at Southland. - Ended the season on a 10-game hitting streak.

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

3-0, 3.00 ERA, 36.0 IP, 34 K, 12 BB | 0-1, 9.64 ERA, 4.2 IP, 5 K, 4 BB - Allowed one run on four hits over six innings in a no-decision July 31 at Chatham. - Struck out two batters in one scoreless relief inning at the Cape Cod League All-Star Game, July 27.

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

.301/.343/.333, 10 RBI, 3 2B, 18 R, 1-1 SB - Drew three walks, collected one hit and scored one run August 4 at Wisconsin. - Has reached base safely in nine of his last 10 games played.

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

1-0, 1.69 ERA, 3 SV, 21.1 IP, 17 K, 3 BB - Struck out four over two scoreless innings July 27 versus Chicago. - Worked one scoreless inning July 26 against Southland.

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

4-2, 2.30 ERA, 27.1 IP, 28 K, 14 BB - Worked five innings, with six strike outs, earning the win July 27 against Chicago. - Picked up a win after firing six innings of two-run ball June 9 versus Southland.

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

5-4, 3.52 ERA, 51.0 IP, 55 K, 18 BB - Allowed one earned run in five innings of work August 3 against La Crosse. - Struck out five in five innings of work, earning the win July 14 versus Lakeshore.

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

.229/.443/.393, 7 RBI, 5 2B, 9 R - Reached base three times and scored one run July 19 against Wellington. - Doubled and scored one run July 17 at Liberal.

Former Illinois State Baseball Players in the Pros - Stats Updated Wednesday, August 7

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

.303/.341/.555, 7 HR, 35 RBI, 16 2B, 16 R - Went 2-for-4 with one home run, one RBI and two runs scored August 5 at Grand Junction. - Is batting .350/.409/.700 over his last 10 games with two home runs, seven RBI and six runs scored.

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

4-1, 0.76 ERA, 35.2 IP, 40 K, 13 BB, .168 BAA - Struck out two batters in one scoreless relief inning August 2 at Oakland. - Has not allowed an earned run since July 4.

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

.269/.418/.365, 1 HR, 13 RBI, 7 2B, 12 R, 1-3 SB - Has doubled in back-to-back games versus Jackson. - Is batting .330/.441/.530 in 104 MiLB games this summer. 

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

.256/.404/.279, 8 RBI, 2 2B, 23 R, 7-8 SB - Stole two bases and scored one run August 6 at Grand Junction. - Went 1-for-4 with one RBI and one stolen base August 3 versus Grand Junction. 

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

.276/.389/.379, 1 HR, 9 RBI, 1 2B, 1 3B, 14 R, 3-3 SB - Singled and walked August 1 versus AZL Diamondbacks. - Reached base and scored one run July 31 at AZL Cubs. 

Kenny Long | Lancaster Jethawks | Advanced-A (Houston Astros) - California League | Link to Lancaster Stats

0-0, 2.45 ERA, 14.2 IP, 16 K, 3 BB - Struck out the only batter he faced August 4 versus High Desert. - Worked a season-best 3.0 innings, adding three strike outs, July 31 versus Lake Elsinore.

Chris Razo | Wisconsin Timber Rattlers | Class-A (Milwaukee Brewers) - Midwest League| Link to Wisconsin Stats

1-0, 6.00 ERA, 3.0 IP, 1 K, 0 BB - Is 6-0 with a 2.51 . - Made his Midwest League debut, July 28 versus Burlington, earning the win in two scoreless relief innings.

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