NORMAL, Ill. - Neal Cotts headlines a group of 11 former Redbird baseball players currently playing affiliated professional baseball.
Cotts, the only ISU alum currently in the big leauges, has picked up right where he left off after a career season in 2013, posting a 2-4 record and a 3.38 ERA through a team-high 38 appearances this year for the Rangers. Cotts has fanned 41 batters, against only 12 walks, in 34.2 innings of work. The veteran left-hander helped the Rangers take two games in a three-game set with the Minnesota Twins June 27-29, as he appeared in all three games without allowing a base runner. Cotts has recorded eight holds in 2014, ranking second among Rangers relievers.
After not having pitched in the Major Leagues since 2009, Cotts returned to the big leagues in 2013 to turn in his best season yet. He posted a record of 8-3 to double his previous best output for wins in a season. He also posted career-best marks in ERA (1.11), WHIP (0.95) and strikeouts (65), while pitching more innings (57) than he had in eight seasons. Cotts tallied 11 holds and recorded his first save at the Major League level since 2006.
Redbird baseball alumni looking to join Cotts in the big leagues include:
Ryan Court – Mobile BayBears - Arizona Diamondbacks – Double A Southern League – Link to Mobile bio
- Recently promoted from Class A Visalia to Double A Mobile
- Batted .272 in 46 games with Visalia with 13 doubles and 21 RBIs before promotion
- Went 3-for-3 and scored three runs in a 9-2 win over Jacksonville on June 24
Chad Hinshaw – Inland Empire 66ers - Los Angeles Dodgers – Class A Advanced California League – Link to Inland Empire bio
- Recently promoted from Class A Burlington to Advanced Class A Inland Empire
- Batting .284 with seven home runs and 28 stolen bases in 69 games split between the stops
- Went 3-for-5 with a home run in an 11-2 win over Lake Elsinore on June 25
Jeremy Rhoades – Orem Owlz - Los Angeles Angels – Rookie Pioneer League – Link to Orem bio
- Earned first professional win on June 26 at Ogden, pitching three scoreless innings in relief while striking out five
- Made professional debut on June 20, allowing three runs over two innings in a start against Ogden
Brett Kay – Salem-Keizer Volcanoes - San Francisco Giants – Class A Short Season Northwest League – Link to Salem Keizer bio
- Batting .345 with .457 on-base percentage through 11 games at Salem-Keizer
- Hit safely in last nine games and reached base four times with a double and two walks in a 5-4 win over Everett on June 25
Chris Razo – Wisconsin Timber Rattlers - Milwaukee Brewers – Class A Midwest League – Link to Wisconsin bio
- Has made 15 relief appearances, covering 14.1 innings for the Timber Rattlers
- Allowed one run in one inning of work against Burlington on June 29
Eric Aguilera – Burlington Bees - Los Angeles Angels – Class A Midwest League – Link to Burlington bio
- Batting .309 with 10 home runs in 68 games for Burlington this season
- Tallied nine hits in four-game set at Wisconsin June 27-30, as Bees won three of four
Dan Savas – Hillsboro Hops - Arizona Diamondbacks – Class A Short Season Northwest Leauge – Link to Hillsboro bio
- Earned first professional win on June 17, tossing three innings of relief to notch the win at Everett
- Currently sports 5.00 ERA with 14 strikeouts in nine innings, covering three appearances
Brock Stewart – Ogden Raptors - Los Angeles Dodgers – Rookie Pioneer League – Link to Ogden bio
- Pitched two scoreless innings in pro debut on June 22 against Orem; struck out four
Mike Hollenbeck – Arizona League White Sox - Chicago White Sox – Rookie Arizona League – Arizona bio
- Batting ..133 through with one RBI and one run scored in six games at Arizona
Joe Claver – GCL Blue Jays - Toronto Blue Jays – Rookie Gulf Coast League – CGL Blue Jays bio
- Earned first win as a professional on June 24, recording two outs in a relief appearance to help the Blue Jays to a 6-3 win over the CGL Pirates
Note: Statistics updated Wednesday, July 2.
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