NORMAL, Ill. – Dan Savas has found a home at the back end of the bullpen, serving as the closer for the Missoula Osprey of the Rookie Pioneer League since the start of the season last month.
Savas is a perfect 8-for-8 in save opportunities this season, with a 1.00 ERA and 10 strikeouts against only two walks in nine innings of work. He has recorded a save in eight of his nine appearances this season; the only non-save appearances was when he pitched the top of the ninth inning in a scoreless game against Billings, a game Missoula won 9-8 in 15 innings.
The former Redbird has been particularly good of late, allowing no hits and just one walk over his last five appearances, totaling 4.2 innings. The 19th-round selection of the Arizona Diamondbacks in last year's draft struck out five over that stretch.
Used almost exclusively as a starter in his time at Illinois State, all but one of Savas' 30 appearances as a professional have come out of the bullpen. Over the past two seasons, he owns a 3.46 ERA with 47 strikeouts in 52 innings of work.
Other former Redbirds playing professional baseball include:
Neal Cotts – Milwaukee Brewers – National League – Major League Baseball
- Owns a record of 1-0 with a 3.50 ERA in 36 relief appearances, totaling 36 innings
- Recorded the final out of the sixth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers July 12 to earn a hold
Chad Hinshaw – Arkansas Travelers – Los Angeles Angels – Double-A Texas League
- Has played in four games in the Arizona Rookie League since July 9 on a rehab assignment
- Registered a hit in all four games and stole a base in the last two games
Eric Aguilera – Inland Empire 66ers – Los Angeles Angels – Class A Advanced California League
- Slashing .311/.362/.492 with 21 doubles, 10 home runs and 61 RBIs in 79 games
- Went 2-for-5 with a double and a home run in a 5-2 win at Rancho Cucamonga July 13
Jeremy Rhoades – Inland Empire 66ers – Los Angeles Angels – Class A Advanced California League
- Promoted to the Inland Empire 66ers of the Class A Advanced California League Monday
- Will make Inland Empire debut as the team's starting pitcher Wednesday against Lancaster
Brock Stewart – Rancho Cucamonga Quakes – Los Angeles Dodgers – Class A Advanced California League
- Currently 4-3 with a 4.01 ERA and 78 strikeouts in 76.1 innings across two minor-league levels
- Allowed three runs over six innings in a no-decision against Lancaster July 8
Paul DeJong – Peoria Chiefs – St. Louis Cardinals – Class A Midwest League
- Slashing .294/.314/.471 in seven games since his promotion to Class A Midwest League July 7
- Hit his first home run for Peoria in a 7-2 win at Clinton July 13
Joe Claver – Bluefield Blue Jays – Toronto Blue Jays – Rookie Appalachian League
- Sent to the Bluefield Blue Jays of the Rookie Appalachian League Sunday
- Did not allow an earned run in six-straight appearances for Vancouver before his move to Bluefield
Will Headean – AZL Padres – San Diego Padres – Rookie Arizona League
- Currently 0-0 with a 5.00 ERA in six relief appearances, spanning nine innings
- Struck out a pair over 1.1 innings of work in a loss to the AZL Rangers July 12
Ryan Koziol – AZL Giants – San Francisco Giants – Rookie Arizona League
- Owns a 6.75 ERA after five relief appearances, covering 5.1 innings of work
- Pitched a scoreless inning in a 2-0 loss to the AZL Royals July 12
Note: After a week off next week, the "Redbirds in the Pros" column will return July 29.
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