NASHVILLE, Tenn. – As the MLB postseason nears, we take a look around professional baseball to see how some former Commodores have been performing.
In the Majors, Sonny Gray continues to shine.
Sonny Gray leads the American League with a 2.92 ERA. pic.twitter.com/UFPP2PErP2
— MLB (@MLB) August 30, 2023
Gray has 160 strikeouts over 163.0 innings this season to help the Twins to first place in the AL Central.
A touching moment in Cincinnati was captured on Sept. 2 as three former Commodores took time to visit with a little league team out of Nashville that lost a teammate in the Covenant School Shooting.
Earlier today, Vanderbilt Baseball alums Curt Casali, Dansby Swanson and Derek Johnson spent time with the Crieve Hall Reds out of Nashville, TN. ❤️
The Crieve Hall Reds are with us to celebrate, and honor the life of their departed teammate and friend William Kinney. William… pic.twitter.com/lmTJYVdV4d
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) September 2, 2023
Enrique Bradfield Jr. has been turning heads with his speed en route to a promotion to Baltimore’s High-A affiliate, the Aberdeen IronBirds. Bradfield played 17 games with Delmarva before the promotion on Sept. 5. He hit .305 in those 17 games and stole 20 bases on 22 attempts. He has three stolen bases through his first two games with Aberdeen.
Have you ever seen someone score from second base on a bunt single? Well, Enrique Bradfield Jr. just did that!#FlyTogether | #Birdland pic.twitter.com/LYmWOavhom
— Delmarva Shorebirds (@shorebirds) September 3, 2023
Spencer Jones has also been climbing through the minors. The Yankees’ top-rated prospect joined the Somerset Patriots at the end of August. Jones hit .268 with 13 home runs, 56 RBIs, 28 doubles and 35 stolen bases this season in High-A before being moved to Double-A.
No better way to hit your first Double-A homer!
Top-ranked @Yankees prospect Spencer Jones goes grand on his first dinger for the @SOMPatriots: pic.twitter.com/UsJ7lmcRrH
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) August 31, 2023
Elsewhere in the minor leagues, Stephen Scott has 18 home runs this season, 12 of them coming in Triple-A with the Worcester Red Sox. Scott has driven in 63 runs across Double and Triple-A this season.
Stephen Scott strikes again ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/9xprrb1jFw
— Worcester Red Sox (@WooSox) August 16, 2023
Out in Minnesota, Austin Martin has been on a tear in recent weeks and was recognized by the Twins as their Minor League Player of the Month for August. Martin hit .329 with four homers and 15 RBIs last month.
Nope. Not a replay. Superman at it again with his third diving catch of the night. @austin_martin99 hitting .345 with a 1.097 OPS in August coming into tonight. He’s 2-4 with a double, stolen base, and two runs scored and three highlight reel plays. pic.twitter.com/WkbVD6nRpm
— St. Paul Saints (@StPaulSaints) August 26, 2023
Just a short trip north from Music City, Dom Keegan has eight home runs and 30 RBIs in 46 game since being promoted to the Bowling Green Hot Rods, Double-A affiliate to the Rays.
Grand Slam for Dominic Keegan opens up the game making it 10-3 Hot Rods pic.twitter.com/cRRiDLj0hs
— Tampa Bay Rays Minor League Updates (@raysfarmreport) August 17, 2023
Jack Leiter has made two starts after coming off the Development List. He threw 6.1 innings combined in the two starts, allowing two earned while striking out 11.
.@jackleiter22 exits in Frisco after a strong outing!
3.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 K 🔥
T4 | CC 1, FRI 0 #LetsRide pic.twitter.com/rAykCn9jYe
— Frisco RoughRiders (@RidersBaseball) September 4, 2023
Javier Vaz is another former Dore that’s been promoted this season, moving to the Royal’s Double-A affiliate in Arkansas. Vaz has played in 24 games since joining the Northwest Arkansas Naturals, hitting .320 with two homers and 11 runs batted in.
Last, but not least, enjoy this angle of a Bryan Reynolds dinger.
An icon. pic.twitter.com/75hDWDYc9J
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) August 14, 2023
