UT Sports Information
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Ricky Martinez has continued his impressive debut season with the Hillsboro Hops. The rookie infielder is batting .318 with 34 hits, 13 runs, seven RBI and five stolen bases over his past 30 games.
Updated on how all of UT’s former players are doing in pro baseball this season can be found below. Updates will be posted throughout the summer on UTSports.com.
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL (MLB)
Nick Senzel — OF, Cincinnati Reds
Season: 76 G, 41 R, 81 H, 19 2B, 4 3B, 8 HR, 34 RBI, 24 BB, 9 SB, .280 AVG, .337 OBP, .457 SLG
Senzel has been on a tear over his last 15 games, batting .314 with 16 hits in that span to increase his season batting average to .280. The Knoxville native has recorded at least one hit in four of his six games played this month, including a pair of two-hit games. Senzel also has an RBI in three straight games after hitting two singles and driving in a run on Tuesday in an 8-4 win over the Los Angeles Angels. He also singled to bring in two runs in a 7-4 victory over the Angels on Monday.
Christian Stewart — OF, Detroit Tigers
Season: 81 G, 27 R, 68 H, 21 2B, 1 3B, 7 HR, 33 RBI, 31 BB, .239 AVG, .321 OBP, .393 SLG
Stewart was put on the seven-day injured list on July 30 and was sent down to Triple-A Toledo on Tuesday for a rehab assignment. The Georgia native had a hit in seven straight games prior to his injury and batted .278 in the month of July.
Zack Godley — P, Arizona Diamondbacks
Season: 27 App, 9 GS, 3-5, 6.39 ERA, 76.0 IP, 2 SV, 55 R, 54 ER, 81 H, 35 BB, 58 K, 1.53 WHIP
Godley was designated for assignment on Monday after a rough outing on Aug. 3. The fifth-year pro allowed three runs on four hits and three walks in 2.2 innings of work in a 18-7 win over the Washington Nationals. Godley did not allow a run in four of his five relief appearances in July and had nine strikeouts.
Drew Steckenrider — RP, Miami Marlins
Season: 15 App, 0 GS, 0-2, 6.28 ERA, 14.1 IP, 10 R, 10 ER, 9 H, 5 BB, 14 K, 0.98 WHIP
Steckenrider hasn’t pitched for the Marlins since May 6 after being put on the 60-day injured list with right elbow inflammation. The right hander was sent to the Class A Jupiter Hammerheads on Aug. 1 for a rehab assignment. Steckenrider started and pitched one scoreless inning in his lone appearance for the Hammerheads on Aug. 1.
Yan Gomes — C, Washington Nationals
Season: 66 G, 20 R, 43 H, 7 2B, 6 HR, 26 RBI, 28 BB, 1 SB, .207 AVG, .313 OBP, .327 SLG
After struggling throughout most of July, Gomes had a strong finish to the month with hits in four of the last five games he played in, including three home runs in that span. The veteran catcher had back-to-back two-hit games against Colorado on July 23 and July 24. He also hit a three-run homer in an 11-8 loss to the Atlanta Braves on July 30. Gomes has gone hitless in his only two games played this month but has drawn two walks.
MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL (MiLB)
Andrew Lee — P, Harrisburg Senators (AA – Washington Nationals)
Potomac Nationals (A-Adv.): 16 App, 11 GS, 2-5, 3.45 ERA, 70.1 IP, 32 R, 27 ER, 53 H, 33 BB, 76 K, 1.22 WHIP
Harrisburg Senators (AA): 6 App, 1 GS, 0-1, 2.08 ERA, 21.2 IP, 6 R, 5 ER, 14 H, 7 BB, 15 K, 0.97 WHIP
Lee has continued to impress since being called up to the Double A Harrisburg Senators on July 1. The Morristown, Tenn., native was dominant in his first start for the Senators on July 25, allowing just four hits in six shutout innings while recording four strikeouts in a 1-0 win over Portland. Lee was stuck with the loss in a 1-0 setback to Hartford on July 31 after giving up one run on three hits in 2.2 innings of relief.
Jordan Rodgers — 3B, Florida Fire Frogs (A-Advanced – Atlanta Braves)
Season: 49 G, 12 R, 29 H, 5 2B, 3 HR, 15 RBI, 6 BB, .199 AVG, .239 OBP, .295 SLG
Rodgers has struggled as of late with just one hit in four games where he’s made a plate appearance so far this month. The Bartlett, Tenn., native singled in a 2-0 win over Jupiter on Aug. 3.
A.J. Simcox — SS, Lakeland Flying Tigers (A-Advanced – Detroit Tigers)
Erie SeaWolves (AA): 4 G, 0 R, 2 H, 1 3B, 4 RBI, .154 AVG, .143 OBP, .308 SLG
Lakeland Flying Tigers (A-Adv): 79 G, 27 R, 69 H, 12 2B, 7 3B, 1 HR, 16 RBI, 22 BB, 9 SB, .246 AVG, .305 OBP, .350 SLG
Simcox had his six-game hit streak snapped on July 27 in a loss to Fort Myers but responded with a pair of doubles, a run and two RBI the next day to lead the Tigers to a 7-3 win over the Miracle. The Knoxville native has singled in his last two games, a win over Fort Myers on Aug. 4 and a loss to Tampa on Aug. 5.
Andy Cox — P, Daytona Tortugas (A-Advanced – Cincinnati Reds)
Dayton Dragons (A): 11 App, 0 GS, 0-1, 6.60 ERA, 1 SV, 15.0 IP, 15 R, 11 ER, 14 H, 17 BB, 21 K, 1.78 WHIP
Chattanooga Lookouts (AA): 1 App, 0 GS, 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 1.0 IP, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 H, 1 BB, 2 K, 2.00 WHIP
Daytona Tortugas (A-Adv): 29 App, 0 GS, 2-4, 2.70 ERA, 9 SV, 30.0 IP, 12 R, 9 ER, 29 H, 18 BB, 40 K, 1.53 WHIP
Cox was impressive in 1.2 innings of relief against Jupiter on July 31, racking up four strikeouts, but struggled in his latest appearance, allowing a run on two hits and two walks in one inning of work in a 5-4 loss to the St. Lucie Mets on Aug. 4.
Zach Warren — P, Clearwater Threshers (A-Advanced – Philadelphia Phillies)
Season: 34 App, 0 GS, 1-2, 3.31 ERA, 6 SV, 51.2 IP, 22 R, 19 ER, 35 H, 33 BB, 75 K, 1.32 WHIP
Warren has posted back-to-back scoreless outings this month. The big lefty did not allow a baserunner in two innings of work as Clearwater held on for a 3-2 win over Florida on Aug. 1. Warren followed that up with two more innings of shutout ball in a 3-2 loss to the Tampa Tarpons on Aug. 4. He allowed two hits but also struck out two for the Threshers.
Andre Lipcius — 3B, West Michigan Whitecaps (A – Detroit Tigers)
West Michigan Whitecaps (A): 43 G, 18 R, 43 H, 7 2B, 1 HR, 17 RBI, 18 BB, .270 AVG, .346 OBP, .333 SLG
Lipcius has been a steady performer for the Whitecaps during his first season of professional baseball. The Virginia native has four multi-hit games over the past two weeks, including a 2-for-3 performance with a double and two RBI in a loss to Fort Wayne on Aug. 3. Lipcius had two walks and scored twice in his most recent game, an 8-0 win over Fort Wayne on Tuesday.
Hunter Martin — P, Quad Cities River Bandits (A – Houston Astros)
Fayetteville Woodpeckers (A-Adv): 10 App, 0 GS, 1-0, 6.52 ERA, 19.1 IP, 16 R, 14 ER, 15 H, 16 BB, 17 K, 1.60 WHIP
Corpus Christi Hooks (AA): 4 App, 0 GS, 0-1, 6.43 ERA, 7.0 IP, 5 R, 5 ER, 8 H, 0 BB, 4 K, 1.14 WHIP
Round Rock Express (AAA): 1 App, 0 GS, 0-0, 63.00 ERA, 1.0 IP, 7 R, 7 ER, 8 H, 1 BB, 1 K, 9.00 WHIP
Quad Cities River Bandits (A): 11 App, 0 GS, 0-1, 1 SV, 2.89 ERA, 18.2 IP, 11 R, 6 ER, 15 H, 10 BB, 20 K, 1.34 WHIP
Martin has been lights out in his last two appearances for the River Bandits. The Murfreesboro, Tenn., native tossed 1.2 scoreless frames on July 31 in a win over Burlington and allowed just one baserunner while recording three strikeouts in three shutout innings against Kane County on Monday.
Andrew Schultz — P, Lakewood BlueClaws (A –Philadelphia Phillies)
GCL Phillies East (ROK): 1 App, 0 GS, 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 1.0 IP, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 H, 0 BB, 0 K, 1.00 WHIP
Lakewood BlueClaws (A): 9 App, 0 GS, 0-2, 8.31 ERA, 8.2 IP, 11 R, 8 ER, 9 H, 10 BB, 14 K, 2.08 WHIP
After a bit of a rocky start to his pro career, Schultz has been much better as of late, allowing just one earned run over his last four appearances. The flamethrower had four strikeouts in 1.2 shutout innings against Greenville on July 27 and pitched another inning of scoreless relief on Aug. 4 in a loss to Asheville.
Ricky Martinez — SS, Hillsboro Hops (A-Short – Arizona Diamondbacks)
Hillsboro Hops (A-Short): 44 G, 21 R, 48 H, 7 2B, 0 HR, 12 RBI, 16 BB, 7 SB, .289 AVG, .360 OBP, .331 SLG
Martinez has been one of the Hops top hitters with base hits in 13 of his last 14 games played. Over his past 30 games, the Texas native is batting .318 with 34 hits, 13 runs, seven RBI and five stolen bases while also playing some solid defense. Martinez has committed just two errors in 155 changes while splitting time between shortstop, second base and third base. Martinez has scored a run in four straight games and has a hit in three straight as well.
Kyle Serrano — P, Tri-City ValleyCats (A-Short – Houston Astros)
GCL Astros (ROK): 2 App, 2 GS, 0-1, 22.50 ERA, 2.0 IP, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 H, 5 BB, 3 K, 3.50 WHIP
Tri-City ValleyCats (A-Short): 9 App, 9 GS, 0-2, 6.23 ERA, 8.2 IP, 11 R, 6 ER, 6 H, 15 BB, 15 K, 2.42 WHIP
Serrano has been unhittable in his last three appearances but has still struggled with walks at times. The Knoxville native had a pair of strikeouts in one shutout inning of relief against Connecticut on July 28, but also walked four in one scoreless inning on Aug. 1 against Batavia. Serrano walked just one batter and did not allow a hit in his most recent outing against Lowell on Monday.
Justin Ammons — OF, Bluefield Blue Jays (Rookie-Advanced – Toronto Blue Jays)
GCL Blue Jays (ROK): 3 G, 4 R, 5 H, 1 2B, 0 RBI, 1 BB, 0 SB, .556 AVG, .636 OBP, .667 SLG
Bluefield Blue Jays (ROA): 8 G, 8 R, 8 H, 3 2B, 4 RBI, 4 BB, .320 AVG, .433 OBP, .440 SLG
Ammons was called up to the Bluefield Blue Jays Rookie-Advanced team on July 29 and hit the ground running with hits in his first four games with the club. The Memphis native went 3-for-5 with a run and two doubles against the Johnson City Cardinals on Aug. 2. Ammons had two hits, two runs and an RBI in his most recent game, a 6-4 win over the Greenville Reds on Tuesday.
Jay Charleston — 2B, Burlington Royals (Rookie-Advanced – Kansas City Royals)
Burlington Royals (Rookie-Advanced): 25 G, 19 R, 19 H, 2 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 9 RBI, 15 BB, 13 SB, .244 AVG, .379 OBP, .333 SLG
Charleston has a hit in six straight games and hammered his first-career home run as a pro in a 5-1 win over Elizabethton on July 29. The Florida native also scored two runs and went 2-for-4 with a pair of walks on July 25 in a loss to Bristol.
Benito Santiago — C, Johnson City Cardinals (Rookie-Advanced – St. Louis Cardinals)
Season: N/A
Santiago was assigned to the Cardinals Extended Spring Training on June 12.
JAPAN PACIFIC LEAGUE (JPL)
Deunte Heath — P, Saitama Seibu Lions (Nippon Professional Baseball)
Saitama Seibu Lions (NPB): 29 App, 0 GS, 1-3, 2 SV, 4.23 ERA, 27.2 IP, 15 R, 13 ER, 25 H, 14 BB, 31 K, 1.41 WHIP
Heath struggled in his most recent appearance with the Lions and fell to 1-3 on the year after allowing two runs on two hits in just one inning of work against the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks on Aug. 1.
MEXICAN LEAGUE (LMB)
Matt Ramsey — P, Toros de Tijuana (North Division)
Salt Lake Bees (AAA): 12 App, 0 GS, 0-3, 5.27 ERA, 13.2 IP, 12 R, 8 ER, 16 H, 8 BB, 15 K, 1.76 WHIP
Los Angeles Angels (MLB): 1 App, 0 GS, 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 1.0 IP, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 BB, 1 K, 0.00 WHIP
Sugar Land Skeeters (ALPB): 4 App, 0 GS, 0-0, 4.50 ERA, 4.0 IP, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 H, 1 BB, 7 K, 1.00 WHIP
Toros de Tijuana (ALPB): 10 App, 0 GS, 0-1, 0.90 ERA, 10.0 IP, 4 R, 1 ER, 10 H, 4 BB, 12 K, 1.20 WHIP
Ramsey has been lights out since joining the Toros on July 17, allowing just one earned run in 10 appearances. The right hander has pitched exactly one inning in each of his 10 appearances and has not allowed a run five straight outings.
FREE AGENCY
Will Maddox — 2B, Free Agent
Erie SeaWolves (AA): 9 G, 4 R, 4 H, 2 RBI, 2 BB, .154 AVG, .207 OBP, .154 SLG
Richmond Flying Squirrels (AA): 36 G, 14 R, 25 H, 3 2B, 1 HR, 8 RBI, 9 BB, .192 AVG, .243 OBP, .254 SLG
Maddox was released by the Richmond Flying Squirrels on June 25.