Auburn Baseball in the Pros - Aug. 8
MLB
Garrett Cooper (1B, Miami Marlins)2022 (87 games): .274/.343/.420, 28 R, 84 H, 22 2B, 1 3B, 7 HR, 42 RBI, 28 BB
After playing in just 105 games in the last two seasons, Cooper made his first career All-Star appearance last month and is on pace to set career-best numbers in nearly every offensive category. He went on the 10-day IL after being hit by a pitch in the wrist at the end of July and hit a two-RBI double in his first game back on Aug. 3. Cooper ranks in the top 20 in the National League in batting average and doubles.
Josh Donaldson (3B, New York Yankees)
2022 (88 games): .222/.304/.383, 36 R, 70 H, 21 2B, 10 HR, 40 RBI, 35 BB, 2 SB
In his first season in New York, Donaldson has helped lead the Yankees to the best record in the American League as he has played in 88 of the team's first 109 games. The 2015 AL MVP and 2019 NL Comeback Player of the Year leads the Yankees and ranks 24th in the AL in doubles. He hit his 10th homer of the season against Seattle on Aug. 2 and is hitting .286 with two doubles, a homer and five RBI in six games this month.
Casey Mize (RHP, Detroit Tigers)
2022 (2 games/2 starts): 0-1, 5.40 ERA, 10.0 IP, 13 H, 6 R/ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 1.50 WHIP
After being named to MLB Pipeline's 2021 All-Rookie Second Team, Mize made just two starts in 2022 before being shut down with an elbow injury on Apr. 15. He began a rehab assignment on May 9 but was ultimately place on the 60-day IL on May 31 and underwent Tommy John surgery on June 15.
Josh Palacios (OF, Washington Nationals)
2022 MLB stats (4 games): .143/.143/.143, 1 R, 2 H
2022 MiLB stats (78 games): .294/.375/.443, 44 R, 83 H, 11 2B, 2 3B, 9 HR, 48 RBI, 32 BB, 20 SB
Another former Auburn Tigers who made his MLB debut in 2021, Palacios was called back up to the big leagues following the trade deadline earlier this month. He made his Nationals debut on Aug. 2 and went 2-for-4 with a run the following day. Palacios started the season in Buffalo but has spent the majority of the season with Triple-A Rochester, leading the team in average (.299) and on-base percentage (.378) while ranking second on the team in slugging (.437), tied for second in stolen bases (18), third in RBI (44) and fourth in hits (78). Palacios went on an 18-game hitting streak from July 4-30 and hit .322 during the month before his call-up.
Keegan Thompson (RHP, Chicago Cubs)
2022 (22 games/14 starts): 8-5, 3.48 ERA, 93.0 IP, 87 H, 42 R/36 ER, 31 BB, 83 K, 1.27 WHIP
After making his MLB debut last May, Thompson has emerged as one of the Cubs arms in 2022, leading the team and ranking 16th in the National League with eight wins. Thompson is also tops among Cubs pitchers with 10 or more starts in ERA and ranks second in strikeouts and innings. He allowed just one unearned run on two hits with one walk and eight strikeouts in 5.2 innings at the Dodgers on July 8 and recently earned his eighth win, allowing two unearned runs on four hits with no walks and seven strikeouts in a season-high 7.0 innings against Pittsburgh on July 26.
TRIPLE-A
Davis Daniel (RHP, Salt Lake Bees – Los Angeles Angels)2022 (13 games/13 starts): 3-4, 5.34 ERA, 59.0 IP, 61 H, 40 R/35 ER, 21 BB, 49 K, 1.39 WHIP
Daniel made it all the way to Triple-A in his first professional season in 2021 and was called up to the Angels on June 11 but did not make an appearance before being sent back to Salt Lake on June 14. He was in Salt Lake's starting rotation up until his call-up but has made just four starts since his return to Triple-A. Daniel is currently rated by MLB.com as the Angels' No. 14 prospect.
Grant Dayton (LHP, Salt Lake Bees – Los Angeles Angels)
2022 (36 games): 0-1, 4.74 ERA, 1 SV, 38.0 IP, 36 H, 24 R/20 ER, 17 BB, 46 K, 1.39 WHIP
A five-year big leaguer, Dayton currently finds himself a teammate of fellow former Auburn pitcher Davis Daniel with the Salt Lake Bees after starting the season with the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, the Triple-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins. His 36 appearances are the most in a professional season since 2016, and he hasn't allowed a run in three appearances this month.
Daniel Robert (RHP, Round Rock Express – Texas Rangers)
2022 (23 games): 0-2, 5.25 ERA, 2 SV, 24.0 IP, 22 H, 14 R/ER, 17 BB, 34 K, 1.63 WHIP
Spending the entirety of the season in Triple-A to this point, Robert has held the opponent scoreless in 15 trips to the mound, including 10 of his last 13 appearances. He has registered a 1.74 ERA with three walks and 18 strikeouts while allowing just four hits in his last nine appearances and 10.1 innings. Robert most recently struck out the side in a 1-2-3 inning against the Sugar Land Space Cowboys on Aug. 5.
Trey Wingenter (RHP, Louisville Bats – Cincinnati Reds)
After making his MLB debut with San Diego on Aug. 7, 2018, Wingenter has pitched in just seven games since the end of that season and is currently on the injured list.
