THE FLATS — We have reached the middle of the month of July and all the all-star games have been played, which means we are now in the second half of the 2018 season for all the Georgia Tech baseball #ProJackets.
Charlie Blackmon, who went 0-for-3 in the MLB All-Star Game on July 17, will start off the second half of the season hitting .287 with 19 home runs, 45 RBIs and 73 runs scored. He will look to stay hot, as prior to the all-star break, he was leading the Colorado Rockies by hitting .414 with three home runs, six RBIs and eight runs scored over the last seven games.
Despite the trade rumors, Derek Dietrich his having a career year and looks poised to be the leader for the Miami Marlins over the second half of the season. The left-handed hitter is hitting .288 with 94 hits on the season, just seven off his single-season career high mark of 101 set last year.
In the American League Central Division, Buck Farmer has solidified a spot in the Detroit Tigers’ bullpen, while MLB rookie #ProJacket Daniel Palka will continue to be penciled in the lineup for the Chicago White Sox in either right field or at designated hitter.
Matt Wieters, who was held to just 24 games of action in the first half of the season due to injuries, will look to finish his 10th MLB season out strong and lead the Washington Nationals back to the playoffs over the final three months of the regular season, while right-handed hurler Deck McGuire will look to find a home and a spot in the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim MLB roster having been a journeyman for the first few months of the 2018 season.
Below is a complete list of Tech #ProJackets playing professionally this season.
MLB | PLAYER | 2018 SEASON STATS |
| Charlie Blackmon #19 / OF Colorado Rockies MLB Debut: June 7, 2011 (Rockies) MLB Draft: 2008 (Rockies), 2nd round Status: Active Years at Georgia Tech: 2008 High School: North Gwinnett Hometown: Suwanee, Ga. | National League All-Star GP: 91 |
| Derek Dietrich #32 / OF Miami Marlins MLB Debut: May 8, 2013 (Marlins) MLB Draft: 2010 (Rays), 2nd round Status: Active Years at Georgia Tech: 2008-10 High School: St. Ignatius Hometown: Parma, Ohio | GP: 93 Batting Avg: .288 Hits: 94 Home Runs: 11 Triples: 1 Doubles: 18 RBIs: 32 Runs: 51 Stolen Bases: 1 OBP: .354 OPS: .805 SLG: .451 |
 | Buck Farmer #45 / RHPDetroit Tigers MLB Debut: August 13, 2014 (Tigers) MLB Draft: 2013 (Tigers), 5th round Status: Active Years at Georgia Tech: 2010-13 High School: Rockdale Hometown: Conyers, Ga. | GP: 44 IP: 41.1 Record: 3-3 Saves: 0 ERA: 4.79 SO: 39 Opp. Avg: .284 WHIP: 1.72 |
 | Deck McGuire #68 / RHPLos Angeles Angels of Anaheim MLB Debut: September 12, 2017 (Reds) MLB Draft: 2010 (Blue Jays), 1st round Status: Active Years at Georgia Tech: 2008-10 High School: Deep Run Hometown: Glen Allen, Va. | MLB Overall 2018 stats:GP: GS: 3 Record: Saves: 0 ERA: SO: Opp. Avg: .261 WHIP: 1.56
|
 | Daniel Palka #18 / OFChicago White Sox MLB Debut: April 25, 2018 (White Sox) MLB Draft: 2013 (Diamondbacks), 3rd round Status: Active Years at Georgia Tech: 2011-13 High School: Greer Hometown: Lyman, S.C. | GP: 65 Batting Avg: .234 Hits: 51 Home Runs: 12 Triples: 3 Doubles: 9 RBIs: 32 Runs: 30 Stolen Bases: 2 OBP: .280 OPS: .748 SLG: .468 |
| Matt Wieters #32 / C Washington Nationals MLB Debut: May 29, 2009 (Orioles) MLB Draft: 2007 (Orioles), 1st round Status: Active Years at Georgia Tech: 2005-07 High School: Stratford Hometown: Goose Creek, S.C. | GP: 28 Batting Avg: .205 Hits: 17 Home Runs: 3 Doubles: 1 RBIs: 7 Runs: 6 Stolen Bases: 0 OBP: .305 OPS: .631 SLG: .325 |
| Blake Wood #46 / P Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim MLB Debut: May 12, 2010 (Royals) MLB Draft: 2006 (Royals), 3rd round Status: Disabled List – 60 day Years at Georgia Tech: 2004-07 High School: North Gwinnett Hometown: Suwanee, Ga. | * Out for season due to Tommy John surgery |
Yellow Jackets in the Minors/Independent Leagues
| Player | Current Team (MLB Team) | Level | MiLB Bio | at Tech | 2018-19 Season Stats |
| Luke Bard | Rochester Red Wings (Twins) | AAA | BIO | 2010-12 | 19 GP, 1-1, 3.77 ERA, 1 save, 28.2 IP, 31 SO, 1.19 WHIP * with the Angels (MLB) |
| Joey Bart | Salem-Keizer Volcanoes (Giants) AZL Giants Orange (Giants) | A (Short) | BIO | 2016-18 | *Overall in 2018: 18 GP, .297 avg., 22 hits, 7 HR, 1 3B, 4 2B, 19 RBIs, 14 runs |
| Sam Clay | Chattanooga Lookouts (Twins) | AA | BIO | 2013-14 | 21 GP, 1-5, 1 save, 6.34 ERA, 32.2 IP, 40 SO, 1.78 WHIP |
| Trevor Craport | Delmarva Shoebirds (Orioles) | A | BIO | 2015-17 | 87 GP, .261 avg., 81 hits, 10 HR, 2 3B, 18 2B, 57 RBIs, 42 runs, 4 SB |
South Atlantic League All-StarBrandon CumptonBuffalo Bison (Blue Jays)
Southern Maryland Blue CrabsAAABIO2008-10
* Contract purchased by the Toronto Blue Jays on July 4
* Buffalo Bisons:
4 GP, 1 GS, 2-0, 1 save, 1.13 ERA, 8.0 IP, 6 K, 0.75 WHIP
* Blue Crabs:
11 GP, 11 GS, 4-3, 4.11 ERA, 65.2 IP, 44 K, 1.31 WHIP
Jake EschSioux Falls Canaries
St. Paul SaintsIndependentBIO2009-11* Overall in 2018:
10 GP, 10 GS, 4-4, 6.39 ERA, 49.1 IP, 43 K, 1.76 WHIPBrandon GoldLancaster JetHawks (Rockies)A (Adv) BIO 2014-1619 GP, 19 GS, 6-6, 5.69 ERA, 104.1 IP, 75 SO, 1.59 WHIPMatthew GorstPortland Sea Dogs (Red Sox)
Salem Red Sox (Red Sox)AA
BIO 2014-16* Overall in 2018:
27 GP, 2-2, 9 saves, 1.04 ERA, 43.1 IP, 44 SO, 0.92 WHIP
Carolina League All-Star (Salem)Matthew GrimesBowie Baysox (Orioles)AA
BIO 2011-14
24 GP, 4 GS, 0-2, 3.43 ERA, 63.0 IP, 48 SO, 1.27 WHIP
Dusty IsaacsNew Hampshire Fisher Cats (Blue Jays)
Buffalo Bisons (Blue Jays)AA
BIO 2011-14*Overall in 2018:
29 GP, 3-2, 1 save, 4.04 ERA, 42.1 IP, 44 SO, 1.56 WHIP
Connor JustusInland Empire 66ers (Angels)
Mobile BayBears (Angels)A (Adv.) BIO 2014-16*Overall in 2018:
81 GP, .221 avg., 61 hits, 5 HR, 2 3B, 13 2B, 33 RBIs, 42 runs, 3 SBDeck McGuireLos Angles Angels of Anaheim
Salt Lake Bees (Angels)
Texas Round Rok (Rangers)
Buffalo Bisons (Blue Jays)
Toronto Blue JaysMLBBIO2008-10*Overall in 2018 (Triple-A):
9 GP, 8 GS, 4-2, 4.08 ERA, 46.1 IP, 40 K, 1.32 WHIP
*Overall in 2018 (MLB):
10 GP, 3 GS, 0-1, 6.46 ERA, 23.2 IP, 21 K, 1.56 WHIPArden PabstAltoona Curve (Pirates)
Bradenton Marauders (Pirates)
Indianapolis Indians (Pirates)AA BIO 2014-16* Overall in 2018:
50 GP, .283 avg., 52 hits, 8 HR, 2 3B, 12 2B, 29 RBIs, 20 runs, 2 SB
Florida State League All-Star (Bradenton)Ryan PeurifoyWest Virginia Power (Pirates)A
BIO2014-1757 GP, .212 avg., 38 hits, 3 HR, 2 3B, 13 2B, 20 RBIs, 29 runsZac RyanMobile BayBears (Angels)
Inland Empire 66ers (Angels)AA
BIO2014-17* Overall in 2018:
29 GP, 3-2, 3 Saves, 3.93 ERA, 50.1 IP, 57 SO, 1.45 WHIP
California League All-Star (Inland)Matt SkoleCharlotte Knights (White Sox)AAABIO2009-1079 GP, .243 avg., 70 hits, 9 HR, 1 3B, 21 2B, 30 RBIs, 35 runs, 1 SB
* Chicago White Sox (MLB)
4 GP, .253 avg., 3 hits, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 2 runsDaniel SpingolaEvansville Otters
Tennessee Smokies (Cubs)
Myrtle Beach Pelicans (Cubs)Independent BIO 2012-15* Evansville Otters:
5 GP, .429 avg., 6 hits, 1 HR, 1 2B, 4 RBIs, 3 runs
* Cubs organization in 2018:
46 GP, .216 avg., 32 hits, 2 HR, 9 2B, 11 RBIs, 20 runs, 2 SBKyle WrenPawtucket Red Sox (Red Sox)
Colorado Springs Sky Sox (Brewers)AAA
BIO 2011-13
* Signed by the Boxton Red Sox (July 4)
* Overall in 2018:
56 GP, .263 avg., 44 hits, 2 HR, 1 3B, 8 2B, 28 RBIs, 24 runs, 7 SB
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