THE FLATS — As the MLB regular season came to a close, #ProJacket Charlie Blackmon turned on the jets to head into October and the 2018 postseason.
Blackmon started last week by having his career-best 17-game hit streak snapped before bouncing back on Sunday, hitting the first cycle of his career in the 12-0 victory over the Washington Nationals. The cycle also was the first to happen in Game 162 in Major League history, as he continues to show his offensive leadership.
Blackmon then recorded the first run of the 2018 MLB postseason en route to a 2-1 Wild Card victory over the Chicago Cubs. He hit 1-for-3 for the game with one walk.
He’ll now move on to the NLDS where he and the Colorado Rockies will take on the Milwaukee Brewers.
With a start in Game 1 on Thursday night, Blackmon becomes the ninth Yellow Jacket in the Danny Hall era to play in the MLB postseason.
SB Nation: 22 Reasons Charlie Blackmon is better than your favorite player
Rookie Daniel Palka impressed in his final season of his first professional year, much like he has all 2018. Palka finished the three-game series against the Minnesota Twins with four hits, two runs, an RBI and two walks.
Palka’s rookie season was one for the ages as he finished 2018 with 100 hits, 67 RBI and 27 home runs, hitting .240 overall.
White Sox: Daniel Palka should get more national attention
Derek Dietrich finished a fine 2018 campaign with the Marlins, recording career-high career-high numbers in hitting (132), RBI (45), doubles (26) and home runs (16).
With a career-high 66 appearances, Detroit Tigers right-hander Buck Farmer used September to work his ERA to a career-best 4.15 over his 69.1 innings of work. Farmer struck out 57 batters this year and held opponents to an average of .255.
In Matt Wieter’s second season with the Nationals, the catcher caught 17 would-be base stealers, while collecting 56 hits, eight doubles and eight homers.
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: 156
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| 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: 149 Batting Avg: .265 Hits: 132 Home Runs: 16 Triples: 2 Doubles: 26 RBIs: 45 Runs: 72 Stolen Bases: 2 OBP: .330 OPS: .751 SLG: .421 |
 | Buck Farmer #45 / RHP Detroit 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: 66 IP: 69.1 Record: 3-4 Saves: 0 ERA: 4.15 SO: 57 Opp. Avg: .255 WHIP: 1.56 |
 | Deck McGuire #68 / RHP Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim MLB Debut: Sept. 12, 2017 (Reds) MLB Draft: 2010 (Blue Jays), 1st round Status: Reassigned to minors Years at Georgia Tech: 2008-10 High School: Deep Run Hometown: Richmond, Va. | Reassigned to minors (8/26/18)
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 | Daniel Palka #18 / OF Chicago 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: 124 Batting Avg: .240 Hits: 100 Home Runs: 27 Triples: 3 Doubles: 15 RBIs: 67 Runs: 56 Stolen Bases: 2 OBP: .294 OPS: .778 SLG: .484 |
| Matt Wieters | GP: 76
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| Blake Wood | * Out for season due to Tommy John surgery |
Yellow Jackets in the Minors/Independent Leagues
Luke Bard – Rochester Red Wings (Twins) – Triple-A
Triple-A 2018 stats: 32 GP, 3-3, 1 save, 4.66 ERA, 48.1 IP, 52 SO, 1.49 WHIP
MLB 2018 stats: 8 GP, 0-0, 5.40 ERA, 11.2, 13 SO, 1.29 WHIP
Joey Bart – Salem-Keizer Volcanoes (Giants) – Class A Short Season
2018 stats: 51 GP, .294 avg., 60 hits, 13 HR, 3 3B, 15 2B, 40 RBIs, 38 runs
Sam Clay – Chattanooga Lookouts (Twins) – Double-A
2018 stats: 34 GP, 1 GS, 2-6, 1 save, 5.88 ERA, 52.0 IP, 61 SO, 1.73 WHIP
Trevor Craport – Delmarva Shorebirds (Orioles) – Class A
2018 stats: 122 GP, .256 avg., 112 hits, 11 HR, 4 3B, 26 2B, 72 RBIs, 68 runs, 4 SB
Brandon Cumpton – Buffalo Bisons (Blue Jays) – Triple-A
MLB 2018 stats: 1 GP, 0-0, 5.40 ERA, 1.2 IP, 2 SO, 3.00 WHIP
Triple-A 2018 stats: 12 GP, 9 GS, 2-5, 1 save, 6.15 ERA, 52.2 IP, 31 SO, 1.46 WHIP
Independent 2018 stats: 11 GP, 11 GS, 4-3, 4.11 ERA, 65.2 IP, 44 SO, 1.31 WHIP
Jake Esch – Sioux Falls Canaries (Independent)
2018 stats: 19 GP, 19 GS, 8-6, 5.14 ERA, 105.0 IP, 76 SO, 1.581 WHIP
Brandon Gold – Lancaster JetHawks (Rockies) – Class A Advanced
2018 stats: 27 GP, 27 GS, 9-9, 5.44 ERA, 154.0 IP, 121 SO, 1.53 WHIP
Matthew Gorst – Pawtucket Red Sox (Red Sox) – Triple-A
2018 stats: 40 GP, 3-4, 9 saves, 1.84 ERA, 68.1 IP, 58 SO, 0.93 WHIP
Matthew Grimes – Bowie Baysox (Orioles) – Double-A
2018 stats: 35 GP, 6 GS, 0-2, 3.77 ERA, 86.0 IP, 65 SO, 1.41 WHIP
Dusty Isaacs – New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Blue Jays) – Double-A
2018 stats: 44 GP, 4-4, 2 saves, 5.10 ERA, 60.0 IP, 64 SO, 1.53 WHIP
Connor Justus – Mobile BayBears (Angels) – Double-A
2018 stats: 124 GP, .220 avg., 93 hits, 6 HR, 2 3B, 17 2B, 47 RBIs, 60 runs, 7 SB
Deck McGuire – Salt Lake Bees (Angels) – Triple-A
Triple-A 2018 stats: 15 GP, 11 GS, 5-3, 4.24 ERA, 57.1 IP, 50 SO, 1.31 WHIP
MLB 2018 stats: 17 GP, 4 GS, 0-2, 6.35 ERA, 34.0 IP, 27 SO, 1.65 WHIP
Arden Pabst – Altoona Curve (Pirates) – Double-A
2018 stats: 66 GP, .264 avg., 61 hits, 10 HR, 2 3B, 14 2B, 36 RBIs, 26 runs, 2 SB
Ryan Peurifoy – West Virginia Power (Pirates) – Class A
2018 stats: 80 GP, .191 avg., 47 hits, 3 HR, 3 3B, 16 2B, 24 RBIs, 31 runs, 4 SB
Zac Ryan – Mobile BayBears (Angels) – Double-A
2018 stats: 42 GP, 4-5, 3 saves, 4.56 ERA, 71.0 IP, 75 SO, 1.51 WHIP
Matt Skole – Charlotte Knights (White Sox) – Triple-A
Triple-A 2018 stats: 121 GP, .237 avg., 102 hits, 14 HR, 1 3B, 28 2B, 44 RBIs, 50 runs, 3 SB
MLB 2018 stats: 4 GP, .273 avg., 3 hits, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 2 runs
Daniel Spingola – Evansville Otters (Independent) * Released
Independent 2018 stats: 15 GP, .280 avg., 14 hits, 1 HR, 1 3B, 2 2B, 5 RBIs, 8 runs
Minor League 2018 stats: 46 GP, .216 avg., 32 hits, 2 HR, 9 2B, 11 RBIs, 20 runs, 2 SB
Kyle Wren – Pawtucket Red Sox (Red Sox) – Triple-A
2018 stats: 84 GP, .263 avg., 69 hits, 3 HR, 2 3B, 13 2B, 43 RBIs, 30 runs, 10 SB
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