This week’s alumni group is highlighted by a slugger winning Player of the Week honors at the Minor Leagues' upper levels, as well as a pair of arms earning Pitcher of the Week at the lower levels.
The 2026 MLB Draft League had their fourth contract purchased, another alum was recalled to the big leagues, eight players were promoted and several players continue to produce at the Major League level.
All this and more within our 20th edition of this year’s Alumni Report.
Previous Alumni Reports: 2025 Recap | Offseason Update | Prospect Update | Opening Weeks | April 16 | April 23 | April 30 | May 7 | May 14 | May 21 | May 28 | June 4 | June 11 | June 18 | June 25 | July 2 | July 9 | July 16 | July 23 | July 30 | Aug. 6
Position Players
2025 Williamsport Crosscutters | Mariners No. 14 Prospect (MLB Pipeline) | Texas League Player of the Week
POTW Week: 6 G, .381/.458/1.095 (1.553 OPS), 5 HR, 9 RBI, 6 R, 3 BB
Past Week: 6 G, .350/.480/.950 (1.430 OPS), 4 HR, 8 RBI, 6 R,
Season (AA/A+/A): 87 G, .290/.445/.611 (1.056 OPS), 27 HR, 3 3B, 7 2B, 75 R, 67 RBI, 10 SB
In his first six games in the Mariners organization following his swap in the Luis Castillo trade, Boston Smith was unconscious with five home runs, including a pair on Sunday. After an 0-for-4 debut with the Arkansas Travellers, the backstop went deep in three straight games in front of his new hometown fans. After the hottest five games stretch in his professional career, Smith earned himself Texas League Player of the Week honors.
2022 West Virginia Black Bears
Week: 5 G, .429/.435/.857 (1.292 OPS), HR, 6 2B, 6 R, 5 RBI, BB, SF
Season (AAA/AA): 97 G, .352/.426/.530 (.956 OPS), 9 HR, 6 3B, 24 2B, 77 R, 68 RBI
With a home run Tuesday, Aug. 11, Turner Hill extended his hit-streak to 25 games, surpassing the Sacramento River Cats previous record of 24. In his final three games to secure the record, Hill had multiple extra-base hits in all three. The former Black Bears outfielder has dominated Triple-A this year, batting .351 with six more walks (37) than strikeouts (31) and won Pacific Coast Player of the Month for the month of July.
2024 Trenton Thunder
Week: 6 G, .400/.464/1.120 (1.584 OPS), 5 HR, 3 2B, 13 RBI, 10 R, 3 BB, SB
Season (AA/A+): 53 G, .296/.367/.561 (.928 OPS), 13 HR, 13 2B, 40 R, 39 RBI, 12 SB
2022 Mahoning Valley Scrappers | Astros No. 20 Prospect (MLB Pipeline)
Week: 6 G, .333/.545/.800 (1.345 OPS), 2 HR, 2B, 3 RBI, 2 R, 6 BB, HBP
Season (AA/A+): 97 G, .210/.359/.323 (.682 OPS), 8 HR, 13 2B, 60 R, 35 RBI, 37 SB
2022 Williamsport Crosscutters
Week: 6 G, .409/.481/.727 (1.208 OPS), 2 HR, 2B, 5 RBI, 5 R, 4 BB, SF
Season (AA/A+): 75 G, .259/.415/.481 (.896 OPS), 12 HR, 2 3B, 13 2B, 51 RBI, 47 R, 11 SB
2023 West Virginia Black Bears
Week: 5 G, .333/.368/.611 (.979 OPS), HR, 2 2B, 4 R, 2 RBI, BB, 4 SB
Season (AA/A+): 52 G, .287/.416/.545 (.961 OPS), 10 HR, 2 3B, 9 2B, 38 R, 37 RBI, 25 SB
2021 State College Spikes
Week: 4 G, .412/.500/.529 (1.029 OPS), 2 2B, 3 R, RBI, 2 BB, HBP
Season (AAA/AA): 68 G, .264/.368/.500 (.868 OPS), 11 HR, 3B, 22 2B, 42 RBI, 38 R, 11 SB
2021 West Virginia Black Bears
Week: 4 G, .333/.375/.867 (1.242 OPS), 2 HR, 2 2B, 7 RBI, 4 R, BB
Season: 61 G, .271/.341/.464 (.805 OPS), 8 HR, 16 2B, 35 RBI, 28 R
2021 West Virginia Black Bears
Week: 5 G, .389/.476/1.111 (1.587 OPS), 4 HR, 2B, 7 RBI, 5 R, 3 BB
Season: 94 G, .245/.336/.493 (.829 OPS), 20 HR, 3 3B, 19 2B, 68 R, 47 RBI, 14 SB
2022 Frederick Keys
Week: 4 G, .167/.412/.667 (1.079 OPS), 2 HR, 4 R, 3 RBI, HBP
Season (A+): 37 G, .230/.373/.496 (.869 OPS), 10 HR, 6 2B, 31 R, 27 RBI, 4 SB
2024 State College Spikes | Cardinals No. 27 Prospect (MLB Pipeline)
Week: 5 G, .313/.500/.500 (1.000 OPS), HR, 4 R, RBI, 6 BB, 2 SB
Season (AA): 39 G, .258/.398/.424 (.822 OPS), 5 HR, 7 2B, 23 R, 20 RBI, 5 SB
2022 West Virginia Black Bears
Week: 6 G, .350/.435/.500 (.935 OPS), 3 2B, 3 RBI, 2 BB, SB, HBP
Season (MLB): 99 G, .278/.367/.409 (.776 OPS), 8 HR, 2 3B, 17 2B, 15 SB
2021 Trenton Thunder
Week: 6 G, .333/.391/.333 (.724 OPS), 2 R, RBI, 2 BB
Season: 118 G, .294/.371/.453 (.824 OPS), 13 HR, 2 3B, 24 2B, 59 RBI, 50 R
Pitchers
2025 Frederick Keys
California League Pitcher of the Week
Week: GS, W, 6 IP, 0 R, H, 2 BB, 5 K
Season: 20/10 G/S, 4-5, 79 IP, 4.33 ERA, 79 K, 1.38 WHIP, .293 BAA
In his professional start, Bowery punched out five over six scoreless innings for the Inland Empire 66ers, earning his fourth win of the season and California League Player of the Week. It was just the second time in his career he’s pitched six innings and the first time he’s allowed less than three hits over a start of four or more innings.
2022 Williamsport Crosscutters
Midwest League Pitcher of the Week
Week: GS, W, 5.1 IP, 0 R, H, 0 BB, 6 K
Season (A+/A): 7/5 G/S, 2-1, 31.2 IP, 1.99 ERA, 36 K, 0.98 WHIP, .167 BAA
In the deepest outing of his three years of professional baseball, Connor Fenlong pitched five and a third scoreless innings Sunday, Aug. 9. The Tigers farmhand allowed just one infield single and threw 55 strikes on 79 pitches, earning himself Midwest League Pitcher of the Week. The near perfect outing lowered his season WHIP below 1.00, sitting at a cool 0.98.
Channing Austin (NYM, Double-A)
2024 Trenton Thunder
Week: GS, 3 IP, R, H, 0 BB, 6 K
Season (AA/A+): 15 GS, 2-2, 55.2 IP, 2.26 ERA, 66 K, 1.15 WHIP, .172 BAA
Garrett Schoenle (CHW, Triple-A)
2021 Mahoning Valley Scrappers
Week: 3 G, 2/2 SV, 2.2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, BB, 2 K
Season: 32 G, 3-2, 2/3 SV, 42 IP, 2.57 ERA, 41 K, 1.17 WHIP, .174 BAA
2023 Mahoning Valley Scrappers
Week: 2 G, W, 2.1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, BB, 2 K
Season: 35 G, 4 SV, 45.1 IP, 4.17 ERA, 49 K, 1.17 WHIP, 1.94 BAA
Christian Rodriguez (BAL, High-A)
2024 Frederick Keys
Week: GS, W, 5 IP, R, 3 H, 0 BB, 5 K
Season (A+/A): 22/19 G/S, 7-5, 108.2 IP, 2.73 ERA, 110 K, 1.28 WHIP, .261 BAA
Jack Sellinger (MIA, Double-A)
2023 Mahoning Valley Scrappers
Week: G, 3 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 BB, 2 K
Season: 25 G, 6 SV, 44.1 IP, 3.86 ERA, 58 K, 1.33 WHIP, .226 BAA
2024 Frederick Keys
Week: G, W, 4 IP, 0 R, 2 H, BB, 3 K, HB
Season: 21/19 G/S, 95.2 IP, 83 K, 1.38 WHIP, .240 BAA
2022 Mahoning Valley Scrappers
Week: 2/1 G/S, 4 IP, R, 2 H, BB, 4 K
Season (AA/A+/A): 21/3 G/S, 2-0, 35 IP, 3.60 ERA, 46 K, 1.11 WHIP, .194 BAA
2024 Trenton Thunder | Marlins No. 23 Prospect (MLB Pipeline)
Week: GS, W, 5 IP, 0 R, 4 H, 0 BB, 8 K
Season (AA/A+): 19/17 G/S, 7-0, 1/1 SV, 91 IP, 1.58 ERA, 104 K, 0.87 WHIP, .183 BAA
2023 West Virginia / 2022 Mahoning Valley | Mets No. 7 Prospect (MLB Pipeline)
Week: 2 GS, 1-1, 11 IP, 3 R, 11 H, 3 BB, 5 K
Season (MLB): 8 GS, 3-3, 45.1 IP, 2.78 ERA, 29 K, 1.10 WHIP, .230 BAA
Promotions and signings
Cam Padgett: The MLB Draft League announced that the Boston Red Sox purchased the second half contract of RHP Cam Padgett. He is the fourth player from the 2026 season and second West Virginia Black Bear to have their contract purchased this year. More>>
Aug. 12: RHP Matthew Becker (MIN, FRE ‘25) - FCL Twins (R) to Ft. Myers Mighty Mussels (A), RHP Andrew Moore (PIT, SC ‘21) - FCL Pirates (R) to Altoona Curve (AA).
Aug. 11: RHP Noah Edders (CHC, TRN ‘25) - Myrtle Beach Pelicans (A) to South Bend Cubs (A+), 1B Riley Nelson (CLE, WIL ‘24) - Hill City Howlers (A) to Lake County Captains (A+), SS Tevin Tucker (COL, WV ‘23) - Spokane Indians (A+) to Hartford Yard Goats (AA), C Kenny Piper (TB, SC ‘21) - Montgomery Biscuits (AA) to Durham Bulls (AAA).
Aug. 10: RHP Jonathan Pintaro (NYM, FRE ‘21-22) - Syracuse Mets (AAA) to New York Mets (MLB).
August 7: C Chase Heath (STL, MV ‘25) - Peoria Chiefs (A+) to Springfield Cardinals (AA).
Draft History
The MLB Draft League has found success in the MLB Draft through its first six seasons with 291 players drafted and another 200+ signing as free agents for a total of over 450 players placed in affiliated baseball. A complete list of MLB Draft League graduates who have moved on to the next level can be found here.
For more information about the MLB Draft League, visit mlbdraftleague.com or follow @mlbdraftleague and @draftleaguedata on X, and @mlbdraftleague on Instagram.
