In one of the busiest weeks of the year amongst MLB Draft League alumni, two former players made their MLB debuts, 10 players appeared in MLB games and another 10 players were traded leading up to MLB’s deadline Monday, including seven on deadline day.
Kenny Piper (State College ‘21) made his MLB debut on Monday, Aug. 3, with the Tampa Bay Rays and went 1-for-4 with a walk in the Rays' 13-9 win. Just a day later, on Aug. 4, Nate Lavender became the 20th MLB Draft League to reach the Major Leagues when he debuted for the Mets, pitching 1 1/3 innings and issuing just one free pass in the scoreless outing.
Beyond those at the baseball’s highest levels, three more players from this summer’s first-half inked deals with MLB organizations, another eight received promotions and three received monthly Minor League honors.
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
Position Players
2022 West Virginia Black Bears | Pacific Coast League Hitter of the Month
July: 23 G, .422/.490/.611 (1.101 OPS), 2 HR, 5 2B, 3 3B, 15 RBI, 19 R, 10 BB, 8 SB
Week: 6 G, .423/.464/.615 (1.079 OPS), HR, 2 2B, 6 RBI, 5 R, 2 BB, SB
Season (AAA/AA): 92 G, .347/.426/.509 (.935 OPS), 8 HR, 6 3B, 18 2B, 71 R, 63 RBI
The 2023 Minor League free agent signing has consistently found his way to Triple-A in all four seasons with the Giants organization and this past month was one to remember as the Pacific Coast League Player of July. During the month, he led the PCL with his .422 batting average, hits (38), which led to leading in total hits (55) and on-base percentage while flashing some speed to lead in stolen bases.
2022 Williamsport Crosscutters
Week: 5 G, .462/.611/1.077 (1.688 OPS), HR, 2 3B, 2B, 4 RBI, 2 R, 5 BB
Season (A+): 64 G, .251/.411/.459 (.870 OPS), 9 HR, 2 3B, 12 2B, 44 RBI, 40 R, 11 SB
2022 State College Spikes
Week: 5 G, .440/.444/.920 (1.364 OPS), 3 HR, 3 2B, 13 RBI, 6 R, BB, 3 SB, SF
Season (AA): 88 G, .254/.317/.499 (.816 OPS), 21 HR, 20 2B, 65 RBI, 54 R, 17 SB
2021 State College Spikes
MLB debut (Aug. 3): 1-for-4, BB
Week (AA): 3 G, .385/.529/.846 (1.375 OPS), 2 HR, 6 RBI, 4 R, 3 BB, HBP
Season: 64 G, .253/.358/.498 (.856 OPS), 11 HR, 3B, 20 2B, 41 RBI, 35 R, 11 SB
2023 West Virginia Black Bears
Week: 5 G, .438/.526/.750 (1.276 OPS), HR, 2 2B, 5 R, 4 RBI, 3 BB, 2 SB
Season (A+): 60 G, .240/.386/.311 (.697 OPS), 2 HR, 7 2B, 34 R, 17 RBI, 34 SB
2024 State College Spikes | Cardinals No. 27 Prospect (MLB Pipeline)
Week: 6 G, .273/.360/.636 (.996 OPS), 2 HR, 2 2B, 5 RBI, 5 R, 2 BB, HBP
Season (AA): 34 G, .250/.382/.414 (.796 OPS), 4 HR, 7 2B, 19 RBI, 19 R, 3 SB
Eddie Micheletti Jr. (LAA, Double-A)
2022 Williamsport Crosscutters
Week: 5 G, .316/.409/.579 (.988 OPS), 3B, 3 2B, 4 R, 3 BB
Season: 94 G, .251/.346/.454 (.800 OPS), 14 HR, 4 3B, 21 2B, 60 R, 45 RBI, 5 SB
2023-24 Trenton Thunder
Week: 5 G, .304/.360/.609 (.969 OPS), 2 HR, 2B, 5 RBI, 4 R, BB, HBP
Season (AA): 67 G, .280/.408/.427 (.835 OPS), 4 HR, 3 3B, 14 2B, 46 R, 23 RBI, 20 SB
2021 State College Spikes
Week: 7 G, .375/.444/.500 (.944 OPS), HR, 4 RBI, 4 R, 3 BB, SB
Season: 96 G, .236/.283/.366 (.649 OPS), 9 HR, 3B, 9 2B, 37 R, 35 RBI, 6 SB
Pitchers
Cedric De Grandpre (ATL, Triple-A)
2022 West Virginia Black Bears | Braves No. 24 Prospect (MLB Pipeline) | Southern League Pitcher of the Month
July (AA): 4 GS, 3-0, 24 IP, 1.13 ERA, 29 K, 0.75 WHIP, .148 BAA
Season (A+/AA/AAA): 20/19 G/S, 10-4, 4.26 ERA, 95 IP, 125 K, 1.20 WHIP, .215 BAA
Before a promotion to Triple-A and placed on the Braves’ Top 30 Rankings from MLB Pipeline, De Grandpre led the Southern League in ERA, wins and WHIP to be the Pitcher of the Month. Overall, the former Black Bear ranks second in all of Minor League Baseball with 125 strikeouts.
2025 Williamsport Crosscutters | Florida State League Pitcher of the Month
July: 6/3 G/S, 3 W, 0.73 ERA, 24.2 IP, 30 K, 1.18 WHIP, .219 BAA
Season: 24/12 G/S, 5-1, 3.56 ERA, 93.2 IP, 102 K, 1.35 WHIP, .259 BAA
Also being promoted at the end of July, Jones took home Pitcher of the Month honors with a sub 1.00 ERA that led the Florida State League. He also finished second over the month in strikeouts, ranked fourth in batting average against and WHIP across 24.2 innings that led the FSL.
2021 West Virginia Black Bears | D-Backs No. 8 Prospect (MLB Pipeline)
Week: 2 GS, 1-0, 12 IP, R, 4 H, 7 BB, 11 K
Season (MLB): 6 GS, 1-1, 27.2 IP, 3.90 ERA, 21 K, 1.52 WHIP, .235 BAA
2021 Mahoning Valley Scrappers
Week (MLB debut): G, 1.1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, BB, K
Season (AAA): 25 G, 2-2, 2/4 SV, 33 IP, 3.27 ERA, 53 K, 1.09 WHIP, .214 BAA
2024 Mahoning Valley Scrappers
Week: 2 G, SV, 2.1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 6 K
Season: 26 G, 3-2, 7/9 SV, 30 IP, 3.90 ERA, 44 K, 1.40 WHIP, .190 BAA
2024 Trenton Thunder | Marlins No. 23 Prospect (MLB Pipeline)
Week: GS, 4 IP, 0 R, H, 0 BB, 6 K
Season: 18/16 G/S, 6-0, 1/1 SV, 86 IP, 1.67 ERA, 96 K, 0.87 WHIP, .180 BAA
Tyler Uberstine (ATL, Triple-A)
2021 Williamsport Crosscutters | Braves No. 26 Prospect (MLB Pipeline)
Week: 2 G, SV, 2.1 IP, 0 R, H, 0 BB, 3 K
Season (AAA): 15/2 G/S, 1-1, 2/2 SV, 32 IP, 2.81 ERA, 37 K, 1.00 WHIP, .188 BAA
Season (MLB): G, 2.2 IP, R, 3 H, BB, 2 K
2021 State College Spikes
Week: GS, 6 IP, R, 2 H, BB, 5 K
Season (AA/A+): 21/15 G/S, 6-3, 2/2 SV, 87 IP, 3.62 ERA, 95 K, 1.31 WHIP, .219 BAA
2023 West Virginia Black Bears
Week: 2 G, W, 3.2 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 BB, 4 K, HB
Season: 30 G, 4-1, 41.2 IP, 4.10 ERA, 51 K, 1.44 WHIP, .219 BAA
2022 West Virginia Black Bears | White Sox No. 22 Prospect (MLB Pipeline)
Week: GS, 6 IP, R, 3 H, BB, 6 K
Season (AA): 6/5 G/S, 2-0, 35.1 IP, 3.57 ERA, 27 K, 1.10 WHIP, .237 BAA
2024 Mahoning Valley Scrappers
Week: GS, W, 6 IP, R, 3 H, BB, 5 K
2022 Mahoning Valley Scrappers
Week: 2 G, 2.2 IP, 0 R, H, BB, 7 K
Jonathan Pintaro (NYM, Triple-A)
2021-22 Frederick Keys | Mets No. 21 Prospect (MLB Pipeline)
Week (MLB): G, 2 IP, 0 R, H, 2 BB, 3 K
Season (MLB): 6 G, 14.1 IP, 4.40 ERA, 15 K, 0.84 WHIP, .143 BAA
Season (MiLB): 24 G, 3-0, 1/2 SV, 39.2 IP, 3.86 ERA, 45 K, 1.21 WHIP, .207 BAA
Promotions and signings
Kurt Barr: On Wednesday, July 29, RHP Kurt Barr signed a Minor League deal with the Minnesota Twins. The Crosscutters right-hander out of the University of Michigan pitched 7 1/3 innings across four outings this summer and struck out 10 batters over that time.
Jimmy Keenan: On Thursday, July 30, C Jimmy Keenan signed a Minor League deal with the Minnesota Twins. The Wake Forest alum flexed his muscle in Mahoning Valley this summer, blasting three home runs, along with a triple and double, over nine games with the Scrappers.
AJ Rogers: On Sunday, Aug. 2, RHP AJ Rogers signed a Minor League contract with the San Diego Padres. The Canadian high school talent appeared in six games for the Spikes this summer and struck out nine batters over six innings.
Aug. 4: LHP Nate Lavender (NYM, MV ‘21) - Syracuse Mets (AAA) to New York Mets (MLB). RHP Merit Jones (MIN, WIL ‘25) - Fort Myers Mighty Mussels (A) to Cedar Rapids Kernels (A+). 3B Ryland Zaborowski (LAA, TRN ‘23/24) - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (A) to Tri-City Dust Devils (A+). LHP Joe Ariola (AZ, TRN ‘25) - Visalia Rawhide (A) to Hillsboro Hops (A+). SS Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek (NYY, TRN ‘24) - Tampa Tarpons (A) to Hudson Valley Renegades (A+). LHP Evan Taylor (CHC, FRE ‘21) - Knoxville Smokies (AA) to Iowa Cubs (AAA).
Aug. 3: C Kenny Piper (TB, SC ‘21) - Montgomery Biscuits (AA) to Tampa Bay Rays (MLB); returned to Montgomery on Aug. 4.
July 31: RHP Jonathan Pintaro (NYM, FRE ‘21/22) - Syracuse Mets (AAA) to New York Mets (MLB); returned to Syracuse on Aug. 2. RHP Michael Hobbs (SEA, WV ‘21) - Everett AquaSox (A+) to Arkansas Travelers (AA).
MLB trade deadline
July 30
- RHP Zane Barnhart (MV ‘23) traded from Baltimore to Detroit in exchange for C Jake Rogers.
July 31
- INF Bruin Agbayani (FRE ‘25) traded from Minnesota to the New York Mets, along with another prospect, in exchange for LHP A.J. Minter.
Aug. 2
- C Boston Smith (WIL ‘25) traded from the Chicago White Sox to Seattle, along with two other players and cash, in exchange for RHP Luis Castillo.
Aug. 3
- OF Eddie Micheletti Jr. (WIL ‘23) traded from Toronto to the Los Angeles Angels, along with two other prospects, in exchange for RHP Jose Soriano.
- RHP Luke Gabrysh (TRN ‘24) traded from Philadelphia to the New York Mets, along with another prospect, in exchange for LHP Brooks Raley.
- RHP Andrew Moore (SC ‘21) traded from San Diego to Pittsburgh in exchange for RHP Hunter Stratton.
- RHP Jacob Kisting (TRN ‘24) traded from Tampa Bay to Miami, along with two other prospects, in exchange for C Liam Hicks.
- RHP Tyler Uberstine (WIL ‘21) traded from Boston to Atlanta in exchange for OF Eli White.
- RHP Duncan Davitt (MV ‘22) traded from Chicago White Sox to Atlanta in exchange for C Joey Bart.
- RHP Joe Glassey (MV ‘23/24) traded from Baltimore to Washington in exchange for OF Christian Franklin.
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.
