The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Blazers Baseball Update: Four Players Competing in Professional Ranks
8/10/2011 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Aug. 10, 2011
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - A quartet of former UAB baseball players are continuing their baseball careers at the minor league level in Jamal Austin, Nick Graffeo, Luke Stewart and Ryan Woolley.
Austin, Graffeo and Stewart are competing in the Rookie Appalachian League, while Woolley is pitching in the Class A Midwest League.
Austin and Woolley were recently selected in the 2011 Major League Amateur Draft, both being picked in the 13th round by the Seattle Mariners and Detroit Tigers, respectively. The two players were drafted just 14 spots apart, with Austin going 393rd, followed by Woolley at No. 407.
In the 2010 draft, Stewart was snagged by the New York Mets in the 20th round (602nd overall) and later Graffeo headed to the Kansas City Royals in the 38th round (1139th).
Another former UAB infielder, Jonathan Merritt, who signed as a free agent with the Houston Astros following the 2010 season, has been sidelined in 2011 and is rehabbing an injury.
Here is an in-depth look at how each player has performed this season at the professional level.
Jamal Austin, OF | Pulaski Mariners - Rookie Appalachian League
In his first season in the professional ranks, Austin has been nothing short of spectacular for the Mariners.
In 40 games this season, Austin is hitting at an Appalachian League-best .383, with 57 hits in 149 at bats. In fact, Austin's batting average is the highest in league history since 2005, when Rene Aqueron hit .405.
Austin's impressive numbers don't stop with his hitting clip. He is the league leader in on-base percentage (.456) and his 19 stolen bases are tied for tops in the conference.
He also tops Pulaski in hits (57), walks (19) and on-base-plus-slugging percentage (.892).
Ryan Woolley, RHP | West Michigan Whitecaps - Class A Midwest League
Woolley started the season with the Connecticut Tigers of the New York-Penn League where he posted an 0-2 record and 2.38 ERA over 11 games, 10 in relief. His success out of the Tigers' bullpen, where he recorded a better than 3:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio (18 strikeouts, five walks), led to a promotion to the Class A Midwest League.
Upon promotion in which Woolley joined the West Michigan Whitecaps, he has made a total of three relief appearances. After a rough first outing, Woolley has totaled four innings over his last two stints, giving up just one run (unearned), while striking out six and not walking a batter.
On Aug. 7, Woolley recorded his first professional save, securing a 6-3 victory against the Great Lakes Loons.
Nick Graffeo, RHP | Burlington Royals - Rookie Appalachian League
In his second year in the Royals organization, Graffeo has flourished out of the Burlington bullpen.
Graffeo owns a 3-1 record over the course of 35.2 innings, while maintaining a minuscule 1.51 ERA. He has made 13 total appearances, including two starts, giving up six runs (all earned) off 21 hits.
The most impressive stat for Graffeo has been his control, in which he has struck out 44 batters compared to just nine walks, while holding opponents to a .168 batting average. He is the team-leader in saves (4), WHIP (0.84) and second in strikeouts and ERA.
He has performed even stronger in a relief role, producing a 0.96 ERA in 28 innings with 36 strikeouts to eight walks. During his 11 relief outings, Graffeo has given up just 13 hits and held opponents to a .137 batting average.
Luke Stewart, 1B | Kingsport Mets - Rookie Appalachian League
After struggling to start the spring with the Brooklyn Cyclones, Stewart joined the Kingsport Mets where he has been on a hot streak in the batter's box.
In 26 games, Stewart is hitting at a .259 (22-for-85) clip, with nine of his hits being for extra bases, including three homers. He has also knocked in 16 runs for the Mets.
Stewart has been heating up at the plate in his last five games. During that span, he is 6-for-18 (.333) with a homer, five RBI and six runs scored.
