The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Former Blazers In Professional Baseball
7/22/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Seven UAB baseball alumni are currently playing in the professional ranks across the country. Below is a look at how each player is performing through July 21.
Chase Mallard | Lansing Lugnuts (Class A) | Toronto Blue Jays
The 14th round MLB draft selection a year ago, Mallard is 3-3 on the year with the Lansing Lugnuts through 20 games. His last three appearances have all been starts, and he's totaled six starts thus far in 2015. In 72.2 innings pitched, Mallard has a 56-19 strikeout to walk ratio with a 5.45 ERA and four saves. Mallard is scheduled to start his fourth-consecutive game Thursday night vs. Bowling Green.
Turner Lee | Vancouver Canadians (Short-Season A) | Toronto Blue Jays
Lee, a reliever for the Canadians, has been solid in 10 appearances thus far for the Blue Jays' short-season A club. Outside two runs allowed on July 18, Lee had previously thrown 7.2 scoreless frames spanning over five outings. The southpaw has a 4.26 ERA this season through 12.2 innings pitched, and also has one save, his first of 2015 on July 16. Lee has held opponents to a .213 batting average, and has a 1.03 WHIP in his time with Vancouver thus far.
Alex Luna | Burlington Royals (Rookie League) | Kansas City Royals
UAB's highest June draftee ever in program history, Luna has worked in seven games thus far in his young career for Burlington. Through 13.1 innings pitched, he has a 5.40 ERA. He most recently went 3.0 innings on the hill July 20, allowing two runs vs. Elizabethton.
James Naile | Vermont Lake Monsters (Short-Season A) | Oakland A's
Naile, a 2015 All-C-USA First Team Selection, has allowed just one run in his young Minor League career. After two outings with the AZL Athletics, Naile has appeared seven times for Vermont and given up just seven hits and one run over 7.2 innings. His lone run came on July 1, and he has since pitched 6.2 scoreless frames. He recorded a save in three-straight outings July 12-18, and has a .206 opposing batting average and 0.93 WHIP with the Lake Monsters.
Adam Lau | GCL Red Sox (Rookie League) | Boston Red Sox
In his last two outings, Lau has pitched two scoreless frames. In five games for the Red Sox, Lau has totaled a 5.40 ERA with three runs allowed off eight hits.
Jamal Austin | New Jersey Jackals | Independent League
Austin has appeared in 51 games for the Jackals this season, and is hitting .291 with one home run and 24 RBI. He's tied for the Can-Am league lead in stolen bases with 18, and has turned it up as of late with four RBI in his last two games.
Benji Waite | Fargo-Moorhead Redhawks | Independent League
Waite, a 2010 UAB graduate, has played for two different teams in the American Association League this season. He started with the Winnipeg Goldeyes, before joining the Fargo-Moorhead Redhawks on June 25. Collectively, he's totaled a 4.56 ERA in 25.2 innings pitched in relief work. For Winnipeg, he totaled a 2.89 ERA in 10 games with just three earned runs allowed.
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