The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Blazers to Pros Aug. 23 Update
8/23/2022 2:58:00 PM | Baseball
BIRMINGHAM – UAB over the years has produced several players into the professional level of baseball including six former Blazers currently playing in the league. Three former players, Graham Ashcraft, Garrett Whitlock and James Naile, are active in the Major League while three former players are playing in the Minor League during the 2022 season.
With less than 40 games left in the regular season, here's how the former Blazers are preforming.
MLB BLAZERS
Graham Ashcraft (LHP) – Cincinnati Reds
Lettered at UAB: 2019 Drafted: Round 6, Pick 174 Debut: 5/22/22
Ashcraft produced his longest outing for the Reds after pitching 8.1 innings and earning the win in a 2-1 victory against the Marlins on Aug.2. He allowed one earned run on five hits with three strikeouts and no walks to improve his record to 5-2 as a rookie. In his latest outing, Ashcraft stuck out eight in 6.2 innings.
Garrett Whitlock (RHP) – Boston Red Sox
Lettered at UAB: 2016-2017 Drafted: Round 18, Pick 542 Debut: 4/4/21
W L ERA G GS SV IP SO BB
3 2 3.03 24 9 5 68.1 69 13
Whitlock has collected four saves since the end of June. He earned his fifth save on Aug. 20. in the Red Sox's 4-3 victory over the Orioles.
James Naile (RHP) – St. Louis Cardinals
Lettered at UAB: 2012-2015 Drafted: Round 20, Pick 608 Debut: 6/27/22
After debuting on June 27th, Naile remains on the Cardinals 40-man roster but was optioned to the Memphis Redbirds on Aug. 5. During his time in MLB, Naile started five games, pitched six innings and collected four strikeouts.
MiLB BLAZERS
Brewer Hicklen (OF) – Omaha Storm Chasers
Lettered at UAB: 2015-2017 Drafted: 2017, Round 7, Pick 210 by Kansas City Royals
Minors: AVG. AB H R 2B 3B HR RBI SB
.249 366 91 62 18 2 22 70 25
Majors: G AB R
6 4 1
Hicklen debuted with the Royals in May, but recently was optioned to the Omaha Storm Chasers.
Riley Davis (RHP) – Modesto Nuts
Lettered at UAB: 2018-2021 Drafted: 2021, Round 18, Pick 534 by Seattle Mariners
W L ERA G GS SV IP SO BB
2 0 3.80 15 0 0 21.1 19 6
Davis is back with the Modesto Nuts after a rehab assignment with the ACL Mariners.
Tyler Tolbert (2B) – Quad Cities River Bandits
Lettered at UAB: 2017-2019 Drafted: 2019, Round 13, Pick 379 by Kansas City Royals
AVG. AB H R 2B 3B HR RBI SB
.211 383 81 63 15 7 4 31 52
The Blazers are looking forward to coming back after the off-season to prepare for the 2023 season. UAB concluded their year 31-25 after making their first Conference USA postseason tournament since 2018.
For more information on the UAB baseball team, be sure to follow @UAB_Baseball on Twitter and Instagram.
With less than 40 games left in the regular season, here's how the former Blazers are preforming.
MLB BLAZERS
Graham Ashcraft (LHP) – Cincinnati Reds
Lettered at UAB: 2019 Drafted: Round 6, Pick 174 Debut: 5/22/22
W L ERA G GS SV IP SO BB
5 3 3.97 16 16 0 93.0 64 23
5 3 3.97 16 16 0 93.0 64 23
Ashcraft produced his longest outing for the Reds after pitching 8.1 innings and earning the win in a 2-1 victory against the Marlins on Aug.2. He allowed one earned run on five hits with three strikeouts and no walks to improve his record to 5-2 as a rookie. In his latest outing, Ashcraft stuck out eight in 6.2 innings.
Garrett Whitlock (RHP) – Boston Red Sox
Lettered at UAB: 2016-2017 Drafted: Round 18, Pick 542 Debut: 4/4/21
W L ERA G GS SV IP SO BB
3 2 3.03 24 9 5 68.1 69 13
Whitlock has collected four saves since the end of June. He earned his fifth save on Aug. 20. in the Red Sox's 4-3 victory over the Orioles.
James Naile (RHP) – St. Louis Cardinals
Lettered at UAB: 2012-2015 Drafted: Round 20, Pick 608 Debut: 6/27/22
After debuting on June 27th, Naile remains on the Cardinals 40-man roster but was optioned to the Memphis Redbirds on Aug. 5. During his time in MLB, Naile started five games, pitched six innings and collected four strikeouts.
MiLB BLAZERS
Brewer Hicklen (OF) – Omaha Storm Chasers
Lettered at UAB: 2015-2017 Drafted: 2017, Round 7, Pick 210 by Kansas City Royals
Minors: AVG. AB H R 2B 3B HR RBI SB
.249 366 91 62 18 2 22 70 25
Majors: G AB R
6 4 1
Hicklen debuted with the Royals in May, but recently was optioned to the Omaha Storm Chasers.
Riley Davis (RHP) – Modesto Nuts
Lettered at UAB: 2018-2021 Drafted: 2021, Round 18, Pick 534 by Seattle Mariners
W L ERA G GS SV IP SO BB
2 0 3.80 15 0 0 21.1 19 6
Davis is back with the Modesto Nuts after a rehab assignment with the ACL Mariners.
Tyler Tolbert (2B) – Quad Cities River Bandits
Lettered at UAB: 2017-2019 Drafted: 2019, Round 13, Pick 379 by Kansas City Royals
AVG. AB H R 2B 3B HR RBI SB
.211 383 81 63 15 7 4 31 52
The Blazers are looking forward to coming back after the off-season to prepare for the 2023 season. UAB concluded their year 31-25 after making their first Conference USA postseason tournament since 2018.
For more information on the UAB baseball team, be sure to follow @UAB_Baseball on Twitter and Instagram.
Players Mentioned
RHP
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