The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Baseball in the Pros - End of Regular Season Update
10/5/2023 4:30:00 PM | Baseball
BIRMINGHAM –With the MLB postseason beginning and the MiLB postseason coming to an end, it's time for a final statistical update on the past Blazers who spent the 2023 season on a MLB or MiLB roster.
Blazers in the MLB Statistics for 2023:
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
7 9 4.76 26 26 0 145.2 111 52
Ashcraft ended the MLB season on a high note, where he posted a 2.48 ERA and a 4-3 record over his last 12 starts of the season. However, following Ashcraft's start against the Cubs on Sept. 1, he was shut down for the season after receiving surgery for a stress reaction on his right big toe. Ashcraft is expected to make a full recovery and is slated to return to the Red's starting pitching rotation in time for 2024 Spring Training.
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
5 5 5.30 21 10 0 69.2 69 13
Whitlock finished the 2023 season, his third career MLB season, with a career-high 10 starts and a career-low 13 walks for the Red Sox in 69.2 innings pitched.
James Naile (RHP) – St. Louis Cardinals
Lettered at UAB: 2012-2015 Drafted: Round 20, Pick 608 Debut: 6/27/22
W L ERA G GS SV IP SO BB
0 0 8.80 10 0 0 15.1 7 9
Naile finished his second season in the MLB this year and made an appearance in 10 games for the Cardinals. The 30-year-old right-handed reliever ended the season with 15.1 innings pitched, where he posted an 8.80 ERA and struck out seven batters.
Blazers in the MiLB Statistics for 2023:
Brewer Hicklen (LF) – Lehigh Valley IronPigs (Triple-A, Philadelphia Phillies Organization)
Lettered at UAB: 2014-2017 Drafted: Round 7, Pick 210 Debut: 5/26/22
AVG. AB H R 2B 3B HR RBI SB
.236 242 57 52 17 3 10 33 21
Hicklen started the 2023 campaign as a member of the Omaha Storm Chasers - the Triple-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals - but was traded to the Philadelphia Phillis Organization on Aug. 23, 2023, and assigned to the Lehigh Valley IronPigs where he finished the 2023 season. In 11 games for the IronPigs, Hicklen recorded nine hits, two home runs and four RBIs.
Riley Davis (RHP) – Modesto Nuts (Single-A, Seattle Mariners Organization)
Lettered at UAB: 2018-2021 Drafted: Round 18, Pick 534
W L ERA G GS SV IP SO BB
8 1 3.86 21 7 0 84 66 34
Davis recorded six starts in 2023 with the Modesto Nuts and one start with the Mariners Triple-A affiliate, the Tacoma Rainiers. For the Nuts, Davis finished third on the team in wins with eight and had the third lowest ERA with a minimum five starts recorded by posting a 3.57 over six starts. Davis also posted a perfect 8-0 record in Single-A, with his only loss coming in his lone start with the Tacoma Rainiers.
Tyler Tolbert (2B) – Northwest Arkansas Naturals (Double-A, Kansas City Royals Organization)
Lettered at UAB: 2017-2019 Drafted: Round 13, Pick 379
AVG. AB H R 2B 3B HR RBI SB
.276 518 143 95 24 10 10 50 50
Tolbert wrapped up his 2023 season with the Naturals and it was a special one. He finished for the team lead in hits (143), triples (10), runs (95) and stolen bases (50). He also finished third on the team in home runs (10) and RBIs (50), as well as fifth in batting average (.276) and walks (40). For his outstanding season, Tolbert was awarded the George Brett Hitter of the Year, an award given to the top hitter in the Kansas City Royals organization.
UAB Baseball will play its inaugural season in the American Athletic Conference (AAC) in 2024 under 3rd year Head Coach Casey Dunn.
For more information on the UAB baseball team, be sure to follow @UAB_Baseball on Twitter and Instagram.
Blazers in the MLB Statistics for 2023:
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
7 9 4.76 26 26 0 145.2 111 52
Ashcraft ended the MLB season on a high note, where he posted a 2.48 ERA and a 4-3 record over his last 12 starts of the season. However, following Ashcraft's start against the Cubs on Sept. 1, he was shut down for the season after receiving surgery for a stress reaction on his right big toe. Ashcraft is expected to make a full recovery and is slated to return to the Red's starting pitching rotation in time for 2024 Spring Training.
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
5 5 5.30 21 10 0 69.2 69 13
Whitlock finished the 2023 season, his third career MLB season, with a career-high 10 starts and a career-low 13 walks for the Red Sox in 69.2 innings pitched.
James Naile (RHP) – St. Louis Cardinals
Lettered at UAB: 2012-2015 Drafted: Round 20, Pick 608 Debut: 6/27/22
W L ERA G GS SV IP SO BB
0 0 8.80 10 0 0 15.1 7 9
Naile finished his second season in the MLB this year and made an appearance in 10 games for the Cardinals. The 30-year-old right-handed reliever ended the season with 15.1 innings pitched, where he posted an 8.80 ERA and struck out seven batters.
Blazers in the MiLB Statistics for 2023:
Brewer Hicklen (LF) – Lehigh Valley IronPigs (Triple-A, Philadelphia Phillies Organization)
Lettered at UAB: 2014-2017 Drafted: Round 7, Pick 210 Debut: 5/26/22
AVG. AB H R 2B 3B HR RBI SB
.236 242 57 52 17 3 10 33 21
Hicklen started the 2023 campaign as a member of the Omaha Storm Chasers - the Triple-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals - but was traded to the Philadelphia Phillis Organization on Aug. 23, 2023, and assigned to the Lehigh Valley IronPigs where he finished the 2023 season. In 11 games for the IronPigs, Hicklen recorded nine hits, two home runs and four RBIs.
Riley Davis (RHP) – Modesto Nuts (Single-A, Seattle Mariners Organization)
Lettered at UAB: 2018-2021 Drafted: Round 18, Pick 534
W L ERA G GS SV IP SO BB
8 1 3.86 21 7 0 84 66 34
Davis recorded six starts in 2023 with the Modesto Nuts and one start with the Mariners Triple-A affiliate, the Tacoma Rainiers. For the Nuts, Davis finished third on the team in wins with eight and had the third lowest ERA with a minimum five starts recorded by posting a 3.57 over six starts. Davis also posted a perfect 8-0 record in Single-A, with his only loss coming in his lone start with the Tacoma Rainiers.
Tyler Tolbert (2B) – Northwest Arkansas Naturals (Double-A, Kansas City Royals Organization)
Lettered at UAB: 2017-2019 Drafted: Round 13, Pick 379
AVG. AB H R 2B 3B HR RBI SB
.276 518 143 95 24 10 10 50 50
Tolbert wrapped up his 2023 season with the Naturals and it was a special one. He finished for the team lead in hits (143), triples (10), runs (95) and stolen bases (50). He also finished third on the team in home runs (10) and RBIs (50), as well as fifth in batting average (.276) and walks (40). For his outstanding season, Tolbert was awarded the George Brett Hitter of the Year, an award given to the top hitter in the Kansas City Royals organization.
UAB Baseball will play its inaugural season in the American Athletic Conference (AAC) in 2024 under 3rd year Head Coach Casey Dunn.
For more information on the UAB baseball team, be sure to follow @UAB_Baseball on Twitter and Instagram.
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