FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – As the summer moves along, so does the major league and minor league baseball seasons. Many leagues are nearing their respective all-star breaks and a few former Razorbacks in the minors will be taking part in various all-star games after stellar first halves of the season.
Twenty players currently have spots on minor league rosters, including the new pro Razorbacks that were drafted or signed free agent contracts earlier this month. Clark Eagan (West Virginia Black Bears), Michael Bernal (AZL Giants), Tucker Pennell (AZL Padres) and Doug Willey (Orem Owlz) have each started their pro careers in either Single A Short Season or the Rookie league.
Bernal is having one of the better starts out of the newest crop of Hogs in the pro ranks as he is hitting .292 through seven games in the Arizona League with four of his seven hits as doubles and 1 home run.
Complete Minor League #ProHogs Listing
#ProHogs Minor League Player of the Week – D.J. Baxendale
One of the biggest movers this month has been former Hog hurler D.J. Baxendale. Drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 10th round of the 2012 draft, Baxendale started his year with Double A Chattanooga. After spending all of 2015 with the Lookouts, winning 7 games and posting a 3.80 ERA, Baxendale nearly matched his totals in 2016 after just half a season.
With 6 wins under his belt through 14 games and a 3.44 ERA, the Arkadelphia, Arkansas, native got the call to Triple A Rochester.
Right before his call up to Triple A, Baxendale was named a Southern League All-Star for the second consecutive season. Playing for the North All-Stars, he faced and retired two batters on a ground out and a line out.