Update on FAU Baseball Players in the Pros

Feb. 22, 2017

BOCA RATON, Fla. - With pitchers and catchers reporting to their respective Spring Training sites in Arizona and Florida, a number of former Florida Atlantic University baseball players continue to make their dreams of the big leagues closer to reality.

All told, there are 13 players in minor league or MLB camps, and three more playing independent baseball. Righthanded pitcher Ryan Garton is the only former Owl currently on a franchise's 40-man roster, with the Tampa Bay Rays, battling for a bullpen slot on the Opening Day roster. Three more pitchers - R.J. Alvarez, Jeff Beliveau and Austin Gomber - are non-roster invitees with their organizations, and are part of the Texas Rangers, Toronto Blue Jays and St. Louis Cardinals' big league camps, respectively.

Additionally, nine more former Owls, five drafted last season and four the year prior, are taking part in the minor league portions of Spring Training for seven different organizations. All information on them and the remainder of the pro Owls is below, with 2016 statistics and more if applicable: 

IN MAJOR LEAGUE CAMP, ON 40-MAN ROSTER

      Ryan Garton (RHP) - Tampa Bay Rays

From Clearwater, Florida
34th round pick in 2012
2016: MLB, Tampa Bay Rays, pitched 37 games with a 4.35 ERA
In MLB camp with the Rays - Port Charlotte, Florida

IN MAJOR LEAGUE CAMP AS A NON-ROSTER INVITEE

      R.J. Alvarez (RHP) - Texas Rangers

From West Palm Beach, Florida
3rd round pick in 2012 of Los Angeles Angels
2016: High A, Stockton Ports (two games) / AA, Tennessee Smokies (20 games) / AAA, Nashville Sounds (one game)
2015: MLB, Oakland A's (21 games)
2014: MLB, San Diego Padres - 1.13 ERA (10 games)
Non-roster invitee to Spring Training - Surprise, Arizona

Jeff Beliveau (LHP) - Toronto Blue Jays

From Providence, Rhode Island
18th round pick in 2008 by Chicago Cubs
2016 (With Baltimore organization): High A, Frederick Keys - 2.40 ERA / AA, Bowie Baysox - 3.86 ERA (4 games)
2015: MLB, Tampa Bay Rays (5 games)
2014: MLB, Tampa Bay Rays - 2.63 ERA (30 games)
Has pitched 58 career games in the majors
Non-roster invitee to Spring Training - Port Charlotte, Florida

Austin Gomber (LHP) - St. Louis Cardinals

From Winter Garden, Florida
4th round pick in 2014
2016: High A, Palm Beach Cardinals - 2.93 ERA / AA, Springfield Cardinals - 1.40 ERA (pitched 4 games, gave up 11 hits in 19 1/3 IP)
Pitched in Arizona Fall League, 5-1 with 2.14 ERA in league-leading 33 2/3 IP
Non-Roster Invitee to Spring Training - Jupiter, Florida

IN MINOR LEAGUE CAMP 

CLASS OF 2016: 

CJ Chatham (SS) - Boston Red Sox

From Fort Lauderdale, Florida
2nd round pick in 2016 (51st overall)
2016: Class A short season, Lowell Spinners - .259 avg., .426 slugging / Rookie, GCL Red Sox (8 games)
Spring Training - Fort Myers, Florida

David McKay (RHP) - Kansas City Royals

From Melbourne, Florida
14th round pick in 2016
2016: Rookie, Burlington Royals - 2.64 ERA
Spring Training - Surprise, Arizona

Colyn O'Connell (RHP) - Detroit Tigers

From Dunedin, Florida
26th round pick in 2016
2016: Rookie, GCL Tigers - 3.90 ERA
Spring Training - Lakeland, Florida

Robbie Coursel (RHP) - Pittsburgh Pirates

From Michigan City, Indiana
26th round pick in 2016
2016: Rookie, Bristol Pirates - 4.26 ERA
Spring Training - Bradenton, Florida

Billy Endris (OF) - Arizona Diamondbacks

From Tampa, Florida
35th round pick in 2016
2016: Rookie, Missoula Osprey - .236 avg. / Class A short season, Hillsboro Hops - .267 avg. (four games)
Spring Training - Scottsdale, Arizona

CLASS OF 2015: 

Brendon Sanger (2B) - Los Angeles Angels

From York, Pennsylvania
4th round pick in 2015
2016: Low A, Burlington Bees - .230 avg.
Spring Training - Tempe, Arizona

Roman Collins (OF) - Kansas City Royals

From Maple Grove, Minnesota
5th round pick in 2015
2016: Low A, Wilmington Blue Rocks - .222 avg. / High A, Lexington Legends - .246 avg.
Played in Australian Baseball League - .336 avg. (third in league)
Spring Training - Surprise, Arizona

Seth McGarry (RHP) - Pittsburgh Pirates

From St. Petersburg, Florida
8th round pick in 2015
2016: Low A, West Virginia Power - 3.83 ERA
Spring Training - Bradenton, Florida

Kyle Miller (RHP) - Chicago Cubs

From Fort Myers, Florida
19th round pick in 2015
2016: Low A, South Bend Cubs - 2.57 ERA
Spring Training - Mesa, Arizona

 

INDEPENDENT BALL

Jake Meiers, RHP
Mark Nelson, 3B
Jeremy Strawn, RHP

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Players Mentioned

CJ Chatham

Robbie Coursel

Billy Endris

David McKay

Colyn O'Connell

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