Former area college baseball players still grinding in the pros

On Tuesday, Drake George became the 140th player from the Lewis-Clark State Warrior baseball program to be drafted by a major league club.

The right-handed pitcher is the first Warrior to be drafted since Jake Taylor took the reins in 2019 and the first LC State player to be selected since Gage Burland was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 22nd round in 2018.

“We are all very excited for Drake and what his future will hold at the next level,” Taylor said in a news release. “He will always be a Warrior and we are thrilled to watch his journey unfold.”

As George embarks on his professional baseball journey, he is about to join a handful of former Warriors and a dozen Washington State ballplayers who are currently playing for MLB organizations at some level.

Here’s a look at what those area players have done so far this season:

Lewis-Clark State

Seth Brown, outfield (Oakland/MLB): In his sixth season with the Athletics, Brown has had an up-and-down season. The 2015 draft pick spent time on the injured list with a left oblique strain in April. Once returning in May he was just unable to get into a rhythm. Oakland sent Brown down to the minors to play with the Las Vegas Aviators for a month before he returned on July 11. Three days later the product of Medford, Ore., had the best day of his season going 3-for-5 with two home runs. Brown has become the elder statesman for an Athletics team that is in the middle of a rebuild. He is currently the oldest position player on the team at 32 years old.

Connor Brogdon, pitcher (L.A. Dodgers/MLB): After becoming the first LC State player to participate in both the NAIA World Series (2017) and MLB World Series (2022), Brogdon was dealt to the Dodgers on April 6. The former Phillie reliever made one appearance for the Dodgers giving up two home runs in an inning of work. On April 13 he was placed on the IL with right plantar fasciitis. Brogdon began a rehab assignment on May 5, but suffered a setback. The relief pitcher was placed on the 60-day IL on May 19 and his return timeline is unknown.

Tyler Burch (Baltimore/Bowie): The former NAIA West pitcher of the year has not pitched this season and is currently on the 60-day IL for the Bowie Baysox, a Double-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles. Last season, Burch was 2-3 with a 3.07 ERA in 26 appearances.

Trent Sellers, pitcher (N.Y. Yankees/Hudson Valley): The only current player in an MLB organization that played for both LC State and WSU is having a strong first season at the High-A level. Sellers is 6-2 with a 2.94 ERA with one save. The Oregon State graduate has 63 strikeouts in 52 innings pitched for the Renegades. Sellers was moved to Triple-A affiliate Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on May 24 where he made one appearance. The right-handed pitcher gave up two runs in 1 2/3 giving up one hit and three walks.

Washington State

Ian Hamilton, pitcher (N.Y. Yankees/MLB): The three-time All-Pac-12 Conference pick is in his second season with the New York Yankees. The Vancouver, Wash., native is 0-1 on the season with a 4.55 ERA and 30 strikeouts in 29 2/3 innings out of the bullpen. Hamilton has been on the IL with a right lat strain since June 17. He resumed throwing on July 7, but no timeline for a rehab assignment has been announced.

Ryan Walker (San Francisco/MLB): The right-handed pitcher is in his second season with the Giants and has pitched in several high-leverage situations. The reliever has 63 strikeouts in 51 1/3 innings with a 2.45 ERA. Walker has made 49 appearances for San Francisco and is 6-3 with 16 holds and has three blown saves including one on Friday in a 7-3 loss to Colorado when he gave up two walks and a run.

Kyle Manzardo, first base (Cleveland/Columbus): The No. 2 prospect in the Cleveland farm system and No. 35 prospect according to mlb.com had a cup of coffee in the majors this season, but is currently back at Triple-A with the Clippers. The second-round pick in the 2021 draft made his MLB debut on May 6 for the Guardians and played 30 games in the big leagues. During his time, Manzardo hit .207 with 10 doubles, seven RBI and four runs scored. On June 18 he was sent back down. The first baseman is hitting .287 in Triple-A during his two stints this year.

Andres Alvarez, shortstop (Pittsburgh/Indianapolis): The shortstop has bounced around the Pirate organization over the past six seasons and in April was moved up to the Triple-A affiliate Indianapolis Indians. In 50 games with the Indians, Alvarez is hitting .265 with five home runs and seven doubles. The 27-year-old has 40 career home runs in his MiLB career.

Sam Brown, first base (L.A. Angels/Rocket City): A 12th round selection by the Angels last year, Brown is currently playing for their Double-A affiliate — the Rocket City Trash Pandas. The first baseman is hitting .220 on the season, but has 20 doubles. The former All-Pac-12 Conference honoree is second in the Southern League with his doubles total, only behind his teammate Eric Wagaman.

Shane Matheny, infield (L.A. Angels/Tri-City): The Dust Devils infielder has played in only five games this season because of an injury that placed him on the 60-day IL on May 30. Matheny is currently on a rehab assignment with the ACL Angels. The former 23rd round pick in 2017 has a career .229 average in his seven-year MiLB career.

Brandon White, pitcher (Miami/Jupiter): The starting pitcher for the Hammerheads, a High-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins, started the season off strong with two wins in his first three starts. An injury landed him on the IL from May 16 until June 1 and since his return he has not been able to find his form. White has not won a game since returning and has a season stat line of 2-5 with a 6.14 ERA, however his K/BB ratio is strong with 48 strikeouts and 17 walks allowed in 51 1/3 innings pitched.

Cam Magee, shortstop (Atlanta/Augusta): The second season in the minors for Magee has been a rocky one with two IL stints. The former 18th round pick in 2023 has played just 44 games for the High-A affiliate of the Braves, the Augusta GreenJackets, and is batting under the Mendoza Line. The shortstop is hitting .196 with one home run, one double and has struck out 58 times in 158 at bats.

Dakota Hawkins, pitcher (N.Y. Mets/Brooklyn): The right-handed pitcher was assigned to the Brooklyn Cyclones, a High-A affiliate of the Mets, on March 31. Hawkins started the season as a reliever, but made seven starts recently going 2-1 over that time. The former Cougar is currently 3-3 with a 4.26 ERA including a relief appearance on Saturday where he gave up one hit and one run over 2 2/3 innings.

Jonah Advincula, outfield (Cleveland/Lake County): An eighth-round pick by the Guardians last year, Advincula has been a strong utility outfielder for the High-A affiliate Lake County Captains. Advincula has played at least 15 games at all three outfield positions this season. The outfielder has a season average of .253 with three home runs, four triples and nine doubles. He has shown his speed with 23 stolen bases on 24 attempts. Advincula scored twice Saturday for the Captains in a win.

A.J. Block, pitcher (Kansas City/Quad Cities): The left-handed pitcher was signed as a free agent by the Kansas City Royals in 2020. He made 18 starts in 2021 between Single-A Columbia Fireflies and High-A Quad Cities River Bandits. Injuries derailed Block in both 2022 and 2023. The pitcher returned as a reliever this season for the River Bandits and has made 22 appearances. The WSU grad has a 4-1 record with a 3.55 ERA with 47 strikeouts in 38 innings.

Zane Mills, pitcher (St. Louis/Peoria): The right-handed reliever missed three weeks with an injury, but has had a solid season for the Peoria Chiefs, the High-A affiliate for the St. Louis Cardinals. Mills has appeared in 19 games and has a 3-0 record with a save. The former Coug has gone three innings of relief in each of his last three appearances, striking out 13 while only giving up one run.

Isbelle can be reached at 208-848-2268, risbelle@lmtribune.com or on X (formerly Twitter) @RandyIsbelle.