The University of Mississippi Athletics

TIm Elko

#MLBRebs: August 9 Update

8/9/2024 | Baseball

OXFORD, Miss. –  As the Major League Baseball and Minor League Baseball seasons begin to wind down, let’s take some time to check in on our former Rebels in the professional ranks.

Ole Miss has four players competing at the Major League level and 18 in the Minor Leagues for a total of 22 active professional players.

Lance Lynn | Pitcher | St. Louis Cardinals

Record: 6-4 ERA: 4.06 G: 21 GS: 21 SV: 0 IP: 106.1 K: 97 BB: 41

Lynn has made 21 starts for the St. Louis Cardinals in what is his 13th Major League season. He ranks third on the team in strikeouts and fourth in innings pitched. The 37-year-old recently collected his 2,000th career strikeout on July 23rd against the Pittsburgh Pirates, becoming just the sixth active and 88th all-time pitcher to reach that milestone.

James McArthur | Pitcher | Kansas City Royals

Record: 4-5 ERA: 5.20 G: 43 GS: 0 SV: 18 IP: 45.0 K: 32 BB: 9

McArthur has been the primary closer for the Kansas City Royals, collecting 18 saves in his first full season in the role. He is tied for ninth in the American League in saves and has issued the third-fewest number of walks among American League closers. McArthur posted an ERA of 1.80 over 11 appearances during the month of June.

Nick Fortes | Catcher | Miami Marlins

AVG: .219 AB: 215 H: 47 R: 16 2B: 9 3B: 0 HR: 2 RBI: 18 BB: 5 SB: 0 OPS: .534

Fortes has been the primary backstop for the Miami Marlins during the second half of the season and has seen his bat heat up over the last month or so. He hit .358 with four doubles during the month of July, raising his season batting average by .051. He closed out the month going 8-for-14 over his final four games, scoring a run in three of the four.

Jacob Waguespack | Pitcher | Tampa Bay Rays

Record: 0-0 ERA: 5.40 G: 4 GS: 1 SV: 0 IP: 10.0 K: 11 BB: 10

Waguespack has been on the 60-day Injured List since May 18 with rotator cuff inflammation.

Grae Kessinger | Infielder | Sugar Land Space Cowboys (Houston)

AVG: .284 AB: 148 H: 42 R: 28 2B: 5 3B: 1 HR: 5 RBI: 19 BB: 16 SB: 3 OPS: .784

After making the Opening Day roster with the Houston Astros, Kessinger has spent most of the season at the Triple-A level with the Space Cowboys. He has played games at every infield position and has the fifth-highest batting average on the team at .284. While he was with the Astros, Kessinger made his first-career Major League pitching appearance on April 11 throwing a near-perfect inning in a 13-3 blowout loss to the Kansas City Royals.

Doug Nikhazy | Pitcher | Columbus Clippers (Cleveland)

Record: 4-2 ERA: 3.18 G: 18 GS: 18 SV: 0 IP: 85.0 K: 89 BB: 34

Nikhazy is putting together his best professional season yet in 2024, posting a 3.18 ERA across two levels for the Cleveland Guardians organization. He began the season at Double-A Akron where he made 11 starts to the tune of a 3.17 ERA and 49 strikeouts over 48.1 innings. He was promoted to Triple-A Columbus on June 24 where he has a record of 4-1 in seven starts with a 3.19 ERA and 40 punchouts.

Tim Elko | Infielder | Charlotte Knights (Chicago AL)

AVG: .289 AB: 380 H: 110 R: 44 2B: 17 3B: 1 HR: 12 RBI: 45 BB: 23 SB: 2 OPS: .771

Elko continues to climb the ranks within the Chicago White Sox organization in his second full season. He opened the season at Double-A Birmingham where he hit .289 with nine home runs, 16 doubles, and 40 RBI over 91 games. The first baseman was promoted to Triple-A Charlotte on July 30 where he has already hit three home runs and scored eight times in just nine games.

Gunnar Hoglund | Pitcher | Las Vegas Aviators (Oakland)

Record: 9-4 ERA: 2.93 G: 20 GS: 19 SV: 0 IP: 110.2 K: 104 BB: 28

Hoglund was recently promoted to Triple-A Las Vegas after a dominant run at Double-A Midland to open the 2024 season. In 19 games with the RockHounds, Hoglund posted a 9-4 record and a 2.84 ERA with 97 strikeouts over 104.2 innings. He was promoted to Triple-A on July 30 where he has made just one start, working six innings and striking out seven against Albuquerque.

Anthony Servideo | Infielder | Norfolk Tides (Baltimore)

AVG: .171 AB: 275 H: 47 R: 49 2B: 9 3B: 0 HR: 6 RBI: 23 BB: 47 SB: 10 OPS: .563

Servideo has split his time this season between Double-A Bowie and Triple-A Norfolk, playing 65 games at Double-A and 21 games at Triple-A. He has played all of his games at second base, shortstop, and third base except for one start in center field.

Ryan Rolison | Pitcher | Albuquerque Isotopes (Colorado)

Record: 1-2 ERA: 5.33 G: 18 GS: 5 SV: 0 IP: 27.0 K: 25 BB: 13

Rolison is working his way back from multiple shoulder injuries, having been activated from the injured list on June 20. He has made 11 appearances for Triple-A Albuquerque, including one start on July 25.

Kevin Graham | Outfielder | Amarillo Sod Poodles (Arizona)

AVG: .233 AB: 232 H: 54 R: 38 2B: 14 3B: 2 HR: 3 RBI: 23 BB: 27 SB: 4 OPS: .668

Graham has spent the entirety of his 2024 season with the Double-A Sod Poodles, primarily playing left field. He hit .389 during the month of April with six doubles and 13 runs scored. He has reached base safely in three of his last five games.

Houston Roth | Pitcher | Bowie Baysox (Baltimore)

Record: 1-3 ERA: 3.43 G: 27 GS: 0 SV: 1 IP: 39.1 K: 58 BB: 17

Roth has spent the majority of his season with the Double-A Bowie Baysox, appearing in 24 games with  a 3.12 ERA and 50 strikeouts. He is averaging 13.27 strikeouts per nine innings and has picked up five holds to go with his one save.

Cooper Johnson | Catcher | Frisco RoughRiders (Texas)

AVG: .225 AB: 160 H: 36 R: 27 2B: 9 3B: 0 HR: 9 RBI: 33 BB: 25 SB: 0 OPS: .789

Johnson has spent his entire 2024 season with Double-A Frisco in the Texas Rangers’ organization. He has started behind the plate in 52 games and was the designated hitter in one. His .789 OPS and nine home runs are both career highs.

Brandon Johnson | Pitcher | Northwest Arkansas (Kansas City)

Record: 3-3 ERA: 4.28 G: 34 GS: 0 SV: 3 IP: 40.0 K: 62 BB: 16

Johnson was promoted to Double-A Northwest Arkansas on June 11 after pitching in 18 games for High-A Quad Cities to start the season. He did not allow a run to score the entire month of April, striking out 20 batters over 9.2 innings of work. Johnson has posted a 13.95 K/9 over two levels and has only allowed two home runs.

Jacob Gonzalez | Infielder | Birmingham Barons (Chicago AL)

AVG: .239 AB: 410 H: 98 R: 45 2B: 20 3B: 1 HR: 5 RBI: 45 BB: 36 SB: 16 OPS: .636

Gonzalez began his first full professional season with High-A Winston-Salem where he played in 36 games before being promoted to Double-A Birmingham on May 21. With Birmingham, Gonzalez has hit 13 doubles and a grand slam while driving in 30 runs.

Kemp Alderman | Outfielder | Beloit Sky Carp (Miami)

AVG: .253 AB: 162 H: 41 R: 21 2B: 10 3B: 1 HR: 5 RBI: 36 BB: 18 SB: 3 OPS: .746

After opening the 2024 season on the injured list, Alderman has been off to a hot start in his first full professional season. He was named the Florida State League Player of the Month for July after slashing .293/.368/.587 and leading the league in RBI (25) and slugging percentage (.587). He was second in total bases (44) and third in hits (22) and OPS (.955). The outfielder was promoted to High-A Beloit on August 2 following his dominant run at Single-A.

Dylan DeLucia | Pitcher | Lake County Captains (Cleveland)

Record: 0-3 ERA: 3.08 G: 8 GS: 8 SV: 0 IP: 26.1 K: 26 BB: 9

DeLucia was activated on July 1 for his first professional action since recovering from elbow surgery. Since then he has made eight starts across three levels and was recently promoted to High-A Lake County on July 22. He has made three starts with the Captains, striking out 13 over 12.2 innings of work.

Calvin Harris | Catcher | Winston-Salem Dash (Chicago AL)

AVG: .233 AB: 202 H: 47 R: 26 2B: 9 3B: 1 HR: 2 RBI: 21 BB: 24 SB: 0 OPS: .633

Harris was activated by Winston-Salem on April 23 and has since played in 54 games for the Dash, getting 49 starts behind the plate. He hit .255 during the month of July and had seven total bases in a game against Bowling Green on July 28.

Drew McDaniel | Pitcher | Winston-Salem Dash (Chicago AL)

Record: 6-4 ERA: 4.13 G: 12 GS: 12 SV: 0 IP: 61.0 K: 65 BB: 18

McDaniel was putting together one of his best seasons yet before landing on the injured list on July 21. In seven starts with Single-A Kannapolis, he posted a 4-1 record with a 1.82 ERA and 49 strikeouts before being promoted to High-A on May 23.

Derek Diamond | Pitcher | Greensboro Grasshoppers (Pittsburgh)

Record: 5-4 ERA: 4.82 G: 18 GS: 14 SV: 0 IP: 74.2 K: 64 BB: 13

Diamond has spent the entirety of his 2024 season with High-A Greensboro, making 14 starts for the Grasshoppers to the tune of a 4.82 ERA. He has worked five innings in each of his last two starts, giving up just four earned runs in the month of August.

Jack Dougherty | Pitcher | Fort Myers Mighty Mussels (Minnesota)

Record: 0-0 ERA: 0.00 G: 0 GS: 0 SV: 0 IP: 0 K: 0 BB: 0

Dougherty was placed on the injured list on April 5 with a right shoulder impingement and has yet to pitch in a game.

Taylor Broadway | Pitcher | Portland Sea Dogs (Boston)

Record: 0-0 ERA: 0.00 G: 0 GS: 0 SV: 0 IP: 0 K: 0 BB: 0

Broadway was placed on the injured list on March 20 and has yet to pitch in a game this season.

Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Rebels by following Ole Miss baseball on X at @OleMissBSB, on Facebook at Facebook.com/OleMissBaseball, on Instagram at Instagram.com/officialolemissbsb and on TikTok at @olemissbsb. Also, follow head coach Mike Bianco on X at @CoachMikeBianco.

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