Former Ducks Playing Pro Baseball
EUGENE, Ore. – Seventeen former Ducks are currently playing professional baseball. One at the Major League level, two are in Triple-A, four in Double-A, two in Class-A (Advanced), one in Class-A, three in Class-A (Short), two in Rookie ball and two in Independent League. Links for all 17 are listed below along with the team they are currently with, the league they play in, the level of professional baseball and the organization each player belongs to.
Scott McGough, Major League Baseball, National League, Miami Marlins
The first Duck of the new era of Oregon baseball to reach the Major Leagues ... Got the call to the Miami Marlins' big league club on August 19 after impressing with a 2.25 ERA in 12.0 innings pitched with Triple-A New Orleans ... A three-year letterman at Oregon who was drafted in the fifth round in 2011 ... Missed the 2014 season after having surgery ... Began the 2015 season with Single-A (Advanced) Jupiter ... Called up to Double-A Jacksonville after throwing 7.0 scoreless innings over four games with Jupiter ... Promoted to Triple-A New Orleans on July 25 after posting a 2.70 ERA over 10 appearances with Double-A Jacksonville.
Tyler Anderson, Albuquerque Isotopes, Triple-A Pacific Coast League, Colorado Rockies
A 2011 first-round pick and a three-year letterman at Oregon … Had a strong 2014 season at Double-A Tulsa, finishing the season with a 7-4 record and an impressive 1.98 ERA in 23 starts and 118.1 innings pitched while also being named the Texas League Pitcher of the Year … Allowed just three home runs all season … Struck out 106 batters while walking 40 and posting a .216 batting average against … Currently inactive because of an elbow injury … Will begin the 2015 season with Triple-A Albuquerque once healthy.
Zack Thornton, Las Vegas 51s, Triple-A Pacific Coast League, New York Mets
Drafted in the 23rd round of the 2010 draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates … A two-year letterman at Oregon … Started the 2014 season in Triple-A Indianapolis before being traded to the Mets on April 18 for Ike Davis … Spent the rest of the 2014 season in Triple-A Las Vegas … Finished 2014 with a 3-5 record and a 3.90 ERA combined between Indianapolis and Las Vegas … Struck out 73 batters in 67.0 innings while issuing 22 walks … Began the 2015 season in Triple-A Las Vegas.
Ryon Healy, Midland Rockhounds, Double-A Texas League, Oakland Athletics
A three-year letterman at Oregon who was drafted in the third round of the 2013 draft … Spent the entire 2014 season with Class-A (Advanced) Stockton, hitting .285 with 16 home runs, 28 doubles and 83 RBI in 136 games … Began the 2015 season in Double-A Midland ... Currently ranked 22nd on the Athletics' Top 30 Prospect List.
KC Serna, Reading Fightin Phils, Double-A Eastern League, Philadelphia Phillies
A three-year letterman at Oregon who was picked in the 42nd round by the Cleveland Indians in the 2011 draft … Signed with the Philadelphia Phillies in February of 2014 … Finished the 2014 season hitting .276 with five home runs, 25 doubles, four triples and 40 RBI between Class-A (Advanced) Clearwater and Double-A Reading … Hit .273 with two home runs and 14 RBI in 48 games with Reading … Began the 2015 season with Double-A Reading ... Promoted to Triple- A Lehigh on July 23 after hitting .255 with 9 doubles and a .313 on-base percentage with Reading ... Played in 16 games with Lehigh before returning to Double-A Reading on August 15.
Jake Reed, Chattanooga Lookouts, Double-A Southern League, Minnesota Twins
A fifth-round pick in 2014 and a three-year letterman at Oregon … Finished the 2014 season 3-0 with an astounding 0.29 ERA in 20 games split between the Rookie League and Class-A (Full) Cedar Rapids … Converted eight of nine save opportunities while striking out 39 batters and walking just three … Posted an impressive .105 batting average against … Began the 2015 season in Double-A Chattanooga ... Assigned to Class-A (Advanced) Fort Myers on August 8 after posting a 5.07 ERA in 36 games with Chattanooga ... Recalled to Double-A Chattanooga on September 3 after throwing 12.1 shutout innings with Fort Myers ... Currently ranked 19th on the Twins' Top 30 Prospect List.
Jimmie Sherfy, Mobile BayBears, Double-A Southern League, Arizona Diamondbacks
A two-time All-American at Oregon who played for the Ducks from 2011-2013 … Drafted in the 10th round of the 2013 draft … Finished the 2014 season 5-1 with a 4.59 ERA between Class A (Advanced) Visalia and Double-A Mobile … Went 3-1 with a 4.97 ERA in 37 games with Mobile, striking out 45 in 38.0 innings … Began the 2015 season with Double-A Mobile ... Currently ranked 21st on the Diamondbacks' Top 30 Prospect List.
Kyle Garlick, Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, Class-A (Advanced) California League, Los Angeles Dodgers
A three-year letterman at Oregon and a 28th round pick in the 2015 draft ... Began the 2015 season with the Dodgers' Rookie League team before being called up to Class-A after eight games ... Promoted to Class-A (Advanced) Rancho Cucamonga on August 14 after hitting .327 with four home runs and 24 RBI in 38 games.
Christian Jones, San Jose Giants, Class-A (Advanced) California League, San Francisco Giants
An 18th round pick in 2013 and a three-year letterman at Oregon … Spent the entire 2014 season with Class-A Augusta, compiling a 5-9 record with a 3.33 ERA in 22 starts and 110.2 innings pitched … Recorded 100 strikeouts while walking just 26 batters … Began the 2015 season with Class-A (Advanced) San Jose.
Tommy Thorpe, South Bend Cubs, Class-A Midwest League, Chicago Cubs
A three-year letterman at Oregon and an eighth round pick in the 2014 draft … Finished the 2014 season 1-0 with a 3.05 ERA in 20.2 innings pitched split between the AZL Cubs (Rookie) and Class-A (Short) Boise … Began the 2015 season with Class-A South Bend.
Garrett Cleavinger, Aberdeen IronBirds, Class-A (Short) New York-Penn League, Baltimore Orioles
Selected in the third round of the 2015 draft ... A three-year letterman at Oregon ... Finished Oregon career as the all-time leader in appearances (109) and lowest opponent batting average (.165) ... Also finished second in games finished (52) and saves (13), sixth in wins (18) and seventh in strikeouts (172) ... Began the 2015 season with Class-A (Short) Aberdeen ... Currently ranked 30th on the Orioles' Top 30 Prospect List.
Mitchell Tolman, West Virginia Black Bears, Class-A (Short) New York-Penn League, Pittsburgh Pirates
A seventh round draft pick in 2015 and a three-year letterman at Oregon ... Finished career at Oregon as the all-time leader in doubles (47), RBI (128), on-base percentage (.433) and multiple-RBI games (32) ... Began pro career with Class-A (Short) West Virginia.
Cole Wiper, Spokane Indians, Class-A (Short) Northwest League, Texas Rangers
A 10th round draft pick in 2013 following his redshirt freshman season at Oregon … Spent 2014 with Class-A Hickory while going 7-8 with a 3.83 ERA in 24 games (19 starts) … Struck out 96 batters and posted a .241 batting average against … Began the 2015 season with Class-A (Advanced) High Desert ... Assigned to Class-A (Short) Spokane in early July.
Josh Graham, Danville Braves, Rookie Appalachian League, Atlanta Braves
A fourth round pick in 2015 and a three-year letterman at Oregon ... Made the switch to the mound in 2014 after spending his first two seasons at Oregon as a catcher ... Began pro career with Danville of the Rookie Appalachian League.
Conor Harber, Helena Brewers, Rookie Pioneer League, Milwaukee Brewers
A one-year letterman at Oregon after transferring from Western Nevada College ... Selected in the 16th round of the 2015 MLB Draft ... Earned Pac-12 Player of the Week honors in the second week of the 2015 season after throwing six hitless innings of relief ... Began pro career with Helena of the Rookie Pioneer League.
A three-year letterman at Oregon and an 11th round pick by the Rangers in the 2015 draft ... Underwent surgery after final season at Oregon and will begin professional career in the fall.
Aaron Payne, Lincoln Saltdogs, Independent American League
A four-year letterman at Oregon and the Ducks' all-time leader in runs, stolen bases and hit-by-pitches ... Signed with the Lincoln Saltdogs in June 2015.
JD Pulfer, Gary SouthShore Railcats, Independent American League
A three-year letterman at Oregon who was picked in the 19th round by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2011 draft … Signed with the Gary SouthShore Railcats of the Independent League in April of 2013 after spending two seasons in the Diamondbacks system … Hit .284 with one home run and 33 RBI in 2013 … Finished the 2014 season batting .307 with seven home runs and 61 RBI while playing in all but one of the RailCats 100 games ... Began the 2015 season with Gary.
