University of Tennessee Athletics
Pros Update: VFLs Continue Offensive Streak in Minors
July 29, 2016 | Baseball
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- With the second half of the 2016 season well under way, Tennessee Baseball has 19 former players who have made appearances on professional baseball fields.
In the minor leagues, several VFLs have continued their offensive success with their respective clubs. Last week (July 22-28), Will Maddox posted a five-hit game and improved his season average to .351, while J.P. Arencibia, Nick Senzel, Christin Stewart and A.J. Simcox each launched home runs over their last six games. Simcox, who now leads his Flying Tigers with 102 hits in 94 games, belted two home runs last week including a two-run shot on July 28 vs. Dunedin. Teammate Stewart also continues to lead the Florida State League with 23 home runs this season.
Major Leagues
R.A. Dickey -- SP, Toronto Blue Jays | Video Highlights
Season: 7-12, 4.66 ERA, 22 G, 131.1 IP, 127 H, 78 R, 68 ER, 49 BB, 95 K
Dickey received losses in each of his two starts last week (July 22-28), moving to 7-12 in his 22 starts for the Blue Jays this year. Most recently, he took the loss against the visiting San Diego Padres, allowing seven runs on four hits in 5.2 innings.
Zack Godley -- SP, Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks: 3-1, 5.88 ERA, 8 G, 26.0 IP, 32 H, 18 R, 17 ER, 10 BB, 20 K
Mobile BayBears Season: 2-5, 3.83 ERA, 8 G, 49.1 IP, 48 H, 27 R, 21 ER, 11 BB, 31 K
Reno Aces Season: 2-1, 3.31 ERA, 7 G, 32.2 IP, 37 H, 16 R, 12 ER, 15 BB, 38 K
Godley earned the win in his last start on July 24 against Cincinnati, allowing five runs on 10 hits over 5.2 innings of work. He is currently 2-1 over his three starts in July with the Diamondbacks.
Yan Gomes -- C, Indians | Video Highlights
Season: .165, 71 G, 41 H, 21 R, 11 2B, 1 3B, 8 HR, 32 RBI
On July 18, Gomes was placed on the Cleveland Indians' 15-day disabled list with a separated right shoulder.
Chase Headley -- 3B, Yankees | Video Highlights
Season: .251, 92 G, 76 H, 38 R, 10 2B, 1 3B, 9 HR, 33 RBI, 4 SB
Headley played in six games this week (July 22-28), going 5-for-20 (.250) with three RBI during that span. His best game came on July 25 at Houston, when he posted a 2-for-3, RBI effort helping the Yankees to a 2-1 series-opener victory.
Luke Hochevar -- RP, Kansas City Royals | Video Highlights
Season: 2-3, 3.86 ERA, 40 G, 37.1 IP, 31 H, 17 R, 16 ER, 9 BB, 40 K
Hochevar made two relief appearances last week (July 22-28) and was handed the loss on July 24 against Texas. On the week, he combined to toss 1.1 innings, allowing one run on one hit.
MINOR LEAGUES
J.P. Arencibia -- C, Durham Bulls (AAA-International - Tampa Bay Rays)
LeHigh Valley IronPigs Season: .167, 12 G, 8 H, 2 2B, 1 HR, 3 R, 2 RBI
Durham Bulls: .250, 54 G, 53 H, 10 2B, 9 HR, 21 R, 25 RBI
Over his five games with Durham from July 22-28, Arencibia went 5-for-22 (.227) and posted a three-hit game on July 23 against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, while launching a solo home run the following night. Over his last 10 games with the Bulls, the catcher owns a .304 average with eight RBI.
Julio Borbon -- CF, Bowie Baysox (AA - Baltimore Orioles)
Baltimore Orioles: .222, 5 G, 2 H, 1 R
Bowie Baysox Season: .289, 83 G, 90 H, 48 R, 7 2B, 2 3B, 5 HR, 20 RBI, 20 SB
Called up from Double A Bowie on July 19, Borbon played five games with the Major League Baltimore Orioles. On July 26, the club designated him for assignment.
Andy Cox -- P, Billings Mustangs (Rookie - Cincinnati Reds)
Season: 3-0, 7.07 ERA, 12 G, 14.0 IP, 21 H, 15 R, 11 ER, 9 BB, 10 K
Cox made two relief appearances last week (July 22-28) and picked up his third win of the season, helping his Rookie-Level Billings club clinch a Pioneer League North Division Championship title.
Matt Duffy -- 3B, LF, Round Rock Express (AAA - Texas Rangers)
Season(MLB): .000, 3 G, 0 H, 0 R, 0 RBI
Fresno Grizzlies Season: .226, 74 G, 60 H, 36 R, 13 2B, 1 3B, 6 HR, 30 RBI, 1 SB
On July 23, Duffy was claimed by the Texas Rangers organization off waivers from the Houston Astros. He was optioned to the Rangers' Triple A Round Rock Express affiliate where he has played in one game, going 0-for-4 in his debut.
Vincent Jackson -- OF, State College Spikes (A-Short - St. Louis Cardinals)
Season: .237, 37 G, 33 H, 22 R, 7 2B, 3 3B, 1 HR, 21 RBI, 10 SB
Jackson played in five games last week (July 22-28) and went 2-for-12 (.167) during that span. Since his arrival at State College, the outfielder is hitting .526 (10-for-19) with runners at first and second, as well as .333 (15-for-45) with runners in scoring position.
Andrew Lee -- SP, Hagerstown Suns (A - Washington Nationals)
Season: 2-2, 3.71 ERA, 11 G, 51.0 IP, 45 H, 25 R, 21 ER, 18 BB, 46 K
Lee did not appear in any games last week while spending time on the Hagerstown Suns 7-day Disabled List (since June 7).
Will Maddox -- 2B, West Michigan Whitecaps (A - Detroit Tigers)
Season: .351, 92 G, 132 H, 47 R, 19 2B, 3 3B, 1 HR, 42 RBI, 18 SB
Last week (July 22-28), Maddox erupted for the Whitecaps and went 11-for-29 (.379) at the plate, including a 5-for-8, two RBI effort against Peoria on July 22. Over his last 10 games, the infielder owns a .422 average with eight RBI and seven runs scored.
Khayyan Norfork -- 3B, Harrisburg Senators (AA - Washington Nationals)
Potomac Nationals Season: .252, 42 G, 34 H, 16 R, 5 2B, 16 RBI, 5 SB
Harrisburg Senators Season: .111, 13 G, 3 H, 2 R, 0 2B, 2 RBI, 0 SB
Since his assignment to Double A Harrisburg on July 8, Norfork has played in 13 games and owns a .111 average with two runs scored for the Senators.
Zach Osborne -- SS, Hartford Yard Goats (AA - Colorado Rockies)
Season: .245, 59 G, 47 H, 21 R, 7 2B, 12 RBI, 1 SB
Osborne did not appear in any games last week while spending time on the Hartford Yard Goats 7-day disabled list (since July 14).
Drake Owenby -- P, Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (A - Milwaukee Brewers)
Season: 3-1, 2 SV, 2.67 ERA, 17 G, 67.1 IP, 64 H, 28 R, 20 ER, 21 BB, 65 K
Owenby did not appear in any games last week while spending time on the 7-day Disabled List with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (since July 14).
Nick Senzel -- 3B, Dayton Dragons (A - Cincinnati Reds)
Dayton Dragons Season: .329, 23 G, 27 H, 18 R, 6 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR, 15 RBI, 9 SB
Billings Mustangs Season: .152, 10 G, 5 H, 3 R, 1 2B, 4 RBI, 3 SB
Over six games last week (July 22-28), Senzel went 6-for-18 (.333) with one triple, one home run and four RBI. He cranked his third professional homer as part of a 2-for-3, two RBI effort against Great Lakes on July 27. Over his last 10 games, the third baseman is hitting .387 with 13 RBI for the Dragons.
A.J. Simcox -- SS, Lakeland Flying Tigers (A-Advanced - Detroit Tigers)
Season: .257, 94 G, 102 H, 54 R, 12 2B, 4 3B, 4 HR, 33 RBI, 7 SB
Simcox appeared in six games from July 22-28, going 6-for-27 (.222) with two home runs for the Flying Tigers. On July 23, the shortstop hit a solo home run against St. Lucie as part of a 2-for-4 effort. He homered again on July 28 against Dunedin, cranking a two-run shot in the third inning to help Lakeland to an 11-6 win. Simcox now leads the Flying Tigers with 102 hits over 94 games this season.
Drew Steckenrider -- RP, Jacksonville Suns (AA - Miami Marlins)
Jupiter Hammerheads Season: 0-0, 1 SV, 0.00 ERA, 6 G, 10.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 17 K
Jacksonville Suns Season: 1-0, 6 SV, 1.48 ERA, 24 G, 30.1 IP, 12 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 10 BB, 39 K
Steckenrider made two relief appearances for Jacksonville last week (July 22-28), combining to throw 1.1 scoreless innings and receive no decision.
Christin Stewart -- OF, Lakeland Flying Tigers (A-Advanced - Detroit Tigers)
Season: .266, 95 G, 87 H, 58 R, 21 2B, 1 3B, 23 HR, 65 RBI, 3 SB
In the midst of an 8-for-22 (.364) week from July 22-28, Stewart recorded three multi-hit games and his Florida State League-leading 23rd home run of the year. Over his last 10 games, the outfielder owns a .378 average with 13 RBI, while he also leads the Flying Tigers club with 58 runs scored, 65 RBI and 74 walks.
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