Vols In Pro Ball: Beck Makes MLB Debut, Multiple Prospects Impressing

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – As the nights get longer, the weather gets hotter and the sounds of baseball fill the air, former Tennessee Volunteers across the country are starting to find their rhythm as the major league and minor league baseball seasons roll on into their second month of action.

Jordan Beck became the newest VFL to reach the big leagues, becoming the 47th in program history and fifth of the Tony Vitello era. He joins Trey Lipscomb as the two former Vols to make their way to The Show this season.

Down on the farm, Chase Dollander and Blade Tidwell are putting the baseball world on notice every time they toe the rubber. Tidwell leads the Eastern League (Double-A) in ERA (1.23), WHIP (0.85) and batting average against (.155) while Dollander leads the Northwest League (High-A) in strikeouts and is second in batting average against (.136). Dollander is rated as the No. 46 prospect in baseball and the eighth-best right-handed pitcher by MLB Pipeline.

Andre Lipcius has also stood out in the early going, posting a .319/.367/.605 slash line for Triple-A Oklahoma City. After being traded to the Dodgers organization this offseason, the infielder has mashed nine home runs, second-most on the team, and leads the club in batting average.

Read more about the starts of all 34 former Vols below:

Vols in the MLB

Jordan Beck – OF, Colorado Rockies
Season: 6 G, 21 AB, 3 H, 3 TB, 11 K, .143 AVG, .143 OBP, .143 SLG

Earned his big-league call-up on April 30, starting his first career game that night against the Miami Marlins. Beck got a hit in his first MLB at-bat and finished the game with a pair of knocks. He has started all six games since being elevated to the big club.

Beck is the No. 72 overall prospect according to MLB Pipeline, while also being the Rockies No. 4 prospect.

Garrett Crochet – LHP, Chicago White Sox
Season: 8 App, 8 GS, 2-4, 5.31 ERA, 40.2 IP, 32 H, 24 R, 24 ER, 9 BB, 53 K, 1.01 WHIP, .211 BAA

Marvelous in his most recent outing on Sunday afternoon (5/5) at St. Louis during which he fired six innings, allowing just three baserunners and one run, while punching out six in a 5-1 victory. Crochet is tied for second in the MLB in strikeouts this season (53) and ranks 18th in WHIP.

Yan Gomes – C, Chicago Cubs
Season: 18 G, 52 AB, 4 R, 10 H, 17 TB, 1 2B, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 19 K, .192 AVG, .192 OBP, .327 SLG

Starting to find his rhythm at the plate for the Cubs, posting nine hits in the month of April with a double and a home run. Gomes also logged his 1,100th game played in the big leagues on April 29 against the New York Mets and provided a solo-homer on May 6 against San Diego.

Trey Lipscomb – 3B, Washington Nationals
Season: 25 G, 83 AB, 14 R, 20 H, 24 TB, 1 2B, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 7 BB, 16 K, 5 SB, 1 CS, .241 AVG, .312 OBP, .289 SLG

Finished April strong, posting three multi-hit games in the final seven games of the month, including back-to-back three-hit games at Miami on April 27 and April 28. Lipscomb also shined on April 8 at San Francisco when he swiped three bases and added three hits in an 8-1 victory.

Nick Senzel – 3B, Washington Nationals
Season: 17 G, 62 AB, 8 R, 15 H, 32 TB, 2 2B, 5 HR, 11 RBI, 7 BB, 20 K, 1 CS, .242 AVG, .319 OBP, .516 SLG

Has been a major power bat since returning to the Nationals lineup on April 15, slugging five homers, second-most on the team this season. Four of those tanks came during a three-game stretch from April 24-28, highlighted by a two-homer, five-RBI night at Miami on the 28th.

Vols in the MiLB

Maui Ahuna – SS, San Jose Giants (Single-A SF)
7-Day Injured List
12 G, 49 AB, 4 R, 11 H, 12 TB, 1 2B, 4 RBI, 4 BB, 16 K, 3 SB, .224 AVG, .291 OBP, .245 SLG

Opened the year as San Jose's starting shortstop and logged hits in each of his first three games. Ahuna has been especially strong in same-side matchups as he has a .308 batting-average against left-handers. Ahuna ranks as the Giants No. 9 overall prospect, though he is currently on the seven-day IL.

Chad Dallas – RHP, Buffalo Bison (Triple-A TOR)
Season: 6 App, 6 GS, 0-2, 7.81 ERA, 27.2 IP, 41 H, 24 R, 24 ER, 14 BB, 18 K, 1.99 WHIP, .347 BAA

Still looking to find his groove with Triple-A Buffalo, but in his final start of April, the right-hander tossed 4.2 innings and allowed just two runs while fanning five against the Iowa Cubs. Dallas currently is the No. 15 prospect in the Blue Jays' system.

Zach Daniels – OF, Corpus Christi Hooks (Double-A HOU)
Season: 8 G, 32 AB, 5 R, 5 H, 12 TB, 1 2B, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 3 BB, 17 K, .156 AVG, .229 OBP, .375 SLG

Had to wait until April 23 to begin his season after injury and opened the year with a three-game hit-streak, including a round-tripper in an 8-7 victory. Daniels was quick to crack his first home run in the month of May also, blasting a two-run shot against Frisco on May 3.

Jared Dickey – OF, Quad Cities River Bandits (High-A KC)
Season: 24 G,80 AB, 10 R, 18 H, 36 TB, 4 2B, 1 3B, 4 HR, 13 RBI, 12 BB, 20 K, 5 SB, 0 CS, .225 AVG, .340 OBP, .450 SLG

Has seen an uptick in his power numbers early in the 2024 campaign, already mashing four home runs for High-A Quad Cities. Dickey has yet to be caught stealing in the minors, swiping nine bags. He has collected a hit in seven of his last nine games and belted a two-run homer on May 1 at Beloit.

Chase Dollander – RHP, Spokane Indians (High-A COL)
Season: 4 App, 4 GS, 0-0, 2.33 ERA, 19.1 IP, 9 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 8 BB, 33 K, 0.88 WHIP, .136 BAA

Has been lights-out for High-A Spokane, leading the Northwest League in strikeouts (33), ranking second in opponent batting average (.136) and sitting third in WHIP (0.88). Dollander fired four scoreless innings in his last outing on May 1 against Eugene, conceding just two hits while punching out six. In the outing prior to that, the power-righty fanned 12.

Dollander ranks as the No. 46 prospect in baseball, the eighth-best right-handed pitcher and the Rockies' second-best prospect.

Max Ferguson – 2B, Portland Sea Dogs (Double-A BOS)
7-Day Injured List
Season: 7 G, 20 AB, 6 R, 5 H, 8 TB, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 3 BB, 8 K, 5 SB, .250 AVG, .348 OBP, .400 SLG

Opened the year with a strong series against Reading, during which he homered in a two-hit game on April 12. The infielder was placed on the seven-day IL on April 17.

Jake Fitzgibbons – LHP, ACL D-backs (Rookie ARI)
60-Day Injured List
Season: 2 App, 0-0, 21.60 ERA, 1.2 IP, 1 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 5 BB, 2 K, 3.60 WHIP, .200 BAA

Logged two appearances with Single-A Visalia before being placed on the 60-day IL on April 21.

Drew Gilbert – OF, Syracuse Mets (Triple-A NYM)
7-Day Injured List
Season: 7 G, 25 AB, 2 R, 6 H, 9 TB, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 2 BB, 10 K, .240 AVG, .321 OBP, .360 SLG

Went on a four-game hit streak to begin the month of April before being sidelined with an injury. Gilbert has been on the seven-day IL since April 7.

Gilbert currently ranks as the No. 47 prospect in the MiLB and the Mets' No. 2 prospect.

Seth Halvorsen – RHP, Hartford Yard Goats (Double-A COL)
Season: 8 App, 0-0, 2 HLD, 8.00 ERA, 9 IP, 13 H, 9 R, 8 ER, 7 BB, 10 K, 2.22 WHIP, .342 BAA

Has shown versatility coming out of the Hartford bullpen, logging multi-inning appearances twice this season. Halvorsen has posted five scoreless outings thus far and posted double-digits strikeouts for the month of April.

Sean Hunley – RHP, Montgomery Biscuits (Double-A TB)
7-Day Injured List
Season: 6 App, 3-0, 2.84 ERA, 12.2 IP, 11 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 9 K, 0.95 WHIP, .244 BAA

Enjoyed a strong start to the season for Double-A Montgomery as a multi-inning reliever for the Biscuits. Hunley earned victories over Pensacola (April 12), Tennessee (April 20) and Mississippi (April 24) while maintaining a WHIP of 1.00 or lower for the entirety of the 2024 season. Hunley was placed on the 7-day IL on April 30.

Bryce Jenkins – RHP, Brooklyn Cyclones (High-A, NYM)
7-Day Injured List
2023 Season: 5 App, 0-1, 2 HLD, 9.00 ERA, 4 IP, 6 H, 6 R, 4 ER, 5 BB, 4 K, 2.50 WHIP, .316 BAA

Assigned to High-A Brooklyn to begin the season but has been on the 7-day IL since Opening Day.

Ben Joyce – RHP, Rocket City Trash Pandas (Double-A, LAA)
Season: 9 App, 0-0, 1/2 SV, 1 HLD, 7.27 ERA, 8.2 IP, 7 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 8 BB, 15 K, 1.73 WHIP, .219 BAA

Has continued to post outstanding strikeout numbers for Double-A Rocket City and was tremendous during Rocket City's two series against the Tennessee Smokies, firing five scoreless innings in five games, striking out eight and allowing just two hits in those contests. Joyce ranks as the Angels' No. 4 prospect.

Zach Joyce – RHP, Inland Empire 66ers (Single-A, LAA)
7-Day Injured List
2023 Season (MiLB): 11 App, 0-1, 1/1 SV, 3 HLD, 2.53 ERA, 10.2 IP, 9 H, 12 R, 8 ER, 14 BB, 26 K, 1.25 WHIP, .138 BAA

Has yet to pitch in 2024 as Joyce was placed on the seven-day IL on April 24.

Cortland Lawson – SS, Harrisburg Senators (Double-A WAS)
Season: 16 G, 53 AB, 6 R, 13 H, 18 TB, 3 2B, 1 3B, 6 RBI, 7 BB, 10 K, 1 SB, 1 CS, .245 AVG, .328 OBP, .340 SLG

Opened the 2024 season with Double-A Harrisburg and was fantastic during the month of April, batting .293 (12-for-41) with five runs scored, six RBIs, a pair of doubles and a triple. Lawson has been the Senators' primary starter at shortstop in 2024.

Jackson Leath – RHP, ACL Rangers (Rookie TEX)
2023 Season: 35 App, 7-2, 2 HLD, 2/2 SV, 1.86 ERA, 48.1 IP, 28 H, 15 R, 10 ER, 21 BB, 50 K, 1.01 WHIP, .164 BAA

Assigned to the Arizona Complex League on Saturday (May 4) and has yet to pitch this season after a highly-effective 2023 campaign.

Andrew Lindsey – RHP, Charleston RiverDogs (Single-A, TB)
7-Day Injured List
Season: 2 App, 1 GS, 1-1, 3.38 ERA, 8 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 6 BB, 9 K, 1.38 WHIP, .179 BAA

Opened the season with a pair of four-inning outings for Charleston, including a stellar long-relief appearance on April 16 against Columbia where he allowed just one hit and struck out six and was credited with the win. Lindsey was placed on the 7-day IL on April 19.

Lindsey currently ranks as the Rays' No. 29 overall prospect.

Andre Lipcius – 2B, Oklahoma City Baseball Club (Triple-A LAD)
Season: 30 G, 119 AB, 22 R, 38 H, 72 TB, 3 2B, 2 3B, 9 HR, 24 RBI, 9 BB, 31 K, 5 SB, 1 CS, .319 AVG, .367 OBP, .605 SLG

Continues to impress for Triple-A Oklahoma City, hitting seven home runs in April and rounding the month out with three-straight games with a big fly against Albuquerque from April 26-28. The infielder has had an impressive start to May, going 7-for-17 (.412) at the plate in a series against Salt Lake.

Lipcius ranks first on the team in batting average and second in home runs. His 24 RBIs are also good for third-most on the team.

Will Mabrey – LHP, Amarillo Sod Poodles (Double-A ARI)
Season: 9 App, 2-0, 1.93 ERA, 3 HLD, 9.1 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 6 BB, 16 K, 1.39 WHIP, .200 BAA

Has maintained the success of a year ago in the early going, holding a sub-2.00 ERA through his first nine appearances of the season. The southpaw from Cookeville, Tennessee, has not allowed more than two runs in an appearance in 34 career games.

Mark McLaughlin – RHP, Kannapolis Cannon Ballers (Single-A CWS)
Season: 7 App, 1-1, 4.11 ERA, 15.1 IP, 13 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 7 BB, 8 K, 1.30 WHIP, .228 BAA

Has started to find his groove with Single-A Kannapolis in a long-relief role, allowing just two runs in his final 9.2 innings of work in the month of April. McLaughlin earned the win in a 4-2 victory for the Cannon Ballers over Charleston on April 27, firing 2.1 innings of work, allowing just one baserunner and striking out three.

Jorel Ortega – SS, Wichita Wind Surge (Double-A MIN)
Season: 25 G, 75 AB, 9 R, 13 H, 18 TB, 3 2B, 1 3B, 5 RBI, 13 BB, 28 K, 2 SB, 1 CS, .173 AVG, .300 OBP, .240 SLG

Entered the month of May with a strong series at Northwest Arkansas, collecting four hits, a double and three RBIs against the Naturals. Ortega has been terrific in the field for the Wind Surge, posting a .982 fielding percentage while playing first, second and third-base this year.

Connor Pavolony – C, Bowie Baysox (Double-A BAL)
Season: 15 G, 49 AB, 8 R, 11 H, 20 TB, 3 2B, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 8 BB, 14 K, .224 AVG, .333 OBP, .408 SLG

Kicked off the season white-hot at the plate, going 5-for-16 (.313) in Bowie's opening series against Hartford with a home run and five RBIs. The backstop has been excellent defensively as he has yet to commit an error or allow a passed ball on the season.

Jake Rucker – 2B, Wichita Wind Surge (Double-A MIN)
Season: 24 G, 86 AB, 11 R, 23 H, 33 TB, 5 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 12 RBI, 5 BB, 14 K, 2 SB, 2 CS, .267 AVG, .330 OBP, .384 SLG

Collected his 250th career minor league hit on Wednesday, May 1, at Northwest Arkansas. During that game, Rucker went 2-for-3 with a double, a triple, two runs scored and three RBIs. In his last seven games, the Nashville native has amassed four extra-base hits.

Andrew Schultz – RHP, Reading Fightin Phils (Double-A PHI)
Season: 5 App, 0-0, 3.38 ERA, 5.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 11 K, 1.13 WHIP, .211 BAA

Has logged an impressive 19.4 K/9 in five appearances with Double-A Reading, posting a pair of three-strikeout appearances already. Four of the right-handers five outings thus far have been scoreless appearances out of the bullpen.

Alerick Soularie – OF, Wichita Wind Surge (Double-A MIN)
Season: 20 G, 42 AB, 11 R, 5 H, 9 TB, 1 2B, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 6 BB, 13 K, 5 SB, 2 CS, .119 AVG, .250 OBP, .214 SLG

Has spent time at each of the three outfield spots this season and hit his first homer of the year, a two-run shot, on May 3 at Northwest Arkansas.

Garrett Stallings – RHP, Norfolk Tides (Triple-A BAL)
Season: 8 App, 1 GS, 0-1, 5.17 ERA, 15.2 IP, 18 H, 10 R, 9 ER, 7 BB, 13 K, 1.60 WHIP, .295 BAA

Made his first start of the season on Saturday, May 4, at Nashville, going 3.1 innings and allowing just one earned run on four hits. Prior to that start, Stallings made seven appearances as a reliver and five of those covered multiple innings.

Drew Steckenrider – RHP, Las Vegas Aviators (Triple-A OAK)
Restricted List

Remains on the restricted list with Las Vegas.

Seth Stephenson – OF, West Michigan Whitecaps (High-A DET)
Season: 16 G, 64 AB, 9 R, 17 H, 22 TB, 2 2B, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 4 BB, 10 K, 8 SB, 1 CS, .266 AVG, .338 OBP, .344 SLG

Already has a pair of multi-hit games in May, going 4-for-6 on May 1 at Dayton, then carding a 3-for-4 day in the series finale. Stephenson also blasted his first home run of the season on May 1, a three-run shot to lead the Whitecaps to a 13-11 victory over the Dragons.

Blade Tidwell – RHP, Binghamton Rumble Ponies (Double-A NYM)
Season: 5 App, 3 GS, 2-3, 1.23 ERA, 29.1 IP, 15 H, 7 R, 4 ER, 10 BB, 36 K, 0.85 WHIP, .155 BAA

Leads the Eastern League in ERA, WHIP and batting average against, while ranking third in strikeouts. Tidwell's best outing so far this year came on Saturday, May 4, when he fired eight scoreless innings, striking out nine and conceding just five hits to Hartford.

Tidwell ranks as the Mets' 10th-best overall prospect.

Chase Wallace – RHP, Quad Cities River Bandits (High-A KC)
Season: 6 App, 0-0, 2 HLD, 0.96 ERA, 9.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 9 K, 0.64 WHIP, .118 BAA

Has been excellent to begin the season for High-A Quad Cities. Wallace has recorded four outings this season not allowing a hit, including his last two appearances covering 3.2 innings. The East Tennessee native has a miniscule WHIP of 0.64 and an equally impressive opposing batting average of .118 through six appearances this year.

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