Trojans in the Pros: Baseball Update

TROY, Alabama – With baseball season is in full swing at the major and minor league level, here's an update of all the current Troy players within professional organizations.

"Our former players continue to represent our program well at the professional level," Mark Smartt said. "Each of them had success while playing at Troy and have continued to produce in pro ball. It's a difficult journey to reach the Major League level and we hope our minor league players keep working toward that goal. I enjoy looking at the box scores and following their progress through the year and we wish them continued success."

Two major leaguers in Clint Robinson and Chase Whitley highlight the Troy baseball players in the pros. Robinson, who played at Troy from 2000-04, is currently on the 40-man roster with the Washington Nationals, while Whitley is on the disabled list with the Tampa Bay Rays.

Last season, Robinson had one of his best seasons in the major leagues with the Nationals. He played 126 games, had 309 at-bats, totaled 84 hits – for a .272 batting average – scored 44 runs with 15 doubles, one triple, 10 home runs and 34 RBIs. It was his first season with the Nationals after playing four games with Kansas City in 2012 and nine games with the Los Angeles Dodges in 2014.

This season Robinson has bounced around to various positions and is listed in the depth chart at left field, right field and first base. He has appeared in 10 games this season and has one hit with two RBIs.

Whitley, the other major leaguer, played two seasons with the New York Yankees in 2014 and 2015. He started four games last season before being placed on the disabled list needing Tommy John Surgery for a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow.

This season the Tampa Bays Rays picked him up from waivers, but he was placed on the 60-day disabled list in mid-February to help recover following the surgery. He is set for a possible return in August, but threw from the front part of the mound on April 12.

Rising prospect, TJ Rivera, was recently named the 30^th best prospect in the New York Mets organization. He has been on a tear at the Triple-A level, batting .367 with seven doubles, one home run and 12 RBIs for the Las Vegas 51's through 14 games. Rivera has won numerous awards at the minor league ranks, including MLB.com Organizational All-Star in 2012 and 2014.

The final three Trojans in the pros are Shane McCain, Trae Santos and Logan Hill. All three are at the Class A Advanced level of their respective organizations.

McCain is currently a member of the High Desert Mavericks in the Texas Rangers organization. He has made an appearance in four games and has pitched 7.1 innings with seven strikeouts. He currently has a 1-0 record and a 1.23 ERA.

Santos, a member of the 2013 Troy team that made it to an NCAA Regional, currently plays for the Class A Advanced San Diego Padres club, the Lake Elsinore Storm. The first baseman has three doubles, one triple and one RBI though 18 games. However, Santos did get an invite to play with the Padres in Spring Training.

Hill, the newest Trojan at the professional level, is currently with the Bradenton Marauders. The Marauders are the Class A Advanced affiliated of the Pittsburgh Pirates. After a stellar Class A short season in 2015, Hill has only had 18 at-bats in just five games.

Stay tuned for a mid-July update of the Troy baseball players in the pros.

For more information on Troy baseball, as well as all of Troy Athletics, visit TroyTrojans.com. Fans can also find the Trojans on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat by searching for Troy Athletics.

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