Troy University Athletics
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#PROjans: Troy Alumni in Professional Baseball Roundup
9/15/2025 1:36:00 PM | Baseball
TROY, Ala. - Troy has a rich tradition in producing top-end talent.
The Trojans have produced 108 professional players and 15 MLB players in the program's storied history. Troy has 12 alumni playing professional baseball this season.
With the minor season nearing a close and the MLB season nearing the postseason, let's take a look at how our #PROjans are producing this season.
Brandon Lockridge - MLB - Milwaukee Brewers
The Brewers acquired Lockridge from the San Diego Padres at the trade deadline as they look to lock up the No. 1 seed in the National League. In 20 games with the Brew Crew, the former Troy star has hit .261 to go along with elite outfield defense, tallying five outs above average thanks to his 99th percentile sprint speed according to StatCast.
Kole Myers - Double-A - Tulsa Drillers (LAD)
Myers has been nothing but productive since earning a call-up to Double-A in May. The 2024 ninth-round draft choice is hitting .283 with seven doubles, a pair of triples, five home runs and 29 RBIs in 76 games with the Drillers. In typical Kole Myers fashion, he's drawn 40 walks and has a .394 on-base percentage to go along with 25 stolen bases.
Zach Fruit - Double-A - Chesapeake Baysox (BAL)
Fruit began the year in spring training with the Orioles big league club, and has showcased hit elite strikeout ability throughout the 2025 campaign. In 14 appearances and 13 starts in Double-A, the 2023 ninth rounder has struck out 52 hitters across 51.2 innings and boasts a career 4.03 ERA across two minor league seasons. This fall, Fruit is one of eight Orioles prospects headed to the the Arizona Fall League and will pitch for the Peoria Javelinas
Orlando Ortiz-Mayr - Double-A - Pensacola Blue Wahoos (MIA)
Ortiz-Mayr has been stellar in Double-A this season, pitching to the tune of a 3.82 ERA across 24 appearances and 20 starts. The right-hander has racked up 90 strikeouts in 96.2 innings and is holding his opponents to just 6.9 hits per nine innings. Ortiz-Mayr has been at his best since the start of August, pitching to a 3.18 ERA and allowing just a .613 OPS in six starts during that stretch.
Clete Hartzog - High-A - Winston-Salem Dash (CHW)
Hartzog's season was cut short due to injury in June, but the right-hander was dominant in his 15 appearances for High-A Winston-Salem after signing with the White Sox as an undrafted free agent last summer. Hartzog was scoreless in 11 of his 15 relief appearances, owning a 2.93 ERA with 15 strikeouts across 15.1 innings.Â
Caleb Bartolero - Single-A - Inland Empire 66ers (LAA)
Bartolero showcased his power in 41 games for the 66ers this season, blasting six home runs with 27 RBIs in 41 games plate. On the season, Bartolero owns a .269 batting average and a .831 OPS. He hit .292 with a .958 OPS and two home runs in seven games after a three-month stint on the injured list in August, but has landed on the IL once again.
Benny Thompson - Single-A - Inland Empire 66ers (LAA)
"Backspin Benny" has certainly lived up to his nickname this season, having racked up 100 strikeouts in 61.1 innings out of the Inland Empire bullpen. The right-hander ranks third in all of minor league baseball in strikeouts per nine innings (14.57) and fifth in strikeout rate (39.1). On the season, Thompson has totaled 11 saves and owns a 1.91 ERA across 61.1 innings while allowing just 4.5 hits per nine innings.
Noah Edders - Single-A - Myrtle Beach Pelicans (CHC)
Edders made his Single-A debut on August 27th after being selected by the Cubs in the 15th round this summer and owns a 1.80 ERA across her first three professional appearances. In 5.0 innings, the right-hander has allowed just two hits and one run while racking up nine strikeouts.Â
Jay Dill - Single-A - Stockton Ports (ATH)
Dill has made seven Single-A appearances after the A's drafted him in the 18th round this summer. After leading the Sun Belt in strikeouts per nine innings this spring (12.86), Dill has brought his elite stuff to pro ball, having struck out 12 hitters in his first 7.2 innings of action to go along with a 3.52 ERA.
Brooks Bryan - Arizona Complex League Royals
The Royals selected Bryan in the eighth round this summer after back-to-back years on the All-Sun Belt Team, and he's begun his development in the Arizona Complex League
Adam Falinski - Florida Complex League Twins
Falinski was sent to the Florida Complex League last month to begin his professional development after signing with the Twins as an undrafted free agent.
Colby Frieda - Florida Complex League Mets
Frieda signed with the Mets as an undrafted free agent and has kickstarted his professional development back in his home state in the Florida Complex League.
Grady Gorgen - Frontier League - New York Boulders
Gorgen began his professional career in the Frontier League this summer and was dominant in 15 relief appearances for the Boulders. The lefty allowed just two earned runs in 16.2 innings for a 1.02 ERA, tallying 10 strikeouts and allowing 12 hits.
The Trojans have produced 108 professional players and 15 MLB players in the program's storied history. Troy has 12 alumni playing professional baseball this season.
With the minor season nearing a close and the MLB season nearing the postseason, let's take a look at how our #PROjans are producing this season.
Brandon Lockridge - MLB - Milwaukee Brewers
The Brewers acquired Lockridge from the San Diego Padres at the trade deadline as they look to lock up the No. 1 seed in the National League. In 20 games with the Brew Crew, the former Troy star has hit .261 to go along with elite outfield defense, tallying five outs above average thanks to his 99th percentile sprint speed according to StatCast.
Kole Myers - Double-A - Tulsa Drillers (LAD)
Myers has been nothing but productive since earning a call-up to Double-A in May. The 2024 ninth-round draft choice is hitting .283 with seven doubles, a pair of triples, five home runs and 29 RBIs in 76 games with the Drillers. In typical Kole Myers fashion, he's drawn 40 walks and has a .394 on-base percentage to go along with 25 stolen bases.
Zach Fruit - Double-A - Chesapeake Baysox (BAL)
Fruit began the year in spring training with the Orioles big league club, and has showcased hit elite strikeout ability throughout the 2025 campaign. In 14 appearances and 13 starts in Double-A, the 2023 ninth rounder has struck out 52 hitters across 51.2 innings and boasts a career 4.03 ERA across two minor league seasons. This fall, Fruit is one of eight Orioles prospects headed to the the Arizona Fall League and will pitch for the Peoria Javelinas
Orlando Ortiz-Mayr - Double-A - Pensacola Blue Wahoos (MIA)
Ortiz-Mayr has been stellar in Double-A this season, pitching to the tune of a 3.82 ERA across 24 appearances and 20 starts. The right-hander has racked up 90 strikeouts in 96.2 innings and is holding his opponents to just 6.9 hits per nine innings. Ortiz-Mayr has been at his best since the start of August, pitching to a 3.18 ERA and allowing just a .613 OPS in six starts during that stretch.
Clete Hartzog - High-A - Winston-Salem Dash (CHW)
Hartzog's season was cut short due to injury in June, but the right-hander was dominant in his 15 appearances for High-A Winston-Salem after signing with the White Sox as an undrafted free agent last summer. Hartzog was scoreless in 11 of his 15 relief appearances, owning a 2.93 ERA with 15 strikeouts across 15.1 innings.Â
Caleb Bartolero - Single-A - Inland Empire 66ers (LAA)
Bartolero showcased his power in 41 games for the 66ers this season, blasting six home runs with 27 RBIs in 41 games plate. On the season, Bartolero owns a .269 batting average and a .831 OPS. He hit .292 with a .958 OPS and two home runs in seven games after a three-month stint on the injured list in August, but has landed on the IL once again.
Benny Thompson - Single-A - Inland Empire 66ers (LAA)
"Backspin Benny" has certainly lived up to his nickname this season, having racked up 100 strikeouts in 61.1 innings out of the Inland Empire bullpen. The right-hander ranks third in all of minor league baseball in strikeouts per nine innings (14.57) and fifth in strikeout rate (39.1). On the season, Thompson has totaled 11 saves and owns a 1.91 ERA across 61.1 innings while allowing just 4.5 hits per nine innings.
Noah Edders - Single-A - Myrtle Beach Pelicans (CHC)
Edders made his Single-A debut on August 27th after being selected by the Cubs in the 15th round this summer and owns a 1.80 ERA across her first three professional appearances. In 5.0 innings, the right-hander has allowed just two hits and one run while racking up nine strikeouts.Â
Jay Dill - Single-A - Stockton Ports (ATH)
Dill has made seven Single-A appearances after the A's drafted him in the 18th round this summer. After leading the Sun Belt in strikeouts per nine innings this spring (12.86), Dill has brought his elite stuff to pro ball, having struck out 12 hitters in his first 7.2 innings of action to go along with a 3.52 ERA.
Brooks Bryan - Arizona Complex League Royals
The Royals selected Bryan in the eighth round this summer after back-to-back years on the All-Sun Belt Team, and he's begun his development in the Arizona Complex League
Adam Falinski - Florida Complex League Twins
Falinski was sent to the Florida Complex League last month to begin his professional development after signing with the Twins as an undrafted free agent.
Colby Frieda - Florida Complex League Mets
Frieda signed with the Mets as an undrafted free agent and has kickstarted his professional development back in his home state in the Florida Complex League.
Grady Gorgen - Frontier League - New York Boulders
Gorgen began his professional career in the Frontier League this summer and was dominant in 15 relief appearances for the Boulders. The lefty allowed just two earned runs in 16.2 innings for a 1.02 ERA, tallying 10 strikeouts and allowing 12 hits.
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