Every week, staff writer James Crabtree-Hannigan will take a look at the careers of a number of former Maryland athletes embarking on professional careers in a variety of leagues. Every Monday, it’s former baseball players. The stats are from games through July 17.
Brett Cecil, LHP, Toronto Blue Jays
2016 stats: 0-6 W-L, 5.17 ERA, 14 strikeouts, 4 walks, 23 hits, 15.2 innings pitched
Skinny: The 2016 season has not been kind to Cecil, who struggled to record outs to start the year before missing six weeks with a torn lat. Since returning, Cecil hasn’t shown much improvement. He retired the only batter he faced on July 10 but gave up a run, two hits and a walk in .2 innings Friday. He took the loss in that game, his sixth of the season. He rebounded, however, to log a scoreless frame Sunday.
Justin Maxwell, OF, Lotte Giants (Korean Baseball Organization)
2016 stats (AAA Pawtucket): .219 average, .310 on-base percentage, 5 HR, 25 RBI, 61 strikeouts, 25 walks
Skinny: The Red Sox released Maxwell last week, and he signed with the Giants of the Korean Baseball Organization. He has been added to Lotte’s roster but hasn’t appeared in a game. to
Adam Kolarek, LHP, Montgomery Biscuits (Tampa Bay Rays Double-A affiliate)
2016 stats (AAA): 0-1, 2.70 ERA, 32 K, 19 BB, 15 H, 30 IP
Skinny: Kolarek was demoted to double-A Montgomery on Saturday. He had been at triple-A Durham since the beginning of May, by far the longest triple-A stint of his seven-year professional career. Friday, Kolarek gave up one run over two innings, allowing one hit and three walks.
Jose Cuas, 3B, Brevard County Manatees (Milwaukee Brewers High-A affiliate)
2016 stats: .200 AVG, .299 OBP, 4 HR, 20 RBI, 84 K, 31 BB
Skinny: Cuas had his best week of the season this week, emerging with a six-game hitting streak. In total, he went 8-for-23 with three doubles, a home run and five RBIs. The performance raised his batting average on the season to at least .200 for the first time sine June 2. His three doubles pushed his season total to eight.
LaMonte Wade, OF, Fort Myers Miracle (Minnesota Twins High-A affiliate)
2016 stats (High-A): .354 AVG, .411 OBP, 1 HR, 13 RBI, 6 K, 3 BB
Skinny: Wade has been at High-A since the start of July, and though his strikeout and walk numbers have taken a dip since the promotion, his bat has stayed hot. He ended an eight-game hit streak with an 0-for-1 performance Friday, but still had a strong week. He knocked his first home run for Fort Myers Sunday and finished the week 6-for-17 with six RBIs and a walk in seven games.
Jake Stinnett, RHP, Myrtle Beach Pelicans (Chicago Cubs High-A affiliate)
2016 stats: 7-3, 4.48 ERA, 72 K, 29 BB, 86 H, 88.1 IP
Skinny: After ending June with a pair of strong starts, Stinnett has struggled in July. He gave up 11 hits and seven runs (five earned) over 5.1 innings against the Winston-Salem Dash on Saturday. It was his third consecutive start surrendering at least five runs. He managed one strikeout in the game but issued two walks.
Brandon Lowe, 2B, Bowling Green Hot Rods (Tampa Bay Rays Single-A affiliate)
2016 stats: .279 AVG, .377 OBP, 2 HR, 27 RBI, 50 K, 34 BB
Skinny: Lowe tied a Bowling Green franchise record Saturday when he singled in the first inning, extending his hit streak to 17 games. Sunday, the streak, which started June 25, reached 18 contests as Lower has raised his batting average from .241 to .279. Lowe had multi-hit games in four of his seven games this week and hit his second home run of the season Friday.
Zach Morris, LHP, Lakewood BlueClaws (Philadelphia Phillies Single-A affiliate)
2016 stats: 4-1, 2.62 ERA, 38 K, 19 BB, 41 H, 44.2 IP
Skinny: Morris continues to impress out of the bullpen for Lakewood. He picked his fourth save of the season with a scoreless ninth inning against the Hickory Crawdads July 12. Three days later, he threw 3.1 scoreless innings, allowing two hits and striking out four against the Charleston RiverDogs. Since May 13, Morris has a 0.31 ERA over 29 innings.
Rob Galligan, LHP, Missoula Osprey (Arizona Diamondbacks Rookie Affiliate)
2016 stats: 0-0, 6.75 ERA, 5 K, 4 BB, 11 H, 9.1 IP
Skinny: Galligan pitched two innings this week. Friday against the Ogden Raptors, he retired all three batters he faced in six pitches. Then against the Idaho Falls Chukars Sunday, he countered one hit with a strikeout.