Down On The Farm: Teague Shines In First Season

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Within the last month, both Blake Parker and Andrew Benintendi have been called up to the major leagues, giving the Razorbacks 11 former players that are currently on major league rosters or have appeared in an MLB game this season.

Both Parker and Benintendi were named all-stars of their respective leagues earlier this summer, two of six former Razorbacks to share in that honor. Two other minor league all-stars, Ryne Stanek and D.J. Baxendale, are now one step up away from the Big Show, currently playing in Triple-A.

Stanek and Baxendale are two of five former Razorbacks in Triple-A and two of 20 players currently on minor league rosters overall. Mike Bolsinger is another former Razorback in the Triple-A ranks, now of the Buffalo Bisons, as he was part of a trade deadline deal that sent him from the Los Angeles Dodgers to the Toronto Blue Jays.

Complete Minor League #ProHogs Listing

#ProHogs Minor League Player of the Week – James Teague

The final of six Arkansas players selected in the 2016 MLB First-Year Player Draft, James Teague has made quite the first impression with his new club. Less than two months after his selection in the 37th-round by the Baltimore Orioles, he’s already moved up from Rookie League to Aberdeen in Class-A Short Season.

In 11 appearances with the GCL Orioles, he posted a 3-1 record with a 2.50 earned run average in 18.0 innings. He also struck out 19 batters and limited hitters to a .191 batting average. Since his promotion, he has been even better. He has allowed just two hits with a walk while striking out seven in 6.0 innings over his first three appearances.

Baxendale Continues To Dominate In Triple-A

Another Southern League All-Star in Double-A, D.J. Baxendale continue to roll on the mound. Since his promotion to Triple-A Rochester, he has posted a 1.38 earned run average in 26.0 innings. He did not allow a hit until his fifth appearance and did not allow a run until his 11^th appearance, posting a hitless streak of 6.0 innings and a shutout streak of 12.1 innings. In all, he has allowed a run in just two of his 19 appearances.

D.J. Baxendale (@Dbax24) worked 2.0 scoreless IP for @RocRedWings tonight. 1 H 2 K ERA at 1.38

I’d be getting him to #MNTwins in September

— Ted (@tlschwerz) August 19, 2016

Who’s Next? – Barrett Astin

A Southern League All-Star for the Pensacola Blue Wahoos in Double-A, Barrett Astin may be the next former Razorback to rise through the minor league ranks. Selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the third round of the 2013 draft, Astin has taken a huge step forward from last year, when he split time between Single-A advanced and Double-A.

Continuing to split time as both a starter and a reliever, with eight starts in 33 appearances, he has posted a 7-3 record with a 2.60 earned run average. He also has 75 strikeouts compared to just 23 walks.

One of his best performances of the season came as a starter on July 31 against Montgomery, as he allowed two hits and two walks while striking out a season-high eight during six scoreless innings. He retired his last 10 batters faced and threw 52 of 78 pitches for strikes. READ MORE about Astin’s outing.