Tracking former Southern Arizona & Arizona Wildcats baseball players in the pros

By Javier Morales

Posted on June 9, 2024

LOCAL BASEBALL PLAYERS IN THE PROS

Listing of local baseball players either from high school, Pima or Arizona currently playing in pro baseball. College players not from Southern Arizona high schools are listed who played at Pima College or completed their careers at Arizona.
*Barraza, Sahuarita graduate
*Romero, CDO graduate
*Salazar, Sahuaro graduate

Player	Pos	Sch	Yrs	Team	Lvl	Org
Nate Baez	1B	IRHS	16-19	Cedar Rapids	A+	MIN
Branden Boissiere	1B	UA	19-21	Wilmington	A+	WAS
Tony Bullard	3B	UA	20-23	Beloit	A+	MIA
Alex Bustamante	P	CDO	16-18	Tampa	A	NYY
Clark Candiotti	P	UA	24	ACL Padres	RK	SD
Demetrio Crisantes	SS	Nogales	19-22	Visalia	A	ARI
Bobby Dalbec	1B	UA	14-16	Boston	AAA	BOS
Chase Davis	OF	UA	21-23	Springfield	AA	STL
Jose Dicochea	P	Sahuarita	16-19	Stockton	A	OAK
Matthew Dyer	C	UA	19-20	Montgomery	AA	TB
German Fajardo	P	Nogales	16-19	Modesto	A	SEA
Michael Flynn	P	UA	16-18	Durham	AAA	TB
Matt Fraizer	OF	UA	17-19	Altoona	AA	PIT
Kevin Ginkel	P	UA	16	Arizona	MLB	ARI
Nick Gonzales	INF	Cienega	14-17	Pittsburgh	MLB	PIT
Darick Hall	1B	Buena	11-13	Lehigh Valley	AAA	PHI
Garrett Irvin	P	UA	20-22	Lansing	A+	OAK
Kobe Kato	2B	UA	19-21	Tacoma	AAA	SEA
Jackson Kent	P	UA	23-24	FCL Nationals	RK	WAS
Scott Kingery	2B	UA	13-15	Lehigh Valley	AAA	PHI
Randy Labaut	P	UA	17-19	Columbus	AAA	CLE
Trevor Long	P	UA	21-24	Modesto	A	SEA
Gil Luna	P	UA	18-21	Birmingham	AA	CHW
Aiden May	P	Pima	22	FCL Marlins	RK	MIA
Nik McClaughry	2B	UA	20-23	Fort Wayne	A+	SD
Cade McGee	INF	Salpointe	18-21	Palm Beach	A	STL
Tylor Megill	P	UA	17-19	NY Mets	MLB	NYM
Ian Mejia	P	Sahuarita	16-19	Mississippi	AA	ATL
Andrew Nardi	P	UA	19	Miami	MLB	MIA
Kevin Newman	SS	UA	13-15	Arizona	MLB	ARI
Jared Oliva	OF	UA	15-17	Arkansas	AA	SEA
Spencer Packard	OF	CDO	13-16	Tacoma	AAA	SEA
Rob Refsnyder	OF	UA	10-12	Boston	MLB	BOS
Alfonso Rivas	1B	UA	16-18	Memphis	AAA	STL
Kiko Romero	1B	UA*	23	Somerset	AA	NYY
Milo Rushford	CF	WGHS	19-22	ACL Royals	RK	KC
César Salazar	C	UA*	16-18	Houston	MLB	HOU
Chase Silseth	P	UA	21	Salt Lake	AAA	LAA
Austin Smith	P	UA	21	Rome	A+	ATL
Kevin Stevens	P	Cienega	13-16	Somerset	AA	NYY
Cal Stevenson	OF	UA	17-18	Philadelphia	MLB	PHI
Anthony Susac	P	UA	22-24	Down East	A	TEX
Daniel Susac	C	UA	21-22	Midland	AA	OAK
Alex Verdugo	OF	Sahuaro	11-14	NY Yankees	MLB	NYY
Cam Walty	P	UA	21-24	TBD	TBD	CLE
Avery Weems	P	UA	18-19	Round Rock	AAA	TEX
Austin Wells	C	UA	19-20	NY Yankees	MLB	NYY

NOTE: This is a compilation of stats involving players from Southern Arizona in MLB-sanctioned leagues (MLB and minor leagues). The list does not include players in foreign leagues or independent leagues in the US.

CHANGES FROM LAST YEAR

*After reaching the Triple-A level with the Boston Red Sox last season, former Arizona left-hander Rio Gomez is pitching in China this summer (Wei Chuan Dragons)*

— INF Cam Cannon (Arizona) went from Double-A Philadelphia Phillies to the Kansas City Monarchs of the American Association Independent League.

— LHP Rio Gomez (Arizona) went from Triple-A Boston Red Sox to the Chinese Professional League (Wei Chuan Dragons).

— OF Luis Gonzalez (Catalina Foothills) was at Triple-A San Francisco Giants last year and was released earlier this season by Yankees at Triple-A level.

— INF Kobe Kato (Arizona) went from Double-A Houston Astros to York (Pa.) of Atlantic Independent League.

*Former Arizona standout JJ Matijevic is now with the Chihuahua Dorados of the Mexican League (Dorados photo)*

— 1B J.J. Matijevic (Arizona) went from Triple-A Astros to Chihuahua of the Mexican League.

— RHP Marcel Renteria (Nogales/Pima) went from Double-A New York Mets to being a free agent after undergoing Tommy John surgery.

— 3B Nick Quintana (Arizona) retired after suffering injury problems at Double-A Cincinnati Reds.

— 3B Brandon Dixon (Arizona) retired after playing with the San Diego Padres and at the Triple-A level with the Padres.

— RHP Andre Jackson (Cienega) went from the Pittsburgh Pirates to the Yokama Bay Stars of the Japanese Baseball League

RECENT TRANSACTIONS (LAST 14 DAYS)

Thursday, June 6
Branden Boissiere – IL-60 Injured/arm (Washington Nationals)

Tuesday, June 4
Matthew Dyer – Assigned to Montgomery Biscuits (AA) (Tampa Bay Rays)
Milo Rushford – Assigned to ACL Royals (Rk) (Kansas City Royals)
Donta’ Williams – Assigned to Norfolk Tides (AAA) (Baltimore Orioles)

Sunday, June 2
Tony Bullard – Assigned to Beloit Sky Carp (A+) (Miami Marlins)
Bobby Dalbec – Recalled from from Worcester Red Sox (AAA) (Boston Red Sox)

Friday, May 31
Chase Silseth – Assigned to ACL Angels (Rk) for rehab (elbow) (Los Angeles Angels)

Thursday, May 30
Austin Smith – Activated from injured list (arm) (Atlanta Braves)

Wednesday, May 29
Matthew Dyer – Assigned to Durham Bulls (AAA) (Tampa Bay Rays)

Tuesday, May 28
Branden Boissiere – IL-7 Injured (Washington Nationals)

Nick Gonzales just keeps on hitting

He's 2-3 today, and is now batting .316 with a .862 OPS this season

95.3 MPH exit velocity, .910 xBA pic.twitter.com/U8i4VDPTEP

— Platinum Ke’Bryan (@PlatinumKey13) June 9, 2024

Scott Kingery hit 2 home runs last night for Triple A Lehigh Valley. He now has 13 on the season with 30 RBI#FreeScottKingery #JETPAXSZN | #RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/aNNQG4FWd2

— The Liberty Line (@LibertyLinePHL) June 5, 2024

LOCAL BATTERS IN THE PROS

Through games of Sept. 22
*Injuries
Dyer (60-day/undisclosed)
Packard (7-day/leg)
Refsnyder (10-day/forearm)

Player	Team	Lvl	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	AVG
Baez	MIN	A+	82	276	38	66	10	2	12	32	0	.239
Boissiere	WAS	A+	48	163	19	34	5	0	3	23	0	.209
Bullard	MIA	A+	47	153	12	46	11	0	1	22	4	.301
Crisantes	ARI	A	63	249	58	83	16	1	6	40	20	.333
Dalbec	BOS	AAA	97	361	68	91	20	1	20	68	11	.252
Davis	STL	AA	8	28	3	7	2	0	1	4	3	.250
*Dyer	TB	AA	39	118	17	25	6	2	1	9	5	.212
Fraizer	PIT	AA	56	192	25	46	7	1	5	21	10	.240
Gonzales	PIT	MLB	89	342	38	92	18	3	5	47	5	.269
Hall	PHI	AAA	114	432	50	102	17	0	16	72	2	.236
Kato	SEA	AAA	16	59	16	21	6	1	0	13	6	.356
Kingery	PHI	AAA	125	463	73	124	17	5	25	67	25	.268
McClaughry	SD	A+	83	255	31	38	10	2	1	18	5	.149
McGee	STL	A	20	66	8	13	1	0	1	8	1	.197
Newman	ARI	MLB	108	284	41	80	17	1	3	28	8	.282
Oliva	SEA	AA	69	214	45	63	7	4	7	40	37	.294
*Packard	SEA	AAA	40	154	24	43	15	0	2	28	0	.279
*Refsnyder	BOS	MLB	93	272	32	77	16	1	11	40	2	.283
Rivas	STL	AAA	96	315	51	72	21	2	3	38	1	.229
Romero	NYY	AA	3	10	1	2	0	0	1	4	0	.200
Rushford	KC	RK	16	52	10	10	0	2	1	4	6	.192
Salazar	HOU	MLB	11	24	5	8	2	0	0	8	0	.333
Stevenson	PHI	MLB	18	24	2	6	3	0	0	6	0	250
Susac	OAK	AA	88	343	39	88	19	3	12	50	7	.257
Verdugo	NYY	MLB	145	546	72	127	28	1	12	58	1	.233
Wells	NYY	MLB	110	339	39	81	18	1	13	54	1	.239

Ian Mejia (@Braves) tosses ANOTHER seven scoreless innings in his first @mbraves start since spinning a no-hitter. pic.twitter.com/fJ1k8lp5D2

— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) May 31, 2024

LOCAL PITCHERS IN THE PROS

Through games of Sept. 22
*Injuries
Bustamante (60-day/arm)
Silseth (7-day/elbow)
Stevens (60-day/arm)
Nardi (60-day/elbow)

Player	Team	Lvl	W-L	G	GS	SV	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	ERA
*Bustamante	NYY	A	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.00
Candiotti	SD	RK	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Dicochea	OAK	A	3-6	22	14	1	78.1	75	50	40	42	84	4.54
Fajardo	SEA	A	3-2	35	0	0	65.1	61	48	37	41	73	5.10
Flynn	TB	AAA	0-0	6	0	0	5.2	6	4	4	4	9	6.35
Ginkel	ARI	MLB	8-3	69	0	5	67.2	66	31	25	15	73	3.33
Irvin	OAK	A+	3-2	35	0	1	38.1	45	30	26	25	43	5.95
Kent	WAS	RK	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Labaut	CLE	AAA	3-6	36	3	1	61	57	38	31	43	52	4.57
Long	SEA	A	1-0	9	0	1	8.1	3	1	1	3	8	1.08
Luna	CHW	AA	4-3	42	0	3	45	29	20	14	46	48	2.80
May	MIA	RK	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Megill	NYM	MLB	4-5	15	14	0	71.1	62	36	32	30	83	3.98
Mejia	ATL	AA	8-7	24	23	1	124.1	108	55	48	56	123	3.47
*Nardi	MIA	MLB	3-2	59	0	0	49.2	44	29	28	18	70	5.07
*Silseth	LAA	AAA	0-3	7	7	0	28.1	33	21	20	18	16	6.35
Smith	ATL	A+	0-1	6	0	1	6.2	7	4	3	4	8	4.05
*Stevens	NYY	AA	4-0	31	0	7	39	29	11	11	16	56	2.54
Susac	TEX	A	1-0	8	0	0	9.1	6	1	0	6	12	0.00
Walty	CLE	RK	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Weems	TEX	AAA	0-2	4	1	0	4.1	5	4	4	2	3	8.31

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ALLSPORTSTUCSON.com publisher, writer and editor Javier Morales is a former Arizona Press Club award winner. He is a former Arizona Daily Star beat reporter for the Arizona basketball team, including when the Wildcats won the 1996-97 NCAA title. He has also written articles for CollegeAD.com, Bleacher Report, Lindy’s Sports, TucsonCitizen.com, The Arizona Republic, Sporting News and Baseball America, among many other publications. He has also authored the book “The Highest Form of Living”, which is available at Amazon. He became an educator five years ago and is presently a special education teacher at Sunnyside High School in the Sunnyside Unified School District.