Baseball Bears Enjoying Successful Pro Careers

MACON, Ga. – The four members of the 2011 Mercer University baseball team who signed professional contracts are off to good starts in their respective professional careers.

In the Arizona Summer Rookie League, the Bears’ two representatives – Justice French and Joe Winker – are both having stellar campaigns thus far. French is a member of the Cincinnati Reds’ entry in the league, while Winker is playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers’ organization.

French currently sports the best earned run average – a sterling 2.78 – among any of the Reds’ players in their minor league affiliates. The Suwanee, Ga., native has a 3-2 record in 35.2 innings pitched.  Opponents are hitting a minuscule .245 against French and the 6-foot-4 right-hander has a team-leading 38 strikeouts, with just two walks in seven appearances (six starts). French’s WHIP (walks and hits per innings pitched) is a creditable 1.04.

In the Arizona League statistics, French ranks third in both total strikeouts and WHIP. He is also fifth in ERA and 11^th for innings pitched. French has by far the fewest walks (2) among any hurlers in the league (issuing a free pass once every 17 2/3 innings pitched).

Winker, who earned his team’s award as the “Player of the Month” in June, is currently batting .333 (which ranks third amongst all of the Dodgers’ minor leaguers). In 20 games played (78 at-bats), he has driven in 19 runs and has eight extra-base hits (five doubles, two triples and one homerun). He has a slugging percentage of .487 and has scored 15 runs.

Winker ranks 16^th in Arizona League batting averages and is 21^st for slugging percentage. He is tied for 20^th in the league for total RBI.

All-American thirdbaseman Jacob Tanis is honing his skills for the Oakland A’s affiliate in the Class A short season New York-Penn League, the Vermont Lake Monsters.  Tanis is hitting .239 and has appeared in 29 contests. He has 21 hits and 11 runs scored, while also driving in seven runs. He has four doubles and one homer among his hits, as well.

Right-handed relief pitcher J.T. Odom is playing for the Evansville Otters in the independent Frontier League. Odom has made a total of 14 appearances – all in relief – and has an ERA of 6.75 over his 9.1 innings of work. The St. Mary’s, Ga. product has 13 strikeouts and has walked just eight.