Alumni in the Pros

Hunter Renfroe│Mississippi State│Bethesda Big Train '11 '12

MLB Debut: 9/21/2016
Drafted: 2013 (Round 1, Overall Pick 13), San Diego Padres
Current team: San Diego Padres

Joe Harvey | Pittsburgh | Baltimore Redbirds ‘12

MLB Debut: 04/10/2019

Drafted: 2014 (19th round, Overall Pick 572), New York Yankees 

Current Team: Colorado Rockies 

After redshirting his freshman year at Pittsburgh, Joe Harvey went onto have a standout career at Pittsburgh, leading the Panthers in strikeouts in 2014 before being drafted in the 19th round by the New York Yankees the same year. 

Following an up and down season in 2012 at Pitt, Harvey continued to develop the following summer for the Redbirds. The following season, Harvey displayed immediate improvement, improving his ERA from 4.67 in 2012 to 3.27 in 2013, while also leading the Panthers in strikeouts. 

Since being drafted, Harvey has primarily featured in the minor leagues but did make his MLB debut in 2019 for the Yankees. Two months later, Harvey was traded to Colorado and has pitched eight innings for the Rockies, recording six strikeouts.

Matt Bowman | Princeton | Bethesda Big Train ‘10 ‘11 ‘12

MLB Debut: 4/06/2016

Drafted: 2012 (Round 13), New York Mets

Current Team: Cincinnati Reds 

Since being drafted in 2012, Matt Bowman has spent four seasons in the MLB, the first three with the Cardinals, but the most recent with the Reds. In 183 games, Bowman has a 4.02 ERA  4.02 and 149 strikeouts to his name. 

The former Princeton pitcher was a rare three-year Ripken League player, spending three consecutive summers with Big Train. Bowman was particularly dominant in 2011 and was named the league’s Most Outstanding Pitcher. 

After splitting time in 2019 between Triple-A and the Reds roster, Bowman will look to solidify his role on the Reds staff in 2020.

Chris Ellis | Mississippi | Baltimore Redbirds ‘12 

MLB Debut: 03/31/2019 

Drafted: 2014 (Round 3, Overall Pick 88), Los Angeles Angels 

Current Team: Free Agent 

As the second-highest player selected in the 2014 MLB draft from the Cal Ripken League, Chris Ellis has spent one season in the MLB so far in his career. Rated as the No. 2 prospect within the Angels organization at the time, Ellis was dealt to the St. Louis Cardinals in 2016. 

At Ole Miss, Ellis starred as the team’s ace in a national championship run and helped the Rebels finish No. 3 in the nation in 2014. Ellis was similarly dominant for the Redbirds in 2012, posting a 3-0 record and striking out 44 batters. 

In his professional career, Ellis has also enjoyed his best success in Mississippi, opening the 2016 season with six straight wins and an 8-2 overall record before getting called up to Triple-A Gwinnett Braves. After appearing in just one game with the Angels in 2019, Ellis was assigned to Triple-A before being released and is currently a free agent.

Trevor Kelley | North Carolina | Baltimore Redbirds ‘12 

MLB Debut: 07/02/2019

Drafted: 2015 (35th round), Boston Red Sox 

Current Team: Philadelphia Phillies 

Following his freshman season at North Carolina, Trevor Kelley joined the Baltimore Redbirds in the summer of 2012. Kelley was a key part of a talented pitching staff, which also included fellow major leaguer Joe Harvey. 

While Harvey was drafted in 2014 and working his way through the minor leagues, Kelley was enjoying the best season of his collegiate career. In 41 appearances for the Tar Heels that season, Kelley posted an ERA of just 2.55, striking out 99 batters in the process. 

After being selected by the Red Sox in 2015, Kelley spent the next three years in Single-A, but quickly shot up through Double and Triple-A the following two seasons, before eventually making his debut in 2019. Kelley appeared in 10 games for the Red Sox before being waived, though he was claimed off waivers by the Phillies, and was designated for Triple-A Lehigh Valley in February of 2020.

Mark Zagunis | Virginia Tech | Baltimore Redbirds ‘12

MLB Debut: 06/22/2017

Drafted: 2014 (Round 3, Overall Pick 78), Chicago Cubs 

Current Team: Chicago Cubs 

Drafted in 2014 out of Virginia Tech, Mark Zagunis has risen through the Cubs farm system and appeared in a career-high 30 MLB games in 2019. 

Zagunis shone in his one season for the Redbirds, and was named LCS MVP in the Redbirds championship-winning season in 2012. Zagunis was equally as impressive at Virginia Tech, twice named to the All-ACC second team and a freshman All-American. 

The former Hokie standout currently has 42 MLB appearances to his name and will look to stick with the Cubs major league roster for a full season in 2020.

Ben Lively | Central Florida | Youse’s Orioles ‘11

MLB Debut: 06/03/2017

Drafted: 2013 (Round 4, Overall Pick 135), Cincinnati Reds 

Current Team: Samsung Lions (KBO)

Since making his debut in 2017, Ben Lively has played for the Royals and Phillies in an MLB career that spanned three seasons. Drafted by the Reds in 2013, Lively steadily progressed through the minor leagues and was named the Reds’ top farm system player in 2014. 

Prior to his professional career, Lively starred at Central Florida, finishing his Knights career with a 21-8 record and an ERA of 3.06. Lively spent the 2011 summer with the Youse’s Orioles before spending the following summer in the Cape Cod Baseball League. 

In June 2019, Lively was traded to Arizona, but never featured for the Diamondbacks and was released several months later. Lively elected to sign with the Samsung Lions in the Korean Baseball Championship and re-upped with the Lions for the 2020 season.

Ryan Garton | Florida Atlantic | Maryland Redbirds ‘09, Bethesda Big Train ‘11

MLB Debut: 5/26/2016

Drafted: 2012 (Round 34), Tampa Bay Rays 

Current Team: Minnesota Twins 

Drafted in 2012, Ryan Garton consistently progressed through a loaded Rays farm system to make his MLB debut four years later in May of 2016. A two-time Ripken League player, Garton was named an All-Star in his 2011 season with Big Train. 

Though Garton made his big league debut with the Rays, his most extensive MLB action has come with the Mariners, after being traded to Seattle in August of 2017. In 59 MLB appearances, Garton has an ERA of 4.90 and 50 strikeouts. 

After electing free agency in October 2019, Garton was signed a month later by the Twins. 

Matt Wotherspoon | Pittsburgh | Baltimore Redbirds ‘11 

MLB Debut: 04/03/2019

Drafted: 2014 (Round 34), New York Yankees 

Current Team: Free Agent

Following five seasons in the minor leagues and nearly three at Triple-A level, Matt Wotherspoon made his debut for the Orioles in 2019. Originally drafted by the Yankees in 2014, Wotherspoon has made two appearances in his MLB career so far. 

In 2011 for the Redbirds, Wotherspoon was a strong contributor, starting nine games with a 3.69 ERA. Though he was drafted by the Cubs following his junior season at Pitt that saw him named as an All-ACC second-team member, Wotherspoon elected to return for his senior year, where he went on to lead the Panthers in starts and innings pitched. 

On November 4, 2019, Wotherspoon elected free agency and is currently unsigned going into the 2020 MLB season. 

Cody Allen | High Point | Bethesda Big Train ‘08, ‘10

MLB Debut: 7/20/2012

Drafted: 2011 (Round 23), Cleveland Indians 

Current Team: Texas Rangers

Since making his MLB debut with the Indians in 2012, Cody Allen has gone onto play 481 games, the vast majority with the Indians but also with the Angels in 2019. Allen ascended through Cleveland’s farm system in just a year after being drafted to make his MLB debut. 

But Allen’s rapid ascent revealed how highly Cleveland thought of him, as the Indians had originally drafted the reliever in the 2010 draft, shortly after Allen completed his second season with Big Train. Allen’s breakthrough season in the majors came in 2013, as Allen posted an ERA of 2.43 to go along with 88 strikeouts in just over 70 innings pitched. 

After appearing in 25 games with the Angels in 2019, Allen was signed as a free agent by the Rangers in February of 2020.

Joe Mantiply | Virginia Tech | Bethesda Big Train ‘10

MLB Debut: 09/03/2016

Drafted: 2013 (Round 27), Detroit Tigers 

Current Team: Arizona Diamondbacks 

Currently with his third club since being drafted in 2013, Joe Mantiply has had several stints playing in the MLB. After spending three years working through the Tigers’ farm system, Mantiply made his MLB debut in 2016. 

Prior to being drafted by the Tigers in 2013, Mantiply had actually been selected in two separate MLB drafts; once by the Mets in the 48th round of the 2013 draft and again by the Phillies in the 2012 draft. On both occasions Mantiply declined to sign a contract, instead returning to Virginia Tech. In his lone season in the Cal Ripken League, Mantiply was a key member of the Big Train rotation, posting one complete game to go along with 24 strikeouts.

After making one appearance in 2019 for the Yankees, Mantiply will look to earn a chance to crack the Diamondbacks rotation in 2020.

Oliver Drake | United States Naval Academy | Youse’s Orioles ‘08

MLB Debut: 05/23/2015

Drafted: 2008 (Round 43, Overall Pick 1286), Baltimore Orioles 

Current Team: Tampa Bay Rays 

Following a standout career at the United States Naval Academy, Oliver Drake took a unique route to the MLB after being drafted in 2008. Though Drake played at every level of the minor leagues, it was in the International League where Drake excelled and was named to the International League midseason and postseason All-Star teams, before ultimately being called up by the Orioles in 2015. 

Drake pitched for just two seasons for the Midshipmen and went 6-3 with a 3.7 ERA as a sophomore to follow up a strong freshman campaign. Between his two years at the Naval Academy, Drake played for the Youse's Orioles in the summer of 2008. 

Drake has bounced around the MLB for much of his career, featuring for seven teams in his career, and is currently in his second stint with the Rays. His best season in the MLB thus far may have been in 2019, as Drake appeared in 50 games and held a 5-2 record with a 3.21 ERA.

Justin Bour | George Mason | Youse's Orioles ‘06 ‘07

MLB Debut: 06/05/2014

Drafted: 2009 (Round 25), Chicago Cubs 

Current Team: Hanshin Tigers (NPB)  

Drafted in 2009, Justin Bour has played eight seasons in the MLB, primarily for the Miami Marlins, the team he made his debut for in 2014. After spending the first five years of his career working his way through the Chicago Cubs minor league affiliates, Bour was acquired by the Marlins on March 1, 2014, and appeared in 39 games that season. 

Bour featured prominently over the next four years with Miami, hitting 19 or more home runs in three of the four seasons. In 2017, Bour had his best MLB season with 25 home runs and 83 RBIs, while also appearing in the home run derby. 

At George Mason, Bour set several program records, including hitting two grand slams in a game and recording the most putouts in program history. Playing for the Youse's Orioles in 2006, Bour was named an All-Star for his solid hitting contributions, posting a .331 batting average and knocking in 23 RBIs. 

After one season with the Los Angeles Angels in 2018, Bour elected free agency and a month later signed with the Hanshin Tigers of the NPB in Japan, where he currently plays 1B.

Joe Smith│Wright State│Rockville Express '05

MLB Debut: 4/1/2007
Drafted: 2006 (Round 3, Overall Pick 94), New York Mets
Current team: Toronto Blue Jays

Smith has made quite a name for himself as an MLB reliever, entering his eleventh major league season. Over his career, Smith has pitched for the New York Mets, Cleveland Indians, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Chicago Cubs, and Toronto Blue Jays--the team for which he currently pitches. 

In his first big-league season (2007), the Rockville Express alum went 3-2 with a 3.45 ERA out of the bullpen for the Mets. He appeared in 54 games, striking out 45 batters in 44.1 innings-pitched. Smith allowed just three home runs.

Smith's best season came with the Angels in 2014--a season in which he pitched to a 7-2 record and a 1.81 ERA, leading his team to the playoffs and the best record in the American League. In 74.2 IP that season, Smith allowed just 15 ER on 45 hits, while striking out 68 batters, the highest strikeout total of his career. Smith even recorded 15 saves that season. 

At the trade deadline of 2016, Smith was acquired by the Chicago Cubs in a deal that sent a minor leaguer to the Angels. Smith made 16 appearances for Chicago in the 2016 regular season in which he pitched to a 2.51 ERA and was a part of the Cubs' World Series-winning squad, yet did not make any appearances in the postseason. At the conclusion of the 2016 campaign, Smith was granted free agency. 

On February 9, 2017, Smith signed a deal with the Toronto Blue Jays, where he currently pitches as a set up man in the Jays bullpen. So far in 2017, Smith has put up impressive numbers, going 2-0 with a sub-3 ERA. He is on pace to set a career-high in strikeouts as he has already struck out 42 hitters in less than 30 IP.  

Brett Cecil │Maryland│Silver Spring-Takoma T-Bolts '05

MLB Debut: 5/5/2009
Drafted: 2007 (Round 1-S, Overall Pick 38), Toronto Blue Jays
Current team: St. Louis Cardinals

Baseball America's top pitching prospect in the Toronto Blue Jays farm system and the #17 overall prospect in the Eastern League, Cecil rose quickly through the Minor League ranks in 2008. After making four starts and posting a 1.74 ERA with the Dunedin Blue Jays of the Class-A Florida State League, Cecil joined former Maryland Terrapins teammate and fellow Ripken, Sr. League alum Seth Overbey and the New Hampshire Fisher Cats of the Class-AA Eastern League. Cecil went 6-2, 2.55 in 18 starts for the Fisher Cats, while striking out 87 batters in 77.2 innings. He was then promoted to the Syracuse Chiefs of the Class-AAA International League, where he went 2-3, 4.11 in six starts with 31 strikeouts in 30.2 innings. Overall, Cecil went 8-5, 2.88 in 28 starts in 2008. He struck out a combined 129 batters in 118.2 innings-pitched and allowed just 41 walks. Opponents hit a combined .225 off of him in 2008. Baseball America projected Cecil as the Jays' fourth starter in 2012 and called his slider the best among prospects in the organization.

Cecil made his Major League Debut on May 5, 2009 when he started for the Toronto Blue Jays against the Cleveland Indians. Cecil tied a club-record by striking out six batters in his debut. He allowed two runs on six hits and no walks as he pitched to a no-decision. Cecil finished the season 7-4, 5.30 in 17 starts and one appearance out of the bullpen. He struck out 69 batters in 93.1 innings and allowed 59 runs (55 earned) on 116 hits and 38 walks. 

Over his nine-year major league career, Brett Cecil has become a household name. Coming up in the Blue Jays minor league system and in his first few years as a big leaguer, Cecil was a mainstay in his team's rotation. That changed at the end of the 2012 campaign when manager Cito Gaston made the decision to move Cecil to the bullpen after some struggles as a starter--and oh, did that decision ever pay off. As a reliever in 2013, Cecil went 5-1 with a 2.82 ERA in 60 games for the Jays, achieving an all-star game nod in the process--Cecil's lone all-star appearance to date. Although he has not received all-star honors since, the Maryland native has continued to pitch well, recording an even 3.00 ERA since 2013.  

At the conclusion of the 2016 season, Cecil was granted free agency and on November 21, 2016, the St. Louis Cardinals signed Brett Cecil. This was Cecil's first new organization since being drafted and his first NL squad. So far in 28 games for St. Louis in 2017, Cecil is 0-1 with a 4.05 ERA. He has struck out 21 and walked ten, while only giving up three home runs.

Brian Dozier│University of Southern Mississippi│ Bethesda Big Train '06

MLB Debut: 5/7/12
Drafted: 2009 (Round 8, Overall Pick 252), Minnesota Twins
Current team: Minnesota Twins

In his rookie year for the Twins, the Big Train alum batted .244/.312/.414 while hitting 18 home runs and driving in 66. In addition, he was one of the recipients of the Wilson Defensive Player of the Year award for second basemen, along with names like Dustin Pedroia and Robinson Cano.  

In 2015, Dozier was named to his first all-star game, playing along side fellow AL all-star 2B such as Jason Kipnis and Jose Altuve. Dozier finished 2015 batting .236/.307/.444 with 27 home runs and 88 RBIs. He also finished with a sparkling .990 fielding percentage, committing only 8 errors on the season. Dozier finished 28th in AL MVP voting. 

2016 was Dozier's best season statistically as he batted .268/.340/.546 while hitting 42 home runs and driving in 99. Dozier's 42 homers were tied for third in the AL. Dozier finished 13th in AL MVP voting in 2016.