Local Sports
Road to majors is long for six local baseball players
By Michael A. CummingsIt’s a long road to the majors — a lesson a half dozen professional baseball players with local ties are learning this season.
Six players with local connections are currently plying their trade in the minor leagues this season: Cullman High’s Caleb Clay and Wallace State’s Craig Kimbrel, Zealous Wheeler, Jake Elmore, Ryan Keedy and Graham Godfrey. A seventh, former West Point High star Blake Mechaw, was selected by the Baltimore Orioles in Major League Baseball’s amateur draft this season.
Clay has a 2-3 record with a 3.67 ERA this season in 12 appearances — four starts — for the Greenville Drive of the Class A South Atlantic League. Clay is in his third season with the Boston Red Sox organization.
Kimbrel, who was selected by the Atlanta Braves in last year’s draft, has found success in the South Atlantic League with the Rome Braves after a rocky start to the season in Myrtle Beach.
The first-year pro has recorded a 0.90 ERA in 20 innings pitched at Rome while striking out 38 and walking only six. Earlier this season, Kimbrel struggled in Class A-Advanced, posting a 10.97 ERA in 10 2-3 innings with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans.
“Craig is pitching great now,” said Wallace coach Randy Putman. “I talked to a scout with the Atlanta Braves tuesday, and they’re ecstatic about him. He might have a chance to move up to Double-A.”
Godfrey, a right-hander who went on to play at the College of Charleston after his career with Wallace, has started 14 games this season for the Midland Rock Hounds of the Double-A Texas League. Godfrey has a 3.26 ERA with one complete game.
“He’s got a chance to move up to Triple-A this year,” said Putman. “He started off a little slow … but he’s pitching really well now.”
Wallace also has three position players in the minor leagues. Keedy, a first baseman with the Class A Daytona Cubs, is hitting .231 in 78 bats in the Florida State League.
Wheeler, whose brother, Brian, now plays at Wallace State, has a .234 average with five homers and 31 RBIs with the Class A-Advanced Brevard County Manatees.
Elmore is batting .219 with three homers and 24 RBIs with the Class A South Bend Silver Hawks.
“Their numbers are not where they were last year, and it’s hard to figure out why because they’re all good hitters,” said Putman.
Michael Cummings can be reached by e-mail at michaelc@cullmantimes.com or by telephone at 734-2131, ext. 258.
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