Currently, there is one former Duke baseball player in the big leagues. That is left-handed pitcher Chris Capuano, who has been a pleasant surprise for the LA Dodgers. Despite not being picked for the All-Star Game in Kansas City next week, he is putting up all-star caliber numbers. In 17 starts for the Dodgers, Capuano is 9-3 with a 2.62 ERA (which is eighth in the National League). In 106.1 innings, he has struck out 95 and opponents are hitting just .222 against him.
Right-handed reliever Greg Burke was just days away from being named an Eastern League All-Star when he was promoted to Triple-A. The Gloucester Catholic grad (I had to throw that in there because I graduated a year ahead of him), had 14 saves and a 1.53 ERA for Double-A Bowie (Baltimore Orioles) at the time of his promotion. In 29.1 innings, he struck out 20 compared to just four walks. Burke has made five appearances with Norfolk, with two of his last three outings being scoreless (with seven strikeouts).
Outfielder Alex Hassan has struggled a bit this season with Triple-A Pawtucket (Boston Red Sox), but raised his average after a .300 month of June. He continues to walk (43 times in 245 at-bats). Hassan thrives with runners on base (.304) and he hits even better with runners in scoring position (.329).
Right-handed reliever Dennis O’Grady began the season in the California League, but his last nine appearances came in the Midwest League with Fort Wayne (San Diego Padres). He struck out 21 in 20.2 innings.
Lefty Chris Manno has been pitching out of the bullpen for Double-A Pensacola (Cincinnati Reds) all season. In 27 games (29.2 innings), he has a 3.34 ERA with 29 strikeouts. Manno has allowed just one homerun this season. Left-handed hitters are hitting just .184 against him.
Shortstop Jake Lemmerman has been playing for Double-A Chattanooga (Dodgers) all season. He is hitting .259 in 66 games. He has 16 doubles, 29 runs scored, and 23 RBIs. Lemmerman has struggled in the 12 games after the All-Star break (.205) and at home (.250).
First baseman Nathan Freiman was a Texas League All-Star, as he is a member of Double-A San Antonio (Padres). He leads the league in RBIs (66) and is tied for second in homeruns (17). Freiman is hitting .284 with 19 doubles and 43 runs scored.
First baseman Jim Gallagher has had an up-and-down season thus far. He has recently been promoted to Triple-A Charlotte (where he started the season) after hitting .295 in 11 games in Double-A (Chicago White Sox). For Charlotte, he is hitting just .216 with no homeruns and only 18 RBIs in 58 games (two games since his promotion).
Catcher Ryan McCurdy had hit just .217 with Double-A Corpus Christi (Houston Astros). In 27 games, he has struck out just four times, compared to seven walks in 69 at-bats. He had not played since June 21st, until joining Lexington in the South Atlantic League (one game).
Lefty Jeremy Gould made one appearance in the NY-Penn League before moving up to Low-A Savannah. In four appearances with the Sand Gnats, he allowed six runs (four earned) on five hits over 5.2 innings. He recently went on the DL.
Right-hander Mike Ness is starting for Newark in the Cam-Am League (independent league). In nine starts, he is 5-1 with a 3.39 ERA. In 61 innings, he has struck out 37. In Ness‘ last two starts, he has gone eight innings in each.
All stats are as of July 4th.
