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Tommy Eveld: Let's start things off with the highest drafted player this year. After turning into a shutdown closer in his final year with the Bulls (2.21 ERA, nine saves, 67 strikeouts in only 53 innings) Eveld was drafted in the ninth round by the Arizona Diamondbacks. He was drafted on June 10, and on June 18 he made his professional debut for the Hillsboro Hops (aptly fitting for a Bay Made. Bay Stayed. Bay Played. kid) of the Short Season Northwest League. In his first game he went 1.2 IP, gave up two hits, a walk, one run and struck out one. After that bumpy appearance, Eveld would go on to throw 6.2 scoreless innings over six games, while allowing only two hits. He also recorded his first save as a pro on July 2 against the Boise Hawks.
2016 Stat Line: 9.2 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 7 K, 1.86 ERA, 0.83 WHIP
Brandon Lawson: Lawson became the ace of the Bulls rotation down the stretch in 2016, compiling a 2.50 ERA to go with 111 strikeouts in 101 innings. His 103 regular-season K's led the American conference in strikeouts. Lawson was drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 12th round and made his pro debut for the Hudson Valley Renegades in the Short Season New York-Penn League. In that game, he went two innings and gave up one hit and one unearned run without striking anyone out. In five games for the Renegades, he has yet to have a clean inning, giving up at least one hit in every outing. Because of errors (two of his own), his 2.25 ERA in 12 innings pitches looks a bit better than it should. Seven of his 13 inherited baserunners have scored, but only three were earned.
On the bright side, he has only walked one batter and has struck out 12. The Rays appear to see him as an eventual starting pitcher, but for now he's averaging a little over two innings an appearance and throwing every four or five days, piggybacking off the starter as a way to curtail the amount of innings he's thrown this year between college and pro ball.
2016 Stat Line: 12 IP, 12 H, 7 R(3 ER), 1 BB, 12 K, 2.25 ERA, 1.08 WHIP
Luke Maglich: Maglich finished his senior year with the Bulls on a down note when he took the collar at the conference tournament, but it picked up for him when the Philadelphia Phillies drafted him in the 34th round. Maglich made his debut for the Williamsport Crosscutters in the Short Season New York-Penn League on June 20 where he went 1-4 with a BB. His best game to date was on June 29 against the Tri-City ValleyCats when he went 2-3, scored two runs, and got his first home run and steal (a "combo meal" for you fantasy baseballers) of his professional career. He was on fire in June, slashing .333/.379/.481, but has cooled off rapidly in July with a meager .182/.321/.318. You never like seeing your OBP higher than your slugging percentage. He has played in 68 games this year between college (51) and professional (17) and he may just be wearing down from such a long year. He is still getting walks, which is always a good sign for a hitter in a cold streak.
2016 Stat Line: .265/.351/.408, 7 R, 2 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 9 RBI, 6 BB, 13 K's, 2 SB (5 att)