A look at local, area baseball players in pro ball

Since the 2014 season ended, the Metro lost a couple of professional baseball players.

Former Linn-Mar prep and University of Iowa pitcher was released by the Tampa Bay Rays. He pitched all of last season in the Midwest League for the Bowling Green Hot Rods.

Additionally, former Cedar Rapids Washington prep Dakota Freese was released toward the end of spring training by the Oakland Athletics. The pitcher signed with the A's as a 12th-round draft pick in 2013 from Des Moines Area Community College but never threw a single professional pitch because of injury.

Speaking of injury, former West Delaware prep B.J. Hermsen recently had Tommy John elbow-ligament replacement surgery and will miss the entire 2015 season. The Minnesota Twins farmhand was injured in spring training.

Outfielder Ryan Sweeney, a former Cedar Rapids Xavier prep, is still looking for employment after being released at the end of spring training by the Chicago Cubs. He is still owed $2 million by the Cubs.

Below is a list of guys from the Metro, the area and University of Iowa who are in affiliated professional baseball to begin the 2015 season:

- Chad Christensen (Cedar Rapids Washington) – Outfielder and 2014 Cedar Rapids Kernel has played in nine games for high-A Fort Myers (Twins), hitting .219 (7 for 32) with two doubles and five RBIs.

- Jon Keller (Cedar Rapids Xavier) – Relief pitcher is with the Frederick Keys (Orioles) of the high-A Carolina League and is 0-1 with a 3.38 earned run average in five games. He has allowed five hits in 5 1/3 innings and struck out three.

- Mitch Keller (Cedar Rapids Xavier) – Pitcher, and brother of Jon Keller, is in extended minor-league spring training for the Pittsburgh Pirates, who drafted him in the second round last summer.

- Sasha Kuebel (University of Iowa) – Pitcher is in extended spring training with the St. Louis Cardinals. Played for two Rookie clubs last season and is likely to be assigned to that level again.

- Colin Rea (Cascade) – Pitcher has made two starts for Double-A San Antonio (Padres). Is 0-1 with 1.32 ERA. Has allowed 12 hits in 13 2/3 innings, walked none and struck out 13.

- Scott Schebler (Cedar Rapids Prairie) – Outfielder has played in eight games for Triple-A Oklahoma City (Dodgers), going 4 for 30 (.133) with a double and three RBIs. Also has struck out 10 times.

- Jake Yacinich (University of Iowa) – Shortstop and former West Des Moines Dowling prep is with the Burlington Bees (Angels) of the Midwest League. Is 9 for 33 in eight games (.273), with three doubles and six RBIs.

- Taylor Zeutenhorst (University of Iowa) – Outfielder from Iowa Falls is in extended spring training with the Seattle Mariners. Likely to be assigned to a Rookie-level club when that season begins.

l Comments: (319) 398-8259; jeff.johnson@thegazette.com