Local, area, former Iowa Hawkeyes players in the minor leagues

The list of local and former University of Iowa baseball players in the minor leagues has been shortened this season by five.

Former Hawkeyes Taylor Zeutenhorst, Justin Toole and Nick Hibbing are no longer in professional baseball. Outfielder Zeutenhorst was released in the offseason by the Seattle Mariners, Toole became a free agent after last season and was not signed by anyone, and Hibbing announced his retirement from the Pittsburgh Pirates organization in mid-March.

He was a 16th-round draft pick of the Pirates just last June.

The other two guys off the list are pitcher Colin Rea and outfielder Scott Schebler, both of whom are with major league teams. Cascade native Rea has no record and a 12.46 earned run average in two games, one start, allowing seven hits, five walks and six earned runs in 4 1/3 innings.

Schebler, the former Cedar Rapids Prairie prep, had a good first week as an outfielder with the Cincinnati Reds. He had a walk-off double in a Cincy win Wednesday night against Philadelphia and is 4 for 13 (.308) in four games, including three doubles and three RBIs.

Chad Christensen — The former Cedar Rapids Washington prep is back with Fort Myers of the high-A Florida State League for a second year in a row. The Minnesota Twins minor leaguer hit .257 in 114 games last season for the Miracle.

Matt Dermody — Former Iowa Hawkeye has returned to high-A Dunedin (Blue Jays) of the Florida State League. He went 4-1 with a save and 4.21 earned run average in a full season there in 2015.

Jon Keller — Former Cedar Rapids Xavier prep is pitching for the Bowie Baysox of the Eastern League. Bowie is the Double-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles.

Mitch Keller — Former Cedar Rapids Xavier prep and 2014 second-round draft pick of the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2014, has been assigned to pitch for the West Virginia Power of the low-Class A South Atlantic League.

Sasha Kuebel — Pitching for low-Class A Peoria Chiefs of the Midwest League. Former University of Iowa Hawkeye is in third season in St. Louis Cardinals farm system.

Derrick Loveless — Outfielder from Solon is beginning the season back with the high-Class A Dunedin Blue Jays of the Florida State League. He hit .216 in 118 games there last season.

Eric Toole — Former Iowa Hawkeye outfielder is in extended spring training with the Colorado Rockies and likely will be assigned to a Rookie-level club when those half-seasons begin in June.

Jake Yacinich — The infielder and former Iowa Hawkeye is in Los Angeles Angels extended spring training, recovering from offseason surgery on his rotator cuff. He played season for low-Class A Burlington (Midwest League) and high-A Inland Empire (California League).

Kris Goodman — Former University of Iowa infielder is with the Greensboro Grasshoppers, low-Class A affiliate of the Miami Marlins.