Rea continues to excel, list of pro baseball players grows

CEDAR RAPIDS – The list of former local, area and University of Iowa players in professional baseball has grown. There are 13 guys playing in the minor leagues right now, as Rookie-level seasons have begun.

At the top of the class continues to be Colin Rea. The former Cascade prep and University of Northern iowa pitcher was picked last week to take part in the Major League Baseball Futures Game, July 12 at Cincinnati's Great American Ball Park.

How great has this breakout season been for the 25-year-old right hander? He has made 11 starts this season for Double-A San Antonio (Padres) and has 1.01 earned run average.

Rea has thrown 68 innings and allowed but 44 hits. Since coming off the disabled list recently, he has made three starts and hasn't allowed a run in 16 innings.

'He has really come along,” San Diego Padres Manager Pat Murphy told the San Diego Union-Tribune. 'When I saw him in spring training, I thought ‘Wow, there's a talent.' He's an exciting prospect.”

Rea was a 12th-round draft pick of the Padres in 2011 out of Indiana State and pitched for Fort Wayne of the Midwest League in 2013. His stuff has spiked this season, with an increase in velocity to the middle-90s.

'I really didn't know how to process it at the time,” Rea told the Dubuque Telegraph-Herald, of his Futures Game selection. 'It's kind of a surreal feeling, and, to be honest, I don't know if it has really sunk in, even a few days later.”

Rea will play for the United States team. On the World team are former Cedar Rapids Kernels pitcher Jose Berrios and outfielder Max Kepler.

Here's a quick look at what the other local, area and Iowa players are doing in the minors:

- Chad Christensen (Cedar Rapids Washington): Outfielder for high-Class A Fort Myers (Twins) is hitting .269 in 64 games, with 13 doubles, two home runs, 25 RBIs and 11 stolen bases.

- Kris Goodman (U of Iowa): Infielder is with the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Marlins and is 2-for-7 in three games, including a homer.

- Nick Hibbing (Iowa): Pitcher for low-A West Virginia (Pirates) has thrown one professional inning thus far, allowing two hits but no runs.

- Blake Hickman (Iowa): Recently drafted and signed by his hometown Chicago White Sox but was diagnosed last week with a torn ulnar collateral ligament and will have Tommy John surgery, delaying his pro debut for a year.

- Jon Keller (Cedar Rapids Xavier): Relief pitcher for high-A Frederick (Orioles) has a 3-4 record, three saves and a 3.68 earned run average in 20 games. Has worked 44 innings and allowed just 40 hits.

- Mitch Keller (Cedar Rapids Xavier): Brother of Jon is with Rookie-level Bristol (Pirates) of Appalachian League but has not pitched in a game, yet.

- Sasha Kuebel (Iowa): Pitching for Rookie-level Johnson City (Cardinals). Has appeared in two games and has thrown 2.2 innings of shutout ball, with four strikeouts.

- Derrick Loveless (Solon): Outfielder for high-A Dunedin (Blue Jays) is hitting .238 in 63 games, with four homers and 21 RBIs. In last two games, is 3-for-7 with a pair of walks.

- Scott Schebler (Cedar Rapids Prairie): Outfielder for Triple-A Oklahoma City (Dodgers) has a .249 batting average, with 10 doubles, five triples, nine homers and 28 RBIs in 66 games.

- Eric Toole (Iowa): Outfielder with Rookie-level Boise (Rockies) picked up his first two pro hits Friday night. Is 2-for-11 total.

- Justin Toole (Iowa): Infielder for Double-A Akron (Indians) has played in 29 games and has a .188 average and 17 RBIs.

- Jake Yacinich (Iowa): Shortstop for the Burlington Bees (Angels) of Midwest League has raised his average to .309 by going 5-for-9 with three runs scored in two second-half games.

- Taylor Zeutenhorst (Iowa): Outfielder is also in the Midwest League, with Clinton (Mariners). Has .230 batting average in 41 games, with a home run and 16 RBIs.

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