Gazette-area Iowans in Major League Baseball and affiliated minor leagues (April 20, 2024)

CEDAR RAPIDS — Here’s your first look at what we call Iowans In The Minors. It’s actually a bi-weekly look at how baseball players in the major leagues and affiliated minor leagues are fairing.

That’s guys from the Gazette area and University of Iowa.

Spring training releases included former Hawkeyes catcher Tyler Cropley by the Kansas City Royals. He got his first big league game in late last season and his first MLB hit.

Former Iowa outfielder Ben Norman also was released by the Chicago White Sox. Outfielder Korey Howell, who played at Kirkwood Community College, was given his release by the San Diego Padres, as was former Iowa pitcher/position player Dylan Nedved.

Iowa City West graduate and former Iowa pitcher Nick Gallagher became a minor league free agent in the offseason and was not signed by anyone.

Outfielder Levi Usher, a Cedar Rapids Prairie grad and former Kirkwood player, voluntarily retired in late February. He was in the Royals organization.

All the following statistics are through Friday.

Keaton Anthony (Iowa/Philadelphia Phillies) — Outfielder is 10-for-29 in his first nine games for Class A Clearwater of the Florida State League. That’s a .345 batting average. Two doubles, nine RBIs, four walks, four strikeouts and a stolen base as well.

Ben Beutel (Iowa/Chicago White Sox) — Southpaw pitcher appears to be in extended spring training.

Jake Bockenstedt (Cedar Rapids Washington/Chicago White Sox) — In starting rotation for Class A Kannapolis of Carolina League. Has gotten in a pair of starts, has 0-2 record and 4.32 earned run average. Has allowed eight hits in 8 1/3 innings, with two walks and 15 strikeouts.

Will Christophersen (Iowa/Los Angeles Angels) — Three relief appearances for Class A Inland Empire of California League. Allowed 10 hits, five walks and seven earned runs in 5 2/3 innings.

Duncan Davitt (Iowa/Tampa Bay Rays) — Pitcher has gotten in a pair of starts for high-A Bowling Green of South Atlantic League. Has allowed four hits, four runs, three walks and struck out 10 in 8 2/3 innings.

Jack Dreyer (Iowa/Los Angeles Dodgers) — Lefty reliever begins this season with Double-A Tulsa in Texas League. Has appeared in five games and not given up a run over 8 2/3 innings. Has allowed five hits and one walk, with 11 strikeouts.

Calvin Harris (Western Dubuque/Chicago White Sox) — Catcher is in extended spring training.

Mitch Keller (Cedar Rapids Xavier/Pittsburgh Pirates) — Pitcher is 2-1 with a 4.50 ERA in four starts for the Pirates. Has given up 28 hits and seven walks in 24 innings, with 21 strikeouts.

Austin Krob (Lisbon/San Diego Padres) — Left-hander pitched in a big league spring training game last month with San Diego. Is at Double-A San Antonio (Texas League) and has thrown in three games, two starts. Has given up eight hits, two walks and five runs in 10 innings.

Ty Langenberg (Iowa/Minnesota Twins) — Was in the starting pitching rotation for Class A Fort Myers (Florida State League). Has thrown 10 innings over two starts, allowing 12 hits and seven earned runs, with nine strikeouts. Just placed on the team’s development list.

Adam Mazur (Iowa/San Diego Padres) — A teammate of Krob’s at San Antonio. Off to 1-0 start with a 0.56 ERA. Has thrown 16 innings in three starts, allowing eight hits and two walks, with 16 Ks.

Mason McCoy (Iowa/San Diego Padres) — Infielder is in his seventh season of pro ball, this one in the San Diego organization after signing as a free agent in the offseason Hitting .221 for El Paso of the Pacific Coast League in 18 games, with a home run and 11 RBIs. Also has drawn 11 walks and has five stolen bases.

Cole McDonald (New Hampton/Iowa/Houston Astros) — Pitcher is getting his first crack at Triple-A as bullpen guy for Sugar Land of Pacific Coast League. Has allowed 10 hits and six runs in 6 2/3 innings thus far, with eight strikeouts.

Ian Moller (Dubuque Wahlert/Texas Rangers) — Catcher is in high-Class A Hickory of South Atlantic League. Has played eight games, gotten in 26 at-bats and has four hits. Has struck out 12 times.

A.J. Puk (Cedar Rapids Washington/Miami Marlins) — Marlins decided to move the lefty from a late-inning bullpen role to the starting rotation. It hasn’t gone well, as he has an 0-4 record and 9.22 ERA in four starts. Has given up 19 hits and 17 walks in 13 2/3 innings, with 12 strikeouts.

Colin Rea (Cascade/Northern Iowa/Milwaukee Brewers) — Fine start to the MLB season for the right-hander. He’s 2-0 with a 2.70 ERA in three starts for Milwaukee. Has allowed 17 hits and three walks in 16 2/3 innings, with 11 strikeouts.

Tommy Specht (Dubuque Wahlert/Texas Rangers) — Outfielder is with low-A Down East (Carolina League). Is 8-for-31 in nine games, with a double and five RBIs.

Jared Simpson (Iowa/Washington Nationals) — Pitcher is on the 60-day injured list on the roster of low-Class A Fredericksburg.

Connor Van Scoyoc (Cedar Rapids Jefferson/Colorado Rockies) — Right-handed pitcher is a starter for Double-A Hartford of the Eastern League. Has made two starts, allowed 10 hits and nine runs in 7 2/3 innings. Has seven walks and five Ks.

Trenton Wallace (Iowa/Toronto Blue Jays) — Southpaw pitcher has gotten in a pair of starts for Double-A New Hampshire of the Eastern League. Has given up four runs in 8 2/3 innings, with 13 strikeouts.

Peyton Williams (Iowa/Toronto Blue Jays) — First baseman is making his way back after being activated from the 60-day disabled list. Played five games for the Rookie-level Florida Complex League Blue Jays, three games for low-A Dunedin of the Florida State League and 10 games for high-A Vancouver of the Northwest League, where he currently is playing and is 4 for 34 at the plate.

Keaton Winn (Pekin High School/Iowa Western Community College/San Francisco Giants) — Pitcher had a terrific start Wednesday for the Giants, picking up a win at Miami by going six innings, giving up four hits and a run, walking one and striking out four. Is 1-3 with a 4.09 ERA in four starts this season. Has given up 16 hits and eight walks, striking out 17 in 22 innings.

Comments: (319)-398-8258, jeff.johnson@thegazette.com