Where are they now?
San Jacinto College has a tradition of producing top-notch collegiate baseball players who move on to play at four-year institutions, in addition to those who continue their careers at the pro level. Here’s a look at where San Jac players have gone since 2001.
Players by Year
| 2010 | |
| Dylan Adamek | Texas State University |
| Andrew Beasley | Lamar University |
| Zach Benson | Stephen F. Austin State University |
| Ryan Burnaman | Lubbock Christian University |
| Will Fotnow | Northwood University |
| Deric Hawkins | Northwood University |
| Creighton Hoke | University of Maryland |
| Johnson Miller | University of Oklahoma |
| Michael Oros | Sam Houston State University |
| Brad Padia | Northwood University |
| Trey Ross | New Mexico State University |
| Hunter Silva | Sam Houston State University |
| 2009 | |
| Chris Dickerson | Cumberland University |
| Ryan Still | University of Houston |
| Adam Shank | St. Edwards University |
| Taylor Lobb | Concordia University |
| Gregg Alcazar | Texas A&M |
| Devin Shines | Oklahoma State University |
| Danny Hernandez | Cincinnati Reds |
| Steven Vidiaurri | St. Mary's University |
| Jeff Abt | Lamar University |
| Viron Hackney | Houston Baptist University |
| 2008 | |
| Tyler Dyer |
University of Oklahoma |
| Quentin Luquette | Lamar University |
| Kris Miller | Lewis & Clark |
| Jarrad Watkins | University of New Mexico |
| Zeke Zikeli | Houston Baptist University |
| Rick McGraw | Southern University |
| Michael Johnson | Concordia University |
| Kilian Kinart | Concordia University |
| Jamie Bagley | Tampa Bay Rays |
| Chris Corrigan | University of Mississippi |
| Jeremy Barfield | Oakland Athletics |
| Spencer Cuniff | Lamar University |
| Micah Runnels | Concordia University |
| Colin Lippert | Concordia University |
| Tanner Hines | Stephen F. Austin State University |
| Kevin Angelle | Lamar Univeristy |
| 2007 | |
| Kevin Kelso |
Texas State University |
| Eric Fry | Texas Rangers |
| Tyler Dyer | University of Oklahoma |
| Kyle Henson | University of Mississippi |
| Brandon Belt | University of Texas |
| Jordan Roger | Rice University |
| Lucas Luetge | Rice University |
| Trey Sperring | University of Oklahoma |
| Mathew Coburn | Texas Christian University |
| Taylor Hammack | University of Houston |
| Garrett Clyde | University of Texas |
| Benino Pruneda | Atlanta Braves |
| Hank Williamson | Baltimore Orioles |
| David McClain | University of Houston |
| 2006 | |
| Brandon Hicks |
Texas A&M University |
| Jonathon Runnels | Rice University |
| Jared Gayhart | Rice University |
| JP Padron | Rice University |
| Casey Beck | Atlanta Braves |
| Jared Dyer | Tulane University |
| Jorge Lara | Sam Houston State University |
| Chris Kelley | Rice University |
| 2005 | |
| Steve Marek |
Anaheim Angels |
| Josh Stinson | Texas A&M University |
| David Newmann | Texas A&M University |
| Matt Czimskey | Baylor |
| 2004 | |
| Cain Byrd |
Texas Rangers |
| Kevin Russo | Baylor |
| Shawn Ferguson | Texas Christian University |
| Tyler Bryant | Texas State University |
| Marty Dewees | Northwestern State University |
| Ryan Simon | Texas-Arlington |
| 2003 | |
| Nick Stavinoha | Louisiana State |
| Miles Franklin | University of Mississippi |
| Kyle Marlatt | Texas A&M University |
| Andrew Baldwin | Texas A&M University |
| Clayton Stewart | University of Texas |
| Will Crouch | University of Texas |
| Jared Wells | San Diego Padres |
| Clint Goocher | Arizona Diamondbacks |
| Mike Pankratz | Baylor |
| Cary Nelson | Southern University |
| Josh Batilla | Kansas State |
| Ben Cox | Lamar University |
| Daniel Macha | Texas-Arlington |
| Jeremy Aranda | Sam Houston State University |
| Josh Aranda | Sam Houston State University |
| Kyle Mandelbaum | Lamar University |
| Brian McCaulley | Loyola University |
| Russell Revere | Southern University |
| 2002 | |
| Matt Albers |
Houston Astros |
| David Frame | Texas State University |
| Kasey Baker | Texas-Arlington |
| Eric Broaddus | Northwestern State University |
| 2001 | |
| Glenn Bott |
Seattle Mariners |
| Brett Cooley | University of Houston |
| Jesse Crain | University of Houston |
| Corby Medlin | Arizona Diamondbacks |
| Zack Parker | Colorado Rockies |
| Patrick Perry | Sam Houston State University |
Players in the Professional Ranks
Kevin Angelle, Philadelphia (P)
2010: Went 3-1 with a 1.36 ERA for the Class A Williamsport Crosscutters. 2009: Went 3-3 with a 1.89 ERA as a member of the Gulf Coast League Phillies. Saw action in 12 games and 57 innings.
Jeremy Barfield, Oakland (OF)
2010: Hit .272 in 135 games for the Class A Stockton Ports. Notched 138 hits, including 21 doubles, 13 home runs, and 92 RBI. 2009: Played in 116 games for the Class A Kane County Cougars, hitting .262 behind 106 hits, including eight homeruns.
Casey Beck, Toronto (P)
2010: Posted a 1-3 record with a 3.74 ERA for the Class A Lansing Lugnuts. 2009: Went 1-3 as a member of the Short-Season A Auburn Doubledays. Posted a 2.84 ERA with 10 saves in 31.2 innings pitched.
Brandon Belt, San Francisco (1B)
2010: Played for the San Jose Giants, Richmond Flying Squirrels, and Fresno Grizzlies. Emerged as the San Francisco Giants top prospect for the 2011 season. Hit .352 with 173 hits including 43 doubles, 10 triples, and 23 home runs. 2009: Drafted in the fifth round for the Giants. Played in the Arizona Instructional League.
Jake Cowan, Baltimore (P)
2010: For the Class A Delmarva Shorebirds, went 3-1 with a 3.51 ERA and 40 strike outs. 2009: Pitched for the Short-Season A Aberdeen IronBirds, posting a 2.25 ERA and 1-2 record. Saw action in eight games and 24 innings.
Eric Fry, Texas (OF)
2010: Saw action in just five games for the Class A Bakersfield Blaze, hitting .111 in nine at bats. 2009: Split the season playing for the Class A Hickory Crawdads and the Bakersfield Blaze. Hit .243 in 85 games and 292 plate appearances.
Jared Gayhart, Detroit (P)
2010: Saw action for the Doube A Erie SeaWolves and Class A Lakeland Flying Tigers. Went 4-8 with a 4.29 ERA, nine saves, and 33 strike outs. 2009: Played for three teams, finishing the season with the Double A Erie SeaWolves. Posted a 2.63 ERA and 6-4 overall record. Notched three saves.
Mark Herrera, Washington (P)
2010: Posted a 2-1 record and 2.88 ERA with one save for the Class A Vermont Lake Monsters.
Danny Hernandez, Cincinnati (1B)
2010: With the Reading Phillies and Billings Mustangs, hit .255 behind 24 hits, including four doubles, one triple, and three home runs. 2009: Hit .202 as a member of the Arizona Instructional League Reds. Appeared in 29 games, with 19 hits, including one home run and nine RBI.
Riley Hornback, Baltimore (C)
2010: Spent the season with the Bluefield Orioles and the Orioles Gulf Coast League. Hit .257 in 101 plate appearances, with 26 hits and nine RBI.
John Killen, Boston (P)
2010: Appeared in just four games for the GCL Red Sox, posting an 0-1 record.
Lucas Luetge, Milwaukee (P)
2010: Went 4-3 with a 2.95 ERA for the Brevard County Manatees and the Hudson Valley Renegades. 2009: Played for the Class A Brevard County Manatees. Went 6-7 with a 4.48 ERA and two saves.
Stephen Marek, Atlanta (P)
2010: Spent time with the Mississippi Braves and the Gwinnett Braves, posting a 6-2 mark with a 1.14 ERA. 2009: Pitched for the Triple A Gwinnett Braves and Double A Mississippi Braves. Posted a 3-4 record with two saves and a 6.00 ERA.
Sean McCraw, Milwaukee (C)
2010: Played for the Hudson Valley Renegades and the Brevard County Manatees, hitting .226 in 168 at bats behind 38 hits and 20 RBI. 2009: As a member of the Class A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, posted a .211 average in 76 games. Had 46 hits, including one home run. Scored 24 runs.
Chris McKenzie, Washington (P)
2010: Spent the season with the Class A Vermont Lake Monsters. Posted a 1-2 record with an 8.54 ERA.
David Newmann, Tampa Bay (P)
2010: Posted a 3-9 record with the Double-A Montgomery Biscuits. 2009: Went 9-6 as a member of the Class A Charlotte Stone Crabs. Posted a 3.44 ERA in 24 games and 131 innings.
Sean Nolin, Toronto (P)
2010: Went 0-2 with a 5.48 ERA for the Class A Auburn Doubledays.
Benino Pruneda, Atlanta (P)
2010: Spent the season with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans and Mississippi Braves. Went 1-5 with a 3.20 ERA and five saves. 2009: During the offseason, named the fourth-best pitching prospect in the Braves organization. Spent most of the season with the Class A Myrtle Beach Pelicans. Posted a 2-3 record with a 4.73 ERA.
Clay Schrader, Baltimore (P)
2010: Spent the season with the Auburn Doubledays and Delmarva Shorebirds. Posted a 1-1 record with a 2.25 ERA and one save.
Randall Thorpe, Chicago White Sox (OF)
2010: With the Great Falls Voyagers, hit .226 in 199 plate appearance, including 45 hits and 25 RBI.Alumni
San Jacinto College is as prolific as any other two-year school in the nation when it comes to sending players to the professional ranks. Last season, nine San Jac baseball players were selected in the 2010 Major League Baseball (MLB) First-Year Player Draft. Houston area baseball fans are well versed in the success of former players Andy Pettitte and Roger Clemens, but the list doesn’t end there. Pitchers Matt Albers and Robert Manuel of the Boston Red Sox, Mike Gonzalez (Baltimore), Jesse Crain (Chicago White Sox), and Jared Wells (Seattle); outfielder Nick Stavinoha (St. Louis) and Kevin Russo (New York Yankees); and Atlanta third baseman Brandon Hicks are also former San Jac players on major league rosters heading into spring training.
Albers was originally drafted by the Houston Astros in the 23rd round of the June 2001 First Year Player Draft, and is a current member of the Boston Red Sox. Since his debut on July 25, 2006, Albers has gone 15-25 with a 5.11 ERA.
Manuel made his Major League debut July 9, 2009, with the Cincinnati Reds before being traded to the Red. Went 1-0 in 2010 with a 4.26 ERA. With Class AA Chattanooga in 2008, he was a Southern League All-Star and received a “MiLB.com This Year In Baseball Award” as the best reliever in the minor leagues.
Gonzalez, drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates, made his major league debut on August 11, 2003. He has played four seasons with Pittsburgh, three with the Atlanta Braves, and last season with the Baltimore Orioles. For his career he is 15-19 with a 2.68 ERA. In 331 games and 305.1 innings pitched, he’s posted 55 saves.
Crain has been in the majors since making his debut in August 2004. He is 33-21 overall with a 3.42 ERA and three saves. Last season, with the Minnesota Twins, he went 1-1 appearing in 71 games and 68.0 innings.
Wells was called up to the majors on May 24, 2008, pitching in 8.1 innings as a member of the Seattle Mariners and San Diego Padres. In 2007, he pitched at AAA Portland, primarily in relief, going 3-7 with a 5.24 ERA in 47 games. Collecting nine saves, Wells also threw 87 strikeouts in 92 innings.
Stavinoha was called up to major league duty on June 22, 2008 for the Cardinals. In three major league seasons with St. Louis, he’s played in 147 games with 265 at bats, hitting .234.
Russo made his major league debut on May 8, 2010. For the season, he hit .184 in 31 games and 49 plate appearances. He spent the 2009 season at AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, batting .326 (115-for-353) with 51 runs, 18 doubles, 5 home runs, 31 RBI and 13 stolen bases in 90 games. He led all Yankees minor leaguers in batting average.
Hicks was called to the majors in May 2010, and saw action in just 16 games with the Braves. Hicks played his first full season at AA Mississippi, where he led the team with 10 home runs, 25 doubles and 464 at bats, and ranked second in RBI (48) and hits (110).
