Former University of Maine pitcher and Brewer native Matt Pushard has worked his way up to the AAA affiliate of the Miami Marlins. But he isn’t the only player with UMaine ties looking to advance through the ranks of professional baseball.
Several other former Black Bears are also trying to make their way to the major leagues through farm systems.
Twenty-five-year-old pitcher Nick Sinacola, a seventh-round draft pick by the San Francisco Giants, is with the Richmond Flying Squirrels in AA and is 0-1 with a 4.74 ERA in six outings this season. He has allowed 18 hits in 19 innings and has struck out 23 while walking 12.
Pitcher Cody Laweryson, who is 26 and was a 14th-round pick by the Minnesota Twins, is pitching for the Wichita Wind Surge in AA and is 0-1 with a 5.87 ERA and three saves. He has allowed 11 hits in 7 2/3 innings with eight strikeouts and one walk. Laweryson spent two stints on the injured list last season with Wichita.
Twenty-two year-old second baseman Quinn McDaniel, a fifth-round choice by the Giants, is hitting .229 for High-A Eugene with three homers, 18 runs-batted in and eight stolen bases. He hit .236 for Eugene a year ago with 13 homers, 56 RBIs and 40 stolen bases in 47 attempts. He had 20 doubles, 67 walks and 166 strikeouts.
Slugging 22-year-old first baseman Jeremiah Jenkins has been injured this season but the 14th-round draft pick by San Francisco hit .295 with two homers and seven RBIS in 11 games for Class A San Jose a year ago after concluding his outstanding Black Bears career.
He belted 22 homers, drove in 50 runs and had a .341 average in his final season at UMaine last spring.
