Tar Heels Making Early Impact In Young MLB Season

As the 2018 baseball season rolls along, there are plenty of former Tar Heels who are in pro organizations and making an impact across the country. Below, we take a look at how the North Carolina standouts are faring in their performances this year.

MLB

Chris Ianetta, Rockies

22 games, 17-89 (.218/.307/.372)

Ianetta has solidified himself as Colorado's everyday catcher after bouncing around over the past several seasons. The Rockies are Ianetta's fourth team in as many years dating back to the start of the 2015 season. The former Tar Heel standout has been a reliable backstop over that time, continuing now through this his age-35 season.

Andrew Miller, Indians

0.00 ERA, 10 IP, 6 H, 4 BB, 17 K

Miller is currently on the Indians 10-day disabled list with a left hamstring injury, but it doesn't appear as though he's slated to miss a significant amount of time. Continuing to be one of the game's best relief arms, Miller has proven year after year to be one of the most successful North Carolina pitchers to emerge from the program.

Colin Moran, Pirates

27 games, 25-85 (.294/.378/.435), 2 HR, 14 RBI

Moran has emerged as a staple in the Pittsburgh lineup, coming through as one of the team's best hitters in 2018. In his first full season as a big-leaguer, Moran is showcasing the same traits that he showed off in Chapel Hill. He's on pace to have a very productive season at the hot corner for the Pirates.

Kyle Seager, Mariners

29 games, 28-113 (.248/.301/.425), 4 HR, 15 RBI

Seager, 30, continues to be a reliable member of the Mariners lineup. His power has been welcomed for years in Seattle, and he doesn't appear to be showing many signs of slowing down.

Adam Warren, Yankees

3.24 ERA, 8.1 IP, 10 H, 4 BB, 11 K

Warren is currently on the Yankees 10-day disabled list with a back strain. There is no timetable for his return, but he figures to be a key part of the New York bullpen when he is able to return for the AL East contenders.

Matt Harvey, Mets

0-2, 5.76 ERA, 25 IP, 30 H, 6 BB, 19 K

After starting the year in the Mets rotation, Harvey is currently working out of the bullpen. The 29-year-old has battled injuries over the past couple of seasons, requiring shoulder surgery in 2016 after dominant seasons in 2013 and 2015.

MiLB

Dustin Ackley, Angels (AAA)

Ackley signed a minor-league deal with the Angels last month. He is currently on the temporary inactive list for the organization's AAA affiliate in Salt Lake. He played with Salt Lake last season, appearing in 116 games and hitting .261.

A.J. Bogucki, Nationals (A)

3.78 ERA, 16.2 IP, 15 H, 3 BB, 20 K

An eighth-round selection in 2016, Bogucki is now pitching out of the bullpen for Washington's single-A affiliate in Hagerstown. The right-hander pitched with the Suns last year as well, appearing in 20 games and posting a 3.78 ERA.

Skye Bolt, Athletics (A-Adv)

20 games, 17-81 (.210/.312/.370), 2 HR, 9 RBI

Bolt is currently playing at Oakland's high-A affiliate after starting the year with double-A Midland. With the Stockton Ports, he has already hit a pair of home runs through nine games. Last season, he knocked 15 out of the park with Stockton.

J.B. Bukauskas, Astros (A)

7.94 ERA, 5.2 IP, 10 H, 4 BB, 7 K

Bukauskas was recently placed on the 7-day disabled list with an undisclosed injury. 2018 with Quad-City marks his first full season of professional baseball after helping the Heels to a dominant 2017 season in Chapel Hill.

Kent Emanuel, Astros (AAA)

2-1, 1.66 ERA, 21.2 IP, 15 H, 3 BB, 20 K

Emanuel has been dominant at Houston's AAA affiliate in Fresno. Through four starts, opposing batters are hitting just .190 against the left-hander. Look for Emanuel to potentially get the call up to the big-leagues sooner rather than later.

Tim Federowicz, Astros (AAA)

11 games, 19-43 (.442/.489/.721), 3 HR, 12 RBI

Federowicz joins Emanuel in Fresno as another dominant former Tar Heel for the Astros' top minor-league squad. Six of his 19 hits have gone for extra bases this season as the 30-year-old looks to work his way back to The Show.

Zac Gallen, Marlins (AAA)

3-1, 3.10 ERA, 29 IP, 34 H, 8 BB, 23 K

Gallen has quickly worked his way up through the Marlins organization after being drafted in the third round in 2016. It shouldn't be long before he gets his chance to play with the big-league team in Miami.

Reilly Hovis, Marlins (A-Adv)

3.38 ERA, 8 IP, 6 H, 3 BB, 14 K

Hovis started the year with Miami's full-A affiliate in Greensboro but earned a promotion just three outings into the season. The Gastonia, N.C. native was drafted by the Marlins in 2015 with the team's ninth-round selection.

Trevor Kelley, Red Sox (AA)

1.42 ERA, 6.1 IP, 8 H, 0 BB, 7 K

Kelley is currently tossing for Boston's double-A affiliate in Portland as the former 36th-round pick has climbed up the ladder in the Red Sox organization. The right-hander has held opponents scoreless in his last five outings.

Brian Miller, Marlins (A-Adv)

24 games, 34-104 (.327/.358/.375), 5 2B, 7 RBI

After lighting it up with the team's single-A affiliate last season, Miller has been just as dominant in Jupiter for the Marlins this year. He hasn't remotely slowed down since his time in Chapel Hill and looks to be well on his way to climbing the organization quickly.

Brian Moran, Dodgers (AA)

5.40 ERA, 13.1 IP, 18 H, 3 BB, 18 K

Moran has spent time in double-A and triple-A this season for the Dodgers. The 29-year old is now in his ninth season playing in the minor-leagues after being selected by the Seattle Mariners in the 7th round in 2009.

Benton Moss, Rays (AA)

1-2, 3.09 ERA, 23.1 IP, 25 H, 8 BB, 14 K

Moss started five games in double-A Montgomery before being placed on the 7-day disabled list after his outing on April 30. The 2015 7th-round pick has steadily climbed up in the Tampa Bay organization after a very successful career at UNC.

R.C. Orlan, Indians (AA)

After being selected by the Indians in the Rule-5 Draft this offseason, Orlan is currently on the 7-day disabled list and has yet to pitch this season. Last year, he tossed 51 innings between Washington's high-A and double-A teams.

Tyler Ramirez, Athletics (AA)

26 games, 30-93 (.323/.414/.516), 2 HR, 14 RBI

Ramirez, a 7th-round pick by Oakland in 2016, continues to tear it up in pro ball. He's had nothing but success, continuing through this 2018 season. He tacked on eight doubles and a pair of triples, crushing the ball for the Midland Rockhounds early this year.

Michael Russell, Rays (AA)

11 games, 13-45 (.289/.333/.422), 4 2B, 3 RBI

Russell is getting regular time in Montgomery at third base. After being selected in the fifth round by the Rays in 2014, he's steadily moved his way up the organization. Last season at Montgomery, he played in 106 games hitting .246.

Trent Thornton, Astros (AAA)

2-1, 3.63 ERA, 22.1 IP, 17 H, 8 BB, 22 K

Thonton, along with Emanuel, is also starting at Fresno with great success. He's held opposing batters to just a .215 average against. His early pace is set to be his best in pro ball, just one level away from Houston.

Spencer Trayner, Cardinals (A)

Trayner is currently on the roster for the Cardinals short-season single-A team, the State College Spikes. Last season, the former Tar Heel standout went 5-1 with State College with a 2.52 ERA.

Logan Warmouth, Blue Jays (A-Adv)

23 games, 19-82 (.232/.323/.317), HR, 7 RBI

Warmouth, a name Tar Heel fans might be fairly familiar with, is working in his first full season of professional baseball with Toronto's high-A team in Dunedin, Fla. The shortstop was taken in the first round of last season's MLB Draft and looks to be on a track to be able to rise up the system at a quick pace.

Rob Wooten, Reds (AA)

Wooten, 32, is currently working his way back from an injury after spending last season at triple-A in Louisville. He last saw major-league action in 2015 with the Milwaukee Brewers.

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