Athletes Beyond Bartow: MiLB updates for Howard, Justus, and Seigler
As the calendar rolls into the month of July, the three former Cartersville High School baseball players in minor league baseball continue their summer work. Pitcher Sam Howard made his twelfth start of the year for Albuquerque this past week. Connor Justus continued a six-game hitting streak, and Anthony Seigler made his fifth professional start in the Gulf Coast League.
SAM HOWARD — Albuquerque Isotopes (5th yr. pro; LHP; Triple-A Pacific Coast League; Colorado Rockies organization; Georgia Southern; Cartersville HS)… the southpaw made his twelfth start of the year for Albuquerque last Friday and was tagged with the loss after going six innings and facing 27 batters. He left the game with the Isotopes trailing 4-2 in an eventual 4-3 loss to the Sacramento River Cats. All four runs off Howard were earned off seven hits, a walk, and one hit batsman. Two of the hits were solo home runs with the wind blowing out at Isotopes Park. Howard fanned five. He is now 3-5 for the season with a 5.53 ERA and 57 innings pitched. He has 44 strikeouts and 25 walks. Albuquerque (41-41) is in third place in the PCL Pacific Southern Division trailing co-division leaders El Paso and Salt Lake by 2 and 1/2 games. The Isotopes complete a five-game series in El Paso Monday and Tuesday against the Padres’ affiliate before hosting Mariners’ affiliate Tacoma for five straight nights starting Wednesday.
CONNOR JUSTUS — Inland Empire 66ers (3rd yr. pro; MIF; Adv. Class A California League; L.A. Angels organization; Georgia Tech; Cartersville HS)… has hit safely in six straight games and has hits in seven of nine games since his return to the 66ers from Double-A Mobile. The stretch with Inland Empire also includes a pair of two-hit games where he has gone 9-for-35 (.257) with two doubles, two walks, three RBI, four runs, and a pair of stolen bases. Defensively, the middle infielder has 42 games at shortstop and 22 at second base this season with both Mobile and Inland Empire. He has a .950 fielding percentage in 260 total chances across 447 innings. Only 11 games into the California League’s second half, the 66ers are 4-7 and five games behind Rancho Cucamonga in the South Division. Inland Empire completes a series at Rancho Cucamonga Monday and Tuesday nights prior to hosting Stockton for five straight evenings beginning Wednesday.
ANTHONY SEIGLER — GCL Yankees West (1st yr. pro; C; Rookie Gulf Coast League; NY Yankees organization; Cartersville HS)… has started five of his team’s first eight games and has been slotted in the two-hole of the batting order in each of his last four starts. The rookie first round selection is 5-for-15 with three walks, a double, one RBI, and four runs scored. Behind the dish in 35 innings, Seigler has thrown out one of four stolen base attempts and has not committed an error although he has been charged with three passed balls. Yankees West (5-3) trails Tigers West by one-half game in the GCL Northwest Division and has games this week against Tigers East, Phillies West, Tigers West, Pirates, Blue Jays, and Phillies East. The 18-team Rookie League plays a 60-game schedule in major league spring training facilities throughout Florida. Yankees West plays home games at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa.
