Bowling Green State University Athletics
Former Falcons Finding Success In Pro Baseball
July 21, 2015 | Baseball
Jon Berti recorded a hit in his Triple-A debut last night.
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – Six former members of the Bowling Green State University baseball team are currently playing professional baseball.
Highlighted by Nolan Reimold and Burke Badenhop – who are both playing in Major League Baseball – former Falcons are also represented at the lower levels of professional baseball, as 2015 draftees Trey Keegan and Brian Bien are playing in rookie ball.
Jon Berti was called up to Triple-A Buffalo on Sunday, putting himself just one call away from playing in the big leagues, while Brennan Smith is finding his niche playing at the highest level of Single-A baseball.
Below are updates on each of the six Falcons playing pro ball.
Nolan Reimold | OF
Baltimore Orioles
Drafted: Round 2 (2005, BAL)
Played at BGSU: 2003-05
Since being reinstated from the paternity list on July 9, Reimold has played in 21 games in the outfield for the Baltimore Orioles. Reimold is hitting .224 and slugging .408, having hit two home runs, and one double and one triple apiece. Reimold has also scored seven runs. The Orioles are currently 46-45, and sit four games behind the New York Yankees in the American League East. Baltimore is also 3.5 games back of the Houston Astros and Minnesota Twins in the Wild Card slots.
Burke Badenhop | RHP
Cincinnati Reds
Drafted: Round 19 (2005, DET)
Played at BGSU: 2002-05
Badenhop was on the receiving end of Brandon Phillips' highlight-reel play last night, which wrapped up a shutout inning and secured Badenhop a hold. The right-hander has appeared in 36 games out of the bullpen for the Reds, working a total of 36.1 innings. Badenhop is 1-2 with a 4.71 ERA, having fanned 15 batters and walked 12. Last year was a banner year for Badenhop, as he pitched for the Boston Red Sox and established career bests in appearances (70), ERA (2.29), WAR (1.5) and earned runs (18). Badenhop has pitched at least 36 innings in each of his eight years in Major League Baseball. After his rookie season in 2008 when he logged 47.1 innings, Badenhop has been able to work at least 60 innings in every year since.
Jon Berti | INF
Buffalo Bisons | Triple-A (Toronto Blue Jays)
Drafted: Round 18 (2011, TOR)
Played at BGSU: 2009-11
Berti was called up to Triple-A over the weekend, and made his debut for the Buffalo Bisons last night, going 1-for-4 with two runs scored. The former Falcon was batting .262 for the New Hampshire Fisher Cats with 19 steals, 35 runs and 20 RBI prior to his call up. Berti has swiped a total of 172 bases in 498 minor league games, while hitting .260. Berti has continued to climb the ranks through the Blue Jays system since being drafted in 2011. He reached the Class-A Advanced (Dunedin) level in 2012. And went on to have a breakout season in 2013 for Dunedin, stealing a career-high 56 bases. In 2014, Berti played the whole season for the Fisher Cats and hit .270.
Brennan Smith | RHP
Lakeland Flying Tigers | Class-A Advanced (Detroit Tigers)
Drafted: Round 33 (2010, DET)
Played at BGSU: 2008-10
Smith reached the Double-A (Erie) level for the first time in his career last year, and even started the 2015 season with Erie, but has since found a groove pitching for the Lakeland Flying Tigers of the Class-A Advanced Florida State League. Smith is 4-1 this season with Lakeland, and owns a 1.99 ERA. The righty has made 22 appearances, including seven starts. Smith has struck out 54 batters and walked 13 in 54.1 innings of work. Opponents are hitting just .217 off Smith.
Trey Keegan | C
Danville Braves | Rookie (Atlanta Braves)
Drafted: Round 14 (2015, ATL)
Played at BGSU: 2013-15
Keegan has played in 10 games for the Danville Braves in rookie ball, and has turned in a pair of multiple-hit performances. Keegan's first professional hit came on June 29, when he went 3-for-3 with an RBI, walk and run scored. Bowling Green's backstop in 2015 also went 2-for-4 on July 17. Keegan recorded one hit apiece in back-to-back appearances on July 7 and July 10. He has two RBI, and has drawn five walks while striking out three times.
Brian Bien | INF
Burlington Royals | Rookie (Kansas City Royals)
Drafted: Round 31 (2015, KC)
Played at BGSU: 2012-15
Bien went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI in his professional debut on June 24, and has gone on to play in a total of nine games for the Burlington Royals – Kansas City's rookie ball affiliate. Bien picked up hits on back-to-back days across July 8-9, as he followed up a 2-for-4 performance by going 1-for-5. On Sunday, Bien went 1-for-5 again, adding in an RBI and a run.
Highlighted by Nolan Reimold and Burke Badenhop – who are both playing in Major League Baseball – former Falcons are also represented at the lower levels of professional baseball, as 2015 draftees Trey Keegan and Brian Bien are playing in rookie ball.
Jon Berti was called up to Triple-A Buffalo on Sunday, putting himself just one call away from playing in the big leagues, while Brennan Smith is finding his niche playing at the highest level of Single-A baseball.
Below are updates on each of the six Falcons playing pro ball.
Nolan Reimold | OF
Baltimore Orioles
Drafted: Round 2 (2005, BAL)
Played at BGSU: 2003-05
Since being reinstated from the paternity list on July 9, Reimold has played in 21 games in the outfield for the Baltimore Orioles. Reimold is hitting .224 and slugging .408, having hit two home runs, and one double and one triple apiece. Reimold has also scored seven runs. The Orioles are currently 46-45, and sit four games behind the New York Yankees in the American League East. Baltimore is also 3.5 games back of the Houston Astros and Minnesota Twins in the Wild Card slots.
Burke Badenhop | RHP
Cincinnati Reds
Drafted: Round 19 (2005, DET)
Played at BGSU: 2002-05
Badenhop was on the receiving end of Brandon Phillips' highlight-reel play last night, which wrapped up a shutout inning and secured Badenhop a hold. The right-hander has appeared in 36 games out of the bullpen for the Reds, working a total of 36.1 innings. Badenhop is 1-2 with a 4.71 ERA, having fanned 15 batters and walked 12. Last year was a banner year for Badenhop, as he pitched for the Boston Red Sox and established career bests in appearances (70), ERA (2.29), WAR (1.5) and earned runs (18). Badenhop has pitched at least 36 innings in each of his eight years in Major League Baseball. After his rookie season in 2008 when he logged 47.1 innings, Badenhop has been able to work at least 60 innings in every year since.
Jon Berti | INF
Buffalo Bisons | Triple-A (Toronto Blue Jays)
Drafted: Round 18 (2011, TOR)
Played at BGSU: 2009-11
Berti was called up to Triple-A over the weekend, and made his debut for the Buffalo Bisons last night, going 1-for-4 with two runs scored. The former Falcon was batting .262 for the New Hampshire Fisher Cats with 19 steals, 35 runs and 20 RBI prior to his call up. Berti has swiped a total of 172 bases in 498 minor league games, while hitting .260. Berti has continued to climb the ranks through the Blue Jays system since being drafted in 2011. He reached the Class-A Advanced (Dunedin) level in 2012. And went on to have a breakout season in 2013 for Dunedin, stealing a career-high 56 bases. In 2014, Berti played the whole season for the Fisher Cats and hit .270.
Brennan Smith | RHP
Lakeland Flying Tigers | Class-A Advanced (Detroit Tigers)
Drafted: Round 33 (2010, DET)
Played at BGSU: 2008-10
Smith reached the Double-A (Erie) level for the first time in his career last year, and even started the 2015 season with Erie, but has since found a groove pitching for the Lakeland Flying Tigers of the Class-A Advanced Florida State League. Smith is 4-1 this season with Lakeland, and owns a 1.99 ERA. The righty has made 22 appearances, including seven starts. Smith has struck out 54 batters and walked 13 in 54.1 innings of work. Opponents are hitting just .217 off Smith.
Trey Keegan | C
Danville Braves | Rookie (Atlanta Braves)
Drafted: Round 14 (2015, ATL)
Played at BGSU: 2013-15
Keegan has played in 10 games for the Danville Braves in rookie ball, and has turned in a pair of multiple-hit performances. Keegan's first professional hit came on June 29, when he went 3-for-3 with an RBI, walk and run scored. Bowling Green's backstop in 2015 also went 2-for-4 on July 17. Keegan recorded one hit apiece in back-to-back appearances on July 7 and July 10. He has two RBI, and has drawn five walks while striking out three times.
Brian Bien | INF
Burlington Royals | Rookie (Kansas City Royals)
Drafted: Round 31 (2015, KC)
Played at BGSU: 2012-15
Bien went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI in his professional debut on June 24, and has gone on to play in a total of nine games for the Burlington Royals – Kansas City's rookie ball affiliate. Bien picked up hits on back-to-back days across July 8-9, as he followed up a 2-for-4 performance by going 1-for-5. On Sunday, Bien went 1-for-5 again, adding in an RBI and a run.
Players Mentioned
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