Where They Have Gone

San Jacinto College is as prolific as any two-year college in the nation when it comes to sending players to the professional ranks. In the last five years, 18 San Jacinto College baseball players have been selected in the 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 does not end there. Pitchers Matt Albers (Washington Nationals), Anthony Banda (Arizona Diamondbacks) and Daniel Stumpf (Detroit Tigers), and San Francisco first baseman Brandon Belt are former Gators now on major league rosters.

Albers was originally drafted by the Houston Astros in the 23rd round of the 2001 First Year Player Draft. He has spent time on the roster in Baltimore, Boston, Arizona, Cleveland, Houston, Chicago (White Sox) and most recently with the Washington Nationals. Since his debut on July 25, 2006, Albers has gone 36-39 with a 4.13 ERA. He has started 24 games, pitching 665.0 innings.

Banda went 2-3 last season with a 5.96 ERA. He saw action in eight games, starting four, and pitched in 25.2 innings. Stumpf made his major league debut on April 7, 2016. In his two years in the major leagues, he is 0-1 with a 4.64 ERA. He’s appeared in 62 games and 42.2 innings pitched.

Belt helped the San Francisco Giants win the 2012 and 2014 World Series. He made his major league debut on March 31, 2011, with the Giants, and has been with the organization ever since. In 2017, Belt hit .241 in 382 at-bats and 104 games. He had 18 home runs, 27 doubles, and three triples.

As for other San Jac players in the professional ranks:
Anthony Banda, Arizona (P)
2014: Posted a 14-13 record with a 3.95 ERA in 221.0 innings pitched as a member of the South Bend Cubs and Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.

Jeremy Barfield, Oakland (OF)
2014: Hit .261 in 142 at-bats as a member of the Midland RockHounds. Posted 37 hits, including six doubles, two triples, and three homeruns, scoring 16.

Casey Beck (P)
2012 (last season played): Saw action in give games and just 6.0 innings.

Tommy Collier, Detroit (P)
2014: Went 7-10 with a 5.14 ERA. Pitched in 133.0 innings for the Erie SeaWolves and Lakeland Flying Tigers.

Jake Cowan (P)
2012 (last season played): Went 1-0 with a 2.22 ERA in 28.1 innings pitched for the Bowie Baysox.

Jared Gayhart (P)
2012 (last season played): Went 1-6 with a 4.58 ERA for the Erie SeaWolves. Pitched in 35 games and 92.1 innings.

Mark Herrera (P)
2011 (last season played): Played in five games for the GCL Nationals. Played in just five games and 5.1 innings with a 3.38 ERA.

Brandon Hicks, San Francisco (2B)
Hicks was called up to the majors in May 2010 by the Atlanta Braves, and has been back and forth between the majors and minors since then. 2014: Split time between the minor league Fresno Grizzlies and the major league Giants. In 71 games with the Giants to start the season, hit .162 with 33 hits, including six doubles, one triple, and eight home runs. With the Grizzlies, hit .218in 133 at-bats, including 11 doubles, six homers, and 17 RBI.

Riley Hornback (C)
2011 (last season played): Spent time with the Aberdeen IronBirds and Delmarva Shorebirds. Hit .213 in 221 at bats, behind 47 hits, including eight doubles and two homeruns.

Ryan Hornback (C)
2012 (last season played): Hit .291 for the Jamestown Jammers. Knocked in eight runs behind 23 hits, including four doubles and a triple.

John Killen (P)
2012 (last season played): Appeared in just 10.1 innings for the Idaho Falls Chukars.

Stephen Marek (P)
2012 (last season played): Went a combined 2-1 with a 5.40 ERA for the New Hampshire Fisher Cats and the Dunedin Blue Jays.

Sean McCraw (C)
2011 (last season played): Hit .188 for the Class A Brevard County Manatees. In 149 at bats, scored 16 runs and posted 21 RBI.

Chris McKenzie (P)
2013 (last season played): Went 0-1 with a 5.25 ERA for the Hagertown Suns.

David Newmann (P)
2011 (last season played): Played the entire season for the Double A Montgomery Biscuits. Pitched just 4.2 innings with a 9.64 ERA.

Miguel Peña, Boston (P)
2014: Went 2-2 with a 6.41 ERA as a member of the Portland Sea Dogs.

Benino Pruneda (P)
2011 (last season played): Spent the season with the Double A Mississippi Braves. Posted a 2-7 record with a 3.50 ERA and 11 saves.

Kevin Russo (3B)
Russo made his major league debut on May 8, 2010. That season was his last in the majors, and he hit .184 in 31 games and 49 plate appearances. 2013 (last season played): Hit .213 with 34 runs, 27 doubles, three triples, and nine stolen bases in 103 games with the AAA Toledo Mud Hens.

David Rollins, Seattle (P)
2014: Posted a 3-4 record with the Corpus Christi Hooks. In 78.0 innings pitched, had a 3.81 ERA.

Clay Schrader, Atlanta (P)
2014: Spent the season with the Lynchburg Hillcats going 0-1 in just 4.0 innings pitched.

Nick Stavinoha (OF)
2011 (last season played): Spent the season with the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds. Hit .270 in 133 games and 533 at bats, behind 144 hits, including 30 doubles and 28 homeruns.

Daniel Stumpf, Kansas City (P)
2014: In 74.0 innings pitched for the Wilmington Blue Rocks, posted a 3.77 ERA and 3-8 overall record, with two saves.

Randall Thorpe (OF)
2011 (last season played): Appeared in 46 games for the Great Falls Voyagers. Hit .242 in 157 at bats, behind 38 hits including nine doubles and two home runs.

Mike Velasquez (LHP)
2014 Posted a 1-0 record with the Tampa Bay Rookie League., in 14.2 innings pitched, had a 4.30 ERA with 14 strikeouts.

San Jac Players in Professional Baseball