Radford University Athletics

ALL-TIME DRAFTEES, SIGNEES | RU MAJOR LEAGUERS

Following Spencer Horwitz's selection in the 24th round by the Toronto Blue Jays and Danny Hrbek re-joining the minor leagues with the New York Mets organization, six former Highlanders currently compete in major league organizations.

Here is a look at how all six former Highlanders fared in the minor and major leagues through the end of their 2019 campaigns:
 

	RYAN MEISINGER – Memphis Redbirds (St. Louis Cardinals) - AAA Acquired: June 2015 Draft - 11th Round (343rd overall, by Baltimore) MEISINGER'S PRO PLAYER BIO | MEISINGER'S MLB BIO Meisinger became the fourth former Highlander to reach the major leagues when the Baltimore Orioles called him up in June 2018. Meisinger made 18 appearances down the stretch of the 2018 season for the Orioles, logging 21 innings. After being claimed off waivers by the St. Louis Cardinals in the offseason, Meisinger spent the 2019 campaign in Memphis, finishing the season with a 3.09 ERA in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League.
	MICHAEL BOYLE – Tulsa Drillers (Los Angeles Dodgers) - AA  Acquired: June 2015 Draft - 13th Round (402nd overall, by Los Angeles (NL)) BOYLE'S PRO PLAYER BIO Boyle continued his progression through the Dodgers organization in 2019, making 40 appearances and throwing 53.1 innings as Tulsa (Double-A) reached the Texas League Championship Series. The southpaw finished the season with a 3.02 ERA and a strikeout ratio of 2:1. Boyle's best performances came in the last month of the season, as opponents hit just .146 off him in the final 30 days.
	KYLE ZURAK – Tampa Tarpons (New York Yankees) - A-Advanced Acquired: June 2017 Draft - Eighth Round (242nd overall, by New York (AL)) ZURAK'S PRO PLAYER BIO Zurak made a career-high 41 appearances during the 2019 season for Tampa, throwing 61.1 innings and logging a 2.93 ERA. Zurak limited opposing hitters to a .221 average over the cours of the season and allowed just two home runs during the year, striking out 50 batters in the process. Zurak shined in the second half of the season, as his ERA was just 2.15 across his final 20 appearances.
	DANNY HRBEK – Columbia Fireflies (New York Mets) - A Acquired: Minor league free agent (2017, originally signed by Kansas City) HRBEK'S PRO PLAYER BIO Signed midway through the 2019 season by the Mets, Hrbek shined for the Columbia Fireflies. Used as a relief pitcher who could throw multiple innings in every appearance, Hrbek finished the season with a 3.12 ERA in 20 appearances, which totaled 40.1 innings. Hrbek's swing-and-miss offerings were showcased as well, as the right-hander struck out 50 batters in those 40.1 innings, compared to just 11 walks.
	AUSTIN ROSS – Clearwater Threshers (Philadelphia Phillies) - A-Advanced Acquired: June 2018 Draft - 35th Round (1037th overall, by Philadelphia) ROSS' PRO PLAYER BIO Ross continued his ascent through the Phillies' minor league system, playing his first full season in the organization in 2019. Ross spent the entire campaign with the Clearwater Threshers of the Florida State League (A-Advanced), appering in 38 games and recording a 3.66 ERA. Ross was extremely effective against right-handed hitters during the 2019 season, limiting them to a .218 average with 45 strikeouts against batters from that side.
	SPENCER HORWITZ – Vancouver Canadians (Toronto Blue Jays) - A-Short Season Acquired: June 2019 Draft - 24th round (717th overall, by Toronto) HORWITZ'S PRO PLAYER BIO Horwitz continued to hit after being drafted in June by Toronto, earning a promotion from Bluefield (Rookie) to Vancouver (A-Short Season) during his first half-season in the Blue Jays Organization. Horwitz hit .330 and had 49 RBI in 51 games for the Bluefield Blue Jays and had eight hits in nine games for Vancouver following his promotion to the Canadian club.