Baseball Bears in the Pros: Summer 2026 Update
July 24, 2026 | Baseball
SPRINGFIELD – Missouri State currently has 22 baseball alumni playing professionally who were drafted or signed from the program, including five on Major League Baseball rosters. Stats are current through July 23, 2026.
MLB (5)
Drake Baldwin, Atlanta Braves – The reigning National League Rookie of the Year earned the start at catcher for the NL in the All-Star game, becoming the second Bear to appear in the Midsummer Classic. Baldwin is batting .275 with 19 home runs and 55 RBI this season.
Jake Burger, Texas Rangers – In 98 games, the Rangers' first baseman is hitting .237 with 17 homers, 61 RBI and a .419 slugging percentage.
Pierce Johnson, Cincinnati Reds – Johnson has pitched in 33 games in relief in his first season in Cincinnati, going 2-1 with a save in 29 innings with 26 strikeouts.
Hayden Juenger, Athletics – Juenger became the 25th Bear to play in the Majors on May 31 when he debuted with Toronto and was traded to the Athletics on June 27. He allowed one run in 2.1 innings with two strikeouts in his July 22 debut with that organization.
Drew Millas, Washington Nationals – Now in his fourth MLB season, Millas has two home runs and 11 RBI in 130 at bats over 50 games.
MiLB (9)
Caden Bogenpohl, FCL Phillies – Bogenpohl was drafted 64th overall in 2026 and received his first assignment on July 24. The second-rounder will begin his pro career with Philadelphia's Florida Complex League team.
Jake Eddington, Jersey Shore BlueClaws (High-A Philadelphia) – Eddington has made 26 relief appearances for the BlueClaws, striking out 26 batters in 32 innings with a .200 opponent average and 2.81 ERA.
Jackson Holmes, Stockton Ports (Single-A Athletics) – Holmes owns a 4.28 ERA in 22 relief outings with two saves, striking out 32 batters in 27.1 innings.
Eric Loomis, Frisco Roughriders (Double-A Texas) – Loomis has fanned 49 batters in 31.1 innings for the Roughriders, earning three saves with a 3.45 ERA in 29 relief appearances.
Jake McCutcheon, Jupiter Hammerheads (Single-A Miami) – McCutcheon is hitting .184 with five homers, 31 RBI and eight stolen bases in 68 games.
Hayden Minton, Erie SeaWolves (Double-A Detroit) – Minton was promoted to Double-A on June 23 and has a 3.42 ERA across 16 starts and 17 total appearances. He has 71 strikeouts in 71 innings while holding opponents to a .203 average.
Spencer Nivens, Northwest Arkansas Naturals (Double-A Kansas City) – Now in his second season with Northwest Arkansas, Nivens is hitting .269 with seven home runs and 37 RBI in 62 games, and 11 stolen bases and a .444 slugging percentage.
Nick Rodriguez, Rocket City Trash Pandas (Double-A Los Angeles Angels) – Already in Double-A for his first full pro season, Rodriguez is hitting .282 in 85 games, slugging 25 doubles for the Huntsville, Ala., based club.
Brandt Thompson, Springfield Cardinals (Double-A St. Louis) – Thompson has split time in Springfield and at Triple-A Memphis this season, combining for a 3-3 record and 5.07 ERA with 81 strikeouts in 76.1 innings. He has started 11 games and appeared in relief on eight occasions.
Independent (7)
Jackson Beaman, Joliet Slammers (Frontier League) – Beaman is slugging .536 with nine homers, nine doubles and 22 RBI in 36 games with the Slammers.
Carter Bergman, Missoula Paddleheads (Pioneer League) – Bergman recently signed to play in the Pioneer League and has yet to debut with the Paddleheads.
Bryce Cermenelli, Missoula Paddleheads (Pioneer League) – Cermenelli is batting .400 through his first 20 games with 17 extra-base hits and a .667 slugging percentage.
Taeg Gollert, Trois-Rivières Aigles (Frontier League) – Gollert went 2-for-5 with an RBI in his pro debut on July 23 for the Quebec-based club.
Gabe Roessler, Hagerstown Flying Boxcars (Atlantic League) – Roessler had a double and drove in two runs for Hagerstown in his July 23 pro debut.
Jason Schaaf, Ogden Raptors (Pioneer League) – Schaaf has thrown at least six innings in all five of his starts, starting his pro journey with a 3-0 record and 3.18 ERA with 28 strikeouts in 34 innings.
Lance Wade, Glacier Range Riders (Pioneer League) – Wade is 2-1 in 13 relief appearances, striking out 19 hitters in 19.2 innings for the Kalispell, Mont., based team.
Other (1)
Riyan Rodriguez, Party Animals (Banana Ball) – Rodriguez is in his third season as a member of the Party Animals.
