Saturday, June 20, 2015

Five NECBL alums have made major league debuts in 2015

After former Keene lefty Adam Conley was called up last week, five former NECBL players have made their major league debuts this season. Here's a look at how each of the five have fared in their first games and how they're playing so far in their brief careers.

Micah Johnson, 2B, White Sox (Vermont Mountaineers)
Johnson makes a play during a game against the Astros.
Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
A 2010 Mountaineer, Johnson hit .292 with 11 steals over 39 games. He made Chicago's Opening Day roster, making his major league debut against Kansas City. He collected his first big league hit on a single up the middle off of Royals ace Yordano Venutra.

He played in 27 games for the White Sox and hit at a .270 clip before being sent down to Triple-A. Johnson fared well at the plate, but his baserunning and defensive skills weren't at the level Chicago wanted.

Expect him to be back at the major league level soon, as Johnson is the future at second base for the White Sox. He's hitting .311 in 28 games for the AAA Charlotte Knights, and is currently the teams No. 4 prospect

Sean Gilmartin, LHP, Mets (North Shore Navigators)
Gilmartin has a 2.01 ERA and a WHIP under 1.
Elsa/Getty Images
Gilmartin was a member of the North Shore Navigators in 2009, a team that has since moved on to the Futures Collegiate Baseball League. Gilmartin only played in 11 games with North Shore, posting a .300 on-base percentage before moving to the mound in the years that followed.

He made his debut on April 10th after making his way onto the roster out of Spring Training, and struck out one of two batters he faced. Gilmartin has excelled since then out of the Mets bullpen, posting a 2.01 ERA over 24 appearances and 22 1/3 innings. He's utilized five pitches, using a 89-mph fastball, a 90-mph sinker and a 78-mph change the most.

Cody Stanley, C, Cardinals (North Adams SteepleCats)
Stanley during the Arizona Fall League last year.
Christian Peterson/Getty Images
Stanley made his major league debut as a pinch hitter against the Brewers, singled, got two more at-bats and was back down to Triple-A. With perennial All-Star Yadier Molina behind the plate in St. Louis, Stanley didn't have a chance to get significant playing time.

A star for the SteepleCats in 2008, Stanley was a second team All-NECBL selection after hitting .352 with five homers while driving in 25 runs. He also finished a point ahead of future Cardinals teammate Matt Adams to finish second in the batting title.

Currently with the Memphis Redbirds, Stanley is on the 7-day disabled list after suffering a concussion. He was hitting .210 in 41 games with 14 RBIs and a pair of homers.

Taylor Featherston, 3B, Angels (New Bedford Bay Sox)
Featherston dives back to first on a pickoff attempt.
Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images
Featherston, who is the Angel's utility infielder and capable of playing second, short and third, enjoyed a stellar half of a season with the Bay Sox in 2009. Featherston played in 21 games, slugging his way to a team-high eight extra base hits while batting .321 with a .418 slugging percentage.

He went 0-for-3 in his major league debut against the Royals on April 12th and grounded out to short in his first at bat. Featherston has only made two starts since then, but has appeared as a defensive sub and a pinch hitter. He's currently hitting just .100 in 36 games (four hits in 40 at bats).

Adam Conley, LHP, Marlins (Keene Swamp Bats)
Conley pitches for AAA New Orleans in '15. (MLB)
Conley was called up for four days after Bryan Morris went on the disabled list, threw a scoreless inning of reliever in his debut and was then optioned to Triple-A New Orleans. He pitched a 1-2-3 eighth in Toronto, needing just six pitches to set down the side.

A starter in Triple-A, Conley has posted a 2.50 ERA in 13 starts with the Zephyrs, striking out 46 in 70 innings of work. A second-round pick out of college, Conley posted what NECBL.com referred to as "arguably the finest pitching summer in NECBL history for Keene in 2009."

He didn't allow an earned run in 34 innings, posting an impeccable 0.00 ERA while striking out 37 and only allowing 14 hits over the course of the summer.


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