Cards in the Pros
October 16, 2024 | Baseball
2024 Season in Review
Ball State baseball alumni have completed their 2024 professional seasons. The year was highlighted by four former Cardinals playing in the Major Leagues, while four are considered top prospects by MLB.com. Below are summaries of the campaigns for some former Ball State baseball players.
Merritt Beeker (Nationals system) – Beeker was drafted in the 11th round by Washington after turning in a Mid-American Conference Pitcher of the Year campaign in his first and only season at Ball State. The left-hander struck out seven in 6.1 innings of work for Low-A Fredericksburg to officially begin his professional career. Beeker's Fredericksburg Nationals won the Carolina League Championship over Kannapolis on Sept. 18.
Ryan Brown (Dodgers system) – The 2023 ninth round selection spent the year rehabbing from injury in the Dodgers organization. Brown hopes to make his professional debut in 2025.
Alex Call (Nationals) – Call hit a combined 14 home runs, 22 doubles and 64 RBI between Washington and Triple-A Rochester during the 2024 season. The outfielder moved to the top of the Nationals' batting order in August before his season ended on Aug. 24 due to a foot injury. Call slashed .343/.425/.525 in 99 at bats for Washington, playing in 30 games in his third season in the Major Leagues.
Zach Cole (Astros system, No. 6 prospect by MLB.com) – The 2022 tenth round pick hit 11 homers, 18 doubles and 38 RBI while stealing 15 bases and scoring 33 runs this year playing primarily for Double-A Corpus Christi. Cole, a left-handed hitting outfielder, was named the Texas League Player of the Week on July 14 after going 9-for-17 at the plate with two home runs, two doubles and eight RBI in only five games.
Hunter Dobbins (Tigers system) – Dobbins was signed as an undrafted free agent by Detroit after hitting 18 home runs to tie for the fourth-most in Ball State history. The catcher was assigned to the FCL Tigers to begin his professional development.
Drey Jameson (Diamondbacks) – The 2019 first round selection who made his MLB debut in 2022 spent the year rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. Jameson looks to return to the mound in 2025 and build on his career 6-1 record, 2.63 ERA and 61 strikeouts in 65 innings pitched at the big league level.
Ty Johnson (Rays system, No. 30 prospect) – Johnson was dealt to the Rays by the Cubs at the trade deadline in his first professional season. The right-hander struck out 120 in 84 innings with a 2.79 ERA and 1.00 WHIP between Low-A Myrtle Beach and High-A South Bend in the Cubs organization and High-A Bowling Green with the Rays. Johnson went 2-1 with a 0.78 ERA and 39 strikeouts in 23 innings with the Hot Rods after the trade to Tampa Bay.
Chayce McDermott (Orioles system, No. 5 prospect) – Baltimore's top pitching prospect made his Major League debut on July 24 at Miami, striking out three in 4.0 innings of 3-run ball. McDermott spent the majority of the year at Triple-A Norfolk and struck out 144 in 100 innings of work while boasting a 3.78 ERA and .219 batting average against.
Kyle Nicolas (Pirates) – Nicolas established himself as a mainstay in Pittsburgh's bullpen after being called up on April 26, holding a 3.95 ERA and 2-2 record in 54.2 innings with 55 strikeouts for the year.
Trennor O'Donnell (Red Sox system) – The 2023 eighth round pick racked up 71 strikeouts in 63 innings pitched with a 4.00 ERA and 1.38 WHIP with the Low-A Salem Red Sox in his first professional season.
Zach Plesac (Angels) – The right-handed pitcher went 1-1 in 12 innings in three starts with Los Angeles and spent most of the year at Triple-A Salt Lake, where he went 5-7 with a 5.69 ERA in 99.2 innings. Plesac enters the offseason as a free agent.
Tyler Schweitzer (White Sox system, No. 19 prospect) – Schweitzer went 7-9 with a 4.02 ERA and 136 strikeouts in 25 starts between High-A Winston-Salem and Double-A Birmingham. The left-hander has posted a career 3.99 ERA and 1.27 WHIP in 239.1 innings pitched with 257 strikeouts in two seasons as a professional. Schweitzer's Birmingham Barons toppled the Montgomery Biscuits on Sept. 24 to win the Southern League Championship.
Ty Weatherly (Orioles system) – Weatherly boasted a 2.02 ERA and 1.09 WHIP with 48 strikeouts in 35.2 innings for Low-A Delmarva. The right-hander will look to expand upon that success for a full season in 2025, as he missed two months in the middle of the campaign due to injury.
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Merritt Beeker (Nationals system) – Beeker was drafted in the 11th round by Washington after turning in a Mid-American Conference Pitcher of the Year campaign in his first and only season at Ball State. The left-hander struck out seven in 6.1 innings of work for Low-A Fredericksburg to officially begin his professional career. Beeker's Fredericksburg Nationals won the Carolina League Championship over Kannapolis on Sept. 18.
Ryan Brown (Dodgers system) – The 2023 ninth round selection spent the year rehabbing from injury in the Dodgers organization. Brown hopes to make his professional debut in 2025.
Alex Call (Nationals) – Call hit a combined 14 home runs, 22 doubles and 64 RBI between Washington and Triple-A Rochester during the 2024 season. The outfielder moved to the top of the Nationals' batting order in August before his season ended on Aug. 24 due to a foot injury. Call slashed .343/.425/.525 in 99 at bats for Washington, playing in 30 games in his third season in the Major Leagues.
Zach Cole (Astros system, No. 6 prospect by MLB.com) – The 2022 tenth round pick hit 11 homers, 18 doubles and 38 RBI while stealing 15 bases and scoring 33 runs this year playing primarily for Double-A Corpus Christi. Cole, a left-handed hitting outfielder, was named the Texas League Player of the Week on July 14 after going 9-for-17 at the plate with two home runs, two doubles and eight RBI in only five games.
Hunter Dobbins (Tigers system) – Dobbins was signed as an undrafted free agent by Detroit after hitting 18 home runs to tie for the fourth-most in Ball State history. The catcher was assigned to the FCL Tigers to begin his professional development.
Drey Jameson (Diamondbacks) – The 2019 first round selection who made his MLB debut in 2022 spent the year rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. Jameson looks to return to the mound in 2025 and build on his career 6-1 record, 2.63 ERA and 61 strikeouts in 65 innings pitched at the big league level.
Ty Johnson (Rays system, No. 30 prospect) – Johnson was dealt to the Rays by the Cubs at the trade deadline in his first professional season. The right-hander struck out 120 in 84 innings with a 2.79 ERA and 1.00 WHIP between Low-A Myrtle Beach and High-A South Bend in the Cubs organization and High-A Bowling Green with the Rays. Johnson went 2-1 with a 0.78 ERA and 39 strikeouts in 23 innings with the Hot Rods after the trade to Tampa Bay.
Chayce McDermott (Orioles system, No. 5 prospect) – Baltimore's top pitching prospect made his Major League debut on July 24 at Miami, striking out three in 4.0 innings of 3-run ball. McDermott spent the majority of the year at Triple-A Norfolk and struck out 144 in 100 innings of work while boasting a 3.78 ERA and .219 batting average against.
Kyle Nicolas (Pirates) – Nicolas established himself as a mainstay in Pittsburgh's bullpen after being called up on April 26, holding a 3.95 ERA and 2-2 record in 54.2 innings with 55 strikeouts for the year.
Trennor O'Donnell (Red Sox system) – The 2023 eighth round pick racked up 71 strikeouts in 63 innings pitched with a 4.00 ERA and 1.38 WHIP with the Low-A Salem Red Sox in his first professional season.
Zach Plesac (Angels) – The right-handed pitcher went 1-1 in 12 innings in three starts with Los Angeles and spent most of the year at Triple-A Salt Lake, where he went 5-7 with a 5.69 ERA in 99.2 innings. Plesac enters the offseason as a free agent.
Tyler Schweitzer (White Sox system, No. 19 prospect) – Schweitzer went 7-9 with a 4.02 ERA and 136 strikeouts in 25 starts between High-A Winston-Salem and Double-A Birmingham. The left-hander has posted a career 3.99 ERA and 1.27 WHIP in 239.1 innings pitched with 257 strikeouts in two seasons as a professional. Schweitzer's Birmingham Barons toppled the Montgomery Biscuits on Sept. 24 to win the Southern League Championship.
Ty Weatherly (Orioles system) – Weatherly boasted a 2.02 ERA and 1.09 WHIP with 48 strikeouts in 35.2 innings for Low-A Delmarva. The right-hander will look to expand upon that success for a full season in 2025, as he missed two months in the middle of the campaign due to injury.
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Players Mentioned
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