Cards in the Pros
July 22, 2025 | Baseball
Midseason Update
Ball State baseball alumni are represented at every level of professional baseball including the two newest draft picks in Dylan Grego and Jacob Hartlaub, who were selected by the San Diego Padres and the Tampa Bay Rays, respectively, in the Major League Baseball Draft on July 14. Below is a look at how former Ball State baseball players have fared in the first half of the 2025 season.
Merritt Beeker (Nationals system) – Beeker has struck out 50 in 43.0 innings pitched for the Low-A Fredericksburg Nationals in his first full professional season. The left-handed pitcher boasts a 2.51 ERA and 1.16 WHIP so far this year working primarily out of the bullpen after being drafted in the 11th round in 2024 by Washington.
Ryan Brown (Dodgers system) – Brown boasts the top strikeouts per nine innings ratio (16.30) in all of Minor League Baseball among pitchers with at least 30 innings of work. The 2023 ninth round pick has 64 punchouts in 35.1 innings pitched with a 4.33 ERA and 1.44 WHIP so far this year for the Low-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes.
Alex Call (Washington Nationals) – Call has been a steady presence in Washington and has slashed .275/.375/.379 in 182 at bats for the Nationals this year. The outfielder's stat line includes nine doubles, two triples, two home runs, 21 RBI, 25 walks and 28 runs scored while making multiple highlight reel plays defensively in the outfield.
Zach Cole (Astros system, No. 19 prospect by MLB.com) – Cole totes one of the hottest bats in the minors and has tallied 10 doubles, two triples, 13 home runs, 34 RBI, 35 runs and 13 stolen bases overall this season. The outfielder pounded out seven homers and 15 RBI in six games between June 29 and July 5 for the Double-A Corpus Christi Hooks as part of his third full season on the Houston farms.
Hunter Dobbins (Tigers system) – Dobbins had a home run among his seven hits with four RBI and five runs scored in 19 games for the FCL Tigers before recently being promoted to the High-A West Michigan Whitecaps.
Drey Jameson (Diamondbacks system) – Jameson returned to the mound after missing the 2024 season due to injury and claimed a save in his season debut with the Diamondbacks on April 20 at Wrigley Field. The 2019 first round pick is on a rehab assignment with the ACL D-backs.
Ty Johnson (Rays system, No. 19 prospect) – Johnson has struck out 88 in 64.0 innings of work so far this year with the Double-A Montgomery Biscuits. The left-handed pitcher boasts a 4-3 record, 2.81 ERA and 0.98 WHIP in 17 games (11 starts) in his first full season in the Tampa Bay organization after being acquired from the Cubs at the 2024 trade deadline.
Chayce McDermott (Orioles system, No. 3 prospect) – McDermott was called up to Baltimore twice in May to make a pair of appearances including a start and struck out seven in 7.2 frames. The righthander has notched 44 punchouts in 43.0 innings pitched in 11 starts with the Triple-A Norfolk Tides.
Kyle Nicolas (Pirates system) – Nicolas has split time between Pittsburgh and the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians this season, tossing 12.0 innings in two separate stints for the Pirates with eight strikeouts. The righthander is currently at Indianapolis where he's posted a 3.86 ERA, four saves and 44 strikeouts in 30.1 frames this year.
Trennor O'Donnell (Red Sox system) – O'Donnell struck out 24 in 23.0 innings pitched and posted a 4.70 ERA for the Low-A Salem Red Sox before being shut down for the season on July 1 due to injury. The righthander was named the Carolina League Pitcher of the Week on April 27.
Zach Plesac (Cardinals system) – Plesac signed with St. Louis in June and has made seven starts for the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds, compiling 18 strikeouts in 26.2 innings of work.
Tyler Schweitzer (White Sox system, No. 20 prospect) – In stints with the Double-A Birmingham Barons and Triple-A Charlotte Knights, Schweitzer has a 3-2 record and 56 strikeouts in 63.0 frames in 18 games (10 starts). The lefty got called up to Triple-A after striking out 13 in 10.0 innings of one-run ball (none earned) over his first two starts of the year with the Barons.
Ty Weatherly (Orioles system) – Weatherly has started in seven out of his 12 games pitched for the High-A Aberdeen IronBirds, producing 39 strikeouts in 38.0 innings of work.
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Merritt Beeker (Nationals system) – Beeker has struck out 50 in 43.0 innings pitched for the Low-A Fredericksburg Nationals in his first full professional season. The left-handed pitcher boasts a 2.51 ERA and 1.16 WHIP so far this year working primarily out of the bullpen after being drafted in the 11th round in 2024 by Washington.
Ryan Brown (Dodgers system) – Brown boasts the top strikeouts per nine innings ratio (16.30) in all of Minor League Baseball among pitchers with at least 30 innings of work. The 2023 ninth round pick has 64 punchouts in 35.1 innings pitched with a 4.33 ERA and 1.44 WHIP so far this year for the Low-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes.
Alex Call (Washington Nationals) – Call has been a steady presence in Washington and has slashed .275/.375/.379 in 182 at bats for the Nationals this year. The outfielder's stat line includes nine doubles, two triples, two home runs, 21 RBI, 25 walks and 28 runs scored while making multiple highlight reel plays defensively in the outfield.
Zach Cole (Astros system, No. 19 prospect by MLB.com) – Cole totes one of the hottest bats in the minors and has tallied 10 doubles, two triples, 13 home runs, 34 RBI, 35 runs and 13 stolen bases overall this season. The outfielder pounded out seven homers and 15 RBI in six games between June 29 and July 5 for the Double-A Corpus Christi Hooks as part of his third full season on the Houston farms.
Hunter Dobbins (Tigers system) – Dobbins had a home run among his seven hits with four RBI and five runs scored in 19 games for the FCL Tigers before recently being promoted to the High-A West Michigan Whitecaps.
Drey Jameson (Diamondbacks system) – Jameson returned to the mound after missing the 2024 season due to injury and claimed a save in his season debut with the Diamondbacks on April 20 at Wrigley Field. The 2019 first round pick is on a rehab assignment with the ACL D-backs.
Ty Johnson (Rays system, No. 19 prospect) – Johnson has struck out 88 in 64.0 innings of work so far this year with the Double-A Montgomery Biscuits. The left-handed pitcher boasts a 4-3 record, 2.81 ERA and 0.98 WHIP in 17 games (11 starts) in his first full season in the Tampa Bay organization after being acquired from the Cubs at the 2024 trade deadline.
Chayce McDermott (Orioles system, No. 3 prospect) – McDermott was called up to Baltimore twice in May to make a pair of appearances including a start and struck out seven in 7.2 frames. The righthander has notched 44 punchouts in 43.0 innings pitched in 11 starts with the Triple-A Norfolk Tides.
Kyle Nicolas (Pirates system) – Nicolas has split time between Pittsburgh and the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians this season, tossing 12.0 innings in two separate stints for the Pirates with eight strikeouts. The righthander is currently at Indianapolis where he's posted a 3.86 ERA, four saves and 44 strikeouts in 30.1 frames this year.
Trennor O'Donnell (Red Sox system) – O'Donnell struck out 24 in 23.0 innings pitched and posted a 4.70 ERA for the Low-A Salem Red Sox before being shut down for the season on July 1 due to injury. The righthander was named the Carolina League Pitcher of the Week on April 27.
Zach Plesac (Cardinals system) – Plesac signed with St. Louis in June and has made seven starts for the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds, compiling 18 strikeouts in 26.2 innings of work.
Tyler Schweitzer (White Sox system, No. 20 prospect) – In stints with the Double-A Birmingham Barons and Triple-A Charlotte Knights, Schweitzer has a 3-2 record and 56 strikeouts in 63.0 frames in 18 games (10 starts). The lefty got called up to Triple-A after striking out 13 in 10.0 innings of one-run ball (none earned) over his first two starts of the year with the Barons.
Ty Weatherly (Orioles system) – Weatherly has started in seven out of his 12 games pitched for the High-A Aberdeen IronBirds, producing 39 strikeouts in 38.0 innings of work.
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