San Jose State
Mustangs in the Pros: Johnson Returns to the Mound; Howard Honored
5/9/2018 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
MUSTANGS IN THE PROS (pdf)
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — Former Cal Poly right-hander Chase Johnson made his first appearance on the mound in more than a year Tuesday night for the Richmond Flying Squirrels.
Johnson (pictured above at right) pitched three scoreless innings, facing the minimum nine batters and striking out two, but the bullpen could not hold the lead as Richmond fell to Akron 6-5. Johnson worked around an infield base hit in the first inning and an error in the second frame thanks to a caught stealing and double play.
In that same game, ex-Mustang infielder Mark Mathias went 2-for-3 with a walk for Akron. He has eight multiple-hit games, including a pair of three-hit contests, and is hitting .278 with 15 RBI in 28 games.
Johnson, who pitched for the Sacramento River Cats in 2017, made his last appearance April 22 before undergoing Tommy John surgery last May.
Meanwhile, Spencer Howard (pictured above at left) was named the Philadelphia Phillies' Minor League Co-Pitcher of the Month for April. At Lakewood of the South Atlantic League, Howard has struck out 32 batters and walked just four so far this season en route to a 2-2 record and 3.68 ERA.
Casey Bloomquist, struck in the head by a comebacker in mid-April, has not given up a run in his last four outings (5 2/3 innings) and has no record with a 3.07 ERA for the Myrtle Beach Pelicans of the Carolina League.
Infielder Peter Van Gansen is hitting .290 for the San Antonio Missions in the Texas League. In his first four games this month, Van Gansen is 6-for-15 (.400) to lift his average 35 points.
Cal Poly has two former players in the Major Leagues.
Outfielder Mitch Haniger of the Seattle Mariners has seven multiple-hit games and is No. 6 in the Majors with 28 RBI while his 10 home runs are No. 7. He is hitting .289 with a .612 slugging percentage.
Read a story on MLB.com about Haniger's huge jumps in exit velocity and launch angle by clicking here.
Relief pitcher Bud Norris has earned seven saves in seven opportunities with his seventh Major League team, the St. Louis Cardinals. He has a 1-0 record (the win was against the Chicago White Sox on May 1) with a 2.60 ERA.
Former Mustangs playing in Triple-A are infielder Mike Miller (Pawtucket and outfielder Zack Zehner (Scranton-Wilkes Barre).
Playing in Double-A are Chase Johnson at Richmond, Chris Hoo at Jacksonville, Mark Mathias at Akron, Brian Mundell at Hartford and Peter Van Gansen at San Antonio.
Follow all former Mustangs in the pro ranks by clicking the link at the top of the page.
