Athletes Beyond Bartow: MiLB updates for Cartersville natives Howard, Justus, and Seigler
The three local athletes at the Minor League Baseball level each had productive weeks in their respective leagues.
Pitcher Sam Howard made his fourteenth start of the year for Albuquerque this past weekend. Connor Justus continued a hot hitting streak, and Anthony Seigler continued his consistent work in the Rookie Gulf Coast League.
SAM HOWARD — Albuquerque Isotopes (5th yr. pro; LHP; Triple-A Pacific Coast League; Colorado Rockies organization; Georgia Southern; Cartersville HS)… made his 13th and 14th starts of the year for the Isotopes last week in games at El Paso and at home against Tacoma. Howard was tagged with the pitching loss July 2 at El Paso after allowing five earned runs on nine hits in five innings. He struck out five. Saturday’s six inning performance at home against Tacoma resulted in a no-decision for the southpaw. Howard yielded just one earned run on six hits and a walk. He fanned six. For the year, he has worked 68 innings for the ‘Topes and has a 3-6 record. Howard has struck out 55 and walked 26 with a 5.43 ERA. Albuquerque (44-45) is currently third in the PCL’s Pacific Southern Division and trails division leader El Paso by five games at the Triple-A all-star break. The Isotopes return to action Thursday through Sunday in a four-game series at Las Vegas.
CONNOR JUSTUS — Inland Empire 66ers (3rd yr. pro; MIF; Adv. Class A California League; L.A. Angels organization; Georgia Tech; Cartersville HS)… since his demotion from Double-A Mobile on June 22, the middle infielder’s bat has been productive. Justus has now hit safely in 13 of 16 games at Inland Empire (17 for 60, .283 BA) and has four, two-hit games with the 66ers. In his last 16 games, he has eight extra base hits including four doubles and four home runs with 13 RBI and five walks. In 73 MiLB games this season with Mobile and Inland Empire, Justus is now up to a .210 batting average in 248 official at bats. The 66ers (8-10, California League second half) already trail the South Division leading Rancho Cucamonga Quakes by eight games. The LA Dodgers’ affiliate is off to a 16-2 start in the second half. Inland Empire starts a four-game series at Lake Elsinore Monday night before returning home to host the Quakes in a four-game set Friday through Monday, July 16.
ANTHONY SEIGLER — GCL Yankees West (1st yr. pro; C; Rookie Gulf Coast League; NY Yankees organization; Cartersville HS)… As one of six catchers on the roster, Seigler has started half of his team’s fourteen games through Sunday. He has hit safely in six of those games with a pair of two-hit games. The switch-hitter is 8-for-21 (.381) with two RBI, two doubles, four runs scored, and five walks. Defensively behind the dish, Seigler has not committed an error and has denied two of nine would-be base stealers. The GCL Yankees West are currently 7-7 and trailing Tigers West by two games in the GCL Northwest Division. The Yanks West have a home doubleheader with Yankees East Tuesday followed by games this week at the GCL Braves, home against the GCL Phillies, and finish the week with road games at Phillies West, Tigers West, and the GCL Pirates.
