Howard keeps turn in rotation; Justus, Seigler continue contributions
As the final month of the 2018 minor league schedules begin to wind down, Cartersville's three professionals baseball players continue to make strides.
Connor Justus and Anthony Seigler have remained consistent at the plate this summer. Meanwhile, pitcher Sam Howard remained in the Albuquerque starting rotation a week after being forced from a game after taking a line drive to his throwing shoulder.
SAM HOWARD — Albuquerque Isotopes (5th-yr. pro; LHP; Triple-A Pacific Coast League; Colorado Rockies organization; Georgia Southern; Cartersville HS)… Although he had to leave the game in the first inning after being struck by a line drive in his start August 5, Howard was back in the Isotopes starting rotation Saturday night and tossed four innings in a no-decision outing eventually won by Albuquerque, 10-0. He did not allow a hit but issued a pair of walks and fanned five. For the year, Howard has a 3-6 record in 17 starts and 74.1 innings for Albuquerque. He has totaled 62 strikeouts and walked 29. The southpaw has also spent two brief stints with the Major League Rockies although he has only worked one inning at the MLB level. The Isotopes (55-64) are 12 1/2 games behind El Paso in the PCL Pacific Southern Division and are destined to miss the league’s post-season.
CONNOR JUSTUS — Inland Empire 66ers (3rd-yr. pro; SS; Advanced Class A California League; L.A. Angels organization; Georgia Tech; Cartersville HS)… continued a five-game hitting streak Sunday night and was 6-for-19 (.316) this past week at the plate with two RBI and a stolen base. He also scored five runs as his season batting average improved to .236 in time split between Double-A Mobile and Inland Empire. In his time with the 66ers, he has a .291 batting average in 46 games. Inland Empire (28-22, second half) is 8 games behind Rancho Cucamonga in the California League’s South Division. The 66ers host San Jose in a three-game series Monday through Wednesday before heading to Modesto for a three-game set that begins Friday.
ANTHONY SEIGLER — Pulaski Yankees (1st-yr. pro; C; Rookie Appalachian League; N.Y. Yankees organization; Cartersville HS)… was 5-for-22 (.227) with five RBI this past week in six starts. He also walked four times and scored a run. Seigler’s batting average is now .286 in 21 professional games in time split between the Gulf Coast League Yankees West and currently with Pulaski. He has one home run, three doubles, and nine RBI. Pulaski (24-28) is in fourth place in the Appy League’s East Division and trails Princeton by 8 games. The Yankees continue a three-game, home series with Danville through Tuesday and host Kingsport for a three-game series starting Thursday.
