Red Raiders in the MLB: Former Texas Tech baseball players get promoted, make their professional debut

There has been a lot of movement in the Minors with former Red Raider baseball players. As mentioned in last week’s Red Raiders in the MLB update, pitcher Ty Damron was promoted to the Stockton Ports from the Beloit Snappers. Damron was signed by the Oakland A’s in 2016 and has appeared in three games with the Snappers since his promotion.

Another Red Raider was promoted this week. Matt Custred, a pitcher selected by the Atlanta Braves in 2015 and who later signed with the Los Angeles Angels in 2018, was assigned to the Inland Empire 66ers from the Salt Lake Bees. The 66ers are a Class A Advanced affiliate of the Angels.

Robert Dugger, a right-handed pitcher selected in the 2016 draft by the Seattle Mariners and later traded to the Miami Marlins in 2017, was recently named to the Top 30 Prospects for the Marlins. Dugger landed at No. 22 on the list.

On July 1, Grant Little made his professional debut with the Tri-City Dust Devils, a Class-A Short Season minor league team. Little started in center field and went 2-4 with two RBIs, a walk, and was named the Toyota of Tri Cities Wow Moment of the Game. On July 2, Little played in his second game with the Dust Devils and went 1-4 with an RBI, and was again named the Toyota of Tri Cities Wow Moment of the Game.

Zach Rheams also made his professional debut on July 2 with the Kingsport Mets, an Appalachian League advanced rookie team affiliated with the New York Mets. Rheams started in left field and went 1-3 and scored a run.

Chad Bettis appeared in two games this week for the Colorado Rockies. On June 26, he pitched 6.1 innings against the San Francisco Giants. He gave up two earned runs on six hits, struck out four and walked four. On July 1, he pitched three innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He gave up two earned runs on two hits, struck out two and walked two. He came out of the game early against the Dodgers due to a “hot spot” on his right-middle finger that was causing him some discomfort.

Josh Tomlin played in three games for the Cleveland Indians this week. On June 26, he pitched three innings against the St. Louis Cardinals giving up no earned runs on four hits and striking out two. On June 30, Tomlin ran into some trouble against the Oakland A’s. In less than an inning pitched, he gave up three earned runs on two hits and walked two. He redeemed himself against the A’s the following day during his short outing. In one inning, he gave up no earned runs and one hit, while striking out one.

Kelby Tomlinson, Daniel Coulombe, Nathan Karns and A.J. Ramos are still not on the active rosters of their respective teams.