Locals In MLB: Spring Training Dog Days Settle In As Locals Fight For Roster Spots

SALT LAKE CITY – Former two-time Pac-12 Player of the Year C.J. Cron is in the Sunshine State with the Boston Red Sox while two other former Utah locals were sent to minor league camp as spring training continues across  Arizona and Florida for all 30 MLB teams.

Locals In MLB: Following Nine Former Beehive State Stars In Big League Camps

Should Drew Thorpe break camp with the Padres?

Article via @cfahrenthold11 #Padres https://t.co/VJHtjFyRvi pic.twitter.com/WnOdBKxZm4

— East Village Times (@EVT_News) March 9, 2024

BYU Cougars

Michael Rucker | Pitcher

MLB – Philadelphia Phillies

Rucker spent the past three seasons pitching out of the Chicago Cubs bullpen but was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies after being designated for assignment by the Cubs during the offseason.

RELATED: Former BYU Hurler Traded To Phillies

The 6’1, 29-year-old righty has allowed one hit and hit one batter in two spring innings with the Phillies. He made his 2024 Spring Training debut against Boston on February 26.

2023 Stats: 2-1 | 4.91 ERA | 40.1 IP | 40 Ks | 19 BB | 1.438 WHIP

Career Stats: 3 Yrs | 96 appearances | 5-2 | 4.91 ERA | 123.1 IP | 120 Ks | 50 BB | 1.39 WHIP

Utah Utes (4)

C.J. Cron | First Base

The 6’4 slugger signed a minor league contract with the Boston Red Sox on March 3 after injuries limited him to 71 games in 2023.

The Boston Red Sox have signed 1B CJ Cron to a minor league deal with an invitation to Spring Training. Thank you @CCron24 for your contributions to the Angels and wish you the best in Boston! pic.twitter.com/JF0kKXGcpc

— Angels News (@AngelsNews27) March 2, 2024

Cron made his MLB debut in 2014 with the Angels. He has played for the Angels (twice), Tampa Bay Rays, Minnesota Twins, Detroit Tigers, and Colorado Rockies. Cron is a free agent after finishing 2023 with the Angels following a mid-season trade from Colorado.

Career Stats: 10 Yrs | 1,049 Games | .260 BA | 187 HR | 194 (2B)

Porter Hodge | Pitcher | Cottonwood HS

Double-A Tennessee – (Chicago Cubs)

He made his first spring appearance, closing out the Cubs’ 8-1 win over the Chicago White Sox. Hodge allowed one hit and one walk and struck out one in one inning of work.

Porter Hodge, another 40-man addition in November, with a mighty good inning. I tentatively expect he'll open the season in the Double-A bullpen, with a bump to Iowa around midseason. But, once you're on the 40-man, you never know. Sometimes he flashes really premium stuff.

— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) March 8, 2024

The 6’4 righthander has given up three hits and struck out five against three walks in four innings for Chicago this spring. Hodge enters the season as the 26th-ranked prospect in the Cubs system according to MLB.com.

Hodge was optioned to Double-A on March 8.

2023 Stats: 6-7 | 5.13 ERA | 80.2 IP | 103 K | 49 BB | 1.401 WHIP

Oliver Dunn | 2B

Double-A – (Milwaukee Brewers)

Listed at 5’10 and 198 pounds, Dunn hits lefthanded and throws righthanded.

He is hitting .227 with five RBI and two stolen bases in 22 at-bats this spring.

2B/3B Oliver Dunn

Acquired: Traded to Crew from Phillies this offseason

Measurables: 5’10”, 198 lbs, 26 years old

Cliff Notes: Dunn is an older prospect that has demonstrated a major league level bat in the last two seasons in the minors. While the lefty does not project as an… https://t.co/oov9MYKQuj pic.twitter.com/HGxopQiVaR

— The Brew Crew Scoop (@BrewCrewScoop) March 10, 2024

2023 Stats: .271 BA | 113 Hits | 21 HR | 78 RBI | 16 SB | 139 K | 82 BB

Tanner Banks | Pitcher | Salt Lake Bruins/Riverton HS

MLB – (Chicago White Sox)

The Chicago White Sox selected the 6’1 lefthander in the 18th round of the 2014 draft. Banks made his MLB debut with the White Sox in 2022.

Tanner Banks 3u, 3d w/ 2K's. As deceptive with great command as ever. pic.twitter.com/Icav3mYyCj

— FutureSox (@FutureSox) March 7, 2024

Former Utah High Schoolers Show Personality In Chicago White Sox Video

The 6’1 lefty made his spring debut against the Royals on February 29, allowing one hit in two innings of work. Banks has allowed three hits and one earned run while striking out nine in 5.2 innings.

Career Stats: 2 Yrs | 67 Games | 3-4 | 3.79 ERA | 114 IP | 51 K | 34 BB | 1.23 WHIP

Other Utah Colleges (2)

Logan Porter | Catcher | Utah Tech Trailblazers

MLB – Kansas City Royals

Porter is a non-roster invitee in Major League camp with the Royals this spring. The righthanded backstop has one hit (.071 BA) in nine games this spring.

Salvy, Fermin, Sandy Leon and Logan Porter all getting work in this morning. #Royals pic.twitter.com/VNxytbanKj

— Jack Johnson (@JohnyJ_15) February 18, 2024

2023 Stats: 11 games | .194 BA | 6 hits | HR | 3 RBI

Joe Barlow | Pitcher | Salt Lake Bruins/Riverton HS

MLB – Chicago White Sox

Barlow signed a minor league deal with the Chicago White Sox as a free agent following the 2023 season. He made his first appearance of the spring in the White Sox 8-1 loss to the Chicago Cubs. He walked one batter in one inning of work.

Barlow has been out with shoulder since since February 23.

#mlb #WhiteSox

Right-handers Jimmy Lambert and Joe Barlow will be sidelined from spring training work for a couple of weeks due to injuries. Lambert, out of options, is hopeful to make the Opening Day roster. Barlow, a non-roster invitee, may be out… https://t.co/hZM6509WGB

— MLB Digest (@mlbpressdigest) February 29, 2024

2023 Stats: 1-1 | 4.66 ERA | 9.2 IP | 6Ks | 1.55 WHIP

Career Stats: 3 Yrs | 79 Games | 4-4 | 3.05 ERA | 73.2 IP | 61 K | 27 BB | 1.0 WHIP

Utah Prep Athletes (3)

Ky Bush | Pitcher | Fremont HS

Double-A Birmingham – (Chicago White Sox)

Bush was traded to the Chicago White Sox organization at the 2023 MLB trade deadline, finishing the season at Double-A Birmingham.

#WhiteSox make 12 roster moves: pic.twitter.com/cdbwSTuvm9

— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) March 8, 2024

The left-hander 6’6 lefty allowed three hits and struck out two in two innings against the Texas Rangers in his only spring appearance so far. He was optioned to minor league camp on March 8.

RELATED: Former Fremont Pitcher Takes Center Stage At MLB Futures Game

2023 Stats: 6.91 ERA | 4-8 | 17 games | 71.2 IP | 78 K | 37 BB | 1.647 WHIP

Payton Henry | Catcher | Pleasant Grove HS

Triple-A Buffalo – (Toronto Blue Jays)

The right-handed hitting Henry is in major league camp with the Blue Jays as a non-roster invitee.

Payton Henry (1)
Spring Training🌴

Opponent: Philadelphia Phillies
Pitcher: Noah Skirrow
Date: 3/9/24pic.twitter.com/Nw2L6DzIS5

— TOR Home Runs (@TOR__HR) March 9, 2024

The righthanded hitting backstop is hitting .417 with a home run and three RBI in 12 spring training at-bats.

2023 Stats: .294 BA | 9 HR | 35 RBI

Drew Thorpe | Pitcher | Desert Hills HS

TBD – (San Diego Padres)

A 2023 second-round pick of the New York Yankees, Thorpe was one of five players sent to the San Diego Padres in a trade return for star outfielder Juan Soto.

The Drew Thorpe Changeup 👀 pic.twitter.com/tZgaUbPnAG

— Sammy Levitt (@SammyLev) March 6, 2024

Thorpe is in major league camp with the Padres as a non-roster invitee. In two spring appearances, the 6’4 righthander has five strikeouts in three innings.

2023 Stats: 2.52 ERA | 14-2 | 139.1 IP | 182 K | 38 BB | 0.983 WHIP

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Brian Preece is a KSLsports.com insider covering the Utah State Aggies, Locals in MLB, and Salt Lake Bees. Follow Brian’s Bees, Beehive baseball, and Aggie athletics coverage here.

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