FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Six former Sharks have continued their success on the diamond as we have reached the Major League Baseball All-Star break.
J.D. Martinez has taken Major League Baseball by storm. Since June 15, Martinez leads the MLB in average (.405), home runs (10), hits (45), RBI (29), slugging (.784) and OPS (1.214). For the past few weeks, Martinez has been hitting fourth in the Detroit Tigers' order behind the former Triple Crown winner, Miguel Cabrera, which has allowed Martinez to do serious damage. Martinez's teammate, Torii Hunter, was quoted in a CBS Detroit article saying, "What he's doing right now is crazy. This is something I hadn't seen in a while, since Trout and Miguel." Martinez's stellar first-half has landed him a
feature on MLB Tonight. Martinez will look to continue his success after the All-Star break when the Tigers take on the Cleveland Indians this Friday, July 18.
Miles Mikolas was recently called up to the Texas Rangers for the second time this year after spending most of 2014 with the Rangers' Triple-A affiliate, the Round Rock Express. In his three starts with the Rangers, Mikolas has thrown 14.1 innings while recording 12 strikeouts. In Mikolas' latest outing against the Los Angeles Angels, he struck out former World Series MVP David Freese, and former American League MVP Josh Hamilton. Mikolas is scheduled to start on Monday, July 21 against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium.
After being called up to the Milwaukee Brewers in early June,
Mike Fiers was sent back down to the Brewers' Triple-A affiliate, the Nashville Sounds, on June 26. Although Fiers was demoted to Triple-A, he was impressive during his time with the Brewers. In four outings with the big league club, Fiers struck out five batters and registered an ERA of 2.57. In his last three outings with the Sounds, Fiers has tossed 18 innings while striking out 19 batters and surrendering just three walks. Fiers is scheduled to start Saturday, July 19 against the Oklahoma City Redhawks where he intends to continue his success with the Sounds.
Carlos Asuaje has been hitting cleanup for the Greenville Drive where he has been nothing short of a nightmare for every South Atlantic League pitching staff. Not only does Asuaje lead the league in triples (11) and slugging (.557), he is in the top 10 in runs (58), hits (98), doubles (24), home runs (11), RBI (71), total bases (175), walks (40), OBP (.399) and OPS (.957). Asuaje is now the 33
rd ranked prospect in the Boston Red Sox organization according to SoxProspects.com, and is making a serious case for a promotion to the Red Sox's Double-A affiliate, the Portland Sea Dogs.
Nick Avila has decided to hang up the cleats and take his talents back to South Florida to begin his scouting career with the Detroit Tigers. Avila's retirement comes after spending four years in the Tigers organization where he pitched in 88 games in four years while striking out 110 batters. "It's hard to give this game up," Avila told the Erie Times-News. "This is just an opportunity I can't pass up. I know where my career is. I'm 25 and soon to be 26, and starting as a scout now is big for me." Avila will be a scout the southern Florida area for the Tigers and work with the Tigers' vice president of amateur scouting.
Brett Clements is playing for the Houston Astros rookie-ball affiliate, the Greeneville Astros. Clements has played five games so far and has collected two hits. including a double against the Tampa Bay Rays' rookie-ball affiliate, the Princeton Rays, on June 23.
For the latest NSU news and results, be sure to visit
www.NSUSharks.com. To have results sent directly to your cell phone via text message, sign up for SMS text message delivery by
clicking here. For the latest news, be sure to sign up for the Shark Alert E-newsletter by
clicking here.
