Vols In Pro Ball: Beck Makes MLB Debut, Multiple Prospects Impressing

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – As the nights get longer, the weather gets hotter and the sounds of baseball fill the air, former Tennessee Volunteers across the country are starting to find their rhythm as the major league and minor league baseball seasons roll on into their second month of action.
 
Jordan Beck became the newest VFL to reach the big leagues, becoming the 47th in program history and fifth of the Tony Vitello era. He joins Trey Lipscomb as the two former Vols to make their way to The Show this season.
 
Down on the farm, Chase Dollander and Blade Tidwell are putting the baseball world on notice every time they toe the rubber. Tidwell leads the Eastern League (Double-A) in ERA (1.23), WHIP (0.85) and batting average against (.155) while Dollander leads the Northwest League (High-A) in strikeouts and is second in batting average against (.136). Dollander is rated as the No. 46 prospect in baseball and the eighth-best right-handed pitcher by MLB Pipeline.
 
Andre Lipcius has also stood out in the early going, posting a .319/.367/.605 slash line for Triple-A Oklahoma City. After being traded to the Dodgers organization this offseason, the infielder has mashed nine home runs, second-most on the team, and leads the club in batting average.
 
Read more about the starts of all 34 former Vols below:
 

Vols in the MLB

Jordan Beck – OF, Colorado Rockies
Season: 6 G, 21 AB, 3 H, 3 TB, 11 K, .143 AVG, .143 OBP, .143 SLG

Earned his big-league call-up on April 30, starting his first career game that night against the Miami Marlins. Beck got a hit in his first MLB at-bat and finished the game with a pair of knocks. He has started all six games since being elevated to the big club.

 

Beck is the No. 72 overall prospect according to MLB Pipeline, while also being the Rockies No. 4 prospect.

 

Garrett Crochet – LHP, Chicago White Sox

Season: 8 App, 8 GS, 2-4, 5.31 ERA, 40.2 IP, 32 H, 24 R, 24 ER, 9 BB, 53 K, 1.01 WHIP, .211 BAA

Marvelous in his most recent outing on Sunday afternoon (5/5) at St. Louis during which he fired six innings, allowing just three baserunners and one run, while punching out six in a 5-1 victory. Crochet is tied for second in the MLB in strikeouts this season (53) and ranks 18th in WHIP.

 

Yan Gomes – C, Chicago Cubs

Season: 18 G, 52 AB, 4 R, 10 H, 17 TB, 1 2B, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 19 K, .192 AVG, .192 OBP, .327 SLG

Starting to find his rhythm at the plate for the Cubs, posting nine hits in the month of April…