BOONE, N.C. — Three years after being selected in the MLB Draft, Appalachian State alum Jaylin Davis is an All-Star in the Minnesota Twins' organization.
As an outfielder for the Single A Advanced Fort Myers Miracle, Davis has been named a Florida State League All-Star. He began this month hitting .281 with four homers, 10 doubles, 11 RBIs, 20 runs and 19 walks in 41 games. During a recent six-game stretch, he went 11-for-21 (.524) with three doubles, one homer and five runs scored.
The All-Star game will be held June 16 at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Fla.
In addition to Jeremy Dowdy, who is in his second season as a bullpen catcher for the Oakland Athletics, the list of recent Appalachian alums in uniform for professional teams also includes 2015 draft pick Jeffrey Springs (Double A), 2015 draft pick Dillon Dobson (Double A) and 2017 draft pick
Matt Brill (Single A).
Chandler Seagle, another 2017 draft pick, began this season in extended spring training as a catcher in the San Diego Padres organization.
Playing for the Frisco RoughRiders, the Double A affiliate of the Texas Rangers, Springs is 2-1 with one save, a 4.73 ERA and a whopping 56 strikeouts in 32.1 innings. He has had four difficult outings in 17 appearances, but he's allowed one run and given up 17 hits over his other 25.1 innings. In his last three outings, he's struck out 15 batters over 7.2 scoreless innings.
The 25-year-old Springs was the second-youngest of 15 pitchers who received non-roster invites to the Rangers' big league camp.
Pitching for the Kane County Cougars about two hours from his hometown of Coal Valley, Ill., Brill is 4-1 with six saves, a 3.52 ERA and 25 strikeouts in 23.0 innings.
Aside from back-to-back difficult outings on April 28 and May 1, Brill has allowed three earned runs and just 13 hits over his other 20.1 innings.
Playing for the Richmond Flying Squirrels, the Double-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants, the left-handed-hitting Dobson has five home runs and 18 hits in 97 at-bats. He was placed on the seven-day disabled list earlier this month.
