Kent State Well Represented in 2020 MLB Season
6/29/2020 3:46:00 PM | Baseball
KENT, OHIO- The initial rosters have been set for Major League Baseball's training camps in advance of the 2020 season and there are several Golden Flashes to look for this upcoming season.
The 2020 season will be played with a unique set of rules in regard to rosters. The 30 Major League Baseball teams submitted rosters and can have up to 60 players for "Spring Training" in preparation for the 2020 season. Up to 30 players will break "camp" with the team while the remainder will make up a "taxi squad" that will play scrimmages throughout the regular season and can be called up at any time.
Five Golden Flashes can be found across the 30 Major League Baseball teams initial camp rosters.
Toronto (2)-
Joey Murray (2016-18)-…Played three seasons with the Golden Flashes and was the Mid-American Conference Pitcher of the Year in 2017 and 2018. Murray struck out 141 hitters in 95 innings in 2018. He was taken in the eighth round of the 2018 draft by Toronto. In 2019, he reached AA New Hampshire, starting eight games for the Fisher Cats.
Travis Shaw (2009-11)-…Shaw played three seasons with the Golden Flashes before being taken in the 9th round by the Boston Red Sox, slugging 36 home runs in his Kent State career. Shaw played for two seasons with Boston (2015-16) before being traded to Milwaukee. After three seasons with the Brewers, Shaw signed with the Toronto Blue Jays prior to the 2020 season.
Arizona (1)-
Andrew Chafin (2009-11)-…Chafin was a Freshman All-American in 2009 after posting a 1.26 earned run average and eight saves in 55 innings. After missing the 2010 season, Chafin struck out 105 batters in 89 innings as a starter in 2011. He was drafted in the first round of the 2011 draft by the Diamondbacks. Working primarily out of the Diamondbacks' bullpen, Chafin broke into the bigs in 2014 and has pitched in over 70 games each of the last three seasons.
Milwaukee (1)-
Eric Lauer (2014-16)-…Lauer capped his three-year Kent State career with one of the best seasons on a college mound in recent history. Lauer went 10-2 with a 0.69 earned run average and 125 strikeouts in 104 innings. The earned run average was the lowest in college baseball since 1979. Lauer earned the National Pitcher of the Year award. San Diego took Lauer in the first round of the 2016 draft. Lauer was called up to the Padres in April of 2018 and started 52 games over two seasons in San Diego. After the 2019 season, Lauer was part of a five-player trade with the Milwaukee Brewers.
Seattle (1)-
Taylor Williams (2013)- …Williams made the most of his one season with the Golden Flashes after transferring from Mount Hood Community College in Oregon. Williams went 10-1 in 15 starts, striking out 110 in 105 innings. That effort earned him a fourth-round selection by the Milwaukee Brewers. He worked his way to the big-league club in 2017 and worked out of the Brewers' bullpen for three seasons. Following the 2019 season, Williams was picked up by the Seattle Mariners.
The 2020 Major League Baseball season will comprise of 60 games, 40 within their division and 20 with their inter-league counterpart. The season is scheduled to get underway on July 23rd and 24th.
