Several baseball players who played high school baseball, college baseball, or both in the state of Oklahoma are giving it a go in professional baseball.
This offseason we will take a look at how they did in 2023 and in some cases, how they’ve been doing overall or their or their prospect for the future.
We will be looking at the players who are on an affiliated baseball team’s roster – those in a MLB team’s organization.
- For a look at the AL East clubs, click here: AL East
- For a look at the AL Central clubs, click here: AL Central
*Slash line: AVG/OBP/SLB
Houston Astros
Affiliates
- AAA – Sugar Land Space Cowboys
- AA – Corpus Christi Hooks
- High A (A+) – Asheville Tourists
- A – Fayetteville Woodpeckers
Players
- Austin Hansen, Sugar Land Space Cowboys (AAA), RHP, OU ’16-’18
2023 Stats: G 35, GS 6, 84.0 IP, 2-2, 3 SV (5 SVO), 6.86 ERA, 85 Ks, 64 BB
Hansen has had a rough go in his career. Drafted in the 8th round of the ’18 MLB Draft, Hansen pitched well the remainder of ’18 and the full ’19 season. Then the pandemic hit in 2020 and Hansen didn’t pitch. He struggled through an injury riddle season at AAA in 2021, then he missed 2022. So coming into the 2023 season, Hansen hadn’t pitched a full season the last 3 years. He was invited to Spring Training as a non roster invitee and spent all of ’23 in AAA.
- Rhett Kouba, Sugar Land Space Cowboys (AAA), RHP, El Reno High School ’18
2023 Stats: G 28, GS 24, 128 IP, 8-7, 3.45 ERA, 136 Ks, 37 GG
The 2021 12th round draftee out of Dallas Baptist made some impressive moves this year. Kouba started and spent most of the season in AA where his ERA was 3.27 in 110.0 innings pitched. He was called up to AAA in August. Kouba is the 9th rated top prospect in the Astros system according to MLB.com and was named the Texas League Pitcher of the Year.
- Nic Swanson, Asheville Tourists (A+), RHP, Bixby High School ’18/Northeastern State ’19-’21
2023 Stats: G 26, GS 17, 116 IP, 5-4, 3.34 ERA, 121 Ks, 39 BB
The 2021 16th round pick out of NSU in Tahlequah had really good 2023 season. Swanson started the season in Fayetteville (A) before getting the call to A+, Asheville on June 26. While in Fayetteville, Swanson saw action in 14 games (7) starts and had an ERA of 2.61 in 58.2 IP.
Swanson saw more of a starter role in Asheville where he had 10 starts in 12 appearances.
- Jackson Loftin, Fayetteville Woodpeckers (A), SS, Oral Roberts ’22
2023 Stats: G 120, .213/.330/.325, OPS .655, 9 HR, 47 RBI
The 2022 pick in the 13th round pick got a brief, weekend call up to AAA in June where he went 5 for 13 with 4 BB, 3 2B, and 2 RBI in four games.
- Colby Langford, FCL Astros (Rookie), LHP, Blanchard High School ’21, Murray State College ’22-’23
2023 Stats: G 4, GS 1, IP 5.1, 1-0, 5.06 ERA, 6 K, 4 BB
The Blanchard Lion and Murray State Aggie was a 17th round draft pick in the 2023 draft. He saw limited action in 5 appearances.
Los Angeles Angels
Affiliates
- AAA – Salt Lake Bees
- AA – Rocket City Trash Pandas
- High A (A+) – Tri-City Dust Devils
- A – Inland Empire 66ers
Players
- Bryce Osmond, Rocket Trash Pandas (AA), RHP, Jenks High School ’19/Oklahoma State ’20-22
2023 Stats: G 23, GS 23, 96.2 IP, 4-9, 4.28 ERA, 100 K, 47 BB
The 2022 15th round pick spent most of the season a A, Tri-Cities where he had an ERA of 3.55 in 20 starts and 83.2 IP.
- Mac McCroskey, Rocket City Trash Pandas (AA), 2B, Eastern OK State College ’20-’21/Oral Roberts ’22-’23
2023 Stats: G 45, .231/.344/.269, .613 OPS, 3 2B, 18 RBIs
McCroskey was fresh off a CWS run with the Golden Eagles when he was drafted in the 20th round of the 2023 MLB Draft. After just 4 games in Rookie ball, the Angels promoted him defensive specialist to AA where he spent the rest of the season.
- Roman Phansalkar, Inland Empire 66ers (A), RHP, Heritage Hall High School ’17/Oklahoma State ’19-’22
2023 Stats: G 36, GS 0, 57.2 IP, 6-3, 3.28 ERA, 59 K, 28 BB
Phansalkar may currently be on the Empire’s roster, but he spent most of the 2023 season at High-A, Tri-Cities. He made 27 appearances for Tri-Cities and had an ERA of 3.30 in 43.2 IP. He also had lower BAA (.197) and WHIP (1.12) than he did at A, Inland Empire (.212 and 1.50 respectively)
He was drafted in the 7th round of the 2022 MLB Draft.
Oakland A’s
Affiliates
- AAA – Las Vegas Aviators
- AA – Midland RockHounds
- High A (A+) – Lansing Lugnuts
- A – Stockton Ports
Players
- Brady Basso, Midland RockHounds (AA), LHP, Oklahoma State ’17-’19
2023 Stats: G 20, GS 17, 63.1 IP, 4-4, 2.42 ERA, 64 K, 15 BB
The 2019, 16th round draft pick has had a rough go of it as a professional pitcher. After an impressive 15 game, 1.75 ERA 2019 short season, Basso didn’t pitch in 2020 due to Covid. In July of 2021, Basso was put on the IL and missed the rest of 2021 and all of 2022 due to Tommy John surgery.
Basso spent most of the ’23 season at High-A, Lansing where he had an ERA of 2.64 in 15 games in which 12 were starts.
Basso is the 29th top A’s prospect according to MLB.com.
- Caeden Trenkle, Midland RockHounds (AA), CF, Oklahoma State ’20-’22
2023 Stats: G 45, .262/.346/.393, .739 OPS, 8 HR, 38 RBI
Trenkle was drafted in the 9th round of the 2022 MLB Draft. After a solid 2022 season after he was drafted, Trenkle started the 2023 season at High-A Lansing before he went on the IL for a month an a half in early May. After coming back on June 27, Trenkle was promoted less than a month later to Midland where he spent the rest of the season and saw the most action in ’23.
- Luke Anderson, Lansing Lugnuts (A+), RHP, University of Central Oklahoma ’20-’21
2023 Stats: G 12, GS 0, 18.1 IP, 2-0, 7.36 ERA, 16 K, 22 BB
After being promoted to High A after a full 2022 season at A, Stockton Ports, Anderson’s season was cut short in June with injury. He was put on the IL retroactive to June 16 and did not see action the rest of 2023.
- Jonah Cox, Stockton Ports (A), OF, Eastern OK State ’22, Oral Roberts ’23
2023 Stats: G 35, .287/.366/.403, .769 OPS, 2 HR, 3 2B, 3 3B, 15 RBI
The 6th round draft pick from the 2023 MLB Draft had himself a good showing in the 35 games he got in 2023. Cox had a 47 game hitting streak this past season at ORU and hit safely in all but 2 games for the Golden Eagles.
Cox is the 28th top prospect for the A’s according to MLB.com.
Seattle Mariners
Affiliates
- AAA – Tacoma Rainiers
- AA – Arkansas Travelers
- High A (A+) – Everett AquaSox
- A – Modesto Nuts
Players
- Kaden Polcovich, Arkansas Travelers (AA), 2B, Deer Creek High School ’17, Oklahoma State ’20
2023 Stats: G 42, .176/.319/.316, .635 OPS, 3 HR, 16 RBI
The Deer Creek Antler alum had a rough year with injuries in 2023. After being invited to the Mariners’ Spring Training as a non roster invitee, Polcovich started the season on the IL. He was sent to the Mariners’ rookie team on rehab assignment on June 19 and officially came off the IL on July 13. Unfortunately, he had another short stint on the IL in late August.
- Brock Rodden, Modesto Nuts (A), 2B, Oktaha High School ’19, Seminole State ’20-’21
2023 Stats: G 34, .311/.366/.450. OPS .816, 2 HR, 20 RBI
The Oktaha Tiger and Seminole State Trojan alum was taken in the 5th round of the 2023 MLB Draft. In his shorten 2023 professional debut season, Rodden was outstanding. It seemed like every other day Rodden was getting big hit after big hit.
He’s not currently in the top 30 prospects for Seattle according to MLB.com, but it is hard to imagine if he has another season in ’24 like he did in ’23, he wouldn’t be on there and moving up the Seattle organization.
Texas Rangers
Affialiates
- AAA – Round Rock Express
- AA – Frisco RoughRiders
- High A (A+) – Hickory Crawdads
- A – Down East Wood Ducks
Players
- Andrew Heaney, Texas Rangers, LHP, Putnam City HS ’09, Oklahoma State ’10-’12
2023 Stats: G 34, GS 28, 147.1 IP, 10-6, 4.15 ERA, 151 Ks, 60 BB
The veteran had a good first season with the Rangers. He was used primarily as a starter but moved into a reliever’s role late in the season. Perhaps his biggest moment of the entire season was his game 4 start for the Rangers in the World Series. He got the win and his final line was 5 IP, 4 H, R, ER, 2 BB, 3 K.
The former overall 9th pick in the 2012 Draft has one more year left on his contract with the Rangers.
- Jon Gray, Texas Rangers, RHP, Chandler High School ’10, Eastern OK State ’11, Oklahoma ’12-’13
2023 Stats: G 29, GS 29, 157.1 IP, 9-8, 4.12 ERA, 142 K, 54 BB
The former Lion/Mountaineer/Sooner had a solid season with the Rangers. Much like Heaney though, his biggest impact for the Rangers came in the postseason. After missing the Division round of the postseason with injury, Gray was used as a reliever the rest of the way. In 3 appearances Gray pitched 5.2 innings striking out 8 and only walking 1. He came in on short notice in game 3 of the World Series and pitched 3 scoreless innings for the win.
- Matt Whatley, Round Rock Express (AAA), C, Claremore High School ’14, Oral Roberts ’15-’17
2023 Stats: G 70, .203/.289/.322, .611 OPS, 6 HR, 25 RBI
The former Zebra and Golden Eagle has been in the minors since he was drafted in 2017. On November 6, Whatley elected to become a free agent.
- Dane Acker, Frisco Rough Riders (AA), RHP, Oklahoma ’20
2023 Stats: G 18, GS 18, 67.1 IP, 1-1, 2.54 ERA, 76 K, 36 BB
Acker has had injury plagued professional career. The 2020 draftee (4th round) didn’t play that season due to the pandemic. He made only 2 appearances in 2021 and 9 in 2022. This past season saw him make the most appearances (18) with all of them starts.
Acker started the season with A+ Hickory, but it started on the IL. He was activated on May 24 and after 4 starts he was promoted to AA, Frisco.
If he stays injury free and keep his performance up like his ’23 campaign, Acker should rise through the Rangers’ farm system.
- Izack Tiger, Down East Wood Ducks (A), RHP, Del City High School ’19
2023 Stats: G 3, GS 1, 4.0 IP, 0-0, 2.25 ERA, 4 K, 2 BB
Tiger was drafted in the 7th round of the 2023 MLB Draft. Even though he is on the Wood Ducks roster, his 3 appearances in ’23 were all with the Rangers’ rookie team.
Sooner State Baseball Report 
Leave a reply to Oklahomans In The Pros: National League Central – Sooner State Baseball Report Cancel reply