LIONS LINE DRIVES

Hedges, Lewis lead robust crop of JSerra alumni in pro baseball

BY ZACH CAVANAGH

As major and minor league baseball eye the second half of their seasons coming out of the All-Star break, let’s check in on some of the many JSerra Catholic High School graduates in pro baseball:

Austin Hedges

In his ninth season in the major leagues, Hedges is the longest-tenured big-league Lion. After a long stint with the San Diego Padres upon being drafted in the second round in 2011 and two-plus years with Cleveland, the 30-year-old catcher is in his first season with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

In 59 games, Hedges is hitting .179 with 14 RBIs and a home run with 26 runners caught stealing and 56 defensive assists.

Royce Lewis

The 2017 No. 1 overall pick of the Minnesota Twins is now an established major league presence after recovering from his second ACL surgery.

Lewis is hitting .326 with 15 RBI and four home runs in 26 games, while helping turn seven double plays and racking up 35 defensive assists from third base.

The 24-year-old is currently on the 10-day injured list nursing a left oblique strain.

LIONS IN TRIPLE-A

Davis Wendzel (Class of 2016) is hitting .249 with 46 RBIs and 17 home runs in 76 games for the Round Rock Express. The 26-year-old shortstop was selected 41st overall by the Texas Rangers out of Baylor in 2019.

Chase Strumpf (2016) is hitting .180 with 19 RBIs and six home runs in 29 games for the Iowa Cubs. The 25-yearold second baseman also drove in 21 runs with seven home runs in 37 games with the Double-A Tennessee Smokies. Strumpf was drafted in the second round by the Chicago Cubs out of UCLA in 2019.

Micah Pries (2016) is hitting .241 with 31 RBI and 11 home runs in 81 games for the Columbus Clippers. The 25-year-old first baseman was drafted in the 13th round by Cleveland in 2019 out of Point Loma Nazarene. His brother, Jake Pries, (2015) officially retired from the Single-A Tampa Tarpons last October.

Other Lions In Pro Ball

Eric Silva (2021) moved back down to rookie ball last week after 15 games with the High-A Eugene Emeralds, where he posted a 5.66 ERA over 49 1/3 innings. The 20-year-old right-hander was drafted in the fourth round by the San Francisco Giants in 2021.

Tyler Gough (2022) has posted a 6.11 ERA over 28 innings in eight starts with 22 strikeouts and a 1-3 record for the Single-A Modesto Nuts. Gough was drafted in the ninth round last season by the Seattle Mariners.

Michael Curialle (2019) is hitting .278 with 37 RBIs, 44 runs scored, 39 walks and five stolen bases in 44 games for the Single-A Palm Beach Cardinals. The 22-year-old third baseman was drafted in the 12th round by the St. Louis Cardinals out of UCLA last year.

Blake Klassen (2019) was recently promoted from rookie ball to the Single-A Fredericksburg Nationals. In seven games, the 22-year-old first baseman has scored two runs on four hits with two walks. Klassen was drafted last year in the 17th round by the Washington Nationals out of UC Santa Barbara. CD