Everyone likes see the local athlete succeed. That’s why we created SGFers in the Bigs, a snapshot of where they are playing and how they are playing. Because it’s likely with all of these athletes, we’ve watched them do something incredible — and now we can all brag on them.

Ryan Howard, Philadelphia Phillies (Missouri State)

Even when Howard struggles to hit for average, he still keeps his slugging percentage healthy. He’s only 7 for his last 35 (.200), but three of them are homers, giving him 9 on the season. Also, Howard has struck out at least once in 9 of his last 10 games. But then again, when you produce when you do make contact, can anyone complain?

Team	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
Phillies	38	146	2	39	9	1	9	35	15	46	0	0	.267	.337	.527	.865

Shaun Marcum, Milwaukee Brewers (Missouri State)

Marcum picked up the win in his last start, despite allowing 5 earned runs against San Diego over 6 innings. But, he earned a tough-luck no decision on May 5 at Atlanta, pitching 7 innings, allowing only 1 run and striking out 8. He’s been just as good as everyone expected, and his success comes from not walking hitters. He has 12 walks and 50 strikeouts in 49 2/3 innings.

Team	W-L	ERA	G	GS	CG	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	BAA
Brewers	4-1	2.72	8	8	0	49 2/3	42	17	15	4	12	50	.226

Brad Ziegler, Oakland Athletics (Missouri State)

Work has been hard to come by for the former Missouri State ace, but he’s making the best of it. He allowed a hit in two-thirds of an innings on May 9 at Texas with a strikeout. Ziegler is being used as a specialist, pitching just 1 2/3 innings over a stretch of four appearances. That’s great work, if you can get it. Ziegler is yet to allow an earned run on the season.

Team	W-L	ERA	G	Hold	Save	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	BAA
Athletics	0-0	0.00	14	2	1	10 2/3	10	4	0	0	3	9	.233

Jeff Gray, Chicago White Sox (Missouri State)

Gray is owning his role of garbage time, going 10 days between appearances. But when he gets chances, he is pitching well. He pitched three scoreless innings at Los Angeles on May 10, striking out three and allowing two hits and a walk. His ERA is down to 2.70 and he’s not giving management any reasons not to keep him on the roster.

Team	W-L	ERA	G	Save	Hold	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	BAA
White Sox	0-0	2.70	6	0	0	13 1/3	13	4	4	1	4	7	.255

Scott Elbert, LA Dodgers (Seneca HS)

Elbert was called up to the Bigs on Tuesday, but is yet to see action. He was getting save opportunities at Triple-A Albuquerque, and is now the lone lefthanded reliever in the Dodgers’ bullpen, as he replaces 2010 All Star Hong Chih Kuo. We with Elbert the best, and hope he can stick.

Team	W-L	ERA	G	Save	Hold	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	BAA
Triple-A Albuquerque	2-0	5.02	13	3	0	14 1/3	13	9	8	1	9	16	.236

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SGFers in the Minors

Matt Palmer, Los Angeles Angels Triple-A (Missouri State)

Things haven’t been pretty for Palmer in his three starts after being demoted to Triple-A from the big league club. On May 13, he lasted only 3 2/3 innings, allowing 8 runs (all earned) on five hits and four walks. We know it’s not from a lack of talent, because his big league numbers were much tidier. We hope he can get it back together and earn another spot start or two in the Bigs.

Minors

Team	W-L	ERA	G	GS	CG	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	BAA
Salt Lake City	0-3	10.67	3	3	0	15 2/3	16	17	17	2	11	14	.302

MLB

Team	W-L	ERA	G	GS	CG	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	BAA
Angels	1-0	4.22	2	2	0	10 2/3	13	6	5	0	2	5	.302

Ross Detwiler, Washington Nationals Triple-A (Missouri State)

May hasn’t been kind to Detwiler. After getting roughed up for 7 runs on 2 2/3 innings on May 1, he allowed 4 runs and 11 hits in 6 2/3 innings on May 13 against Durham. His ERA is at 4.76 and hitters are batting .333 against him, but there is a silver lining. After being injured almost all of 2010, he’s pitching deep into games. He’s averaging nearly 6 innings per start over his first 7.

Team	W-L	ERA	G	GS	CG	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	BAA
Triple-A Syracuse	2-3	4.76	7	7	0	39 2/3	53	21	21	2	12	29	.333

Lucas Harrell, Chicago White Sox Triple-A (Ozark HS)

Harrell had his best start of the season, allowing just one run over 6 innings, striking out 9. It’s that type of talent that drives Chicago crazy. Consistency has been Harrell’s biggest hurdle, but over his last three starts, he’s allowed just 5 runs over 17 innings and struck out 18 batters. And, the walks are down, with just 15 in 37 Triple-A innings.

Team	W-L	ERA	G	GS	CG	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	BAA
Triple-A Charlotte	2-2	4.14	7	6	0	37	37	17	17	3	15	32	.262

Scott Carroll, Cincinnati Reds Triple-A (Missouri State)

Carroll had his worst start of the season May 10 at Rochester, allowing 7 runs and 9 hits in 5 innings, walking 5 and striking out only 3. He’s been more of an innings eater, rather than an ace as his ERA has ballooned to 5.09 in 40 2/3 innings. His splits are interesting, though. In four home starts, he’s 1-0 with a 3.28 ERA, but in three road starts, he’s 0-1 with a 7.88 ERA. Hmmm.

Team	W-L	ERA	G	GS	CG	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	BAA
Triple-A Louisville	1-1	5.09	7	7	0	40 2/3	54	26	23	5	15	25	.316

Toby Gardenhire, Minnesota Twins Triple-A (Missouri State)

Gardenhire is starting to get some regular time, and hit his second home runs of the season May  5 against Gwinnett. He’s hit in three straight games, too. Gardenhire is hitting .333 in 24 day game at-bats, too. Also, Gardenhire is hitting .375 (6-for-16) when he’s behind in the count.

Team	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
Triple-A Rochester	18	50	4	12	2	0	2	8	4	8	0	1	.240	.296	.400	.696

Matt Lawson, Cleveland Indians Double-A (MSU & Carl Junction HS)

In his last 10 games, Lawson is struggling, hitting .179/.226/.250 with only two RBIs. His plate discipline is still shaky, walking just two times in 30 plate appearances in that span, and his overall numbers are troublesome, too. Lawson has been trade twice, which means his services are in demand. We just hope he can work his way out of his current hole.

Team	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
Double-A Akron	24	75	6	18	4	1	1	6	7	18	0	2	.240	.298	.360	.658

Buddy Baumann, KC Royals Double-A (MSU & Rogersville HS)

Baumann has recovered after a rough stretch.On Monday, he pitched 4 innings out of the ‘pen, allowing two run (one earned), even though he picked up the loss. But, we might see Baumann’s career path working itself out — as a lefthanded specialist. Against righties, he has a 10.32 ERA and hitters are batting .389 against him. But, in 6 innings against lefties, his ERA is 1.50 and hitters are batting .227.

Team	W-L	ERA	G	Save	Hold	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	BAA
Double-A NWA	0-2	7.27	8	1	0	17 1/3	26	18	14	3	11	16	.342

Matt Frevert, STL Cardinals Double-A (Missouri State)

Frevert has allowed runs in three straight appearances, including a loss on May 7 to Arkansas. The work has pushed his ERA to 7.94 and is a part of a shaky Springfield bullpen. He should bounce back because he has mastered every level thus far, but the walks (8) outnumber the strikeouts (7).

Team	W-L	ERA	G	SV	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	BAA
Double-A SGF	1-1	7.94	13	0	17	20	15	15	4	8	7	.299

Pat Doyle, Cincinnati Reds High-A (Missouri State)

Expect to see Doyle in a Double-A bullpen before long. While he’s allowed runs in his last three appearances, his numbers are still stupid. His ERA is 2.16, and he’s struck out 35 hitters in 25 innings. He just allowed his first home run of the season, and it was in the 25th inning.

Team	W-L	ERA	G	GS	SV	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	BAA
High-A Dayton	2-0	2.16	10	0	1	25	22	8	6	1	7	35	.227

Dallas Hord, Florida Marlins High-A (Missouri State and Ozark HS)

Hord was placed on the disabled list on April 26 and is yet to be activated. We hope it doesn’t mean he will get jumped by his replacement when he’s healthy. He’s still a stellar defensive catcher.

Team	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
High-A Jupiter	9	27	1	6	0	0	0	2	1	10	2	0	.222	.250	.222	.472

Mike Kickham, SF Giants Low-A (Missouri State and Glendale HS)

After missing the first month of the season because of a blister developed in Spring Training, Kickham made his professional debut on Friday night — and it was a success. He was expected to start the season at High-A San Jose, but he debuted at Low-A Augusta and proved he might already be too advanced for it. He struck out 5 in 4 innings, allowing just one run. Congrats, Mike.

Team	W-L	ERA	G	GS	CG	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	BAA
Low-A Augusta	0-0	2.25	1	1	1	4	3	1	1	0	0	5	.200

Josh Mazzola, SF Giants Low-A (Missouri State)

We might be seeing the beginning of the end for Mazzola. After starting the season quickly, Mazzola is hitting .121 (4-for-33) in his last 10 games with a double and three RBIs. Yes, that makes his slugging percentage .152. As a 25-year-old in Low-A, that’s not a good sign.

Team	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
Low-A Augusta	32	123	13	25	4	0	3	13	11	33	3	0	.203	.283	.309	.592

Wait, I thought they were in pro baseball…

• Other locals like Brett Sinkbeil (Pirates), Aaron Meade (Angels), Tyler Clark (Tigers) and Seth Conner (Blue Jays) are still property of big league clubs, but haven’t been assigned to a full-season club, yet.