COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou has been well represented in the Major Leagues once again this season as five former Tigers have played professionally so far in 2015. Several are making huge impacts as teams hit the home stretch of the schedule in September. Below is a look at how these players have faired so far this year.
Ian Kinsler – Second Base – Detroit Tigers
Kinsler has been one of the better hitters in all of baseball since he first entered the league in 2006 and this season has been no different. The second baseman is hitting .299 on the year with 10 home runs and 68 RBI. He's been remarkably consistent despite Detroit's season-long struggles, leading the league with 568 at bats.
Max Scherzer – Pitcher – Washington Nationals
Scherzer has dominated this season on the Nationals squad, posting a 12-11 record with a 2.91 ERA and 231 strikeouts. He's been Washington's workhorse throughout the year, tossing at least six innings in 26 of 29 contests. The St. Louis native was at his best in late June when he threw two consecutive shutouts and notched his first career no-hitter.
Kyle Gibson – Pitcher – Minnesota Twins
A third-year professional, Gibson has put together his best season yet with a 10-10 record and a 3.71 ERA over 29 starts with Minnesota. He's helped lead a surprising Twins team that is trying to chase down a playoff berth for the first time since 2010. Most recently, he tossed 7.2 shutout innings, allowing just five hits and a walk against seven strikeouts in a 7-0 win over the White Sox.
Matt Stites – Pitcher – Arizona Diamondbacks
Stites has made eight appearances for the Diamondbacks as a reliever this season and has fallen on some hard luck, posting an 8.53 ERA in 6 1/3 innings of work. Arizona still has high hopes for the former 17th-round draft pick, however, as he's just a year removed from a very impressive season in the minors.
Ryan Lollis – Outfielder – San Francisco Giants
Lollis debuted with the Giants as a 28-year-old rookie on July 4 and went on to appear in five games for San Francisco before returning to the minors. He tallied two hits in his brief stay in the Majors and could be in line for a promotion soon as he's hitting .330 with four home runs for triple-A Sacramento.
Aaron Crow – Pitcher – Miami Marlins
Crow figured to be a significant piece of the Marlins bullpen in 2015 but an elbow injury has sidelined him for the entire season. A former All-Star, Crow spent four successful seasons with the Kansas City Royals before the Marlins traded for him this past offseason.
Nick Tepesch – Pitcher – Texas Rangers
The former 14th-round draft pick has made 39 starts for the Rangers over the past two seasons but injured his arm in spring training and hasn't pitched since.