Buffalo Bulls Baseball Alumni in the Pros

Tampa Bay (schedule) : Steve Geltz

After finishing his season last year with the Rays UB's Steve Geltz earned a spot on the Tampa Bay Devil rays opening day roster. Geltz has been in the show before but this is his first season starting in the bigs.

In the Rays first two games against Baltimore Geltz used a rising fast ball and well placed splitter to provide 2.1 innings of relief. He has yet to surrender a hit, has fanned four, and has walked just one. It is of course very early this season but Geltz looks like hes got his game together for a full season of work.

In game one Geltz faced four batters, striking out the lot of them. According to some sources he is the first Pitcher in recorded MLB history to face more than three batters and strike them all out on opening day. The following day Geltz again faced four batters, this time he walked one but still kept the O's hitless and scoreless during his inning.

New Britain ( Colorado Rockies : AA ) - Tom Murphy

Murphy was powering his way though the farm systems but hurt his shoulder half way through last season. He opened up spring with the Twins. The club thinks highly of Murphy and wanted to give him some exposure to the bigs. he went 2-9 at the plate and when camp was winding down Murphy was assigned to New Britain.

Colorado Rockies' first spring cuts include Rosell Herrera, Tommy Murphy - Purple Row
Murphy, 23, has a pair of singles and two walks in nine plate appearances. The University of Buffalo product impressed Rockies brass last spring and was thought to be on the fast track to the majors before a shoulder injury derailed his second full professional season. Murphy will probably begin 2015 at Double-A New Britain after managing a .213/.321/.415 line in 27 games at that level a year ago.

The Rock Cats replace Tulsa as Coorado's double A team this season. If Murphy comes out of the gate strong he may work his way up to the Albuquerque Isotopes (AAA) before the season is over.

Fort Myers ( Minnesota Twins : Advanced A) - Jason Kanzler

Jason Kanzler returns to Fort Myers this season. Last year Kanzler became something of a hero for the Advance A club. In his first playoff game, Kanzler delivered a game-tying grand slam for Fort Myers. In the fourth game of the series he hit an 11th inning homer which provided the Miracle the series winning run and their first ever league title.

If Kanzler moves up this season it will be to AA Chattanooga.

Aberdeen ( Baltimore Orioles : Short A ) - Mike Burke

Burke moved up from the rookie league to the short A rung pretty quickly last season but was unable to get to Delmarva this season. Instead of moving to the Orioles full A team he will stay with the Iron Birds, who don't start playing until June.

Burke told Bull Run that he is continuing with extended spring training. "I may start out with the iron birds or I might get called up to another team". The pitcher continued "But for right now I'm an Iron Bird".

Cedar Rapids ?? ( Minnesota Twins : A ) - Tyler Mautner

Tyler Mautner left UB after getting drafted in his Junior season. He had a decent run last season with the Twins' rookie team in Elizibethtown but hurt his shoulder during spring training.

Because of the injury he has not been assigned to a team. I'm not sure if his 120+ at bats last season for Elizibethtown would make him ineligible for a rookie squad or not. Right now he is healing up and waiting for a spot to open, perhaps in Ceder Rapids which is the A level affiliate of the Twins.