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Rice Baseball: 2022 MLB Owls preseason roundup

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Rice baseball alums will take the diamond in the weeks to come as the 2022 season draws near. Here’s the latest on each of these MLB Owls.

Glen Otto – Texas Rangers

Otto was shipped from New York to Texas in a deadline deal between the Yankees and Rangers last season. He made his major league debut shortly after against the Astros, throwing five scoreless innings, striking out seven and allowing two hits.

He finished his debut season with a 9.26 ERA and a 1.714 WHIP. He struck out 28 batters across 23.1 innings, averaging 10.8 punchouts per nine innings. Early reports indicate h could be in the mix for one of the Rangers’ spots in the starting rotation this year.

Anthony Rendon – Los Angeles Angels

Hip surgery stole the majority of Anthony Rendon’s 2021 season. He appeared in 58 games before being shut down, the fewest outings (in any full 162-game season) of his professional career. Prior to the injury. Rendon was hitting .240 with a .712 OPS. He had 34 RBI in between stints on and off the injured list.

Rendon spoke with the media at the beginning of camp, addressing what it was like dealing with injury and looking forward to the season:

Tyler Duffey – Minnesota Twins

Duffey frequently worked as a set-up man in the seventh and eighth innings last season, setting a career-high in appearances with 64 outings while compiling a 3.18 ERA with a career-best three saves. He’s set to hit free agency following the 2022 season and could use a bounce-back campaign after seeing his strikeouts rates and walk rates go the wrong direction last year.

In the meantime, Duffey is enjoying the clubhouse this spring. “It seems like every day this week there’s been new faces overnight that have showed up and they’re all good ones,” he told Twins reporter Do-Hyoung Park. “It’s an exciting time. It’s one of the more memorable springs I can remember being here.”

Lucas Luetge – New York Yankees

Pitching in the majors for the first time since 2015, Luetge enjoyed an incredible resurgence last season. He made one start and 56 additional appearances as a reliever, ending the season with a 2.74 ERA and 78 strikeouts compared to just 15 walks.

Luetge is set to return to the Yankees bullpen once again this season where he’ll slide into his role as a middle reliever with the flexibility to go multiple innings when needed.

J.T. Chargois – Tampa Bay Rays

After spending the 2020 season overseas playing in Japan, Chargois made his way back to the MLB last year. He spent the first half of the 2021 season with the Mariners before being traded to the Rays at the deadline.

Chargois boasted a 1.90 ERA after he was moved, and struck out a total of 53 battlers in 53.2 innings across both organizations. He’s expected to be a quality option in the Rays dugout once again this season.

Jon Duplantier – Los Angeles Dodgers (m)

Selected by the Dodgers from the Diamondbacks in the Rule 5 Draft in December, Duplantier was a non-roster invite to big league spring training this month.

Duplantier made four major league appearances in 2021, finishing the year with an 0-3 record and a 13.15 ERA. He struck out 12 batters and allowed 19 hits before an injury sidelined him for the remainder of the season in July.

Brock Holt – Atlanta Braves (m)

Signed to a minor-league deal this week, Holt will get a shot with the defending World Series champs. After beginning his major league career a seven-season in Boston with the Red Sox, Holt has played for the Brewers, Nationals and Rangers over the course of the last two seasons.

Holt manned third base for the Rangers in 2021, making 57 starts and appearing in 76 games. He hit .209 on the season with 23 RBI and 16 extra-base hits.

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Rice Baseball: 2021 MLB Owls post regular season update

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The 2021 MLB regular season is in the books and Rice baseball alums played big roles throughout the year. Here’s the latest from the MLB Owls this year.

Glen Otto – Texas Rangers

Originally a fifth-round draft pick by the Yankees in 2017, Otto worked his way through the Yankees organization. He rose from rookie ball to AAA in the span of four MiLB seasons before he was traded to the Rangers in a deadline deal this season.

Following the trade, Otto made his major league debut on August 27 against the Astros. He threw five scoreless innings in that game, striking out seven and allowing just two hits. That would be his best outing of the season.

Otto ends his first major league season with a 9.26 ERA and a 1.714 WHIP. He struck out 28 batters across 23.1 innings, averaging 10.8 punchouts per nine innings.

Brock Holt – Texas Rangers

Holt filled the utility role with the Red Sox for seven seasons before brief stints with the Brewers and Nationals in 2020. In his lone season with the Rangers, he played exclusively at third base, appearing in 76 games with 57 starts at the hot corner.

At the plate, Holt hit .209 on the season with 23 RBI and 16 extra base hits. After averaging .270 during his Red Sox tenure, Holt hasn’t found the same level of consistency elsewhere, scattering strong months here and there like August where he slashed .259/.232/.333 with a .656 OPS, some of his best marks of the season.

Anthony Rendon – Los Angeles Angels

Rendon appeared in 58 games for the Angels in 2021 before he was ruled out for the remainder of the season following hip surgery. This was the fewest games he played in any full 162-game season in his major league career.

Before his season came to an end, Rendon had accumulated 34 RBI in those 58 games. He had a .240 batting average and a .712 OPS, coming on and off the injured list multiple times throughout the year before eventually being shut down.

Jon Duplantier – Arizona Diamondbacks

Duplantier’s 2021 season was derailed by injury. He suffered a lat strain in July while pitching with the Diamondbacks’ AAA affiliate and was released, quickly resigning with the club on a minor league deal.

He appeared in four major league games with the club, finishing the year with an 0-3 record and a 13.15 ERA. He struck out 12 batters, allowed 19 hits in four starts.

Tyler Duffey – Minnesota Twins

Duffey wrapped up the 2021 season with a 3-3 record and a 3.18 ERA. His 64 appearances were a career high, as were his three saves. He threw 62.1 innings, the most he’s thrown in a single season since 2017.

Primarily seeing action as a setup man and middle reliever, Duffey was effective, despite seeing his walk rates tick upward and his strikeout numbers trend the wrong way. 2021 wasn’t his best season, but he still managed a 134 ERA+ (a weighted ERA that accounts for all other pitchers and ballparks).

Lucas Luetge – New York Yankees

Luetge’s reemergence in the big leagues was a tremendous success. He accounted for 1.5 WAR (wins above replacement) of his career 1.6 WAR this season alone, making one start and appearing in 56 games as a reliever. He finished with a 2.74 ERA and 78 strikeouts compared to just 15 walks.

It was a banner year across the board for Luetge, who smashed most of his marks from his early days in Seattle, proving to be a reliable middle-relief option for the Yankees on their way to the postseason.

The Yankees play the Red Sox in the Wildcard Game on Tuesday, Oct. 5 at 7:08 PM CT.

J.T. Chargois – Tampa Bay Rays

Chargois had a bump 2019 season with the Dodgers and ended up spending the 2020 season playing overseas in Japan. That brief trip out of the states proved to be just what he needed. Chargois returned to the MLB triumphantly, posting career bests across two separate organizations, spending the first half of the season with the Mariners before being traded to the Rays.

Across both organizations, Chargois claimed a 2.52 ERA (which fell to 1.90 with the Rays) and struck out 53 battlers in 53.2 innings. His strikeouts per inning numbers were down, but his effectiveness rose. Chargois’ 1.081 WHIP was the lowest of his career.

The Rays await the winner of Tuesd;says wildcard matchup between the Yankees and Boston. Game 1 of the ALDS will be played on Thursday.

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Rice Baseball: 2021 MLB Owls update – Sep 25

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The 2021 MLB season is underway and Rice baseball alums are busy on the mound and at the plate. Here’s the latest from the MLB Owls from this week.

Glen Otto – Texas Rangers

Otto made what could be his final start of the season on Thursday against the Orioles. He pitched five innings, striking out seven and allowing two runs. The Rangers offered him no support on offense, leaving Otto with his third loss of the season despite a relatively strong outing.

Through September 25, Otto has a 8.02 ERA with a 1.547 WHIP. He’s averaging 11.0 strikeouts per nine innings.

Brock Holt – Texas Rangers

Holt played sparingly for the Rangers this week, appearing in two games where we went a combined 1-for-7 with and RBI.

Through September 25, Holt is hitting .206 with 15 extra-base hits, 22 walks and 45 strikeouts. His OPS is .575 and he’s collected 20 RBI.

Tyler Duffey – Minnesota Twins

Duffey has been locked-in throughout the month of September, throwing a scoreless frame in each of his eight single-inning outings this month. That included three spotless innings this week in which he struck out five batters, allowing no walks and no hits along the way.

Through September 25, Duffey has a 3.39 ERA with a 1.269 WHIP. He’s averaging 8.9 strikeouts per nine innings.

Lucas Luetge – New York Yankees

Luetge made two appearances this week, allowing two hits and one run last Sunday in a blowout loss to the Indians. He rebounded with a quick, one-batter-one-out performance on Saturday night, inducing an inning-ending line out from Kyle Shwarber that helped preserved what would turn into a thrilling Yankees win.

Through September 25, Luetge has a 2.73 ERA with a 1.125 WHIP. He’s averaging 9.6 strikeouts per nine innings.

J.T. Chargois – Tampa Bay Rays

Chargois earned his sixth win of the season, and his fifth with the Rays on Wednesday. He worked a scoreless fourth inning against the Blue Jays, striking out two. He also picked up his 14th hold of the year on Monday, also against the Blue Jays.

Through September 25, Chargois has a 2.44 ERA with a 1.026 WHIP. He’s averaging 8.7 strikeouts per nine innings.

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Rice Baseball: 2021 MLB Owls update – Sep 18

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The 2021 MLB season is underway and Rice baseball alums are busy on the mound and at the plate. Here’s the latest from the MLB Owls from this week.

Glen Otto – Texas Rangers

Otto looked sharp in the first two outings of his major league career. The latter pair have been more challenging for the young hurler. On Thursday night the Astros torched him for seven runs in 3.1 innings, handing him his second loss in as many starts.

Through September 18, Otto has a 9.37 ERA with a 1.653 WHIP. He’s averaging 10.5 strikeouts per nine innings.

Brock Holt – Texas Rangers

Holt made his return to the lineup this week after almost a month on the injured list. He tripled in his first game back against the Astros on Wednesday and added a single in the following game.

Through September 18, Holt is hitting .207 with 15 extra-base hits, 22 walks and 44 strikeouts. His OPS is .582 and he’s collected 19 RBI.

Tyler Duffey – Minnesota Twins

Duffey appeared in three games this week, working scoreless innings in the bookend performances and getting roughed up for three runs in a two-inning outing against the Yankees in between. He finished with five strikeouts and one hit allowed in three games.

Through September 18, Duffey has a 3.58 ERA with a 1.337 WHIP. He’s averaging 8.6 strikeouts per nine innings.

Lucas Luetge – New York Yankees

Luetge was used once this week, throwing a scoreless ninth inning in a blowout win for the Yankees over the Indians. He had one strikeout and allowed no hits.

Through September 18, Luetge has a 2.79 ERA with a 1.123 WHIP. He’s averaging 9.7 strikeouts per nine innings.

J.T. Chargois – Tampa Bay Rays

Chargois was the most heavily utilized former Rice baseball alum this week, making four relief appearances. He earned one hold, striking out six of the 14 batters he faced while allowing just one run. Since being acquired by the Rays at the trade deadline, Chargois owns a 1.80 ERA.

Through September 18, Chargois has a 2.52 ERA with a 1.020 WHIP. He’s averaging 8.5 strikeouts per nine innings.

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Rice Baseball: 2021 MLB Owls update – Sep 11

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The 2021 MLB season is underway and Rice baseball alums are busy on the mound and at the plate. Here’s the latest from the MLB Owls from this week.

Glen Otto – Texas Rangers

Otto was handed his first big league loss this week, allowing eight runs on eight hits in 3.1 innings against the Oakland A’s. The tough outing inflated his ERA from below 2.00 to 6.92. He struck out five.

Through September 11, Otto has a 6.92 ERA with a 1.231 WHIP. He’s averaging 11.1 strikeouts per nine innings.

Brock Holt – Texas Rangers

Holt is scheduled to begin a rehab stint at AAA Round Rock on Sunday. He’s been on the COVID-19/Injured List since August 23.

Through September 11, Holt is hitting .208 with 14 extra-base hits, 22 walks and 40 strikeouts. His OPS is .580 and he’s collected 19 RBI.

Tyler Duffey – Minnesota Twins

This was one of Duffey’s busiest weeks of the 2021 season. He appeared in four games, recording one save, one hold and a win. He allowed just one hit over 4.0 innings pitched with four strikeouts, allowing no walks and no runs.

Through September 11, Duffey has a 3.27 ERA with a 1.357 WHIP. He’s averaging 8.4 strikeouts per nine innings.

Lucas Luetge – New York Yankees

Luetge appeared in three games this week, working across multiple innings on two separate occasions. He allowed three hits, struck out three batters and walked three, but was charged with just one run in 3.2 innings of work.

Through September 11, Luetge has a 2.84 ERA with a 1.140 WHIP. He’s averaging 9.7 strikeouts per nine innings.

J.T. Chargois – Tampa Bay Rays

Chargois also saw three appearances this week, but struggled in his latter two outings. He was charged with a blown save against the Red Sox on Wednesday, allowing a go-ahead home run to Hunter Renfroe.

Through September 11, Chargois has a 2.54 ERA with a 1.065 WHIP. He’s averaging 8.0 strikeouts per nine innings.

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