There is roughly 2,945 miles between Vancouver and Jacksonville, Fla.
There is also roughly 2,622 miles between Vancouver and Biloxi, Miss.
And yet there are three minor league baseball players from Vancouver on teams in those far-off cities who regularly see each other.
Then factor in that 2,635 miles away is a team in Tennessee with another two Vancouver ballplayers.
Minor league baseball is all about the travel from smallish town to smallish town, and yet this small world has brought together several Clark County ballplayers for the 2017 season.
From Triple-A to Rookie ball, here is how our local players have done in the first half of the season.
(All stats through July 12)
Skyview HS grad
2011 Compensation A round draft pick from Lower Columbia CC
Right-handed pitcher
Durham Bulls (Triple-A — Tampa Bay Rays)
Season stats/highlights: 28 games, 41.0 innings pitched, 0-1 record with 3.51 ERA, 52 strikeouts, 25 walks.
In consecutive appearances, picked up back-to-back saves on June 1 vs. Rochester Red Wings (Minnesota Twins) and June 4 against Pawtucket Red Sox.
Twice struck out five batters in relief appearances on May 16 at Charlotte Knights (Chicago White Sox) and June 8 vs. Norfolk Tides (Baltimore Orioles).
Union HS grad
2012 1st round draft pick
Outfielder, Biloxi Shuckers (Double-A —Milwaukee Brewers)
Season stats/highlights: 70 games, .247 batting average, 12 doubles, 1 triple, 10 home runs, 34 RBI (leads team), .434 slugging, .319 on-base percentage.
Hit a walk-off two-run double to beat the Pensacola Blue Wahoos (Cincinnati Reds) on April 30. Had an eight-game hit streak May 8-15. Went 2 for 4 with a three-run home and a solo homer in a 6-2 win over Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (Miami Marlins) on June 9.
Camas HS grad
2013 4th round draft pick from Kent State
Right-handed pitcher, Biloxi Shuckers (Double-A — Milwaukee Brewers)
Season stats/highlights: 14 games, 33.2 innings pitched, 0-2 record with 3.21 ERA, 44 strikeouts, 17 walks.
Missed 2015 and 2016 following Tommy John surgery. Is on the Milwaukee Brewers 40-man roster. Has a season-high of six strikeouts on April 18 and July 5.
“He continues to come back from Tommy John surgery, and he has really put up some nice numbers to this point,” farm director Tom Flanagan told the Journal Sentinel after Williams’ start on June 18. “We will continue to build him up and monitor his workload closely along the way.”
Prairie HS grad
2012 7th round draft pick from Washington State by Mariners
First base, Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (Double-A — Miami Marlins)
Season stats/highlights: 83 games, .231 batting average, 14 doubles, 8 home runs, 35 RBI, .375 slugging, .674 on-base percentage.
Hit a grand slam in a 7-1 win over Chattanooga Lookouts (Minnesota Twins) on April 12. Opened the season with a seven-game hit streak. Also had a six-game hit streak June 28-July 4.
Skyview HS grad
2016 11th round draft pick from Washington State
Right-handed pitcher, Myrtle Winston-Salem Dash (Single-A Advanced — Chicago White Sox)
Season stats/highlights: 27 games, 44.2 innings pitched, 1-5 record with 2.82 ERA, 41 strikeouts, 14 walks.
Started the year at Winston-Salem, was promoted to Double-A Birmingham on April 28 and played 14 games there. Was the winning pitcher in a 4-3 Birmingham victory against Mobile (Angels) on June 12. Assigned back to Winston-Salem on June 22.
Evergreen HS grad
2014 8th round draft pick from Univ. of Oregon
Left-handed pitcher, Myrtle Beach Pelicans (Single-A Advanced — Chicago Cubs)
Season stats/highlights: 24 games, 39.2 innings pitched, 3-2 record with 4.54 ERA, 40 strikeouts, 18 walks.
Struck out a season-high five batters in two innings of relief in a 9-3 win against Carolina Mudcats (Milwaukee Brewers) on June 8. Pitched 7⅔ consecutive hitless and scoreless innings June 2-17.
Camas HS grad
2016 24th round draft pick from College of Southern Nevada
Right-handed pitcher, Lakewood BlueClaws (Single-A — Philadelphia Phillies)
Season stats/highlights: 14 games, 20.2 innings pitched, 1-0 record, 1 save with 5.66 ERA, 24 strikeouts, 11 walks.
Struck out a season-high four batters in two innings of relief in a 6-4 win over Greensboro (Marlins) on June 29.
Union HS grad
2016 38th round draft pick from Univ. of Portland
Outfielder, Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Class A — Milwaukee Brewers)
Season stats/highlights: 23 games, .194 batting average, 5 doubles, 1 home run, 5 RBI, .306 slugging, .284 on-base percentage.
Hit a three-run home run in a 7-5 win at Lake County (Cleveland Indians) on May 12. Has been on the 7-day disabled list twice this season.
Union HS grad
2016 12th round draft pick
Second base, Johnson City Cardinals (Rookie — St. Louis Cardinals)
Season stats/highlights: 15 games, .132 batting average, 4 doubles, 5 RBI, .208 slugging, .299 on-base percentage.
Assigned to Johnson City on June 19. Went 2 for 4 with a double and two RBI in a 11-5 win over Bristol Pirates on June 24, his third game of the season.
Heritage HS grad
2016 21st round draft pick from Univ. of Illinois-Chicago
Left-handed pitcher, Johnson City Cardinals (Rookie — St. Louis Cardinals)
Season stats/highlights: 4 games, 4.1 innings pitched, 1-0 record with 6.23 ERA, 4 strikeouts, 3 walks.
Signed on June 20, made pro debut on June 28 pitching one inning against Greeneville Astros. Earned first pro victory on July 9, throwing one inning of relief in 2-1 win at Elizabethton Twins.
Union HS grad
2017 32rd round draft pick from Lewis-Clark State
Shortstop, Princeton Rays (Rookie — Tampa Bay Rays)
Season stats/highlights: 10 games, .281 batting average, 1 double, 2 RBI, .313 slugging, .410 on-base percentage.
Signed on June 20, played first pro game on June 23 and was 1 for 3 with an RBI at Pulaski Yankees. Had back-to-back two-hit games July 8-9 at Bluefield Blue Jays.
Battle Ground HS grad
2017 21st round draft pick
Outfielder, (Rookie — AZL Royals)
Season stats/highlights: 10 games, .122 batting average, 1 double, 2 RBI, .146 slugging, .140 on-base percentage.
Signed on June 27, made pro debut on June 28. Recorded first pro hit while going 2 for 4 with an RBI on July 2 in a 12-9 win against AZL Mariners.
Playing as of June 13:
Cowlitz Black Bears (West Coast League)
David Wallum, right-handed pitcher from Hudson’s Bay HS / Washington State
Jace McKinney, infielder from Columbia River HS / Univ. of Portland
Kelowna Falcons (West Coast League)
Alex McGarry, infielder Columbia River HS / Tacoma CC, will attend Oregon State
James Brooks, right-handed pitcher from Skyview HS / Tacoma CC
Chase Wiger, right-handed pitcher from Skyview HS / Mt. Hood CC
Port Angeles Lefties (West Coast League)
Alec Chaney, outfielder from Skyview HS /Bellevue Univ., Neb.
Portland Pickles (Great West League)
Jacob Allbee, left-handed pitcher from Union HS / Clark College
Matt Olstead, left-handed pitcher from Union HS / Edmonds CC
Colin Rubino, infielder, from Battle Ground HS / Bellevue Univ., Neb.
Klamath Falls Gems (Golden State Collegiate Baseball League)
Brandon Anderson, utility, from Hockinson HS / Shasta College
Myrtle Beach HammerHeads (Carolina Shores Collegiate League)
Jimmy Borzone, right-handed pitcher from Union HS / will attend Dixie State
NOTE: A weekly update is posted each Sunday at www.columbian.com/sports. If you know of a player currently on a team who is not listed here, email jeff.klein@columbian.com so that player can be included in future updates.
