FORT MYERS, Fla. – Highlighted by a trio of pitchers who excelled at the highest level this season, including two who made their MLB debuts, a number of former FGCU baseball players put up impressive numbers at various levels of professional baseball this season.

Chicago White Sox ace Chris Sale continued to put himself in extremely rare company with a historic start to the season and added on to what has already become one of the best starts to a career in MLB history. Additionally, Richard Bleier and Jacob Barnes both made their MLB debuts with the New York Yankees and Milwaukee Brewers, respectively, to become the third and fourth former Eagles to make it to the Major Leagues.

Below is a list of the 18 former FGCU baseball players who were on an active roster during the 2016 season with their organization, highest affiliate and statistical highlights also included.

PITCHERS
Chris Sale | Chicago White Sox (MLB)

Team	W	L	ERA	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO
Chicago (MLB)	17	10	3.34	226.2	190	88	84	45	233

Named the White Sox opening-day starter for the third time in his career … got off to a historic start as he earned the win in nine consecutive trips to the mound to start the season, becoming the first pitcher since Brandon Webb in 2008 to do so … with his ERA at 1.58 following his ninth victory, he became the first pitcher in MLB history to start a season 9-0 with a sub-2.00 ERA … was named to his fifth straight MLB All-Star Game and was named the American League starting pitcher in the Midsummer Classic … went the distance in six of his 32 start this season, including a complete-game, two-hit shutout at Tampa Bay April 15 … struck out double digit batters on four occasions throughout the season … ranked T-4th in the MLB in innings pitched, T-5th in strikeouts and T-8th in wins … logged a career high in innings pitched while his 17 wins matched 2012 for the most in a single season in his career.

Richard Bleier | New York Yankees (MLB)

Team	W	L	ERA	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO
Scranton (AAA)	2	3	3.72	58.0	66	25	24	11	25
New York (MLB)	0	0	1.96	23.0	20	6	5	4	13
Season Totals	2	3	3.22	81.0	86	31	29	15	38

Began the season with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre before making his MLB debut with the New York Yankees May 30 at Toronto … over two stints with the RailRiders, appeared in 12 games and made 10 starts while posting a 2-3 record and a 3.72 ERA … used as a reliever at the highest level and posted a 1.96 ERA in 23 appearances … didn't allow an earned run in his first three MLB appearances and held opponents scoreless in 20 of his 23 trips to the mound, including his last 13 of the season … tossed 4.0 innings of scoreless relief vs. the Dodgers Sept. 12 … his 3.22 combined ERA was the second lowest of his career.

Jacob Barnes | Milwaukee Brewers (MLB)

Team	W	L	ERA	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO
Colorado (AAA)	2	1	1.21	22.1	14	3	3	7	23
Milwaukee (MLB)	0	1	2.70	26.2	24	9	8	6	26
Biloxi (AA)	0	0	0.00	2.2	2	0	0	0	4
Season Totals	2	2	1.93	51.2	40	12	11	13	53

Began the season with Triple-A Colorado Springs before making his MLB debut with the Milwaukee Brewers June 3 at Philadelphia … in 17 appearances with the Sky Sox, went 2-1 with a 1.21 ERA and struck out 23 batters in 22.1 innings pitched … pitched a perfect inning of relief with two strikeouts in his MLB debut against the Phillies … struck out four batters in 2.0 innings against Washington June 26 … didn't allow a run in 19 of his 27 MLB appearances … was placed on the 15-day disabled list July 27 and made two rehab appearances with Double-A Biloxi … lowered his ERA from 3.71 to 2.70 after allowing only one run in his final 11 appearances following his return from the disabled list … recorded the save in his last appearance of the season at Colorado.

Casey Coleman | Tacoma Rainiers/Durham Bulls (Seattle/Tampa, Triple-A)

Team	W	L	ERA	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO
Tacoma (AAA)	2	0	2.08	39.0	27	12	9	12	38
Durham (AAA)	1	1	3.86	14.0	13	8	6	5	16
Charlotte (A-Adv)	1	0	3.38	2.2	2	1	1	2	4
Season Totals	4	1	2.59	55.2	42	21	16	19	58

Played for two organizations and three teams in 2016 … started the season with the Tacoma Rainiers after signing a minor league contract with the Seattle Mariners in the offseason … went 2-0 with a 2.08 ERA and four saves in 27 relief appearances with Tacoma … signed a free agent contract with Tampa Bay and was assigned to the Durham Bulls in July … went 1-1 with a 3.86 ERA in two stints and 11 appearances with Durham … made two rehab appearances with the Charlotte Stone Crabs and posted a 1-0 record with a 3.38 ERA.

Ricky Knapp | Las Vegas 51s (New York Mets, Triple-A)

Team	W	L	ERA	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO
St. Lucie (A-Adv)	9	4	2.14	105.1	95	31	25	22	64
Binghamton (AA)	4	1	2.90	40.1	31	15	13	10	40
Las Vegas (AAA)	0	1	5.50	18.0	22	11	11	7	11
Season Totals	13	6	2.69	163.2	148	57	49	39	115

Appeared at three levels for the New York Mets organization while making his Double-A and Triple-A debuts … tallied career bests in wins, ERA, games started, innings pitched and strikeouts … over two stints with the Port St. Lucie Mets, made 16 appearances and 15 starts while posting a 9-4 record and a 2.14 ERA … despite spending the season at multiple levels, his nine wins ranked T-11th in the Florida State League … in six starts with the Binghamton Mets, went 4-1 with a 2.90 ERA and tossed two complete games … was named the Eastern League Pitcher of the Week for the period of Aug. 22-28 when he made two starts and went 1-1 with a 2.25 ERA and 17 strikeouts in 16.0 innings pitched … struck out 10 batters and allowed one earned run in a complete game against the Hartford Yard Goats on Aug. 23 … made his Triple-A debut with the Las Vegas 51s July 25 … went 0-1 with a 5.50 ERA in three starts with the club.

Jason Forjet | San Jose Giants (San Francisco, Class A Advanced)

Team	W	L	ERA	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO
San Jose (A-Adv)	10	7	4.84	102.1	91	62	55	20	87

Spent the entirety of the season with the San Jose Giants … tallied career-best numbers in wins, games started and innings pitched while matching a career high in strikeouts … his 10 wins also ranked T-4th in the California League … held opponents to a .235 batting average … pitched 7.0 or more innings on six occasions … ended the season on the seven-day disabled list.

Harrison Cooney | Inland Empire 66ers (Los Angeles, Class A Advanced)

Team	W	L	ERA	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO
Inland Empire (A-Adv)	0	0	21.60	1.2	1	5	4	5	2

Appeared in two games for the Inland Empire 66ers before being placed on the disabled list April 14 … was later shut down for the remainder of the season.

Michael Murray | Stockton Ports (Oakland, Class A Advanced)

Team	W	L	ERA	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO
Beloit (A Full)	4	2	4.28	61.0	72	31	29	13	53
Stockton (A-Adv)	1	2	7.62	13.0	16	13	11	7	9
Season Totals	5	4	4.86	74.0	88	44	40	20	62

Spent the majority of the season with the Beloit Snappers, where he went 4-2 with a 4.28 ERA and struck out 53 batters in 61.0 innings pitched … made three starts for the Stockton Ports in July and went 1-2 with a 7.62 ERA … did not allow an earned run in 5.0 innings pitched during his debut with the team.

Zach Tillery | Cedar Rapids Kernels (Minnesota, Class A)

Team	W	L	ERA	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO
Cedar Rapids (A Full)	1	1	8.10	10.0	12	9	9	10	12

Spent the early part of the season on and off the disabled list … went 1-1 in six relief appearances with Cedar Rapids … struck out 12 batters in 10.0 innings pitched … was shut down for the season on May 11.

Jordan Desguin | Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Milwaukee, Class A)

Team	W	L	ERA	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO
Helena (ROK)	2	0	3.60	40.0	34	17	16	11	40
Wisconsin (A Full)	1	1	3.23	30.2	25	14	11	13	30
Season Totals	3	1	3.44	70.2	59	31	27	24	70

Split the season between the Pioneer League Helena Brewers and Wisconsin Timber Rattlers … made eight appearances and four starts with Helena and went 2-0 with a 3.60 ERA … named the starter for the Pioneer League in the Northwest/Pioneer League All-Star Game and tossed a perfect inning with a strikeout … was promoted to the Timber Rattlers Aug. 6 … went 1-1 with a 3.23 ERA with the club.

Brady Anderson | Cedar Rapids Kernels (Minnesota, Class A)

Team	W	L	ERA	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO
GCL Twins (ROK)	2	0	0.98	27.2	18	3	3	2	25
Cedar Rapids (A Full)	3	1	2.62	34.1	37	12	10	7	19
Season Totals	5	1	1.89	62.0	55	15	13	9	44

Signed as an undrafted free agent by the Minnesota Twins June 23 … began the season with the Gulf Coast League Twins … made eight appearances and four starts with the club while posting a 2-0 record and 0.98 ERA … his ERA was the lowest among pitchers with 10.0 or more innings pitched … allowed only three runs in 27.2 innings pitched and none in his final 17.0 innings … was promoted to the Cedar Rapids Kernels Aug. 3 … made six starts and went 3-1 with a 2.62 ERA … allowed only one earned run in a 24.0-inning stretch … earned three straight wins for the Kernels from Aug. 16-28.

POSITION PLAYERS
Stephen Wickens | Rochester Red Wings (Minnesota, Triple-A)

Team	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	AVG
Rochester (AAA)	80	11	16	2	0	3	5	10	23	.200

Made his Triple-A debut as he was assigned to the Rochester Red Wings out of Spring Training … played in 30 games and turned in a .200/.289/.338 slash line with three home runs and five RBI … was released by the team July 2.

Tim Roberson | Portland Sea Dogs (Boston, Double-A)

Team	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	AVG
Portland (AA)	223	22	55	15	0	4	18	15	60	.247

Spent his second straight season with the Portland Sea Dogs after earning the team's 10th Player Award in 2015 … appeared in 65 games and turned in a .247/.300/.368 slash line … added four home runs and 18 RBI.

Brandon Bednar | Richmond Flying Squirrels (San Francisco, Double-A)

Team	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	AVG
San Jose (A-Adv)	218	22	62	3	1	4	30	8	46	.284
Richmond (AA)	224	32	64	11	1	2	31	8	40	.286
Season Totals	442	54	126	14	2	6	61	16	86	.285

Split the season between the San Jose Giants and Richmond Flying Squirrels … totaled a career-high 61 RBI and matched a career high with six home runs … his previous career-best RBI total was 40 in 2014 … turned in a .284/.322/.362 slash line in 59 games with San Jose … was promoted to Richmond June 24 and made his Double-A debut with the team the following day … his .286 average and 31 BRI in 64 games with Richmond ranked fifth on the team … recorded multiple hits in seven straight games from Aug. 20-26 and hit .571 (16-for-28) during the span.

Mike Reeves | Dunedin Blue Jays (Toronto, Class A Advanced)

Team	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	AVG
Dunedin (A-Adv)	164	23	40	8	0	3	16	30	47	.244

Was assigned to the Dunedin Blue Jays after an Extended Spring Training and turned in a .244/.365/.348 slash line in 53 games with the team … his .244 average was his best since the 2013 season … totaled a career high eight doubles and three home runs … went 4-for-5 with a home run and game-winning RBI against the Lakeland Flying Tigers July 27.

Michael Suchy | Bradenton Marauders (Pittsburgh, Class A Advanced)

Team	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	AVG
Bradenton (A-Adv)	386	55	95	15	3	7	47	49	104	.246

Spent the entirety of the season with the Bradenton Marauders and turned in a .246/.339/.355 slash line in 115 games with the team … ranked 3rd on the Marauders in games played and runs, 4th in hits and home runs, and T-5th in RBI … hit a solo home run in a 1-0 win against the Jupiter Hammerheads on June 20 that gave Bradenton the Florida State League South Division First-Half Title for the first time in program history.

Jake Noll | Hagerstown Suns (Washington, Class A)

Team	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	AVG
GCL Nationals (ROK)	25	3	6	1	0	1	6	6	2	.240
Auburn (A Short)	66	7	21	2	1	1	7	2	8	.318
Hagerstown (A Full)	116	21	30	4	1	3	15	7	16	.259
Season Total	207	31	57	7	2	5	28	15	26	.275

Selected by the Washington Nationals in the 7th round of the 2016 MLB Draft and reported to the GCL Nationals for a brief rehab stint … after seven games in the Rookie League, was promoted to the Auburn Doubledays where he turned in a .318/.343/.424 slash line in 18 games with the team … finished the season with the Hagerstown Suns and hit .259 in 32 games … homered in back-to-back games against the Delmarva Shorebirds Aug. 24-25 … turned in a four-hit performance in the regular season finale.

Tyler Selesky | Fort Wayne Tincaps (San Diego, Class A)

Team	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	AVG
AZL Padres (ROK)	77	19	23	4	3	0	17	11	10	.299
Fort Wayne (A Full)	125	9	37	5	1	1	9	14	39	.296
Season Totals	202	28	60	9	4	1	26	25	49	.297

Signed as an undrafted free agent by the San Diego Padres July 24 … began the season with the AZL Padres and turned in a .299/.398.429 slash line … led the team in runs and RBI at the time of his promotion to the Fort Wayne TinCaps … hit .296 in 35 games with Fort Wayne … went on a 14-game hit streak from July 19 - Aug. 6 … recorded multiple hits in six of his first 11 games with the TinCaps … turned in a pair of walk-off singles on July 31 and Aug. 16.

FOLLOW ALONG
For constant, news, photos, videos and updates you can follow the baseball team on Twitter @FGCU_Baseball, Instagram @FGCU_Baseball or on Facebook: Facebook.com/FGCUBaseball. You can also find FGCU athletics on YouTube by visiting YouTube.com/FGCUEagles.

DAVE TOLLETT
In 14 seasons of work, FGCU head coach Dave Tollett has compiled a 490-296-3 record (.623) as the only head coach in the program's history. He is a four-time Atlantic Sun Coach of the Year and has guided the Green and Blue to four A-Sun Regular Season Championships. His team has been ranked nationally on several occasions by multiple media outlets and has coached 42 All-Conference selections, 26 draft picks, three current major leaguers, 15 current minor leaguers, four A-Sun Pitchers of the Year, four All-Americans, two A-Sun Players of the Year, one National Freshman Player of the Year, one National Player of the Year and one MLB All-Star.

#FEEDFGCU
FGCU Athletics sponsors events throughout the year to benefit the FGCU Campus Food Pantry (www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry) and the Harry Chapin Food Bank (www.harrychapinfoodbank.org), FGCU Athletics' charities of choice. For more information, including how to make a contribution, please visitwww.fgcu.edu/foodpantry and utilize the hashtag #FeedFGCU to help raise awareness.