VILLANOVA,Pa.-The minor league baseball season which ended earlier this month was a terrific one for five former Wildcats who were all active in the professional ranks during the 2021 season. The group included a pair of recent draft picks in pitchers Gordon Graceffo and Jimmy Kingsbury who each transitioned to the pros after having standout seasons for Villanova earlier in the year. Veteran professional players Matt Szczur, Todd Czinege and Hunter Schryver each returned to action and continued their pro careers following the cancellation of the 2020 minor league season.
Gordon Graceffo-Palm Beach Cardinals (Low-A -St. Louis Cardinals)Ā
After being selected in the fifth round of the 2021 MLB Draft by the St. Louis Cardinals, Graceffo headed south to Jupiter, Florida to pitch for the Palm Beach CardinalsĀ of the Low-A Southeast League. The right-hander from Cranford, New Jersey was used in a reliever role with the Cardinals and thrived. Graceffo finished the season with a 1-0 recordĀ and aĀ 1.73 ERAĀ in 11 appearances while strikingĀ out 37 batters in 26 innings pitched.Ā He did not allow an earned run in eight of his 11 outings.Ā In a matchup with the St. Lucie Mets on 8/6, Graceffo tossed 2.1 innings of no-hit ball and punched out six batters.
Jimmy Kingsbury-Modesto Nuts (Low-A -Seattle Mariners)Ā
After being drafted in theĀ 17thĀ round by the Mariners this year, Kingsbury was assigned to theĀ Low-A WestĀ Modesto Nuts. KingsburyĀ pitched in eight games andĀ made seven starts with Modesto and recorded a 2-1 record with a 2.20 ERA.Ā He allowed just 16 hits over 32 2/3 innings pitched while holding opposing batters to a .138 average against him and posting a 0.83 WHIP for the season.Ā Kingsbury'sĀ best start was a seven-inning shutout against Stockton on 9/7 where he racked up a season-high 10 strikeouts and earned the win.Ā He allowed two earned runs or fewer in six of his seven starts to close out the season.Ā
Matt Szczur-Memphis Redbirds (Triple-A-St. Louis Cardinals)Ā
Szczur spent his 11thĀ season in professional baseball and his first with the St. Louis Cardinals organization in 2021. A veteran of five major league seasons and a member of the Chicago Cubs 2016 World Series champions, Szczur played in 30 games at Triple-A East Memphis and had nine extra-base hits in 102 at-bats, including five home runs to go along with three doubles and a triple. During his professional career Szczur has recorded 694 hits and 989 total bases in the minor leagues while slashing .280/.345/.399 in 649 games. He has also appeared in 363 major league games and batted .231 with 31 doubles, 12 home runs and 80 runs scored.Ā In 2016, Szczur hit .259 and drove in 24 runs in 107 games with theĀ Cubs including a two-run double against the Cincinnati Reds in game 162Ā for the eventualĀ World Series champions. Ā
Hunter Schryver-Charlotte Knights (Triple-A- Chicago White Sox)Ā
Selected by the Tampa Bay Rays in the seventh round of the 2017 MLB Draft, Hunter Schryver has been steadily climbing the ladder towards the major league level.Ā He has spent the past two seasons at the Triple-A level with the Charlotte Knights and during the 2021 season recorded 48 strikeouts in 43 1/3 innings pitched. Schryver made 40 appearances out of the Charlotte bullpen in 2021 and went 1-0 with one save and a 4.98 ERA. He held opponents to a .249 average against him while averaging 10.0 strikeouts per nine innings.Ā Schryver was traded from the Rays to the White Sox organization in 2018 and finishedĀ thatĀ season strong with High-A Winston-Salem. In nine games pitched, Schryver sported a 1.20 ERA with 21 strikeouts in 15 innings pitched. The former WildcatĀ is a veteran of 141 appearances in the minor leagues and is 9-7 with 22 saves, 16 holds and a 3.49 ERA during his professional career. He has logged 204.0 innings pitched while striking out 228 and has allowed just 187 hits while holding opponents to a .241 batting average.
Todd Czinege-Hartford Yard Goats (Double-A- Colorado Rockies)Ā
The former Wildcats infielder was drafted in the 29thĀ round of the 2017 MLB Draft by the Colorado RockiesĀ and spent his fifth season in the professional ranks in 2021.Ā In his first season playing for the Hartford Yard Goats of the Double-A Northeast League, Czinege appeared in 47 games and had starts at first base, both corner outfield positions and designated hitter. He had 137 plate appearances for the Yard Goats and finished the season with 10 runs scored, four doubles and four home runs. Czinege also played flawless defense at all three of his defensive positions in 2021 while recording 58 putouts and four assists with no errors in 62 total chances.Ā Czinege hit the ground runningĀ after being draftedĀ in the 2017 seasonĀ and was assigned to theĀ Rockies Rookie-level affiliate, Grand Junction. In 52 games played, Czinege unloaded 10 homers, 31 runs batted in and recorded a .304 batting average. In 2018, Czinege was sizzling hot with Grand Junction and was promoted mid-season to Class-A Asheville. The infielder finished the season with a .329 average, 21 doubles, launched 16 homers and drove in 49 runs. Czinege reached Triple-A Albuquerque late in the 2019 season after plating 51 runs in 89 games with High-A Lancaster.
