Cougars in the MLB Presented By Waterboy Graphics: Mid-August

HOUSTON – Two 2026 Cougars made their professional debuts while Corey Julks is back in The Show as the season moves past the middle of August.

JOSH EKNESS | MIAMI ORG. | MIAMI MARLINS | MLB

Returned from a stint on the 60-day IL with a calf injury on Aug. 5
Has five appearances on the mound so far in August
Allowed just one earned run across 5.2 innings of work while striking out three
Posted two shutout outings against Cincinnati with another against Atlanta
Ranked as the #30 prospect in the Miami organization
His fastball, which tops at 97.5 miles per hour, ranks in the 91^st percentile of pitchers
Miami is in third in the NL East with a 64-62 record, sitting three games out of a wild card spot
2026 MLB stat line: 1-1 | 1 Sv | 1.64 ERA | 11 app. | 11.0 IP | 8 H | 5 R | 2 ER | 7 BB | 8 SO | 1.36 WHIP
2026 minors stat line: 2-1 | 1 Sv | 3.86 ERA | 15 apps. | 21.0 IP | 16 H | 10 R | 9 ER | 6 BB | 33 SO | 1.05 WHIP

ROBERT GASSER | MILWAUKEE ORG. | MILWAUKEE BREWERS | MLB

Earned the start three times so far in August for Milwaukee
Threw five innings of one-run baseball against the Angels to open the month on Aug. 1
Limits opponents to an 86.8 average exit velocity, which ranks in the 87^th percentile of MLB pitchers
Milwaukee leads the NL Central with a 77-48 record, sitting with a 4.5 game lead over the Cubs
2026 MLB stat line: 3-5 | 4.54 ERA | 14 apps. | 14 starts | 73.1 IP | 72 H | 38 R | 37 ER | 19 BB | 68 SO | 1.24 WHIP
2026 minors stat line: 0-0 | 3.95 ERA | 4 apps. | 4 starts | 13.2 IP | 16 H | 6 R | 6 ER | 7 BB | 22 SO | 1.68 WHIP

COREY JULKS | DETROIT ORG. | DETROIT TIGERS | MLB

Returns to the major league level on Aug. 12 as Detroit selected his contract from Toledo
The call-up marks his fourth season with time in MLB with his third different team
Julks ripped a double in his second game up with the Tigers against his old team in the White Sox
Detroit is second in the AL Central with a 61-64 record, just 4.5 games behind Chicago for the division lead
2026 MLB stat line: 2 G | 4 AB | 1 R | 1 H | 1 2B | .250 AVG | .250 OBP | .250 SLG | .500 OPS
2026 minors stat line: 87 G | 323 AB | 46 R | 88 H | 13 2B | 15 HR | 54 RBI | .272 AVG | .346 OBP | .452 SLG | .798 OPS

JOHN KING | MIAMI ORG. | MIAMI MARLINS | MLB

King continues to be an effective reliever out of the bullpen for Miami
Has earned six appearances in August, including two perfect outings against the Mets and the Angels
Holds opponents to a .186 batting average with a 0.99 WHIP
Miami is in third in the NL East with a 64-62 record, sitting three games out of a wild card spot
2026 MLB stat line: 6-2 | 1 Sv. | 2.45 ERA | 44 apps. | 1 start | 44.0 IP | 23 H | 12 R | 12 ER | 12 BB | 32 SO | 0.79 WHIP

JARED TRIOLO | PITTSBURGH ORG. | PITTSBURGH PIRATES | MLB

Continues to operate as an everyday starter for Pittsburgh
Collected three RBIs in a three-hit showing which included a homer against Miami on Aug. 13
Went 2-for-3 against the Mets with an RBI on Aug. 7
One of the most disciplined hitters in the league, ranking in the 81^st percentile with a 24.7 chase rate
Pittsburgh is 61-66 on the year but holds a +27 run differential
2026 MLB stat line: 90 G | 254 AB | 27 R | 61 H | 12 2B | 2 HR | 24 RBI | 9 SB | .240 AVG | .316 OBP | .311 SLG | .627 OPS

CONNOR WONG | BOSTON ORG. | BOSTON RED SOX | MLB

Continues to serve as the Red Sox's reserve catcher, earning eight starts so far in August
Hit a three-run homer against Pittsburgh on Aug. 16
Collected six total bases with a homer and double against the White Sox on Aug. 6
Boston surged into third in the AL East, now holding a 67-58 record and holds a six-game lead for the second wild card spot
2026 MLB stat line: 62 G | 165 AB | 18 R | 41 H | 10 2B | 4 HR | 22 RBI | 3 SB | .248 AVG | .332 OBP | .382 SLG | .714 OPS

NICK HERNANDEZ | ATHLETICS ORG. | LAS VEGAS AVIATORS | TRIPLE-A

Earned five relief appearances this month with Las Vegas, including a pair of shutout outings against Tacoma
Las Vegas was the First Half Champs of the Pacific Coast League with a 44-29 record
The Aviators sit in second in the PCL West for the second half with a 22-23 record
2026 minors stat line: 4-1 | 7.79 ERA | 32 apps. | 52.0 IP | 64 H | 48 R | 45 ER | 32 BB | 54 SO | 1.85 WHIP

BEN SEARS | KANSAS CITY ORG. | OMAHA STORM CHASERS | TRIPLE-A

Sears has continued a hot run of form on the mound entering August
The 2022 draftee has allowed three runs in three appearances this month, boasting a 3.86 ERA in 7.0 IP
Sits in a tie for 13^th in the International League with six wins on the year
The Storm Chasers finished the first half with a 33-41 record
Omaha sits in third in the IL West in the second half, holding a 23-20 record, four games out of the league lead
2026 minors stat line: 6-2 | 4.55 ERA | 34 apps. | 10 starts | 61.1 IP | 65 H | 31 R | 31 ER | 23 BB | 52 SO | 1.43 WHIP

PATRICK WEIGEL | COLORADO ORG. | ALBUQUERQUE ISOTOPES | TRIPLE-A

Weigel has made three appearances for Albuquerque this month, including a pair of starts
Threw 2.0 scoreless innings against Sugar Land on Aug. 6, allowing just one hit
Albuquerque finished the first half with a 39-36 record, sitting in second in the Pacific Coast East
The Isotopes hold a 22-23 record in the second half
2026 minors stat line: 0-2 | 6.81 ERA | 20 apps. | 6 starts | 35.2 IP | 39 H | 29 R | 27 ER | 24 BB | 34 SO | 1.77 WHIP

JAYCOB DEESE | PITTSBURGH ORG. | ALTOONA CURVE | DOUBLE-A

After a slow start to the year, Deese has settled in, lowering his season ERA in every appearance since July 1
Threw seven consecutive appearances without allowing an earned run from July 18 to Aug. 9
Earned the win against Chesapeake on Aug. 2 with 2.0 one-hit innings
So far in August, holds a 1-0 record with a 1.13 ERA in four appearances and 8.0 innings while striking out 11
Altoona is 18-26 in the second half and finished 31-38 in the first half
2026 minors stat line: 3-3 | 7.22 ERA | 32 apps. | 52.1 IP | 62 H | 47 R | 42 ER | 26 BB | 43 SO | 1.68 WHIP

CONNOR MCGINNIS | NEW YORK (AL) ORG. | SOMERSET PATRIOTS | DOUBLE-A

McGinnis is continuing his success with Somerset after being called up on May 30
The 2025 draftee has collected 34 RBIs with the Double-A affiliate of the Yankees
Hit a two-run homer against Akron on Aug. 6
Crushed a grand slam to give Somerset the win over New Hampshire on Aug. 12
The Patriots nearly won the first half EL divisional championship, ending 2.5 games back with a 37-32 record
The Double-A squad now holds a 23-22 record in the second half, 2.5 games back of first
2026 minors stat line: 88 G | 302 AB | 44 R | 74 H | 14 2B | 1 3B | 9 HR | 38 RBI | .245 AVG | .336 OBP | .387 SLG | .723 OPS

CADE CITELLI | TAMPA BAY ORG. | BOWLING GREEN HOT RODS | HIGH-A

In four appearances in August, Citelli has tossed 6.1 innings with a 1.42 ERA and a 1-1 record
Ranks eighth in the South Atlantic League with six wins on the year
Helped Bowling Green win the South Atlantic League First Half Championship with a 47-18 record, 5.5 games in front of the second-place team
The Hot Rods has stayed hot so far in the second half, leading the league with a 28-19 record
2026 minors stat line: 6-1 | 1 Sv | 4.46 ERA | 26 apps. | 34.1 IP | 31 H | 20 R | 17 ER | 20 BB | 33 SO | 1.49 WHIP

HAROLD COLL | LOS ANGELES (AL) ORG. | TRI-CITY DUST DEVILS | HIGH-A

Started 2026 with Double-A Rocket City, but was assigned to High-A Tri-City on June 23
Despite playing in High A Tri-City for just under two months, Coll ranks 26^th in the league with 10 homers
Sits in second in the Northwest League with four home runs in August
Tri-City holds a 21-27 record in the second half and finished second in the Northwest League in the first half with a 35-31 record
2026 minors stat line: 102 G | 353 AB | 49 R | 69 H | 14 2B | 2 3B | 13 HR | 55 RBI | .195 AVG | .309 OBP | .357 SLG | .666 OPS

RYAN DOLLAR | NEW YORK (NL) ORG. | BROOKLYN CYCLONES | HIGH-A

Earned a permanent call-up to High-A Brooklyn on May 19
In four appearances in August, amassed a 2.08 ERA in 4.1 innings of work while holding opponents to a .154 batting average
Brooklyn holds a 24-23 in the second half, sitting five games back of first
2026 minors stat line: 2-2 | 3 Sv. | 3.29 ERA | 35 apps. | 41.0 IP | 26 H | 18 R | 15 ER | 28 BB | 55 SO | 1.32 WHIP

ANTOINE JEAN | COLORADO ORG. | SPOKANE INDIANS | HIGH-A

Removed from his first career outing with an ACL injury which required surgery
Will miss remainder of 2026 season

OWEN WOODWARD | NEW YORK (NL) ORG. | BROOKLYN CYCLONES | HIGH-A | 60-DAY IL (REHAB)

Woodward continues a rehab assignment with Single-A St. Lucie after missing most of 2025 with an injury
In two appearances in August, Woodward has thrown three innings while striking out three
2026 minors stat line: 0-0 | 10.80 ERA | 4 apps. | 4 starts | 5.0 IP | 6 H | 6 R | 6 ER | 2 BB | 6 SO | 1.60 WHIP

CADE CLIMIE | PHILADELPHIA ORG. | CLEARWATER THRESHERS | SINGLE-A

Earned first minor-league call-up on Aug. 4 and made his professional debut on Aug. 5
Picked up his first MiLB RBI on Aug. 7 as part of a doubleheader against Tampa
Went 2-for-4 with his first minor league hit on Aug. 12
202 minors stat line: 10 G | 26 AB | 3 H | 5 RBI | .115 AVG | .143 OBP | .115 SLG | .258 OPS

CARSTEN SABATHIA III | MILWAUKEE ORG. | WILSON WARBIRDS | SINGLE-A

Earned his call-up to Single-A Wilson on Aug. 11 after being selected in the 20^th Round of the 2026 Draft
In five appearances, he's already collected his first hit, RBI and homer
Went 2-for-4 in his minor league debut on Aug. 11 while driving home a run
Hit first professional homer as part of a three-hit performance on Aug. 16
2026 minors stat line: 5 G | 20 AB | 3 R | 9 H | 1 2B | 1 HR | 5 RBI | .450 AVG | .500 OBP | .650 SLG | 1.150 OPS

2026 DRAFTEES
Four of Houston's 2026 MLB Draft Class – Tre Broussard, Ryne Rodriguez, Richie Roman and Alex Solis – along with free-agent signee Tyler Bryan were assigned to their respective organization's Complex League team after signing their first professional contract. The Complex Leagues had completed competition prior to the draft.

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