Cougars in the MLB Presented By Waterboy Graphics: Start of August

HOUSTON – Houston Baseball legends continue to shine as the second half of the MLB and MiLB seasons roll on.

JOSH EKNESS | MIAMI ORG. | MIAMI MARLINS | MLB | 60-DAY IL

Ekness made his major league debut on May 3 and played in six games for the Marlins before returning to Triple-A on May 14
Secured his first career save on May 10, where he threw the final third of an inning in a 5-2 win over Washington
After being recalled to the Marlins on May 29, he was placed on the 15-day IL on June 1, then moved to the 60-day IL on June 21 with a right calf strain
Started a rehab assignment on July 23 with Triple-A Jacksonville
Has thrown four games as part of his rehab stint, allowing two runs on six hits in 4.2 innings
Miami is currently third in the NL East, sitting 9.5 games behind leader Atlanta and 1.5 games back of a wild card spot
2026 MLB stat line: 0-0 | 1 Sv | 1.69 ERA | 6 app. | 5.1 IP | 2 H | 1 R | 1 ER | 5 BB | 5 SO | 1.31 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

After spending the beginning of the season with Triple-A Nashville, Gasser was called up to the majors on May 17. Since then, he's spent most of his time with the Brewers with brief conditioning stints with ACL Brewers and Triple-A Nashville
Has appeared in a career-high 12 MLB games this season, all of them starts for the Brewers
Out of 209 MLB pitchers with at least 50 IP this season, he ranks 12^th with an average exit velocity of 86.5
Ranks in the top 15 percent of qualified pitchers in walk percentage and hard-hit ball percentage
While only spending part of this season with the club, he already ranks sixth on Milwaukee with 62.1 IP and is one of 10 Brewers with at least three wins
Earned three quality starts, including a career-long outing of 7.2 innings against St. Louis where he allowed just two runs on four hits on July 7
2026 MLB stat line: 3-4 | 4.48 ERA | 12 apps. | 12 starts | 62.1 IP | 57 H | 32 R | 31 ER | 16 BB | 58 SO | 1.17 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

JOHN KING | MIAMI ORG. | MIAMI MARLINS | MLB

Has spent the entire season with the Miami Marlins, primarily working out of the bullpen
Appeared in 44 games so far with a lone start against the Mets on May 31
Converted his only save opportunity of the year, tossing the final third of an inning to secure the win against Washington on May 9
Ranks third on the Marlins with six wins, the most of any Miami relief pitcher
One of 37 pitchers with at least 40 innings and an ERA below 2.50
His .232 wOBA allowed ranks 12^th among pitchers with at least 40 innings pitched
Ranks in the 87^th percentile of qualified pitchers in MLB's Baseball Savant pitching run value
Miami is currently 58-55 and is third in the NL East, 1.5 games back 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

Has spent most of the season with the Pirates, but missed almost a month early in the season with a knee injury that resulted in rehab assignments
Hit a solo homer as part of a five-run comeback against Philadelphia on June 29, the 20^th home run of his career
Went on a seven-game hitting streak in mid-July, collecting 10 hits for a .455 average
Has collected two go-ahead hits and 10 multi-hit games this season
Pittsburgh holds a record of 56-57, sitting third in the NL Central and is 3.5 games out of a wild card spot
2026 MLB stat line: 78 G | 225 AB | 23 R | 55 H | 12 2B | 1 HR | 20 RBI | 9 SB | .244 AVG | .320 OBP | .311 SLG | .631 OPS

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

Has appeared in 55 games for Boston this season, operating as one of two catchers for the Red Sox
Went on an eight-game hitting streak from late-June to early-July, going 10-for-23 during the span
His pinch-hit homer on July 28 marked the 25^th home run of his career
Sits with a 1.0 WAR on the year, bringing his career total to 4.6
Boston is 60-51 on the season, sitting third in the AL East and holds a 4.0 game advantage of the AL's second wild card spot
2026 MLB stat line: 55 G | 141 AB | 16 R | 36 H | 9 2B | 2 HR | 17 RBI | 3 SB | .255 AVG | .346 OBP | .362 SLG | .707 OPS

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

Hernandez has spent the entire 2026 season with Triple-A Las Vegas
Has seen action in 28 games this year with all being relief appearances
Ranks third on Las Vegas with four wins on the year
Las Vegas was the First Half Champs of the Pacific Coast League with a 44-29 record and is currently 18-15 in the second half, ranking second in the PCL West
Overall, the Aviators lead the PCL this season with a 62-44 record, 0.5 games in front of Sacramento for the overall lead
2026 minors stat line: 4-1 | 8.08 ERA | 28 apps. | 45.2 IP | 57 H | 44 R | 41 ER | 27 BB | 46 SO | 1.84 WHIP

COREY JULKS | DETROIT ORG. | TOLEDO MUD HENS | TRIPLE-A

Julks has spent the entire 2026 season with Triple-A Toledo, appearing in 81 games for the Mud Hens
Ranks second on Toledo with 54 RBIs and third with 15 homers on the season
Has six 3-RBI games, including during a hot start to the month of August with a two-hit performance with a double and homer against Columbus on Aug. 1
The Mud Hens finished the first half with a 34-40 record despite a +26-run differential and currently sit in fifth in the International League West for the second half of the season with a 17-16 record
Overall, Toledo is 51-56 on the year, ranking seventh in the IL West
2026 minors stat line: 81 G | 303 AB | 46 R | 84 H | 11 2B | 15 HR | 54 RBI | .277 AVG | .354 OBP | .462 SLG | .816 OPS

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

Sears started 2026 with Double-A Northwestern Arkansas before earning a promotion to Triple-A Omaha on April 10
Appeared in 30 games so far for Omaha, starting nine while collecting six wins and two holds
Posted an excellent month of June, finishing with a win and a 2.93 ERA with 12 strikeouts in eight appearances
Closed July on a hot streak, allowing just one run in his last five outings in the month
The Storm Chasers finished the first half with a 33-41 record and hold a 18-15 record in the second half, sitting in third in the IL West
Omaha is 51-56 on the year, tied for seventh in the IL West
2026 minors stat line: 6-2 | 4.58 ERA | 32 apps. | 9 starts | 57.0 IP | 62 H | 29 R | 29 ER | 20 BB | 49 SO | 1.44 WHIP

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

Weigel has spent his entire 2026 season with Triple-A Albuquerque, but has had a pair of stints on the injured list eliminating most of his competition for June and July
Taken the mound in 18 games this season, including four starts for the Isotopes
He has allowed just one earned run in five innings across four appearances since being reactivated on July 25
Struck out at least one batter in every appearance but one this season
Albuquerque finished the first half with a 39-36 record, sitting in second in the Pacific Coast East, and hold a 16-17 record in the second half
Overall, the Isotopes have a 55-53 record on the year, sitting in third in the PCL East
2026 minors stat line: 0-1 | 7.11 ERA | 18 apps. | 4 starts | 31.2 IP | 34 H | 27 R | 25 ER | 21 BB | 31 SO | 1.74 WHIP

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

Started 2026 with High-A Greensboro, but was quickly promoted to Double-A Altoona on April 10
Earned 29 appearances so far this season, all in relief
Bounced back with a strong July, appearing in eight games while earning a save and securing a pair of hitless outings
Hasn't allowed an earned run in his last five outings
2026 minors stat line: 3-3 | 7.96 ERA | 29 apps. | 46.1 IP | 59 H | 46 R | 41 ER | 25 BB | 35 SO | 1.81 WHIP

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

Has spent time with Double-A Somerset and High-A Hudson Valley so far in 2026
Initially was promoted to Somerset on May 12 and was called back up after a three-day stint with Hudson Valley from May 27-30
Despite spending only part of the season with Somerset, he ranks seventh on the team with 10 doubles since his call up
Led Somerset with 26 hits in the month of July while sitting in third with four homers and fourth with 11 RBI
Tied for eighth among all Eastern League hitters with 26 hits in July
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 16-17 record in the second half, four games back of first
Somerset holds a 53-49 record on the year, just 1.5 games out of the lead in the EL Northeast
2026 minors stat line: 78 G | 267 AB | 38 R | 67 H | 14 2B | 1 3B | 7 HR | 30 RBI | .251 AVG | .341 OBP | .390 SLG | .731 OPS

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

Citelli has spent his entire 2026 season with Bowling Green in his second year of professional baseball
Collected two wins in July in back-to-back appearances, the second most on the team
His five wins on the year rank fifth on the team and are the second most of any reliever
A trusted arm on the mound, he's made the fourth most appearances for Bowling Green this season
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 25-11 record to sit at 72-29 on the season
2026 minors stat line: 5-1 | 1 Sv | 5.08 ERA | 23 apps. | 28.1 IP | 28 H | 19 R | 16 ER | 18 BB | 27 SO | 1.62 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
His 20 RBIs ranked second while his six homers ranked third among Northwest League players in July
Tri-City holds a 52-50 record on the year and finished second in the Northwest League in the first half with a 35-31 record
2026 minors stat line: 92 G | 317 AB | 43 R | 63 H | 13 2B | 2 3B | 11 HR | 52 RBI | .199 AVG | .308 OBP | .356 SLG | .664 OPS

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

In his first season in the minors, Dollar has split time between Single-A St. Lucie and High-A Brooklyn
Dollar earned a call-up to High-A on May 19 and has remained with Brooklyn since then
Since being promoted to Brookyln, he's posted a 2-1 record in 20 appearances with a save and a 3.04 ERA
Dollar has excelled at limiting opposing offenses, holding opposing hitters to a .171 batting average, including a .115 mark in July
Brooklyn holds a 42-58 record on the year and is 17-18 in the second half
2026 minors stat line: 2-2 | 3 Sv. | 3.44 ERA | 31 apps. | 36.2 IP | 24 H | 17 R | 14 ER | 24 BB | 51 SO | 1.31 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)

After being drafted in 2024 by the Mets, Owen was injured for the entirety of the 2025 campaign and just started his rehab assignment on July 22
Woodward made his minor-league debut on July 22 with the FCL Mets, tossing a perfect inning against the FCL Marlins
His next rehab assignment was with Single-A St. Lucie on July 29, where he threw an inning where he allowed a pair of runs on two hits
2026 minors stat line: 0-0 | 9.00 ERA | 2 apps. | 2.0 IP | 2 H | 2 R | 2 ER | 1 BB | 3 SO | 1.50 WHIP

2026 DRAFTEES & UDFAs
All five of Houston's 2026 MLB Draft Class – Tre Broussard, Ryne Rodriguez, Richie Roman, Carsten Sabathia III and Alex Solis – as well as Cade Climie and Tyler Bryan were assigned to their respective organization's Arizona Complex League or Florida Complex League team. The ACL/FCL had completed competition prior to the draft. The five draftees can still make appearanes in the minor leagues during the remainder of the 2026 season.

SUPPORT THE COUGARS
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