Summer success hits for Lopes in pros

A productive Grand Canyon baseball summer did not cease with the most successful MLB Draft in program history.

After having its highest draft pick ever, three picks in the first five rounds for the first time and being one of 14 college programs with three taken in the July draft's top 160, the GCU-produced rookies joined Lopes veterans to dot the minor leagues with players on the rise.

"It was a great summer for our Lopes in the pros," Lopes head coach Gregg Wallis said. "As the program keeps moving forward, so do the accomplishments of our professional players. We had our first big league debut of the new Division I era and there are a lot more coming soon. It's an exciting time to follow our alumni."

Homer Bush Jr.

The meteoric rise of outfielder Homer Bush Jr. continued. After going from a 1-for-6 freshman season at GCU to being the fourth-round pick of the San Diego Padres for a reported $511,600 signing bonus this summer, Bush zoomed through two minor league promotions in short time.

Bush, who turns 22 this week, debuted by hitting .409 with two home runs and 10 stolen bases in 12 Arizona Complex League appearances. At Single-A Lake Elsinore, Bush batted .247 with a .369 on-base percentage and 11 steals in 24 games while frequently made highlight catches. That led to a Double-A call-up to San Antonio, where Bush went 16 for 37 (.432) in regular-season and postseason action.

Jacob Wilson

All-American shortstop Jacob Wilson became GCU's highest draft pick ever when he went No. 6 overall in July to the Oakland A's and earned a reported $5.5 million signing bonus. Then, he started backing up his hype and value as a pro.

Wilson went 5 for 11 with two doubles in a quick Arizona Complex League stay at Camelback Ranch before moving to High-A ball with Lansing, where the 21-year-old made defensive highlight reels and hit .318 with a .378 on-base percentage and a .455 slugging percentage. Wilson knocked nine doubles in 88 at bats and committed three errors over 23 games for the Lugnuts.

Jake Wong

Jake Wong, a 2018 third-round round pick by San Francisco, played his second year since coming back from Tommy John surgery and rehabilitation and made it a memorable one with an appearance in The Show.

Wong pitched a one-game call-up for the Cincinnati Reds on June 26, handling three relief innings with three runs allowed. Otherwise, the 27-year-old right-hander was in Double-A Chattanooga and Triple-A Louisville with a 6.52 combined ERA, including a 1.98 ERA in seven August relief appearances.

Pierson Ohl

Pierson Ohl, another right-handed ace who followed Wong at GCU, was Minnesota's 14th-round pick in 2021 and thrived this season in High-A and Double-A stops.

Ohl, 24, was promoted to Wichita in early June and went 7-3 with a 2.69 ERA. He recorded 74 strikeouts to just 13 walks in 87 innings. In his final four outings, the 24-year-old allowed two earned runs in 22 innings with 18 strikeouts to three walks in that span.

Frankie Scalzo

Frankie Scalzo, a fellow 2021 draftee of Ohl's, also made the move from High A to Double A this season with success. The Cubs' 14th-round pick went 4-4 with eight saves and a 2.31 ERA at South Bend, where his ERA was 1.25 for his final 15 appearances.

The 23-year-old right-hander closed the season with four appearances for Tennessee, posting a 2.84 ERA with nine strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings.

Eli Ankeney

Eli Ankeney, a 20th-round pick by the New York Mets last year, opened the summer with six shutout appearances at Single-A St. Lucie and moved to High-A Brooklyn.

The 22-year-old left-hander continued to thrive and held a 2.61 ERA until his final outing (five runs in an inning) bumped it to 3.94. Ankeney struck out 37 batters in 32 innings while earning four saves for Brooklyn.

Nick Hull

The Cubs' 2022 seventh-round pick is pitching in the Arizona Fall League for the Mesa Solar Sox after having a successful rookie pro season this summer.

The 24-year-old right-hander went 6-3 with a 4.30 ERA as a starter for Single-A Myrtle Beach before having one start and four relief appearances with High-A South Bend (2-0, 3.24 ERA). Over the two stops, Hull struck out 88 batters in 92 innings.

Here is a round-up of more Lopes playing in the pros:

Tayler Aguilar, 23: After being drafted in the 15th round by the New York Yankees last year, Aguilar hit. 162 with seven home runs in 75 games this summer for Single-A Tampa. His 44 walks put his on-base percentage at .291.
David Avitia, 25: The former GCU catcher and volunteer assistant coach signed with the Cubs, where he went 3 for 7 in his last two games to hit .191 for High-A Myrtle Beach. He threw out 10 runners on the bases.
Zach Barnes, 24: The undrafted 2019 Diamondbacks signee pitched once for Triple-A Reno and made his final two appearances for Double-A Amarillo. He spent most of the season with High-A Hillsboro, going 4-4 with a 4.99 ERA and 52 strikeouts in 57 2/3 innings.
Cuba Bess, 26: The former 38th-round pick hit seven home runs in 22 games for the Colorado Rockies' Arizona Complex League team before moving to HIgh-A Spokane, where the first baseman hit .238 with three homers in 63 at bats.
Kade Mechals, 25: A White Sox fourth-round pick in 2020, the right-hander returned from Tommy John rehabilitation for his first pro inning last year and threw 26 innings this year at Single-A Kannapolis and Double-A Winston-Salem (combined 5.88 ERA).
Channy Ortiz, 24: The Diamondbacks' 2021 14th-round pick hit .237 with a .305 on-base percentage. Used as a utility infielder/outfielder at five positions, he made only four errors in High-A Hillsboro.
Vince Reilly, 22: Oakland's 2022 18th-round pick made his first four pro appearances in Single-A Stockton with a 3.86 ERA and six strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings.
Zach Thornton, 21: Drafted by the New York Mets in the fifth round this year, Thornton received a reported $350,000 signing bonus. The left-hander has not made his pro debut.
Cody Tucker, 24: The Giants' undrafted signee pitched four shutout innings in the Arizona Complex League before throwing twice for Single-A San Jose with a 3.00 ERA.