A quick update on some former KU baseball players.
Two former Jayhawks, Les Walrond (P - Phillies) and Travis Metcalf (3B - Rangers) were called up to the major leagues yesterday.
Walrond pitched for the Royals briefly in 2003 and for the Cubs in 2006. The big left hander played first base at KU but was converted into a pitcher after he was drafted.
Walrond and Metcalf.
Travis Metcalf has been up and down with the Rangers over the last two seasons. He looked good to make the opening day roster in Texas this spring before suffering a spring training injury. Coming into 2008 Metcalf held the all-time KU career homerun record with 29. Ryne Price and Erik Morrison both passed Metcalf this season. Price and Morrison are doing well after their first month of professional baseball. Morrison earned a quick promotion to High-A ball. and is now playing second base for the Bakersfield Blaze. Price is still in the Arizona Rookie League but doing very well at the plate.
One other note, two high school players who committed to play baseball at KU and then were taken in the MLB draft remain unsigned. Zac Elgie was taken in the 12th round by Oakland and Lee Ridenhour was taken in the 31st round by the Twins. Teams have about two more weeks to sign their draftees. I am hopeful that both Elgie and Ridenhour will be playing at Hoglund next year. Let's keep our fingers crossed.