Mount Olive, N.C. - Six former Trojan baseball players are currently playing professional baseball following their careers at Mount Olive. Here is an update on how they are doing as of June 2019.
Austin Hutchison (2017) - Modesto Nuts - Class A Advanced | California League (Seattle Mariners)
Following an eventful 2018 season that saw Hutchison make appearances in Double AA Arkansas and Triple AAA Tacoma, the left-hander has started in 14 games back for AA Modesto sporting a 4.54 ERA with a 2-8 overall record and 79 strikeouts. He has battled one short stint on the seven-day disabled list but was reactivated on May 29.
Ryan Kussmaul (2010) - Somerset Patriots - Atlantic League | Independent
After playing with the Rieleros de Aguascalientes of the Mexican Baseball League and Magallanes of the Venezuelan winter league last season, Kussmaul was signed by the Somerset Patriots an Independent Professional Baseball Organizational in early June of 2019. In three starts, Kussmaul is 1-2 with a 4.11 ERA, striking out 11, with five walks, and has allowed seven runs.
Tommy Layne (2007) - Memphis Redbirds - Triple-A | Pacific Coast League (St. Louis Cardinals)
After being invited to spring training this season Layne was assigned back to AAA Memphis where he spent all but two games last season. This season he has made 33 appearances out of the bullpen, earning a 3-1 record, while collecting a 6.63 ERA in 36.2 innings of work and striking out 36.
Zach Vennero (2018) - Brewers Gold - Rookie | Arizona League (Milwaukee Brewers)
Vennero was signed to a minor league contract by the Milwaukee Brewers on June 19 and was assigned to the Brewers rookie team. Through three appearances he has pitched four innings with four strikeouts allowing only one hit.
Kodi Whitley (2017) - Springfield Cardinals - Double-A | Texas League (St. Louis Cardinals)
Whitley began the season in Class-A Peoria before getting called up to double-a Springfield three games into the season. Since then the right-hander has appeared in 23 games for the Cardinals registering a 2.54 ERA through 28.1 innings while striking out 34 batters leading to a 1-4 record out of the pen.
Bruce Zimmermann (2017) - Bowie Baysox - Double-A | Eastern League (Baltimore Orioles)
Zimmermann spent his 2018 season at a few different levels with the Atlanta Braves farm system. He began the year in single-A before getting called up double-a Mississippi for six games and then was traded in a six-man trade, plus future considerations, to the Baltimore Orioles. The lefty was activated to the Orioles double-a affiliate the Bowie Baysox upon the trade. This season Zimmermann has continued to succeed posting the lowest ERA of his minor league career through 13 starts, a 2.72 with a 2-2 record punching out 75 batters, including a complete game 96-pitch shutout on June 18 that eliminated the Hartford Yard Goats from playoff contention.