#MoragaMade takes a look at former SMC Gael baseball standouts who are continuing their careers at the MiLB and MLB levels.
 
CORBIN BURNES – MILWAUKEE BREWERS
Continuing his stellar 2021 campaign, Corbin Burnes has had a bit of a banner month in July. For starter's Burnes was named to his first All-Star Game, putting an exclamation point on what has been a stellar start to the season. Not only was he recognized, Burnes pitched two innings in the Midseason Classic, taking over after Max Scherzer started the game. Burnes did wind up taking the loss after allowing a pair of runs, including a solo home run to Vladimir Guerrero Jr., but he did record a pair of strikeouts.
 
He followed up his All-Star appearance by validating why he was an All-Star in the first place, picking up his fifth win of the season by shutting out the Cincinnati Reds over 8.1 innings, allowing just five hits, one walk, and 12 strikeouts. It marked the first time a Brewers pitcher had recorded 10+ strikeouts in eight shutout innings since Yovani Gallardo in 2010. The numbers continue to be impressive for Burnes, who is firmly cemented in the NL Cy Young Award race, with a 2.12 ERA, 12.9 K/9, 1.6 BB/9, and a 0.902 WHIP.
 
PATRICK WISDOM – CHICAGO CUBS
While things might have cooled down for Patrick Wisdom after he burst onto the scene in late-May and early-June, things might be trending in his favor after the trade deadline. Wisdom has been seeing a lot more playing time in July, and has posted a .752 OPS (slightly above league average), a far cry from his .940 OPS for the season. His home run total is up to 16 now, including two in July against the St. Louis Cardinals.
 
With Wisdom seeing more time at third base, it has pushed normal-third baseman Kris Bryant to other positions in the field. The Chicago Cubs are actively four game under .500 as the trade deadline approaches, and recently traded fan-favorite Anthony Rizzo, who plays first base. Bryant is rumored to be next in line among big trades at the deadline, and if so, Wisdom could become a fixture in the Cubs lineup for the rest of 2021, and perhaps beyond.
 
TONY GONSOLIN – LOS ANGELES DODGERS
The trade deadline might also impact the role of Tony Gonsolin on the defending World Series champions. With the Trevor Bauer situation leaving a hole in the rotation, it is possible for the Dodgers to target starting pitching help. If that is a route the Dodgers pursue, it could push Gonsolin to a long-relief role. Gaels fans might remember that he served as a swing-man of sorts during the 2020 season, eventually culminating in starts during both the NLCS and World Series.
 
Pitching out of the rotation in July, Gonsolin is continuing to work his way back from injury by building up his pitch count, where he got to the 80-pitch mark in each of his last three starts. His July numbers are an improvement over his limited June, where he has pitched to a 2.14 ERA across 21 innings in five starts. Most recently, he had his best game of the season, where he blanked the Colorado Rockies over 5.1 innings of two-hit baseball, while striking out seven.
 
KYLE BARRACLOUGH – ST. PAUL SAINTS
Settling into his role with the St. Paul Saints in the Minnesota Twins organization, Kyle Barraclough has been on a roll in the month of July. His last seven outings have all been scoreless, allowing just four hits in the entire month, spanning 8.2 innings. His first outing of the month saw him allow three runs to the Omaha Storm Chasers, but he has been stellar since. The Twins have begun to sell at the trade deadline, and if there are any moves to the pitching staff in addition to starter José Berríos, it is possible that Barraclough joins in the big-league club.
 
DREW STROTMAN – ST. PAUL SAINTS
Speaking of the Minnesota Twins, Drew Strotman was involved in a trade that sent Nelson Cruz to the Tampa Bay Rays, and Tampa sent Strotman to the Twins. This is a deal that the Rays did not take lightly to, as Strotman was nearing the major-league level. Strotman carried a 7-2 record with a 3.39 earned run average at the AAA level this year, and now figures to has a chance to make his major league debut during the final two months of 2021 season. Strotman was the 17^th-ranked prospect in the Rays system.
 
NATE NOLAN – CHARLOTTE KNIGHTS
The last week has been a good one for Nate Nolan, currently with the Charlotte Knights, AAA-affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. Nolan is 6-14 over his last five games going back to July 17, with a pair of runs batted in. The White Sox were one of the very active teams at the trade deadline, acquiring big talent on the infield and in the bullpen while trading away Nick Madrigal, the brother of former Gael Ty Madrigal, but Nolan remains in Charlotte for the time being and is on standby in the case of an injury to the major league club.
 
KEN WALDICHUK – SOMERSET PATRIOTS
The beginning of the season was nearly perfect for Ken Waldichuk, with that 30.2 scoreless-innings streak to begin the season earning himself a promotion to the AA-level in the New York Yankees organization. He has been working deeper into games now that he is with Somerset, including a 6.1 inning start on July 13 for his longest outing as a professional, a game that included a career-best 11 strikeouts. Across seven starts, Waldichuk has a 3.89 ERA and 55 strikeouts in 37 innings.
 
JOE VRANESH – GREAT LAKES LOONS
Things are starting to click for Joe Vranesh, who started the season sluggish in what was going to be his first full-season of professional basaeball. After just five multi-hit games in the first two months of the season, Vranesh racked up five in the month of July, including a six-game hitting streak against the Lake County Captains over a six-game series. On the flip side, Vranesh has stopped stealing as many bases, with just one over the last month after swiping 13 in the first two months of the season.