Another month has come and gone in the world of professional baseball. It\u2019s time to update the progress of Clemson\u2019s former players as they progress through the minor leagues and perform in the big leagues. We begin with the five Tigers currently on MLB rosters\u2026
\nJeff Baker, UTIL, Miami Marlins
\nSEASON: 21 GP (5 GS), .276\/.400\/.448, HR, 3 RBI, 8 R, 6 BB, 10 K, 0.1 WAR
\nMAY: 13 GP (5 GS), .333\/.407\/.542, HR, 3 RBI, 4 R, 3 BB, 7 K
\nAfter being utilized solely as a bench player in April, Baker made five starts in May. Four of them came at first base, which has been his primary defensive position this season. In his most recent start, on May 30 at the Mets, he hit his first home run of the season. Both Baker\u2019s walk and strikeout rates are high, but he continues to produce due to a .389 average on balls in play. Baker should keep getting opportunities as right-handed pop off the bench and a spot starter in the infield for the Marlins.
\nDominic Leone, RHP, Seattle Mariners
\nSeason: 9 GP, 9.1 IP, 0-4, HD, 7.71 ERA, 2.04 WHIP, 8.7 BB\/9, 4.8 K\/9, -0.6 WAR
\nMay: 2 GP, 0-2, 1 IP, 36.00 ERA, 6.00 WHIPAAA: 8 GP, 9.1 IP, 1-1, 7.71 ERA, 1.61 WHIP, 4.8 BB\/9, 8.3 K\/9
\nLeone spent three weeks in May down in AAA after a rough start to the season, but a recent rash of injuries in the Mariners\u2019 bullpen necessitated a call-up. So far, things haven\u2019t gotten much better. He allowed three runs in extra innings in his first appearance since being sent down on May 31 against Cleveland. Leone has yet to find the same kind of groove he was in a season ago, and it remains to be seen what Seattle believes about his role moving forward on the big-league club.
\nBrad Miller, SS, Seattle Mariners
\nSeason: 47 GP (43 GS), .228\/.311\/.414, 5 HR, 14 RBI, 16 R, 4-5 SB, 17 BB, 37 K, 1.1 WAR
\nMay: 25 GP (23 GS), .188\/.293\/.425, 4 HR, 7 RBI, 1-1 SB, 11 BB, 22 K
\nMiller had a unique month of May. He had some ridiculous highs, including winning the American League Player of the Week Award for the week of May 17. He also experienced a sharp decline in his BABIP\u2014.340 in April, .203 in May\u2014that put him below the Mendoza line for the month. Miller\u2019s power spiked, however, as the Red Sox can attest. The shortstop hit three bombs in a two-game span against Boston, but he also ended the month with one hit in his last 25 at-bats. Metrics are identifying Miller as a top-five shortstop in the AL in terms of range so far in 2015, and he is on pace to cut down on his errors.
\nBen Paulsen, 1B\/LF, Colorado Rockies
\nSeason: 13 GP (11 GS), .350\/.409\/.650, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 6 R, 4 BB, 8 K, 0.4 WAR
\nMay: 13 GP (11 GS), .350\/.409\/.650, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 6 R, 4 BB, 8 KAAA: 36 GP, .256\/.340\/.424, 3 HR, 15 RBI, 19 R, 1-1 SB, 15 BB, 34 K
\nPaulsen was called up from Albuquerque and made his debut on May 19. Over the past two weeks, he has done nothing but affirm that decision, hitting so well that the Rockies may not be inclined to send him back down once Justin Morneau comes off of the disabled list. Only three first basemen who appeared in at least 10 games in May had a higher OPS than Paulsen, who had four multi-hit games and only went hitless three times. He has matched his home run total from AAA in the big leagues in significantly fewer games, and his strikeout rate with the Rockies has been much better than it was in the minors. Look for Paulsen to continue to see regular at-bats as a red-hot hitter in Colorado.
\nTony Sipp, LHP, Houston Astros
\nSeason: 20 GP, 18.2 IP, 2-2, 6 HD, 2.41 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, 1.4 BB\/9, 10.1 K\/9, 0.5 WAR
\nMay: 10 GP, 7.1 IP, 0-2, 3 HD, 4.91 ERA, 1.23 WHIP
\nAn astronomical .438 May BABIP has led to some recent struggles for Sipp, who is still a reliable lefty matchup option for the Astros this season. He failed to give up an earned run in 14 consecutive appearances before allowing four earned runs in 1.1 innings pitched over three outings from May 21-29. Sipp was utilized as a multi-inning option for Houston earlier this season, but he hasn\u2019t completed a full inning of work since May 19. Batters are hitting Sipp harder this season, but his groundball rate is at an all-time high. He is still inducing swing-and-misses. There are a ton of extremes with his peripherals, so it remains to be seen which way Sipp\u2019s season will go. I\u2019d bank on some improvement over the long haul.
\nGod Bless!
\nWQ<\/p>\n