#ProZags: Zag Baseball Alums in Pro Ball
8/11/2026 3:25:00 PM | Baseball
As MLB teams gear up to jockey for postseason positions and minor league teams start the final four weeks of games, Zag Baseball alumni have played a big part in the professional baseball season so far.
There are 15 Zags currently on rosters in affiliated professional baseball. 9 Bulldogs have appeared in an MLB game this season, the second highest number of alumni in the MLB of any team in the new Pac-12.
Recaps for the season of each GU alum can be found below, with teams and statistics reflecting the date of publication on August 11th.
The #ProZags page is updated as each transaction occurs, allowing fans to follow every Zag on their journey to make it to The Show.
Gabriel Hughes
Pitcher | Colorado Rockies
Hughes has been considered a top prospect for the Rockies since they selected him with the 10th overall pick in 2022, which was the highest draft pick in Gonzaga program history. He made his debut in Denver on July 3rd of this year, picking up a save in relief before locking down a spot in the starting rotation for the rest of the season.
Hughes has a 5.61 ERA in his rookie year, the second lowest ERA of all active pitchers in the Colorado rotation (Coors Field yields about 13% more runs than the median MLB ballpark thanks to the elevation in Denver). He has 33.2 innings pitched across 6 starts in his young career, already adding the second most Wins Above Replacement of any Rockies starting pitcher per Fangraphs (0.9 WAR) in just over a month in the majors.
Troy Johnston
Outfielder/First Base | Colorado Rockies
From college teammates to Rockies teammates, Johnston has also had a tremendous season alongside Hughes in Denver. After being acquired by the Rockies in the offseason, Johnston as split time in the outfield and first base while appearing in 102 games this season. He has hit for a .283 batting average, putting him in the top 25 among all qualified hitters in MLB in the stat. His 25 doubles ties him for 15th overall in the MLB this season.
William Kempner
Pitcher | Miami Marlins
Kempner also made his MLB debut this season, tossing a scoreless inning to break into the big league on May 5th. Kempner has had a 2.92 ERA with just a 0.97 WHIP across nine relief appearances for the Marlins this season. He has already become a fan favorite with the Marlins thanks to his fastball that averages 96 MPH and his propensity to wear his jersey unbuttoned. Kempner is expected to return to action soon after a brief stint on the IL.
Casey Legumina
Pitcher | Tampa Bay Rays
After a midseason trade to Tampa Bay from Seattle, Legumina has become a steady force in the bullpen for the Rays. He has a 3.92 ERA with the Rays across 32 appearances. Legumina has struck out 25 batters while walking just 10. He walks only six percent of batters he faces, which is in the top 15th percentile of MLB pitchers. He leans primarily on a fastball that has six more inches of horizontal break than the median MLB fastball to give him such good control while supporting the Rays to their lead atop the AL East.
Marco Gonzales
Pitcher | Round Rock Express (AAA for Texas Rangers)
Marco Gonzales worked back to the Major Leagues after two years of recovery from an injury, making his first appearance in the big leagues in over two years on July 21st while picking up a save. A self described "crafty lefty", he shown an arsenal of at least six pitches this season to continue to keep hitters off balance. Gonzales has pitched in 172 games in the MLB in his lengthy career, tossing 932.2 innings while striking out 691 batters. He has been responsible for 10.1 Wins Above Replacement across his career per Fangraphs.
Brett Harris
Third Base | Worcester Red Sox (AAA for Boston Red Sox)
Harris was traded to the Boston Red Sox on July 1st after two years of serving as a third baseman for the Athletics. In 58 games across the AAA affiliates for both teams he has caused a combined 50 RBIs and 41 runs. Harris has hit for a .301 average and a .892 OPS in his stint across both AAA teams this season.
Alek Jacob
Pitcher | El Paso Chihuahuas (AAA for San Diego Padres)
Jacob appeared in the majors for the Padres for the fourth straight season. Prior to the MLB season, Jacob pitched for Team Italy in the World Baseball Classic, helping the Italians to a historic WBC semifinal appearance. Jacob has drawn attention for his distinctive arm slot and delivery, reaching the 98th percentile in arm extension on his release point, causing his primary pitches (a fastball and a changeup) to each have over half a foot of increased horizontal run when compared to the median MLB pitch, per MLB Statcast.
Wyatt Mills
Pitcher | Rochester Red Wings (AAA for Washington Nationals)
Mills was recently claimed by the Washington Nationals after working his way back to the majors for the first time in four years after recovering from Tommy John surgery. He was the focus of a feature about his tenacity amidst his journey back to the big leagues, which can be read here. Mills had a 2.41 ERA with just a .176 batting average against in AAA this season.
Eli Morgan
Pitcher | Omaha Storm Chasers (AAA for Kansas City Royals)
Eli Morgan returned to the majors for the sixth straight season, this time returning as part of the Royals' bullpen. Morgan has logged 292 innings across 184 games in the MLB, amassing 282 strikeouts to just 82 walks. He has posted a career 4.25 ERA in the majors, and currently holds a remarkable 1.40 ERA in AAA for the Storm Chasers.
Owen Wild
Pitcher | Durham Bulls (AAA for Tampa Bay Rays)
Wild continued his quick ascent of the minor league system for the Rays, getting promoted to AAA in May. He has a career minor league ERA of 3.88 across 273.2 innings, setting the stage to potentially make a major league debut in the future if he continues his upwards trajectory in the Rays' system. He is averaging well over a strikeout per inning in the minors, racking up 318 punchouts in that timeframe. Wild also impressed in the World Baseball Classic, appearing on the mound for a strong Team Great Britian.
Brody Jessee
Pitcher | Chattanooga Lookouts (AA for Cincinnati Reds)
Another midseason promotion, Jesse was promoted to AA for the Reds on the strength of a 135 to 61 strikeout to walk ratio in high A. Currently working out of the bullpen for the Lookouts, Jessee has thrown 26.1 innings across 16 games while putting up a perfect 2-0 record on the season.
Liam Paddack
Pitcher | Birmingham Barons (AA for Chicago White Sox)
Paddack continued the trend of 2026 promotions for Zag alums, getting moved up to AA in June after spending just half of a season in high A Winston-Salem. He has put up a 3.38 ERA with Birmingham, punching out 23 batters in 16 innings. He has just a .208 batting average against while with the Barons.
Trystan Vrieling
Pitcher | Richmond Flying Squirrels (AA for San Francisco Giants)
Vrieling returned to the Flying Squirrels after being acquired by the Giants at the 2025 trade deadline. He has thrown for 90.1 innings across 20 starts, striking out 81 batters while putting up a 3.99 ERA. He continues to be a workhorse starter as he works up the minor league pyramid, throwing for 319.1 innings across just three years in professional baseball.
Payton Graham
Pitcher | Palm Beach Cardinals (A for Saint Louis Cardinals)
Graham returned to the mound after recovering from his previous arm injury, blowing away the competition in rookie ball with a 1.86 ERA and 14 strikeouts in 9.2 innings and earning a quick promotion to Palm Beach. He has made 11 starts for the Palm Beach Cardinals, throwing for a 2/1 K/BB ratio with 40 strikeouts to 20 walks, continuing to validate the belief the Cardinals have in him after drafting him in the 7th round in the 2025 draft while in the middle of his journey back to the mound.
Justin Feld
Pitcher | ACL White Sox (Complex League for Chicago White Sox)
The newest Zag in professional baseball, Feld has followed the typical process for newly signed professional pitchers and has not yet appeared in a game in the White Sox system while recovering from the demand of a long collegiate season. He finished his GU career with 162 strikeouts across 183 innings, allowing just a .262 batting average to opponents and picking up 15 wins. He increased his fastball up to 97 mph in his senior season, giving fans a lot to look forward to when he debuts in the minor leagues soon.
