Nick Sandlin and Luke Reynolds, who each put together All-American seasons during their junior year at Southern Miss, have each started their professional careers with their respective Major League Baseball club.
Sandlin, a 2nd round pick by the Cleveland Indians (67th-pick overall), and Reynolds, a 10th-round selection by the Chicago Cubs (308th-pick overall), became the 24th and 25th Golden Eagles taken in the Top 10 rounds of last month’s MLB First-Year Player Draft.
Sandlin initially reported to the Arizona League for the Indians 1 squad, appearing in three, one-inning outings in which he allowed two hits and no runs with four strikeouts and no walks. The Evans, Ga., native earned a promotion over the weekend to the Class A Lake County (Ohio) Captains. Sandlin, who is currently on the same team as another former Golden Eagle, Kirk McCarty, allowed a hit and fanned one in his lone inning of work in his first outing on Saturday.
Reynolds collected his professional debut on Saturday in the Arizona League (Rookie) for the AZL Cubs 1. In his first two games, the Forest, Miss., product batted third and fourth in the batting lineup, respectively.
Here is a listing of all former Golden Eagles currently playing in organized Minor League Baseball. One other Southern Miss player, Brian Dozier, is on the roster for the Minnesota Twins.
Player Team (Level) Organization League Draft
Taylor Braley$ Greensboro (A) Miami Marlins South Atlantic 2017
Dylan Burdeaux Lakeland (High A) Detroit Tigers Florida State 2017
Cody Carroll Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (AAA) New York Yankees International 2015
Scott Copeland* Binghamton (AA) New York Mets Eastern 2010
Conor Fisk Buffalo (AAA) Toronto Blue Jays Eastern 2014
Kirk McCarty Lake County (A) Cleveland Indians Midwest 2017
Luke Reynolds AZL Cubs 1 (Rookie) Chicago Cubs Arizona 2018
Mason Robbins Charlotte (AAA) Chicago White Sox International 2014
Chuckie Robinson Buies Creek (High A) Houston Astros Carolina 2016
Hayden Roberts Boise (Short Season A) Colorado Rockies Pioneer 2017
Bradley Roney$ Mississippi (AA) Atlanta Braves Southern 2014
Nick Sandlin Lake County (A) Cleveland Indians Midwest 2018
Jake Winston Kane County (A) Arizona D’backs Midwest 2016
* Played in Major League Baseball; $ 7-Day DL
