Six former members of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater baseball team are currently playing baseball professionally in the United States.
See below for updates on each player.
Marty Herum (2012-13) – Triple-A Reno Aces (Arizona Diamondbacks)
Herum hasn't played since June 28, and is currently on the injured list with the Triple-A Reno Aces of the Pacific Coast League. He is currently batting .212 (25-for-118) with seven doubles, three home runs and 17 RBIs in 48 games with the Aces.
Since being signed by the Diamondbacks as a free agent to a minor league contract in July 2013, Herum has been selected as an MILB.com Organization All-Start twice (2016, 2017), a Mid-Season All-Start three times (2014, 2015, 2017) and a Post-Season All-Star once (2016).
Herum batted .300 at Double-A Jackson a season ago and has spent a majority of the 2019 season at the Triple-A level.
Lake Bachar (2015-16) – Double-A Amarillo Sod Poodles (San Diego Padres)
Bachar is enjoying a strong season with Double-A Amarillo of the Texas League. He is 7-2 with a 3.25 earned run average and 92 strikeouts in 91 1/3 innings, including a 2.04 ERA over his last 10 appearances. The right-hander last pitched July 21, tossing 7 2/3 shutout innings with nine strikeouts in a victory over Northwest Arkansas.
Bachar was drafted in the fifth round by the Padres in the 2016 MLB First-Year Player Draft. He started the 2019 season at Single-A (Advanced) Lake Elsinore before being assigned to Amarillo on May 13.
In his Minor League career, Bachar is 19-14 with a 3.81 ERA and 267 strikeouts in 300 innings pitched. He has started in 45 of his 74 career appearances.
Mike Aiello (Racine, Wis./Horlick) (2017-19) – St. Paul Saints (American Association of Independent Professional Baseball)
Aiello made a strong debut with the St. Paul Saints on July 21, finishing 2-for-5 with two runs scored at the plate in a 10-3 victory at Fargo-Moorhead. The Saints resume their season Wednesday night following a two-day break for the American Association All-Star Game.
Cal Aldridge (Crystal Lake, Ill./Prairie Ridge) (2016-19) – Windy City ThunderBolts (Frontier League)
Aldridge made his debut with the Windy City ThunderBolts of the Frontier League on July 5. He is 4-for-26 at the plate with one double, two walks and two RBIs in nine games with the team.
Austin Jones (Wauwatosa, Wis./West) (2014-18) – Windy City ThunderBolts (Frontier League)
Jones, in his second season playing professionally in the Frontier League, has made 11 appearances, including six as a starter, with 53 strikeouts in 40 2/3 innings pitched. He hasn't played since July 4.
Heath Renz (Jefferson, Wis./Jefferson) (2015-18) – Southern Illinois Miners (Frontier League)
Renz has made 26 relief appearances for Southern Illinois this season, entering Wednesday with a 4.27 ERA and 36 strikeouts in 33 2/3 innings pitched.
Renz was drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 27th round of the 2018 MLB First-Year Player Draft. He pitched last season for the Princeton Rays of the Appalachian League (Rookie), finishing with a 2-3 record, one save, a 3.86 ERA and 23 strikeouts in 25 2/3 innings.
Renz was released by the Rays in March.
