WICHITA, Kan. – With the MLB Draft just a few days away, the Wichita State baseball program is poised to add to its list of alumni playing at the professional level. As of now, there are 19 former Shockers active across the pro baseball landscape. Below is a full list of those players, including their level and affiliation.
 
Alec Bohm – Philadelphia Phillies (MLB)

• Bohm has put together a strong bounce-back season with the Phillies, securing the everyday third base job while raising his batting average 24 points from a season ago to its current .271 level. He is just one shy of his MLB high with six home runs already this season, including two in a win over St. Louis last week. The former third overall pick is in his third season at the game's highest level after finishing second in the NL Rookie of the Year voting in 2020.

 
Sam Hilliard – Colorado Rockies/Albuquerque Isotopes (MLB/AAA)

• Hilliard struggled to open his fourth season with the Rockies, hitting .161 with two home runs before being assigned back to Triple-A Albuquerque. Since rejoining the Isotopes in mid-June, the left-handed hitting outfielder has crushed opposing pitching to the tune of four doubles, four home runs and 12 RBI in just 16 games.

 
Codi Heuer – Chicago Cubs (MLB)

• Heuer's 2022 season was derailed by an injury that required Tommy John surgery, sidelining the flame-throwing righty for the entire campaign. He put together strong numbers with the Cubs after being acquired in a trade last season, going 3-3 with a 3.14 ERA and two saves out of the Chicago bullpen.

 
Josh Smith – Leones de Yucatan (Mexican League)

• After spending parts of two seasons in the Majors with Cleveland and Miami during the 2019 and 2020 seasons, Smith has found his way to Mexico, pitching in arguably the top international league. The former Friday night starter for Wichita State is now a reliever, having made 17 appearances out of the bullpen for Yucatan and recording one save.

 
Greyson Jenista – Gwinnett Stripers (AAA, Atlanta Braves)

• Jenista has steadily climbed the minor league ladder after the Braves selected him in the second round in 2018. After a strong season at Double-A Mississippi in 2021, the left-handed hitter was promoted to Gwinnett to open the 2022 campaign. Jenista is currently hitting .222 with eight doubles, eight home runs and 22 RBI.

 
Luke Ritter – Syracuse Mets/Binghamton Rumble Ponies (AAA/AA, New York Mets)

• Ritter had a breakout power season a year ago in High-A, launching a career-best 14 home runs after hitting just four the season prior. He has continued that surge into 2022, blasting ten doubles and seven home runs in 49 games at Double-A. That performance earned him a brief call-up to Triple-A Syracuse, though Ritter has since been returned Binghamton, where he plays first, second and third base.

 
Clayton McGinness – Bowie Baysox/Aberdeen IronBirds (AA, A+, Baltimore Orioles)

• After shining as a starter at Wichita State, McGinness has moved to the bullpen with the Orioles and burst onto the radar with a dominant start to 2022. Working as the closer at High-A Aberdeen, McGinness fashioned a 0.98 ERA and six saves, securing a promotion to Double-A Bowie. The right-hander has pitched in eight games with the Baysox, going.  1-0 with a 7.84 ERA.

 
A.J. Ladwig – Toledo Mud Hens/Erie Seawolves/Pensacola Blue Wahoos (AAA/AA, Detroit Tigers and Miami Marlins)

• After seven seasons in the Tigers organization, Ladwig was released by Detroit early in the 2022 season. The veteran right-hander was quickly snapped up by the Marlins, who assigned him to Double-A Pensacola. Ladwig has put up solid numbers since the move, making six starts with a 4.33 ERA and incredible control. He has struck out 24 and walked just one in 35.1 innings for Pensacola.

 
Alex Segal – Augusta GreenJackets/FCL Braves (A/Rookie, Atlanta Braves)

• Segal's professional career was off to a promising start after Atlanta signed the southpaw in 2019, but a combination of COVID-related cancellations and injuries robbed him of the last two seasons. The former 22nd round pick made five rehab appearances this year for the Braves Florida Complex League affiliate and was recently assigned to Class-A Augusta where he has two scoreless outings.

 
Ben Hecht – Arizona Complex League Cubs (Rookie, Chicago Cubs)

• Hecht spent just one season at Wichita State as the Shockers closer in 2017, flashing electric stuff that prompted the Cubs to draft him in the 12th round. After three excellent seasons, including a stint at Double-A, Hecht ran into injuries that sidelined him for the duration of 2021. Last week he made his first appearance since the 2019 season, striking out two for the Cubs Arizona Complex League affiliate.

 
Keylan Killgore – Jersey Shore BlueClaws (High-A, Philadelphia Phillies)

• The talented left-hander put together jaw-dropping numbers after the Phillies selected him in the 17th round in 2018, logging a 0.78 ERA and ten saves at Low-A Williamsport. He racked up another very good season at Clearwater in 2019, with a 3.57 ERA and 11 more saves, but has been sidelined with injuries since. Killgore is currently rehabbing and on pace to return to game action during the 2022 season.

 
Aaron Haase – Lakeland Flying Tigers (A, Detroit Tigers)

• Wichita State's most recent addition to the MiLB ranks is Haase, who dominated as the Shockers closer in 2021 and has put together an excellent season at Class-A Lakeland. Pitching in 23 games out of the bullpen, the righty has gone 2-1 with a 2.67 ERA and four saves, striking out 42 in 30.1 innings while walking only 13.

 
Casey Gillaspie – Kansas City Monarchs (American Association, MLB Partner League)

• The former Shocker All-American has established himself as one of the best power hitters in the American Association over the last three seasons, all with Kansas City. He launched a career-high 21 home runs last year, and his hitting .263 with ten long balls in 2022. After Tampa Bay drafted Gillaspie in the first round back in 2014, he was traded to the White Sox in 2017 before moving to the independent ranks two years later.

 
Mitchell Walters – Sioux Falls Canaries (American Association, MLB Partner League)

• Another former Wichita State closer, Walters was drafted by Tampa Bay in the 35th round of the 2019 draft. Two years later, Walters latched on with Southern Illinois in the Frontier League, posting a solid 3.58 ERA in 25 games. He moved up to the American Association this season, and after a slow start has rallied to become one of the league's most consistent relievers. The righty has allowed just two earned runs in his last 12 appearances entering the league's all-star break.

 
Landon Holifield – Cleburne Railroaders (American Association, MLB Partner League)

• Holifield is back for a second season with Cleburne, though injuries have limited him to just five appearances. When healthy, the right-hander is one of the circuit's most talented arms, with a combined 2.88 ERA over the last two seasons and 31 strikeouts to 13 walks. This year he did not allow a run before going down with an injury in late May.

 
Chase Simpson – Cleburne Railroaders (American Association, MLB Partner League)

• After spending four seasons in the Pirates organization out of Wichita State, Simpson made the move to independent baseball in 2017 and has developed into a consistent producer in the six years since. The switch-hitting third baseman was an All-Star in 2019 with 20 home runs and is on pace for a career year in 2022, hitting .305 with 15 doubles and 12 home runs in just 48 games for Cleburne.

 
John Hayes – High Point Rockers (Atlantic League, MLB Partner League)

• Another former Shocker closer, Hayes played parts of three seasons in the Detroit organization from 2016-18 and has pitched for five independent teams over the last five years. The big righty is currently in the midst of his best season since he was a rookie, going 2-1 with a 3.49 ERA in 22 games for High Point.

 
Preston Snavely – Northern Colorado Owlz (Pioneer League, MLB Partner League)

• Snavely pitched in 60 games over his five seasons at Wichita State and has now reunited with former Shocker teammate Alex Jackson in the Pioneer League, which was recently converted to an MLB Partner League after previously serving as a Rookie-level circuit. Snavely has started six games for Northern Colorado, going 0-1 with a 6.04 ERA.

 
Alex Jackson – Northern Colorado Owlz (Pioneer League, MLB Partner League)

• Jackson spent four seasons at Wichita State before signing with Colorado Springs in the Pecos League in 2021. After crushing the league to the tune of a .412 batting average with 29 extra-base hits in 41 games, Jackson moved up to the Pioneer League this season. In 39 games with Northern Colorado, the left-handed hitter has a .294 average with three home runs and ten stolen bases.