Over the weekend, Major League Baseball held its annual draft during which two Arizona players were selected. Pitchers Owen Kramkowski and Collin McKinney hope to join the long list of former Wildcats to make the bigs, a number that reached 95 earlier this year.Of that group, 10 have spent time in the majors during the 2026 season, which is currently on the All-Star break, but only four are active and healthy. Here’s a look at how each has fared, along with an update on some other ex-UA players who are in the minors or playing overseas:AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementRHP Kevin Ginkel, Arizona DiamondbacksThe 32-year-old Ginkel is having one of the best seasons of his 8-year run with the D’Backs, sporting a 2.84 ERA along with a 3-2 record in 41 appearances. In 38 innings he’s struck out 40 against just 11 walks, and opponents are hitting just .223 against him.Ginkel, who was part of the 2016 UA team that lost in the College World Series championship series, is earning $2.75 million this season as he approaches free agency. He was a 22nd-round pick in 2016, before the draft was reduced to 20 rounds in 2021.OF Robert Refsnyder, Seattle MarinersAt 35, Refsnyder is the elder statesmen of ex-Wildcats in the majors and the only active player left from the 2012 NCAA title team that produced seven big league players. Seattle is his ninth organization he’s been with, seven of which have had him in the bigs.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe Mariners signed Refsnyder to a 1-year, $6.25 million deal after seeing how well he hit lefties during the previous four seasons with the Boston Red Sox, but that proficiency hasn’t carried over from the East Coast. In 49 games and 105 at-bats Refsynder is hitting just .133 with three homers and nine RBI, and two weeks ago he was put on the 15-day IL with knee inflamation.With 1,669 career plate appearances, Refsnyder is 15th among all ex-Wildcats and only 158 behind Terry Francona, who has become much more known for being one of the best managers in MLB history and who is in his 25th season overall and 2nd with the Cincinnati Reds.RHP Chase Silseth, Los Angeles AngelsIt took the 26-year-old Silseth less than a year of pro ball to make the majors, going from pitching with the UA in the 2021 CWS to being an 11th-round pick of the Angels a month later and then making his MLB debut in May 2022.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThat was as a starter, which he did during most of his time in the bigs those first three seasons. He was converted to a full-time reliever in 2025 and this season has become one of the more effective bullpen arms in the American League.Silseth, who is still four seasons away from free agency, is 3-1 with a 3.03 ERA in 42 games. He’s struck out 45 in 35.2 innings with an opposing BA of .227. He’s making $800,000 this season, a little better than the $485K he signed for out of the draft.C Austin Wells, New York YankeesThe 27-year-old Wells is is the Yankees’ primary
Content Source: Yahoo News
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