SAN DIEGO – Six former Aztecs began the season on MLB rosters, three more played in the NBA and another two competed on the PGA Tour.
In the MLB, infielder Ty France (2013-15) is on the Seattle Mariners. He played in all five of their games last week and hit .333 with a .364 on-base percentage, one home run, four RBIs, three runs scored and a stolen base. France was the difference on Opening Day, when he accounted for all of the runs scored in the game with a three-run blast to deep right center in the eighth inning off Cleveland's James Karinchak. He also doubled in Julio Rodriguez on Monday night against the Los Angeles Angels to give the Mariners a 2-1 lead in the third inning.
Infielder David Hensley (2015-18) is on the Houston Astros. He played in four of Houston's five games to begin the season. He is batting .250 with a .333 on-base percentage, two RBIs, one run scored and a stolen base. In Sunday's loss to the Chicago White Sox, Hensley singled in a run with two outs in the ninth inning to bring the tying run to the plate, but the Astros were unable to convert on the opportunity.
Catcher Seby Zavala (2012-15) is on the Chicago White Sox. He started Saturday's game against Houston. He singled in the third inning and came up again in the fourth frame with a man on. He launched a two-run shot to left field to give Chicago a 3-2 lead, but they went on to lose 6-4.
Infielder Alan Trejo (2015-17) is on the Colorado Rockies. He came off the bench in the first two games of the season as a defensive substitution before playing all of Monday's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He singled and doubled in three plate appearances in the loss.
Pitcher Garrett Hill (2018) is on the Detroit Tigers. He pitched an inning in each of Saturday's and Monday's games. This season, he has a 9.00 ERA and 2.00 WHIP with three strikeouts and a save in two innings. On Saturday, despite allowing two walks and a hit, he struck out three batters. On Monday, he pitched the 11th inning against Houston and earned his first career save in a 7-6 win. Hill gave up a single but did not allow the automatic runner to score as he retired the other three Houston hitters.
Pitcher Stephen Strasburg (2007-09) opens the season on the 60-Day IL for the Washington Nationals.
In the NBA, Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2010-11) started in two of his team's contests. He averaged 26.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.5 steals and 1.5 blocks over the week. On Saturday, he lit up New Orleans for 40 points and eight rebounds. This season, he is putting up 23.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.5 steals and 0.6 blocks per game.
Forward Jalen McDaniels (2017-19) played in three games for Philadelphia. On the week, he combined for ten points, eight rebounds, three assists, one steal and two blocks. His season numbers are 9.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.0 steal and 0.4 blocks per game.
Guard Malachi Flynn (2020) appeared in Toronto's win over Chicago on Sunday but did not record any stats. On the season, he is averaging 4.4 points, 1.4 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.4 steals and 0.1 blocks.
On the PGA Tour, J.J. Spaun (2009-12) tied for 22nd in the Valero Texas Open at six-under-par while Scott Piercy (1999-2001) did not make the cut. Xander Schauffele (2013-15) is ranked seventh in the world and 38th in the FedEx Cup and has won seven PGA Tour events in his career. Spaun ranks 68th in the world and 51st in the FedEx Cup with one career PGA Tour victory. Piercy has four career PGA Tour wins. Next weekend, Schauffele will compete in the Masters Tournament in Augusta, Georgia, April 5-8.
Aztecs in the Pros
