July 27, 2011

As the MLB season approaches the home stretch, five Cardinal alumni are currently playing for major-league teams, with two more on the disabled list and another pair looking to be called up after seeing action in the big leagues earlier this year.

Sixth-year power hitter Carlos Quentin is making strong contributions to the Chicago White Sox yet again, driving in 62 runs and hitting .265 with 20 homers. The rightfielder is chasing the career highs of 36 home runs and 100 RBIs that he set in 2008, when he broke out as one of the league's top sluggers and was named to the AL All-Star Team. This year, he participated in the All-Star Game for the second time.

Washington Nationals closer Drew Storen is one of two former Stanford pitchers in the majors, joined by Baltimore starter Jeremy Guthrie. Storen has been dominant in his second season with the Nationals, racking up 25 saves and a 5-2 record. Guthrie­ has more experience in the MLB than any other Stanford alumnus still playing, with seven years under his belt, and has picked up four wins on the season.

Two former Cardinal hitters playing in the AL East, Tampa Bay's Sam Fuld and Boston's Jed Lowrie, have each hit three homers and knocked in 25 runs on the year. Both are in their fourth season at the major league level. Lowrie has performed especially well at Fenway Park, where he is hitting .333 this year, but the shortstop is currently spending time on the 15-day disabled list due to a shoulder injury.

John Mayberry, Jr. returned to the attention of Bay Area fans this week with the Philadelphia Phillies hosting the San Francisco Giants in a three-game series. He went 2-3 with a double and a solo homer in the Phillies' 7-2 win in the opener, driving in his 26th run in the process.

After making his MLB debut with the Cleveland Indians earlier this year, Cord Phelps hit his first major-league home run on June 19 against Pittsburg. He recorded a .313 on-base percentage before being sent down to Triple-A Columbus. Also playing in the minors is Greg Reynolds, who posted a 3-0 record earlier this season with the Rockies before being moved to Triple-A Colorado Springs.

Astros catcher Jason Castro has not played this season with a knee injury, though he may return to action in September. The first-round pick out of Stanford had 40 hits in 67 games last year as a rookie.