Pro Hogs update: McCann comes on strong for Mets

When the calendar flips to July, the halfway point of the MLB season is not far away. Here is how former Razorbacks are faring as the season approaches the All-Star break: 

James McCann - New York Mets

McCann played hero recently in a game against the Atlanta Braves. With the Mets down 3-0 in the seventh inning, McCann took advantage of a mistake by Braves starter Charlie Morton and hit a home run to left-center field that tied the game. 

The home run was his seventh of the year. He hoped the comeback win could spark the Mets in the second half of the season. 

"Hopefully the seventh inning today is a rallying point that we can take into the All-Star break and beyond," McCann said in a postgame interview.

The Mets are in first place in the National League East, but are just one game ahead of the red-hot Washington Nationals, who have won eight of their last 10 games. 

McCann's batting average went up by .24 points in the month of June, from .219 to .243. Overall, he hit .288 in June with 5 doubles, 4 home runs and 16 RBI.

Dallas Keuchel - Chicago White Sox

For the first time since 2013, his second season in the league, Keuchel came out of the bullpen in his last appearance for the White Sox – kind of. When you look at the box score, it will show Keuchel came out of the bullpen in the White Sox's 3-2 loss to the Seattle Mariners on Saturday, but Keuchel started a rain-delayed game that was pushed back Sunday.

The game was halted in the bottom of the third inning Saturday. Keuchel was slated to start Sunday, so the lefty from Tulsa made the "relief" appearance in the first game of a doubleheader. He pitched 5 innings, gave up 6 hits and 2 runs, walked 1 and struck out 4, but gave up two solo home runs.

The game was tied 2-2 when he came out after the eighth inning. Keuchel lowered his ERA over the month of June from 4.25 to 3.96. The White Sox are still four games ahead of the Cleveland Indians in the American League Central, but 

Blake Parker - Cleveland Indians

Parker has appeared in six games since June 18. He has not gone longer than one inning in any outing this season, and he's faced just one batter in two of those outings.

Parker pitched 4 2/3 innings in his last 6 games and struck out 5 batters. He has given up two earned runs, which has elevated his ERA to 3.86.

Parker was brought up from AAA Columbus on June 5. 

Trevor Stephan - Cleveland Indians

Stephan picked up the first win of his MLB career on June 17. Since then he's pitched in three games, finishing two of them.

Both games he finished were Cleveland losses. He pitched one inning in all three appearances and gave up 6 hits, 4 earned runs and 2 home runs. He struck out 2 batters and walked 3 over that span.

Stephan has pitched 29 innings this year and given up 15 earned runs, inflating his ERA to 4.66. 

Drew Smyly - Atlanta Braves

In his last start in May, Smyly gave up 7 earned runs, 5 hits and 2 home runs. Over 5 starts in June, Smyly gave up 8 earned runs and 2 home runs. He also struck out 20 batters.

The Braves have won Smyly's last four starts, and he's gotten a decision in three of those games. His ERA has dropped from 5.98 to 4.79, and his WHIP (walks and hits per inning pitched) has moved from 1.411 to 1.315 in his last two starts. 

Ryne Stanek - Houston Astros 

Stanek pitched in four games over the last eight days. He struck out 3, walked 2 and gave up 5 earned runs in that stretch. All five runs came in a 13-3 loss to the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday. 

Brian Anderson - Miami Marlins

Anderson is still on the injured list, but Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reported this week that he's participating in defensive drills and taking soft toss.

Anderson is not able to come off the IL until July 27, but could go on a rehab assignment earlier. 

Andrew Benintendi - Kansas City Royals 

Benintendi suffered a right rib fracture in mid-June, and hasn't played since. Royals manager Mike Matheny said this week that he's received positive news on Benintendi's recovery.

"Unfortunately, when you have that injury, you are so subjected to testing it without wanting to," he added. "Whatever (the) reason, when you have that injury, it seems like you sneeze more than you've ever sneezed in your life.

"But he says none of that's bothering him anymore."

Matheny went on to say that Benintendi has asked about when he can start doing baseball activities again, but the Royals have yet to announce a rehab plan for the former Razorback.

Benintendi was hitting .283 with 8 home runs, 7 stolen bases, 31 runs and 31 RBI in 60 games before he was injured. 

Jalen Beeks - Tampa Bay Rays

Beeks had Tommy John surgery in August 2020. He is currently listed on the team's 60-day IL.