Active Players With Ties to Northern Nevada

"Home means Nevada," a theme the Aces take very seriously. Though the organization is anxious for the arrival of its own players, supporting athletes from the community is important to the club. There are a number of ball players from Northern Nevada impacting other professional teams. Here are some hometown stars to keep an eye on with the 2020 baseball season right around the corner.

Garrett Hampson was born in Reno, Nev. and attended Reno High School ('13). The former Husky was drafted by the Washington Nationals in the 26th round after his senior year but elected to attend California State University Long Beach instead. After showcasing his skills in Southern California, his decision to attend college paid off and he was drafted again by the Colorado Rockies in the third round of the 2016 draft.
The Reno native rose through the Rockies' system fast as he made his MLB debut as a second baseman in 2018 with Colorado, a regular competitor of the Aces' parent club, the Arizona Diamondbacks. He appeared in 24 games at the big-league level that season batting .275 (11-for-40) with three doubles, a triple, four RBIs, and four runs scored.
In 2019, Hampson saw more Major League action appearing in 105 games with the Rockies owning batting average of .247 with a total of eight home runs and 27 RBIs as well as 15 stolen bases. He also was able to showcase his versatility on defense playing games at shortstop, second base, left field and center field throughout the year. 

Hampson is competing for a spot with the Rockies yet again in 2020 as his speed and defensive versatility is an asset to any club. While shortstop and third base are locked up by National League All-Stars Trevor Story and Nolan Arenado, second base appears up for grabs. Even if he doesn't win a starting spot, he could be a valuable bench piece for the team. 
If he is sent to Triple-A Albuquerque, Northern Nevada may have a chance to see Hamspon at Greater Nevada Field when the Aces play the Isotopes season in a three-game series April 21-23 and again in a five games series taking place June 25-29 this season.
Another current player for the Colorado Rockies is Jake McGee. McGee is a left-handed pitcher with extensive MLB experience, totaling 522 major league games and pitching a total of 455 ⅓ innings with a career ERA of 3.64. 
McGee was born in San Jose, CA. but grew up in Sparks, Nev. The lefty attended Edward C. Reed High School from 2000-2004 and was drafted in the fifth round by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays after his senior year. The Southpaw made his MLB debut in 2010 with the Tampa Bay Rays and pitched against the New York Yankees, striking out Derek Jeter for his first major league punch out.
McGee pitched for the Rays until he was traded to the Rockies before the start of the 2016 season, pitching in postseasons for both teams during his career. He also pitched for Team USA in the 2017 World Baseball Classic and did not allow a run in his only appearance.
In 2019, the Southpaw pitched in 45 games (41.1 IP) for the Rockies owning an 0-2 record and 4.35 ERA to go with 35 strikeouts. He also threw three games for Triple-A Albuquerque on rehab assignment in May of last season.
Another notable MLB pitcher from Northern Nevada is right-hander Cy Sneed. Sneed was born in Elko, Nev. but grew up in Idaho. Sneed was named after, you guessed it, Cy Young.
This would prove to be very fitting, as he was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in 2014. 
He spent one season with the Brewers before being traded to the Houston Astros in 2015 in exchange for infielder Jonathan Villar. Sneed spent the last three seasons in Triple-A before making his MLB debut in 2019. Sneed pitched in a total of eight games for the Astros last year, tossing 21 ⅓ innings with an ERA of 5.48.

Sneed also pitched in 19 games for the Round Rock Express, the Triple-A affiliate of the Astros last season. If he is back with the Express, fans from Northern Nevada might have a chance to see Sneed in action again when the Biggest Little City hosts Round Rock at Greater Nevada Field this season in a three-game series June 9-11. 
Northern Nevada is also home to Raymond Kerr. Kerr was born in Sacramento Calif. and attended Hug High School in Reno, Nev., going on to attend Lassen Community College in Susanville, CA. He was signed to a Minor League contract with the Seattle Mariners in 2017. 
Kerr spent 2019 with the Modesto Nuts, the High-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. Last year, he pitched a total of 89 ⅔ innings and had an ERA of 3.91. He played in the Arizona Fall League for the Peoria Javelinas after his season in High-A, a place where top prospects are known to develop into the next wave of Major Leaguers.

Kerr also made one appearance for the Tacoma Rainiers, the Triple-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. Kerr has the chance to be seen in Northern Nevada again, when the Tacoma Rainiers come to Reno to play the Aces in a four-game series May 4-7 and again in a four-game series July 4-7. 
Lastly, Drew Anderson was born in Reno, Nev. and attended Galena High School. Anderson was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 21st round of the 2012 MLB June Amateur Draft out of high school.
Anderson made his MLB debut in 2017 for Philadelphia and has bounced back-and-forth between the Phillies and Triple-A Lehigh Valley during his time with the organization.
In limited Major League action in 2019, Anderson pitched in two games with the Phillies and had an ERA of 7.25. Anderson was signed by the Chicago White Sox this offseason and at just 25-years-old he still has plenty of time to make his mark with a new club.
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