Baseball 10/14/2021 1:00:00 PM Chris Brannick

'Chos In The Pros

EDMOND – The University of Central Oklahoma baseball team has seen several student-athletes continue their playing careers after their time in Bronze & Blue.

From Independent leagues to Major League Baseball's minor league system, nearly a dozen Bronchos have continued playing ball professionally this summer. UCO had three pitchers selected in the MLB Draft in 2017, 2018, and 2019. The draft was shortened in 2020 but UCO had another pitcher selected to a team following the draft. In 2021, another pitcher – the fifth in as many years – was taken by an MLB squad.

"I'm proud of all of our guys for continuing to work toward their professional career," UCO head baseball coach John Martin said. "They were really good for us and we're always going to be proud of them as they move on from UCO, but it's good to see them still playing and working toward that goal."

Holden Capps was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 2017 MLB Draft. He has exceled in the Kansas City farm system – as well as in Puerto Rico during Winter ball – and this summer, he pitched at the Double-A level. Capps went 4-2 with 5.79 ERA in 22 appearances. He struck out 36 batters in 37 1/3 innings of work. His squad, the Northwest Arkansas Naturals, won the 2021 Double-A Central championship this season.

Austin Lambright was also drafted by the Royals, in 2018, and is playing High-A ball with the Quad Cities River Bandits this summer. That squad also won the 2021 High-A Central championship this season.

Spencer Van Scoyoc was drafted in 2019 by the Philadelphia Phillies. He played Low-A ball this season and managed a blistering 20 strikeouts in just 12 1/3 innings of work.

Dylan Hall did not get drafted in 2020 due to the MLB shortening the draft during the pandemic. He was signed by the New York Mets immediately following the draft. He vaulted up to Double-A this summer and made 10 apperances for the Binghamton squad, striking out 25 batters in 21 1/3 innigs of work. He had an 0-2 win-loss record and a 5.91 ERA.

Luke Anderson was the fifth Broncho pitcher taken by an MLB team in the last five years. He was drafted by the Oakland Athletics this summer. In Rookie ball, Anderson threw three scoreless innings and struck out three batters while only allowing one hit.

A handful of other former Bronchos also continued their professional track this summer. Kyle Crowl and Grant Larson both left UCO in May and began playing for the Great Falls Voyagers in the MLB-partnered Pioneer League.

Crowl hit .361 this summer and scattered 109 hits, 31 doubles, three triples, and nine home runs. He had 69 RBIs in 81 games. Larson threw 45 1/3 innings and had a 3.18 ERA this summer, striking out 46 batters along the way.

Gaylon Viney, a 2017-18 squad member for the Bronchos, threw 56 1/3 innings for Billings in the Pioneer League. He had a 8.31 ERA and struck out 55 batters.

Edgar Lopez played at UCO from 2012-13 and is still playing professionally for Aguascalientes in the Mexican Baseball League. He made 31 appearances this summer and went 4-0 with a 5.18 ERA.

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Players Mentioned

#13 Dylan Hall: P; 6' 5"; Senior; R/R

#25 Luke Anderson: P; 6' 2"; Junior; */R

#12 Kyle Crowl: IF; 6' 2"; Senior; R/R

#44 Grant Larson: P; 6' 7"; Senior; */L

Players Mentioned

#13 Dylan Hall
: 6' 5"; Senior; R/R
: P

#25 Luke Anderson
: 6' 2"; Junior; */R
: P

#12 Kyle Crowl
: 6' 2"; Senior; R/R
: IF

#44 Grant Larson
: 6' 7"; Senior; */L
: P