Former Dogs on the move in pro baseball
Photo by LA Tech Athletics
Former LA Tech pitcher Landon Tomkins is moving up in the Pirates organization.
Two of Louisiana Tech’s most productive pitchers in recent years are making their way through the professional ranks.
Ethan Bates, the 2024 Conference USA Player of the Year, recently signed with the Yolo High Wheelers of the Pioneer League, an affiliated league with Major League Baseball. The Wheelers are a new team to the Pioneer League, created in January with their inaugural season starting back in May. The Pioneer League is one of four independent baseball leagues in North America considered an MLB Partner League.
Bates has made one appearance for the Wheelers, pitching for 1 1/3 innings while allowing 1 hit, 1 earned run and 3 walks.
Despite a record-setting season for the Diamond Dogs in 2024, Bates went undrafted in the 2024 MLB Draft. He became just the third conference player of the year in Tech history as a five-time All-American selection. In 2024, he led the nation in saves (17) to go with a .337 batting average, 87 hits, 74 RBIs, and 15 homers for the Bulldogs.
Landon Tomkins, Bates’ teammate at Tech in 2023, was recently promoted to High-A Greensboro in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization.
Tomkins, drafted by Pittsburgh in the 10th round of the 2023 MLB Draft, has stood out in the minor league ranks this season with a 4.28 ERA in 26 appearances, allowing 29 hits while striking out 36 batters to just 10 walks in 33 2/3 innings. Opponents have hit just .227 against him as well.
High-A is the third highest classification of minor league baseball, with the Pirates’ Double-A team playing in Altoona, Pennsylvania, and its Triple-A team based in Indianapolis.
In three seasons at Tech, Tomkins posted a 3.94 ERA with 132 strikeouts in 132 1/3 innings.
The Greensboro Grasshoppers’ active MLB alumni include All Stars such as Marcell Ozuna, Christian Yelich, Brad Hand and Giancarlo Stanton.
