The MLB draft looms on July 13-14 with at least one prospect from the Springfield area: Chatham Glenwood graduate Cam Appenzeller.
A couple other former Glenwood hurlers clashed in the big leagues on March 31. Both Los Angeles Angels’ Reid Detmers and St. Louis Cardinals’ Phil Maton appeared in relief, with neither allowing any runs.
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Here’s how Detmers, Maton and other former players in the area are faring in the majors this season:
Reid Detmers, Los Angeles Angels
The Nokomis native and 2017 Glenwood graduate has made a comeback not as a starter but as a reliever.
Detmers, drafted 10th overall by the Angels in 2020, became the youngest player in organization history to throw a no-hitter in the 2022 season. He came less than two innings away from another no-hitter the following season.
Otherwise, the lefty struggled to find consistency and spent three months last season with the Salt Lake City Bees.
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He made his 2025 debut against Maton’s Cardinals and has appeared in 34 games as a reliever ahead of the July 4 weekend with a 3-2 record, 4.36 ERA and two saves.
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He has lately found his groove and has not allowed any runs over his last 15 appearances — just eight hits and eight walks with 22 strikeouts over those 15 innings. On June 24, he bailed the Angels out of a jam with two strikeouts against the Boston Red Sox.
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“That’s just a prelude to him getting back in the rotation,” Angels manager Ron Washington told The Athletic. “Now he has learned how to get outs, because when you come out of that bullpen, it’s about one thing: getting outs. And getting them as quickly as possible. When Reid Detmers gets back into the rotation, he’s going to be a force to be reckoned with.”
Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Reid Detmers (48) throws in the third inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California on July 2, 2023.
Phil Maton, St. Louis Cardinals
The 2011 Glenwood graduate grew up a Cardinals fan and has been an imposing force in their bullpen after stints with the Tampa Bay Rays and New York Mets last season.
The 32-year-old righty has racked up 44 strikeouts over 33 innings with a 1.91 ERA and two saves.
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He has been particularly dominant heading into the All-Star break. Over his last 15 games (and 16 innings), he has struck out 23 with a 0.56 ERA.
According to MLB.com, his curveball has been a menace. It may easily be his strongest season yet at the midway point after winning a World Series ring with the Houston Astros in 2022.
“It’s one of a kind, and I don’t think anybody has as good of a curveball as he does,” fellow Cardinals reliever Andre Pallante said. “That’s why he’s so good, and that’s why he’s been around so long.”
May 22, 2024; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Phil Maton (88) throws a pitch against the Boston Red Sox in the seventh inning at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
Tyler Fitzgerald, San Francisco Giants
The 2016 Rochester graduate’s season started promising, but a left rib fracture put him out of action for 13 games in May and it has since snowballed into a funk.
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He was briefly optioned to the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats before he was recalled on June 30.
He is battling .225 with 12 RBIs and two home runs after going .280 with 34 RBIs and 15 home runs last season.
Aug 19, 2024; San Francisco, California, USA; San Francisco Giants shortstop Tyler Fitzgerald (49) hits an RBI double during the fifth inning against the Chicago White Sox at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports
Other area players
Infielder and designated hitter Nick Maton, a 2015 Glenwood graduate and Phil’s younger brother, appeared in the Chicago White Sox starting lineup at the beginning of the season before being sent down to the Triple-A Charlotte Knights, who eventually released Nick on June 19.
Right-handed pitcher Jacob Maton, the youngest of the Maton brothers, was released by the Texas Rangers High-A affiliate Hub City Spartanburgers on March 26.
Infielder Sam Antonacci, a 2021 Sacred Heart-Griffin graduate, is currently with the White Sox High-A affiliate Winston-Salem Dash with a .284 batting average. He has doled out 54 hits, four home runs and 26 RBIs over 55 games.
Right-handed pitcher Jake Curtis, a 2020 Glenwood graduate, is throwing for the White Sox Single-A affiliate Kannapolis Cannon Ballers. As a reliever, he has a 2.05 ERA with 29 strikeouts over 22 innings. He has posted four saves in five opportunities.
Catcher Ben Hartl, a 2021 Springfield High alum, is with the Rangers Single-A affiliate Hickory Crawdads with a .208 average. He has 32 hits and 14 RBIs.
This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Springfield area MLB players 2025 midseason update