Area Players On Mound in Minor, Major Leagues

Four area graduates are still attempting to make their dreams come true at the Major League Baseball level.

Chad Green

Chad Green, an Effingham High School graduate, is pitching for the New York Yankees in the American League. In the last seven games, he has gone 1-0 with a 2.16 ERA allowing 10 hits, one walk and striking out 11. Up to that point, Green appeared in a total of 21 games with a 1-2 record, 8.27 ERA in 21 games with 24 strikeouts.

Green has been going strong since 2016. His career stats include a 16-9 record, 3.33 ERA, 136 games, 211 innings pitched allowing 178 hits, 82 runs, 78 earned, 53 walks and striking out 273.

Danny Winkler

Daniel Winkler, an Effingham St. Anthony graduate, is a right-handed pitcher for the Atlanta Braves. The 29-year-old has a 3-1 record this season with a 5.59 ERA in 26 games. He has throw 19.1 innings and has 20 strikeouts.

In his career, which began in 2015, Winkler has an 8-2 record with a 3.77 ERA in 116 games. He's thrown 98 innings and struck out 113.

Winkler went through Tommy John surgery and rehabbed. He then fractured his elbow in 2016 and has come back from that.

Nick Gardewine

Nick Gardewine, a relief pitcher in the Texas Rangers organization, went on the injured list April 7. He has been in the minors since August 21, 2017 and appeared in 12 games with an 0-0 record, 5.63 ERA in eight innings. In 2018 he appeared in three games with a 3.60 ERA in five innings. He appeared in 12 games for the Round Rock Express.

This year, Gardewine was optioned to the Triple-A Nashville Sounds to open the season. Then on June 8, he was designated for assignment.

Ben Hecht

Ben Hecht, a St. Anthony graduate, was drafted in 2013 and became a member of the South Bend Cubs. Last season he threw a no-hitter against Fort Wayne.

On April 3, the right-handed pitcher was assigned to the Myrtle Beach Pelicans from the South Bend Cubs.

So far he is 1-1 with a 2.93 ERA. He's thrown 27.2 innings allowing 24 hits, 13 walks and struck out 38.