Former QU southpaw Martin gets call up to Triple-A Iowa, while Croes, Logsdon get pro careers off to strong starts

QUINCY — The number of former Quincy University baseball players pursuing professional playing careers more than doubled in the last month.

One of the Hawks chasing their big-league dream moved a step closer to that reality Tuesday.

Left-handed reliever Riley Martin was promoted to the Triple-A Iowa Cubs after a sterling first two months coming out of the bullpen for the Double-A Tennessee Smokies. Martin was with the Smokies on the road as they were set to begin a series at the Birmingham Barons when he learned Monday night he was being called up.

He arrived in Des Moines, Iowa, by mid-afternoon Tuesday and was in the bullpen when the Iowa Cubs began their series at home against the Indianapolis Indians. It’s the first of 12 straight home games for the Cubs.

With Tennessee, Martin went 4-1 with four saves in 18 appearances spanning 27 ⅔ innings. He owned a 3.25 ERA with 49 strikeouts and 18 walks. He had a 43 percent strikeout rate.

Since being selected in the sixth round of the MLB amateur draft by the Chicago Cubs in 2021, the Great Lakes Valley Conference and Midwest Regional Pitcher of the Year has done nothing but power his way up the ladder. He began his career at Low-A Myrtle Beach and spent a majority of the 2022 season at High-A South Bend before joining the Smokies in the playoffs.

He holds a 12-6 record with five saves, five holds and a 3.60 ERA in 57 career minor league appearances. He has 190 strikeouts in 125 innings.

Martin is the second player from the 2017 QU team that reached the NCAA Division II World Series to get to Triple-A. Right-hander Graham Spraker spent the 2022 season with the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons before being released at the end of the season.

Spraker signed with the Tampa Bay Rays and has spent this season with the Double-A Montgomery Biscuits. He went 1-0 with one save in nine appearances before getting injured and being put on the injured list on May 12.

Martin and Spraker are among six former Hawks who have made it to the Triple-A level, joining Josh Rabe, Josh Kinney, Brad Stone and Kevin Reynolds.

Meanwhile, two former Hawks began their professional careers in independent leagues in the last month.

All-American infielder Dayson Croes signed with the Winnipeg Goldeyes of the American Association and is the league’s leading hitter through 26 games. Heading into Tuesday night’s game against Sioux Falls, the left-handed hitting Croes was batting .396 with six doubles, one home run and 23 RBIs. He carried a 24-game hitting streak into the game.

In the Pioneer League, All-Midwest Region first baseman Lance Logsdon signed with the Billings Mustangs and has played in five games in his first week with two hits and his first professional home run — a two-run shot to give the Mustangs the lead in their 5-3 victory over the Glacier Range Riders.