Pro baseball notebook: Palmyra’s Stice earns opportunity to pitch for Gateway Grizzlies

PALMYRA, Mo. — Bennett Stice is getting his chance to show he belongs in professional baseball.

The Palmyra High School graduate recently signed a contract with the Gateway Grizzlies of the independent Frontier League and has made two appearances in the past week. A 6-foot-5 right-handed pitcher, Stice has thrown 3.1 innings out of the bullpen, allowing one run and two hits while striking out three and walking none.

Stice recently completed his collegiate career at NCAA Division I Lindenwood University, earning second-team All-Ohio Valley Conference honors as a senior. During the 2025 season, he appeared in 17 games, pitching 40.2 innings with a 2.21 ERA.

He led the Lions with five saves while compiling a 4-1 record. He struck out 34 batters and held opponents to a .212 batting average.

In his Lindenwood career, Stice appeared in 47 games with a 7-6 record, six saves and a 4.53 ERA. He struck out 82 in 109.1 innings.

Kirn prepping for MLB draft

QUINCY — Quincy Notre Dame graduate Griffin Kirn is hoping a professional career is the next step in his baseball journey.

The 6-foot-3 left-handed pitcher recently completed his final collegiate season at West Virginia, earning third-team All-American honors as he went 5-3 with a 3.36 ERA and 103 strikeouts in 99 innings while leading the Mountaineers to the NCAA super-regionals.

Kirn, who was the Great Lakes Valley Conference Pitcher of the Year in 2024 during his final season at Quincy University, is awaiting the MLB draft, which takes place July 13-14 in Atlanta, which coincides with the MLB All-Star break.

There will be 20 rounds in this year’s draft.

If drafted, Kirn would become the fifth former Quincy University baseball player to be selected in the past decade. The list includes David Jacob (2016, 32nd round by the Blue Jays), Graham Spraker (2017, 31st round by the Blue Jays), Cody Birdsong (2019, 32nd round by the Braves) and Riley Martin (2021, sixth round by the Cubs).

Kirn would also be the second QND product to be selected in the past four years. Right-handed pitcher Johnny Ray was taken in the 12th round of the 2021 draft by the Chicago White Sox.

Martin continues putting up zeroes

DES MOINES, Iowa — Riley Martin has now gone more than two months without allowing an earned run.

The left-handed reliever for the Triple-A Iowa Cubs has made 18 consecutive appearances without allowing an earned run. The last earned run scored against the former Quincy University All-American pitcher was on April 16 when he allowed one earned run in 1.2 innings out of the bullpen against the St. Paul Saints.

Since then, Martin has worked 25 innings with 39 strikeouts and two unearned runs allowed. His 1.16 ERA is the best of his career and is the third lowest ERA among International League relievers with 20 or more appearances.

Overall, Martin has a 4-0 record with three saves.