LA MIRADA, Calif. --- While many student-athletes return home for their summer break, baseball players all across the country report to collegiate summer baseball leagues to continue working on their game. 

Along with other collegiate baseball players, the Biola Boys scattered across the country to play ball. Here's how Jeff Calhoon's Eagles are performing to this point in summer ball.

EAGLES IN THE PROS
With the 2021 Major League Baseball Draft in the books, the Biola Boys will send two of their own to play at the next level. Larson Kindreich and RobertAnthony Cruz will have the opportunity to continue playing baseball as the duo emarks on their individual professional baseball journeys.

Unlike other professional sports leagues, players drafted during the Major League Baseball (MLB) draft are not expedited to the big leagues. Rather, the MLB utilizes its Minor League Baseball (MiLB) organizations to further develop players until they are ready to be called up and play on the big stage. 

Each MLB team has its own MiLB baseball affiliates, which are scattered across the country. Typically each organization sponsors six levels of minor league baseball: Triple A (AAA), Double A (AA), Class A Advanced (High A), Class A  (Low A), Class A Short Season (Short Season) and Rookie Ball.

Recently signed players commonly enter the MiLB ranks at Rookie Ball and Short-Season affiliates, with opportunities to advance within the organization's levels as performance deems appropriate. 

Larson Kindreich - LHP - Texas Rangers (MiLB)
After hearing his name called in the eighth round of the 2021 Major League Baseball draft, Larson Kindreich prepares for his first taste of professional baseball. The 6'4 lefty will likely report to the Texas Rangers Spring Training complex in Surprise, Arizona where he will meet his new teammates and work his way up through the Rangers MiLB affiliates. Like many college pitchers, Kindreich will likely be assigned to a short-season league after pitching 54 innings and striking out 79 during the 2021 season. 

RobertAnthony Cruz - UTL - Washington Nationals (MiLB)
Cruz signed with the Washington Nationals as an undrafted free agent following the 2021 Major League Baseball draft. Biola's Male Student-Athlete of the Year will likely report the Nats' Spring Training complex in Palm Beach, Florida. Cruz will also have the opportunity to meet and play with new teammates before he is assigned to an MiLB team. In 34 games Cruz slashed .384/.403/.712 and led the Eagles in nearly every hitting category.

COLLEGIATE SUMMER BALL
SENIORS IN 2021-22
Oscar Serratos Jr.  Burlington Sock Puppets (Appalachian Baseball League)
Serratos has performed well in the Appalachian Baseball League as he leads the Sock Puppets with a .356 batting average. Serratos' performance in June earned him Appalachian League Player of the Month honors. The infielder batted .371 while driving in 24 runs, recording 14 extra-base hits and 12 stolen bases. 

Miguel Abascal III, Boone Bigfoots (Textile Collegiate Baseball League)
Through 20 games Abascal has recorded 17 hits, six extra-base hits, while driving in seven runs for the Bigfoots. The outfielder is hitting .283 with an OPS of .808. He has scored 13 runs, worked 10 walks and reached base four times after being hit by pitches.

JUNIORS IN 2021-22
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SOPHOMORES IN 2020-21
Carson Cody, Chugiak Chinkooks (Alaska Baseball League)
Carson Cody is being stretched out in Alaska as the sophomore has pitched 25 innings in six starts. On June 17, Cody pitched 8 innings of scoreless baseball while surrendering only two hits. In six appearances, Cody has struck out 10 while surrendering 13 earned runs. 
 
Keith Walker, Rochester Honkers (Northwoods League)
Walker has made appearances as a pitcher and position player for the Rochester Honkers. In nine at bats, Walker recorded two hits and scored a run. On the mound, Walker has appeared in six games pitching 13.2 innings with 16 strikeouts.
 
Connor Butler, Burlington Sock Puppets (Appalachian Baseball League)
Butler has made 14 appearances and pitched 12.2 innings to an 8.53 ERA as he continues to work on refining his command out of the 'pen. While he has surrendered 12 earned runs, Butler has struck out 28 and ranks third among the team in the category. On July 15, Connor Butler struck out the side in an inning of work. 
 
Andrew Beauvais, Kokomo Jackrabbits (Northwoods League)
In two starts, Beauvais has pitched seven innings of one run ball while striking out two. He has allowed nine baserunners to reach, surrendering five hits and four walks. Beauvais continues to work himself out of the jam as he's posted an earned-run average of 1.29. 
 
Tyler Mead, Kokomo Jackrabbits (Northwoods League)
Mead joins Beauvais on the Kokomo Jackrabbits and continues to pitch out of the bullpen. Tyler has struck out one while surrendering three runs and four walks in 1.1 innings pitched.  
 
FRESHMAN IN 2020-21
Brenden Bell, Burlington Sock Puppets (Appalachian Baseball League)
In 22 at bats, Bell has recorded three doubles and one triple for the Burlington Sock Puppets. The freshman has scored seven runs while driving in eight. Bell has been a threat on the base paths as he has successfully stolen five bases.
 
Andrew Lujan, Burlington Sock Puppets (Appalachian Baseball League)
Lujan is currently hitting .300 in 20 at bats with three extra-base hits. The freshman is working on his pitch recognition and it has paid dividends as he has reached base via the walk 13 times. Lujan has stolen two bases for the Sock Puppets. 
 
AJ Ortiz, Burlington Sock Puppets (Appalachian Baseball League)
Ortiz has made two appearances and pitched 1.2 innings so far this summer. He has surrendered five hits and walked just as many while recording one strikeout. 
 
Chance Campbell, Boone Bigfoots (Textile Collegiate Baseball League)
Campbell has played in 11 games and made 49 plate appearances for the Boone Bigfoots. In 35 at bats, Campbell has recorded 14 hits with one homerun. The freshman has driven in 12 runs and reached b via the walk 12 times. 
 
Jake Anderson, Wheat City Whiskey Jacks (Expedition Collegiate Baseball League)
Jake Anderson has appeared in 10 games for the Wheat City Whiskey Jacks. Anderson has started seven of ten games and pitched to a 5.84 ERA. in 32.1 innings pitched, Anderson has struck out 28 batters. 
 
Rhett Stein, Wheat City Whiskey Jacks (Expedition Collegiate Baseball League)
Stein joins Anderson on the Whiskey Jacks as the catcher has played in 26 games. In 99 at bats, Stein has recorded 27 hits, scored 15 runs and driven in 16 runs. Six of his hits have gone for extra bases while he has worked eight walks and stolen five bases. 
 

INCOMING PLAYERS
Bobby Brown, Alaska Goldpanners (Alaska Baseball League)
Incoming Biola Boy, Bobby Brown, has pitched in two games for the Alaska Goldpanners. In four innings, Brown has struck out seven while surrendering three hits and one earned run. At the plate Brown is hitting .308, recording base with four hits in 13 at bats. 

Jorge Lucero, Willmar Stingers (Northwoods League)
Jorge Lucero, a middle infielder, is also playing in the Northwoods League for the Wilmar Stingers. The incoming freshman has recorded two hits in 17 at bats while driving in two runs. He has worked three walks and struck out six times.