Four big leaguers: Update on all four desert MLB stars in 2023
During the 2022 Major League Baseball season four desert high school products played for their respective teams, including one small stretch in which all four were in the big leagues at the same time.
It's happening again.
With recent call-ups of Jeremiah Estrada with the Chicago Cubs and Tyson Miller with the Milwaukee Brewers, to join Taylor Ward with the Los Angeles Angels and Brian Serven with the Colorado Rockies who have been on the big league roster all year, all four were in action this weekend.
Let's take a player-by-player look at how the desert's four MLB players have fared so far in the 2023 season:
Taylor Ward, Angels
High school: Shadow Hills
So far in 2023: In 29 games, Ward is hitting .208 with a slash line of .320 (OBP), .311 (SLG), .631 (OPS). He has three home runs, 18 runs scored, 10 RBIs and a stolen base.
Analysis: Ward, who started the season as the Angels' leadoff hitter, has struggled at the plate and has subsequently dropped in the batting order. He is still a primary player for the Angels, though, and is, in fact, the only player on the team to have played in all 29 games. Just to be safe, moving forward, though, he'll need to regain his confidence at the plate.
Brian Serven, Rockies
High school: Palm Desert
So far in 2023: Serven has played in nine games, and has three hits in 21 at bats, including one double and one RBI.
Analysis: There's no other way to say it, it's been a struggle so far in 2023 for Serven. It's hard to get into an offensive rhythm when you're not an everyday player. Being a backup catcher carries with it a lot of usefulness to a team outside of the box score, but if Serven doesn't start to produce more when he gets his opportunities, the Rockies might get the urge to consider other options.
Jeremiah Estrada, Cubs
High School: Palm Desert
So far in 2023: Estrada started the season with Triple A Iowa, but was called up to the Cubs on April 21. He has pitched in two games for a total of three innings. He has not allowed a run and has five strikeouts, two walks and two hits allowed.
Palm Desert grad got a taste of major league baseball in 2022. Now he wants the full meal
Analysis: Estrada got to live out a lifelong dream by pitching against the team he grew up rooting for, the Dodgers, on April 21. He's done a nice job in both outings, giving the Cubs good reason to keep him on the big club. If you include his five outings with the club last year, he's pitched 8.2 innings and has 13 strikeouts and has yielded only two earned runs. It will be interesting to see where he fits in the Cubs' plans moving forward, but whenever he's been called on, he's come through so far.
Tyson Miller, Brewers
High school: Shadow Hills
So far in 2023: Tyson Miller started the season at Triple A Nashville, but was called up on April 26 and pitched for the first time as a Brewer on Sunday against the Angels. He pitched two perfect innings, retiring all six batters he faced including one strikeout.
Analysis: After bouncing around from the Cubs to the Rangers and now the Brewers, it was nice to see Miller get called up for his new team, and boy did he come through. Six up and six down with one strikeout and oh what a strikeout it was. Miller had what had to be his top moment in a Major League game, striking out none other than Mike Trout. This might be a quick spot opportunity for Miller with the Brewers, but he performed so well that he's made it harder for them to send him back to Nashville.
Desert Major Leaguers
These are the eight players who have graduated from a desert high school and gone on to play in the major leagues (in order of number of games played):
Taylor Ward (323 games): Shadow Hills Grad, outfielder with Los Angeles Angels 2018-present
Chris Clapinski (70 games): Palm Desert grad, infielder with the Marlins 1999-2000
Brian Serven (71 games): Palm Desert grad, catcher with the Colorado Rockies 2022-present
Tony Perezchica (69 games): Palm Springs grad, infielder with the Giants and Indians from 1988-1992
Brooks Kriske (16 games): Palm Desert grad, pitcher with the Yankees in 2020-21 and Orioles in 2021
Tyson Miller (7 games): Shadow Hills grad, pitcher with the Cubs in 2020, Rangers in 2022, Brewers in 2023
Jeremiah Estrada (7 games): Palm Desert grad, pitcher with the Cubs in 2022-present
Anthony Claggett (3 games): Palm Springs grad, pitcher with the Yankees and Pirates in 2009
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: MLB update: Taylor Ward, Jeremiah Estrada, Brian Serven and Tyson Miller
