By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer
TAMPA - Shortstop Sam Mende is making the most of his shot in pro baseball.
The former Bull was selected in the 31st round of the 2011 MLB First-Year Player Draft by Colorado and he's starting to make a ton of progress this season in the Class-A South Atlantic League.
Mende is hitting .313 with six homers and 36 RBIs for the Asheville Tourists a year after playing in rookie ball and the low-A ranks. The Clearwater has batted .295 since becoming a pro.
Mende, a former standout from Clearwater Central Catholic, gained the attenion of pro scouts as a Bull from 2009-10 when he hit .308 with 11 homers and 65 RBIs.
Here is a complete list of former Bulls who are playing in pro baseball, excluding players that were drafted this month.
| Name | Organization | Position | League (level) | Team | Stats | |||
| Jeff Baisley | L.A. Dodgers | 3B | PCL (AAA) | Albuquerque | .288, 8 HR, 39 RBIs | |||
| Juan Carlin | L.A. Angels | P | Pioneer (R) | Orem | None available. Second year in pros. | |||
| Randy Fontanez | N.Y. Mets | P | FSL (A) | St. Lucie | 0.00 ERA in 3 innings, 2 Ks | |||
| Stephen Hunt | Cincinnati | RF | Southern (AA) | Pensacola | .292, 4 RBIs in 13 games | |||
| Devin Ivany | Washington | C | Eastern (AA) | Harrisburg | .236, 1 HR, 5 RBIs | |||
| Sam Mende | Colorado | SS | S. Atlantic (A) | Asheville | .313, 6 HR, 36 RBIs | |||
| Jimmy Moran | Cincinnati | P | Midwest (A) | Dayton | 1-2, 6.66 ERA, 25.2 IP | |||
| Danny Otero | S.F. Giants | P | Pac. Coast (AAA) | Fresno | 2-2, 4.74 ERA, 19 IP | |||
| Kevin Quackenbush | San Diego | P | California (A) | Lake Elsinore | 1-1, 1.01 ERA, 12 saves | |||
| Shawn Sanford | S.F. Giants | P | Pac. Coast (AAA) | Fresno | 0-3, 4.50 ERA, 10 Ks, 14 IP | |||
| Eric Sim | S.F. Giants | C | Pac. Coast (AAA) | Fresno | 1-for-1 | |||
