The MLB All-Star break is upon us, which means it’s time for our third alumni update of the summer, highlighting five more former Whitecaps thriving in the professional ranks.
Tommy Kahnle — New York Yankees
Kahnle has been an effective reliever throughout his 10-year MLB career, and he’s having another strong season in 2024 with the Yankees. The righty has posted a 2.95 ERA in 18 1/3 innings with 10.8 strikeouts per nine innings. He’s had an ERA under three in each of his last three seasons.
The righty from Latham, New York, only made six appearances with the Whitecaps in 2010, pitching 3 2/3 innings with a 7.36 ERA. He also spent some time with Bourne in 2010 before leaving the Cape when the Yankees drafted him that summer in the fifth round.
Kahnle has allowed just one run in his last four appearances with the Yankees. He’ll be a key cog in New York’s bullpen as the team looks to take the AL East crown and make a deep run into the postseason.
JT Chargois — Miami Marlins
Also a reliever, Chargois is putting together an excellent season in Miami. The righty has made 12 appearances with the Marlins, tossing 13 2/3 innings with a 1.32 ERA. Albeit a small sample size, his numbers this season are the best of his eight-year MLB career, which has included stints with the Rays, Dodgers, Mariners and Twins.
Chargois played with the Whitecaps in 2011, and took a long and winding road to the show. He was nearly unhittable in Brewster, posting a 0.43 ERA in 21 innings of work, and the Twins selected him in the second round of the 2012 Draft. But he spent an extended period of time in the minors and didn’t make his Major League debut until 2016.
Once he broke in with Minnesota, Chargois carved out a role for himself as a reliable bullpen arm. He’s been excellent of late, and entered the All-Star break with four consecutive scoreless appearances.
Gavin Cross — Kansas City Royals (Double-A)
Cross is still working his way through the Minor Leagues, but he appears primed for a jump to MLB in the near future. The outfielder was selected ninth overall by the Royals in the 2022 Draft, and he’s currently listed as Kansas City’s sixth-best prospect by MLB Pipeline. He’s been raking with Double-A Northwest Arkansas this season, posting a .802 OPS in 71 games so far.
A 6-foot-1 lefty, Cross played in seven games with the Whitecaps in 2022, hitting a pair of home runs. He came to the Cape between his sophomore and junior seasons at Virginia Tech, where he earned several accolades, including All-ACC First Team honors in 2021.
With the Royals, Cross could become a key young piece for a team that is looking to build around star Bobby Witt Jr.
Aaron Judge — New York Yankees
Judge has continued to dominate. The slugger is up to a league-leading 34 homers and 85 RBI with a 1.112 OPS. He’s leading the Majors in six major statistical categories: HR, RBI, OBP, OPS, SLG and OPS+. In other words, he’s been the best player in baseball this season.
Judge was also a starter in the All-Star Game on Tuesday night, his sixth All-Star appearance. Two days before the All-Star break, he went 2-for-4 with a double and homer in a 6-1 Yankees win over the Orioles.
Judge played for Brewster in 2012 after his sophomore season at Fresno State, appearing in 32 games and hitting .270 with five homers and 16 RBI.
Will Smith — Los Angeles Dodgers
Smith, too, has stayed on a roll through June and July, earning his second consecutive All-Star nod. He legged out an infield single in Tuesday’s Midsummer Classic to reach base in one of his two plate appearances. He now has 15 homers, 55 RBI, an .838 OPS and 135 OPS+ this season with the Dodgers.
Smith played in 10 games for the Whitecaps in 2015, posting a .259 average in 27 at-bats before his senior season at Louisville.
