Grangeville's Adkison, WSU's Manzardo highlight local connections to pro baseball

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Lewiston Tribune, Idaho

Story by

Lewiston Tribune, Idaho
Grangeville's Adkison, WSU's Manzardo highlight local connections to pro baseball

Lewiston Tribune, Idaho

Sat, Jul 18, 2026 ·

7 min read

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Jul. 18—When a door closes, another may open.

That's exactly what happened for 2019 Grangeville High School graduate Chase Adkison when he signed with the reigning World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers ' organization in June.

Following a long-term injury to Dodgers All-Star catcher Will Smith , L.A. initiated a chain reaction of catcher promotions and signings, eventually finding Adkison, recently released by the St. Louis Cardinals ' organization.

Adkison reported to the Dodgers' High-A affiliate, the Great Lakes Loons in Midland, Mich, where through 13 games he has nine hits, five walks, a double, four RBI and nine runs.

In parts of four seasons in minor league baseball, Adkison is batting .268, with five home runs, 55 RBI and 56 runs.

The Grangeville grad found his way to professional baseball by way of the now-defunct Boise State baseball program in 2020, San Jacinto College ( Texas ) in 2021 and two standout seasons at Oklahoma State, where he started 98 total games and batted .282, with 11 home runs, 16 doubles, a triple, 41 walks, 69 RBI and 77 runs.

"This move is another opportunity to continue playing professional baseball," Adkison said in an Idaho County Free Press article. "I'm excited to be wearing a new uniform and have the chance to compete every day. I'm grateful for the opportunity and looking forward to helping the organization however I can."

Adkison holds four Grangeville High baseball records seven years after his career concluded, including single-season batting average (.653), single-season triples (eight), career hits (151) and career triples (20), according to the Idaho County Free Press.

Here's a look at other local connections to major and minor league baseball in 2026, including 10 Washington State Cougars and four Lewis-Clark State Warriors.

Lewis-Clark State

Connor Brogdon — RHP — Cleveland Guardians

With the Angels last season, Connor Brogdon signed in December with the Cleveland Guardians.

In 15 appearances, Brogdon has turned in a 2-2 record and 5.28 ERA. He has struck out 14 through 15 1/3 innings.

Seth Brown — OF — New York Yankees — Triple-A

Weeks before shuttling off to Florida for spring training, MLB veteran Seth Brown visited his alma mater Lewis-Clark State for a first-of-its-kind fundraising dinner.

The favor benefited his college coach, Jeremiah Robbins, who returned to LCSC this past season.

Brown spoke about how his time in Lewiston springboarded him to the career he has had. After seven years with the Athletics , Brown signed with the New York Yankees this past winter and is waiting for his opportunity.

With the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, Brown has logged 53 games and is batting .235, with 43 hits, including six doubles, a triple and nine home runs en route to 21 RBI and 23 runs.

Drake George — RHP — San Francisco Giants — Single-A

After turning in a 3.20 ERA in Year 1, Drake George has been on the Giants org's injured list for the entire season so far.

Last year, George struck out 62 through 56 1/3 innings pitched.

Jadon Williamson — RHP — Miami Marlins — FCL Marlins

The most recent Warrior-turned-pro-baseball player on this list, Jadon Williamson has gotten two starts and made 11 total appearances for the Florida Complex League Marlins in 2026 after being selected in the 11th round of the 2025 MLB draft.

Williamson holds a 15.66 ERA, but he has struck out 24 batters through 16 2/3 innings pitched.

WSU

Kyle Manzardo — 1B/DH — Cleveland Guardians

WSU's former star slugger Kyle Manzardo has had a so-so year at the plate in 2026, but what transpired in his life over a year ago dwarfs any sort of success or failure he could experience between the lines.

In July 2025, Manzardo's mother, Windy Manzardo, underwent long-awaited heart transplant surgery. Kyle Manzardo flew from Houston , where the Cleveland Guardians had just arrived, to Spokane to be with his mother.

The surgery was a success, and since then, Windy and Kyle's father, Paul Manzardo, have gotten to watch their son live without the cloud of Windy's condition hanging over their lives.

"I guess now that it's over, I've kind of realized how heavy that was to just be carrying it around with you for a couple of years now," Kyle Manzardo said via MLB.com . "Just grateful it's hopefully done with now."

At the All-Star break, Manzardo was batting .215 through 87 games with seven doubles, one triple, 10 home runs and 30 RBI along with 32 runs scored for the 51-46 Cleveland Guardians, a half a game back from the Chicago White Sox in the American League Central division as of Friday.

Ryan Walker — RHP — San Francisco Giants

Joining Manzardo as one of two Cougs actively in the majors, Ryan Walker has remained a fixture of the San Francisco Giants bullpen.

However, he saw an early role as closer fade away after three saves to three blown saves. With 26 1/3 innings pitched through 27 appearances, Walker has posted a 7.52 ERA with 19 strikeouts to 15 walks.

Ian Hamilton — RHP — Atlanta Braves — Triple-A

Ian Hamilton spent the last three years in the big leagues with the New York Yankees. He signed with the Atlanta Braves' org in the offseason and, in four big-league appearances with the Braves, allowed four earned runs on six hits.

In 22 appearances for Triple-A Gwinnett, Hamilton has pitched 23 2/3 innings and is 2-0 with four saves, two holds, 30 strikeouts and a 3.04 ERA.

Brandon White — RHP — Miami Marlins — Triple-A

From Chehalis, Wash., Brandon White has been working his way up the Miami Marlins' farm system ranks since the club drafted him out of WSU in 2021.

This year with the Triple-A Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, White has pitched 71 2/3 innings with 16 appearances and 14 starts. He has struck out 87 batters and posted a 4.40 ERA.

Jonah Advincula — OF — Cleveland Guardians — Double-A

After starting the season injured, Jonah Advincula has joined Double-A Akron for nine games, going 9-for-28 at the plate with three doubles, three home runs, four stolen bases and 10 runs scored.

Sam Brown — INF — Washington Nationals — Double-A

Acquired by the Nationals as part of a July 30, 2025, trade with the Angels, Brown is hitting .238 with 49 hits through 56 games. He has 11 doubles, three home runs, 17 RBI and 19 runs.

Zane Mills — RHP — Chicago Cubs — Double-A

Before suffering a season-ending knee injury, Zane Mills made one appearance for Double-A Knoxville in the Chicago Cubs' organization.

Dakota Hawkins — RHP — New York Mets — High-A

Dakota Hawkins made one appearance each in the Double-A and Triple-A levels of the New York Mets' org, but has settled in with High-A Brooklyn, where through 17 appearances he is 3-0 with two holds, a 2.54 ERA and 33 strikeouts.

Will Cresswell — C — Toronto Blue Jays — Single-A

Cresswells's last 12 months have been eventful. The WSU's most-recent pro wrapped up the 2025 season in Pullman and was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in July 2025. He spent March representing Great Britain in the World Baseball Classic.

With the Blue Jays' Single-A affiliate, Creswell has played in 34 games and notched 23 hits, including three doubles, a home run along with 15 RBI and 11 runs.

Connor Wilford — RHP — Seattle Mariners — ACL

Connor Wilford started the year with Lexington of the Atlantic League, an independent baseball league, before the Seattle Mariners purchased his contract. Now with the Arizona Complex League Mariners, Wilford is off to a fast start, making four starts in five appearances for a 2-1 record, 2.45 ERA and 27 strikeouts through 22 innings.

While not associated with an MLB organization, left-handed pitcher A.J. Block and catcher Jacob Morrow play in independent leagues. Block hurls for a Lake County (Wis.) team, while Morrow plays for a Lincoln (Neb.) squad.

Block was with the Angels' Double-A affiliate last season and pitched 14 games for Durango in the Mexican League, recording 14 strikeouts through 8 2/3 innings.

Taylor can be reached at 208-848-2260, staylor@lmtribune.com , or on X or Instagram @Sam_C_Taylor.

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