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The Tribune-Democrat, Johnstown, Pa.
Windber graduate Braxton Roxby fronts 7 minor leaguers with area ties
- Story byThe Tribune-Democrat, Johnstown, Pa.
- Windber graduate Braxton Roxby fronts 7 minor leaguers with area ties
Windber Area High School and Pitt-Johnstown product Braxton Roxby is coming off a strong mound appearance with the Sacramento River Cats in the Class Triple-A Pacific Coast League.
Roxby, 27, is 2-1 with four strikeouts in 42/3 innings in relief during five games with the River Cats in the San Francisco Giants organization.
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The 6-foot-3 right-hander dropped his ERA to 11.57 after it stood at 23.14 after one difficult outing earlier this spring.
He recorded a win in Thursday's appearance against Las Vegas. Roxby threw two scoreless innings with one strikeout.
Previously in the Cincinnati Reds organization, Roxby pitched with the Giants' big-league club during spring training and earned a win against the New York Mets (one inning, March 22) and a save against the Los Angeles Angels (one inning, Feb. 24).
Roxby is a former AAABA Tournament standout whose semifinal victory helped Martella's Pharmacy earn Johnstown's first title in 2018.
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A look at the status of six other players with ties to the area who began the season in the minors:
• Trey McGough, 28, a Ferndale Area High School graduate and former AAABA Tournament pitcher, came out of a brief retirement to sign with the New York Mets in January.
The Mets added the left-handed pitcher from Mount St. Mary's University to the spring training roster Feb. 21. McGough then landed with the Double-A Binghamton Rumble Ponies before his April 1 release.
The Pittsburgh Pirates selected McGough in the 24th round of the 2019 draft. He stood out with the Altoona Curve in the Eastern League during the 2021 season, earning the pitcher most valuable player award after winning six games and helping the Double-A squad attract fans from the Johnstown area.
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In 106 minor-league games, McGough is 17-10 with three saves and a 3.21 ERA.
• Dylan Heid, 27, a Pitt-Johns- town product, signed with the Kansas City Monarchs in the American Association April 10.
The right-handed pitcher had spent four seasons in the Baltimore Orioles organization until his March 20 release.
The Orioles selected him in the 11th round in the 2021 draft. His minor-league record is 13-7 with 11 saves and a 2.79 ERA in 105 games.
The Kansas City Monarchs' season begins May 15 at the Kane County Cougars.
• Aidan Layton, 24, a Bishop McCort Catholic graduate was released by the Athletics March 20.
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Out of Seton Hill University, Layton was selected in the 17th round of the 2024 draft.
In 2025, Layton posted a 8.24 ERA with 50 strikeouts in 59 innings at Single-A Stockton.
• Trey Lipscomb , 25, a former Johnstown Mill Rats star in the Prospect League, plays third base with the Rochester Red Wings, the Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals .
Lipscomb became the first former Mill Rats player to reach the majors when he joined the Nationals early in 2024, notching his first MLB hit and a stolen base in his debut against the Cincinnati Reds.
The 6-2, 202-pounder from the University of Tennessee product has a .209 average (9-for-43) with one homer and five RBIs this season with Rochester.
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In 2021 with the Johnstown Mill Rats, Lipscomb batted .356 with three homers, 31 RBIs and 13 stolen bases in 22 Prospect League games.
• Jake Casey, 22, a former Mill Rats outfielder and the son of major league All-Star Sean Casey, is with the Vancouver Canadians in the High-A Northwest League.
The Toronto Blue Jays ' 15th-round pick in the 2025 draft, Casey had three at-bats and one hit this season before being placed on the seven-day injured list.
A Kent State University product, Casey played for the 2022 Mill Rats and batted .273 with nine doubles, four triples, eight homers, 31 RBIs and 16 stolen bases in 47 games.
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• Phil Fox, 23, the former Mill Rats and University of Pittsburgh player, is on the injured list with the Winston-Salem Dash in the High-A South Atlantic League.
A right-handed pitcher in the Chicago White Sox system, Fox went 2-3 with 11 saves for Winston-Salem in 2025.
With the 2023 Mill Rats, Fox totaled 28 strikeouts in 22 innings pitched. The White Sox selected him in the seventh round of the 2024 draft.
Mike Mastovich is a sports reporter and columnist for The Tribune-Democrat. He can be reached at 814-532-5083. Follow him on Twitter @Masty81.
