EDINBURG – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) baseball team recently began practicing in preparation for its spring season.
 
For six former student-athletes, though, the season is already over.
 
Ryan Jackson (2019), Anthony Gomez (2019), Conner Dotson (2019), Logan Landon (2015) and Dusten Knight (2013) and Roger Bernal (2012) competed in minor league baseball this past season, with each one experiencing success. 
 
A right-handed pitcher, Jackson signed with the Tampa Bay Rays in late June.  He started the season with the Gulf Coast League Rays (Rookie League), pitching 10.2 scoreless innings across seven games. He earned two saves, striking out 16 while allowing just six hits and two walks.
 
Jackson was quickly promoted to the Charlotte Stone Crabs (Florida State League, Advanced A), where he pitched 3.0 scoreless innings in three games.
 
He then moved on to the Princeton Rays (Appalachian League, Advanced Rookie League) where he struck out 12 in 8.1 innings across four games. Jackson wrapped up the season with the Hudson Valley Renegades, recorded saves in each of his two appearances. He struck out five in six scoreless innings. 
 
Overall, Jackson recorded four saves with a 0.64 ERA. In 28.0 innings, he struck out 34 while allowing 17 hits and walking three.
 
A second baseman, Gomez was drafted by the Washington Nationals in the 34^th round (1,023^rd overall) of the MLB Draft.
 
Gomez played with the Gulf Coast League Nationals (Rookie League), hitting .220 (13-for-59) with three doubles, two RBI and eight runs scored in 21 games. Gomez finished the season hot, going 8 for his last 23 (.348). 
 
A right-handed pitcher, Dotson saw action for one game with the Cleburne Railroaders (American Association, Independent), pitching a hitless inning.

An outfielder,Landon was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 10^th round (312^th overall) of the 2015 MLB Draft. 

Landon started this season with the Tulsa Drillers (Texas League, AA), hitting.220 with one home run, 22 RBI, 25 runs scored and three stolen bases. He also spent eight games with the Oklahoma City Dodgers (Pacific Coast League, AAA), going 2-for-13 with four walks for a .353 on-base percentage.  His season was cut short on Aug. 6 when he was put on the 7-day injured list.
 
A right-handed pitcher, Knight was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the 28^th round (852^nd overall) of the 2013 MLB Draft. He was selected by the Minnesota Twins in the 2018 Rule 5 Draft.
 
Knight started the season with the Pensacola Blue Wahoos (Southern League, AA) and was dominant, going 1-0 with five saves and a 1.59 ERA, striking out 14 while allowing four hits and three walks in 11.1 innings.
 
In May, Knight moved on to the Diablos Rojos (Mexican League, AAA), where he pitched in 24.1 innings across 24 games, converting two saves while posting a 5.55 ERA with 21 strikeouts in 24.1 innings. 
 
In July, Knight joined the starting rotation of the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs (Atlantic League, Independent), going 3-6 with a 3.78 ERA. In 13 games (12 starts), Knight tossed two complete games (one shutout). In 78.2 innings, Knight struck out 92 while scattering 63 hits and 24 walks.

Bernal pitched in 10 games for Bravos de Leon (Mexican League, AAA), earning a win and recording two strikeouts in 8.1 innings.

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