LOCALS IN THE PROS: Hill having success since ending DL stint

Nick Hill is leaving no doubt that he’s completely healthy these days.

The former Sullivan East High School star recently returned from the disabled list and has pieced together four scoreless relief outings for the West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx, the Class AA affiliate of the Seattle Mariners.

Hill, one of the top pitching prospects in Seattle’s farm system, went on the DL in mid-April with a knee injury. Since returning, the left-hander has been dominant.

On Saturday, he tossed 1 2/3 perfect innings in a 5-3 loss to the Montgomery Biscuits. Hill (0-1, 8.44 ERA) struck out the first two batters he faced.

Mexican League Masher
Virginia High graduate Kevin Barker continues to put up big numbers for Rojos del Aguila de Veracruz of the Mexican League.
The veteran first baseman has compiled a .316 batting average with 10 home runs and 40 RBIs. He’s also cranked out 17 doubles.

Nidiffer News
Marcus Nidiffer has had a nice start to his professional career.
The former Tennessee High star was hitting .357 (5-for-14) with two RBIs for the rookie-level Greeneville Astros entering Sunday’s Appalachian League contest with Johnson City.
A star catcher during his days at the University of Kentucky, Nidiffer has made the transition to first base for the Astros.

More on Mobley
Right-handed pitcher Chris Mobley (Dobyns-Bennett) is 3-2 with a 2.83 ERA in 27 relief outings for the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs of the independent Atlantic League.

ETSU Alums
Three former East Tennessee State University standouts are faring well in the minor leagues. The following is a look at the trio:
--- Former Daniel Boone High School and ETSU pitcher Jeremy Hall is in the midst of a superb season for the Montgomery Biscuits, the Class AA affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays.
Hall is 4-4 with a 3.14 ERA in 14 starts. Earlier this season, he established a franchise record with a streak of 35 straight scoreless innings.
--- Former Science Hill High School and ETSU standout Chas Byrne has pitched well in his first two outings for the Burlington Royals of the rookie-level Appalachian League.
Byrne threw three scoreless innings at Pulaski on Saturday night, striking out five in the process.
--- Ex-ETSU outfielder Stephen Douglas is hitting .289 with three homers and 19 RBIs for the Amarillo Dillas of the independent United League.

Cannon Ball
Former University of Virginia star Tyler Cannon, whose parents reside in Washington County, Va., is hitting .333 (6-for-18) with three RBIs in his first four games for the Mahoning Valley Scrappers of the short-season New York-Penn League.

Grimm unsigned
Former Virginia High standout Justin Grimm has still not signed with the Texas Rangers after the club drafted him in the fifth round of the MLB Amateur Draft.
Grimm has until August 15 to ink a deal. If no agreement is reached by then, he could return to the University of Georgia for his senior season. He was the ace of the Bulldogs’ pitching rotation this past season.
Supplemental first-rounder Luke Jackson and second-round pick Cody Buckel have also not signed with Texas.
The Rangers did sign their first two picks – outfielder Jake Skole ($1.557 million contract) and catcher Kellan Deglan ($1 million signing bonus).

Wagner moment
Former Tazewell High School star and current Atlanta Braves closer Billy Wagner notched his 400th career save on Friday night in a 3-1 victory over the Detroit Tigers.
The veteran pitcher wasn’t the only one proud of the milestone.
“For me that was the coolest part of the night,” Atlanta catcher Brian McCann told the Atlanta Journal Constitution. “I’m going to be able to tell my kids I caught Billy Wagner’s 400th save. That’s something I’ll have in the memory bank for the rest of my life.”

thayes@bristolnews.com | Twitter: Hayes_BHCSports | (276) 645-2570