NJCAA Alumni in 2021 World Series
Three NJCAA Baseball alumni look to make an impact in the 2021 MLB World Series
Charlotte, NC - As the 2021 MLB World Series kicks off tonight at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas, NJCAA alumni are poised to make an impact throughout the series. Three former NJCAA baseball stars will be competing for the Atlanta Braves with a chance to hoist the Commissioner's Trophy – Adam Duvall, Chris Martin, and Will Smith.
Duvall was a second team all-conference selection and named to the 2008 All-World Series team after leading Chipola College (FL) to the NJCAA DI Baseball World Series appearance. In his lone season with the Indians, the Braves outfielder hit .340 with 11 home runs, 43 RBI and eight doubles. Duvall went on to play at the University of Louisville for two seasons before being selected by the San Francisco Giants in the 11th round of the 2010 MLB First-Year Players Draft.
Martin was originally drafted by the Detroit Tigers in 2004, but decided to enroll at McLennan Community College in Waco, Texas. After graduating from McLennan, Martin joined an independent team before signing a minor league contract with the Boston Red Sox in 2010. The Arlington, Texas, native has spent time with the Colorado Rockies, New York Yankees, Texas Rangers, and in the Nippon Professional Baseball league (NPB) for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters.
Smith has NJCAA-ties through Gulf Coast State College in Panama City, Florida. Smith played for the Commodores as a freshman in 2008 before being selected in the seventh round by the Los Angeles Angels. The Newman, Georgia, native previously played for the Kansas City Royals, Milwaukee Brewers, and the San Francisco Giants.
Terrance Gore, on the 40-man roster for the Braves, also has NJCAA-ties through Gulf Coast State (FL). In his the outfielder's lone season as a Commodore, Gore hit .330 and had 51 steals in 54 attempts. Gore was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 2011 MLB Draft in the 20th round as the 606th overall pick. Gore spent time in the Kansas City Royals, Chicago Cubs, and New York Yankees organizations and was a member of the 2020 World Series roster for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Yavapai College is represented by Rick Kranitz, the pitching coach for the Atlanta Braves. Rick pitched for Yavapai College in 1977 for the NJCAA National Championship Team. He won the 1977 NJCAA World Series Most Outstanding Pitcher. He didn't pitch in the major leagues but he was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1977 MLB Draft and by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 1979 Draft out of Oklahoma State University. Rick spent seven season in the minor leagues compiling a 37-39 overall record.
Rick has been in the major leagues as a pitching coach for 20 seasons for the Atlanta Braves, the Chicago Cubs, the Florida Marlins, the Baltimore Orioles, the Houston Astros and the Philadelphia Phillies.This past July, Rick earned his 1000th career victory as a pitching coach in the Major Leagues in a victory over Miami. In 2006, he was named Baseball America's Major League Pitching Coach of the Year honors
Two former players will also represent the NJCAA on the Houston Astros 40-man roster – Tyler Ivey and Josh James.
Ivey transferred to Grayson College in Denison, Texas, in 2017 for his sophomore season. With the Vikings, the pitcher posted a 9–0 record with a 2.08 ERA in 78 innings over 12 games. The Astros drafted Ivey in the third round, 91st overall selection, in the 2017 MLB Draft.
James transferred to Western Oklahoma State College in Altus, Oklahoma, from Barry University. The pitcher was drafted by the Astros in 2014 and made his major league debut in 2018.
The 2021 MLB World Series kicks off tonight, Tuesday, October 26, at 8:09 PM ET on FOX.
