FROM THE YAKIMA VALLEY TO MLB
PIPPINS IN THE PROS
MLB ALUMNI
Christian Koss, Infielder/Utility
College: UC IRVINE
PIPPINS YEAR: 2016
host family:
DRAFTED: Colorado rockies, 12th round, 2019
MLB DEBUT: 5/12/2025
Koss is the second position player from the Pippins to make it to The Show. He was 1-for-3 with an RBI in his MLB debut with San Francisco, and has played second base and shortstop for the Giants. His first major-league home run was memorable: a grand slam against the Diamondbacks on May 13, just his second game at that level. For the Pippins in 2016, Koss played in 49 games, batting .359 with nine doubles, two triples and a home run. He finished with 23 RBIs, 12 stolen bases and a .386 slugging percentage. His best game was a 5-for-6 effort against Bend on June 16.
jonny deluca, outfielder
College: OREGON
PIPPINS YEAR: 2017
host family:
DRAFTED: minnesota twins, 39th round, 2017
MLB DEBUT: 6/7/2023
Deluca is the first former Pippin position player to make the major leagues, debuting mid-June 2023 with the Dodgers. He appeared in 24 games, collecting 11 hits — including two home runs — with a .270 batting average. Deluca went to the Tampa Bay Rays in the offseason in a trade for Tyler Glasnow, and started 2024 on the injured list. However, with the Ras currently, he was hitting .281 in 12 games through May. His line included two doubles, a triple and a home run. In Yakima, Deluca hit .265 with eight doubles, two triples, two home runs and 21 RBI in 42 games. He also stole 11 bases.
Eli Morgan, PITCHER
College: GONZAGA
PIPPINS YEAR: 2014
host family:
DRAFTED: Cleveland Indians, eight Round, 2017
MLB DEBUT: 5/8/2021
Morgan came to the Pippins out of high school en route to Gonzaga. His impact with the Pippins was immediate and noticeble. He finised the 2014 season with an 8-0 record in 10 starts, strking out 56 against 22 walks in 62 innings. He compiled a 3.05 ERA during his regular season and opponents managed just a .238 batting average against the WCL All-Star. The right-hander has been with the Cleveland organization since being drafted in 2017 and over three plus seasons has compiled a 16-12 record in 138 games, starting 18 before moving to the bullpen. Morgan’s strikeout-to-walk ratio is 3.73 and averages 9.1 K’s per nine innings. He was traded to the Chicago Cubs in 2025.
REED GARRETT, PITCHER
College: Virginia MIlitary institute
PIPPINS YEAR: 2014
host family:
DRAFTED: Texas Rangers, 16th round, 2014
MLB DEBUT: 6/7/2023
Garrett became the first Pippin to make it to the Big Leagues when he took the mound for the Rangers, striking out one in one inning of work against Toronto. That appearance mirrored his time with the PIppins. In 2014 he made just two appearances before being drafted, picking up two wins and striking out 11 in 14 innings pitched. Once in the pro ranks, he worked his way through the minors before his March 19’ debut. Garrett pitched for Seibu in the Japanese League in 2020-21 before returning to the Washington Nationals, making seven appearances in 2022. He joined the New York Mets in 2023 and in early 2024 was 3-0 in his first six appearances with a 0.00 ERA in 10.2 innings pitched.
JAKE BIRD, PITCHER
College: UCLA
PIPPINS YEAR: 2015
host family:
DRAFTED: COLORADO ROCKIES, FIFTH ROUND 2018
MLB DEBUT: 6/16/2022
Breaking into the Majors with the Rockies in 2022, Bird compiled a 2-4 record in 38 games. He finished the year with a 4.91 ERA, allowing 26 earned runs in 47.2 innings while striking out 42 and walking 23. In 2023, Bird was 3-3 with a 4.33 ERA over 89.1 innings in 70 appearances. His strikeout-to-walk ratio improved greatly to 2.85, striking out 77 to just 27 bases on balls. In his third year with the Rockies through late April, Bird was 5-8 with a 4.54 career ERA in 117 games, with 123 strikeouts in 146.2 innings. With the Pippins in 2025 he only appeared in three June games, with one start. He pitched 5.2 innings, striking out four and walking two. His only decision was a loss.
WYATT MILLS, PITCHER
College: GONZAGA
PIPPINS YEAR: 2015
host family:
DRAFTED: Seattle mariners, third round, 2017
MLB DEBUT: 5/1/2021
Mills was 2-1 for the Pippins in 2015, pitching 26.2 innings in 18 appearances. He had an outstanding 0.98 ERA, allowing only three earned runs, striking out 20 and walking only six batters. Opponents’ on-base percentage was just .255 when facing the right-hander. He debuted in the Majors on May 1, 21’ while pitching for the Mariners. That season, he pitched 12.2 innings in 11 games but had his struggles, allowing 14 runs and 19 hits with a 9.95 ERA. He spent 2022 with the Mariners and Kansas City, and is currently with the Boston Red Sox.
KENNY ROSENBERG, PITCHER
College: CAL ST NORTHRIDGE
PIPPINS YEAR: 2014
host family:
DRAFTED: Tampa Bay Rays, Eight Round, 2016
MLB DEBUT: 4/18/2022
Rosenberg was 2-2 for the Los Angeles Angels in 2023. He debuted in 22 and appeared in three games with one start and 10.2 innings. Over the yeas with the big league club, Rosenberg has a 3.92 ERA over 43.2 inning, with 37 Ks and 20 walks. As a Pippin, the lefty was 3-3 with a 1.41 ERA in 23 games out of the bullpen. Rosenberg struck out 46 against 22 walks in 2014, and opponents batted just .151 against him. His 2014 Pippins featured 3 big leaguers and his 2023 Angels featured three WCL players in the rotation, with Tyler Anderson, Griffin Canning and Kenny making three straight starts.