Ball State Professional Athletes

McDermott Gets the Hook in New York

The Mets' roster carousel claimed another Ball State product this week. Chayce McDermott was optioned back to the minors as New York called up Xzavion Curry in yet another in-season shuffle for the club. McDermott's final appearance in a Mets uniform — at least for now — came Wednesday against the Brewers: 2.0 innings, two strikeouts, one earned run. It was a serviceable but not season-saving line, and his ERA sat at 5.87 when the organization pulled the plug on his roster spot. For a pitcher who flashed real upside coming out of Muncie, the opting-down stings, but it's not a death knell — the Mets have cycled through arms all year.

Jameson Back for Arizona's Wild Card Push

Better news out of Phoenix. Drey Jameson returned from injury just in time to factor into the Diamondbacks' Wild Card chase, and the timing couldn't be more meaningful. Arizona is scrapping for positioning, and getting Jameson back into the rotation adds a proven arm to a staff that's been patched together all summer. His first outing back was modest — 2.0 innings, two earned runs against the Cubs on August 25 — but the point wasn't the stat line. According to Yahoo Sports, the D-backs took two of three from the Reds in a turbulent series that included a come-from-behind win and a blowout loss that cost them two pitchers. Getting Jameson healthy and active was the week's real win for Arizona.

Elsewhere: A Prospect to Watch in Tampa

Ty Johnson hasn't gotten the call yet, but the Rays clearly have plans for the Ball State righty. Johnson spent most of the season as a starter in the minors before landing on the Development list in mid-July. When he returned, Tampa shifted him to the bullpen — a deliberate repositioning, not a demotion. Per Yahoo Sports, the move has had a visible effect on his stuff, with velocity and sharpness ticking up in relief outings. The Rays are reportedly eyeing a big-league call-up later this season, making Johnson a name Ball State fans should keep on their radar as September roster expansions open the door.

Call Steady in LA

Alex Call has carved out a role in Los Angeles, appearing in three games for the Dodgers between August 25 and 28. His best showing came Tuesday against the Braves: a 2-for-4 day with an RBI and a walk, pushing his average to .261 before settling back to .255 by week's end. With LA perennially in contention, Call's ability to hold a big-league roster spot is a story in itself.

A Ball State week in summary: one option, one comeback, one prospect on the verge, and a Cardinal in the thick of a pennant race. The Cardinals are spread thin, but they're in the rooms where it matters.

Ball State's footprint in MLB made news this week — not just on the field, but in the transaction wire — as the New York Mets reshaped their bullpen with a Cardinals alumni shuffle at the center of it.

The Big Move: Warren In, McDermott Out

Right-hander Austin Warren was activated off the 15-day injured list Tuesday, and the corresponding move hit a fellow Ball State alum: Chayce McDermott was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse to clear the roster spot. It's a classic zero-sum transaction, but for Ball State fans it carries a particular sting — one Cardinal gets his ticket punched back to the big leagues while another heads back down, both at the same moment.

Warren's return adds a right-handed arm to a Mets bullpen navigating the final stretch of the regular season. Coming off the IL, he'll be counted on to contribute as New York pushes toward October. McDermott, meanwhile, will look to sharpen his game at Syracuse and position himself for a September callup when rosters expand.

Schweitzer's Mixed Week in Chicago

On the South Side, Tyler Schweitzer continued to log innings for a White Sox club with little to play for but pride. The Ball State product made two appearances during the Aug. 16–22 window, with sharply contrasting results.

Against the Cubs on Aug. 18, Schweitzer was efficient — 1.2 innings, two strikeouts, and an ERA sitting at a tidy 2.59. Four days later, facing the Mets on Aug. 22, the results were rougher: 3.1 innings, one strikeout, three earned runs allowed, and his ERA ticking up to 3.25. Still, accumulating 5.0 innings across two appearances gives Schweitzer valuable big-league reps as he builds his MLB résumé.

Call Keeps Hitting in LA

Out west, outfielder Alex Call has quietly been a steady presence in the Dodgers' lineup. He posted a .254 average in a win over Colorado on Aug. 18, then held at .252 through Saturday's 4-2 victory over Pittsburgh. In a Dodgers outfield crowded with stars, Call's ability to maintain his average and stay on the roster is a story in itself. He's not making headlines in Los Angeles — but he doesn't need to. Surviving and contributing on baseball's deepest roster is its own benchmark.

The Bigger Picture

This week encapsulated exactly what the late-season stretch looks like for a mid-major program with legitimate MLB representation. Ball State has alumni on active rosters across both leagues — from playoff contenders like the Dodgers and Mets to rebuilding clubs like the White Sox — and the Warren-McDermott swap is a reminder that the competition for roster spots never stops, even in August.

For Warren, returning healthy at this point in the pennant race is the best possible timing. For McDermott, the phone might ring again sooner than expected. September is right around the corner.