Houston Professional Athletes

Houston Alumni Report | MLB | Aug. 16–22, 2026

Connor Wong provided the highlight of the week for Houston alumni — and arguably the only one Boston fans want to remember — but it wasn't enough to stop the bleeding in Beantown.

Wong Delivers, Red Sox Don't

The Red Sox catcher went 2-for-4 with a three-run home run, three RBI, and a run scored in Sunday's 8-3 loss to Pittsburgh, temporarily sparking what Boston hoped would be another comeback. A rain delay killed the momentum, and the Sox dropped the series — their latest stumble in what has become a rough summer stretch. Wong's average sits at .248 on the season, and his production at the dish has been one of the few consistent bright spots in a lineup that's struggled to string things together. He added another hit (.250 avg) against Arizona on Wednesday, continuing a quietly steady week behind the plate.

Triolo Stays Active in Pittsburgh

On the other side of Sunday's Red Sox-Pirates game, Houston's Jared Triolo was part of the Pittsburgh lineup that handed Boston the loss. The third baseman had a hit and scored a run in that contest, and he was active throughout the week — logging hits or appearances in five games between Aug. 16–22 against Detroit and Los Angeles. His average hovered in the .237–.243 range across the stretch, a sign of consistency if not explosion from the corner infield spot.

Marlins Bullpen Arms Stay Busy

Two Houston pitchers in Miami's bullpen logged work this week. Josh Ekness was particularly sharp, appearing in four games and pitching to a 1.20 ERA on the week — his season mark sitting at 1.20 after his Aug. 22 outing of 1.1 innings with a strikeout. John King had a rougher go, surrendering runs in back-to-back appearances against Philadelphia on Monday and Wednesday, with his ERA nudging up to 3.99. Both relievers are part of a Marlins bullpen that's seen heavy usage late in the season.

Gasser Hits a Speed Bump in Milwaukee

Robert Gasser took the ball for Milwaukee's Thursday rubber match against Seattle, but it wasn't his best showing. The right-hander lasted just 3.2 innings, allowed four earned runs, and struck out four — pushing his ERA to 4.79. The Brewers entered that game at 78-49, so the playoff-bound club can afford the occasional bump, but Gasser will be looking to bounce back as the postseason picture sharpens.

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The week was headlined by Wong's big swing in Boston, a moment that served as a reminder of what the former Houston catcher is capable of even in a losing effort. With September approaching, Wong and the Red Sox need more of those moments — and fewer rain delays to wash them away.

Jared Triolo Turns in a Season-Defining Night

If there was one moment that defined Houston's week across MLB, it came Wednesday, Aug. 13, when Pirates third baseman Jared Triolo went 3-for-4 with a home run, three RBIs, three runs scored, and a walk against the Marlins. It was the kind of complete, top-to-bottom performance that doesn't show up in a box score summary — it is the box score summary. Triolo lifted his average to .250 on the night, a mark that reflects genuine production after a slow crawl through the first half of the season.

The 26-year-old Pittsburgh infielder has been one of the quieter Houston success stories in the big leagues, and this is the type of game that puts him on the radar of fans outside PNC Park. He followed it up with a walk in Friday's game against the Red Sox, continuing to work counts, before appearing again Saturday as the Pirates wrapped up their series. The Aug. 13 explosion stands as a clear season highlight.

Robert Gasser Holds His Own Against the Dodgers

On the mound Saturday, Brewers lefty Robert Gasser faced one of the toughest assignments in baseball — a start at Dodger Stadium — and didn't embarrass himself. Gasser went 6.1 innings, struck out seven, and allowed three earned runs in a 1-3 Milwaukee loss, leaving his ERA at 4.54. The Brewers (75-47) came in riding momentum from a late ninth-inning rally the night before and leaned on Gasser to extend it. He gave them length and kept the game competitive, even if the offense couldn't back him up.

Around the Rest of the Alumni

Connor Wong had a quiet week behind the plate for Boston. The catcher singled in Monday's game against the Blue Jays and appeared again Thursday, though without a hit, as his average settled at .241. A weird seventh-inning ruling in the Thursday contest dominated the headlines of that Red Sox–Blue Jays game — Wong was involved in the sequence that triggered the controversy, singling ahead of a disputed play involving Nick Sogard and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Marlins reliever Josh Ekness continued his strong season out of the bullpen, tossing a scoreless inning with a strikeout Friday against the Reds to keep his ERA at a pristine 1.80. He also worked a frame on Aug. 9, allowing one run, but has clearly settled into a trusted late-inning role in Miami.

Marlins lefty John King had a rougher outing Thursday in the same game that Triolo torched — King allowed three earned runs in just two-thirds of an inning against Pittsburgh, bumping his ERA to 3.59. The timing made it a tough night to be a Houston alum in Marlins pinstripes.

Corey Julks picked up a hit and a run for Detroit on Saturday against the White Sox, maintaining his .250 average as he continues to carve out playing time in the Tigers outfield.

A big week, headlined by one of the cleanest individual performances a Houston alum has turned in all season.