BUIES CREEK, N.C. – For the second-straight year, Campbell has established a new record for sending its alumni to Major League Baseball. Six Campbell alumni have played in the major leagues in 2025, one more than the previous record of five set a year ago.
On June 23, Allan Winans was recalled by the New York Yankees from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and became the sixth former Camel to see MLB action this season. He joined Thomas Harrington (Pittsburgh Pirates) Seth Johnson (Philadelphia Phillies), Cedric Mullins (Baltimore Orioles, New York Mets), Zach Neto (Los Angeles Angels) and Ryan Thompson (Arizona) at baseball's highest level.
After spending eight seasons as the starting centerfielder with the Baltimore Orioles, Mullins was traded to the New York Mets in exchange for three pitching prospects just before the July 31 trading deadline.
In 2024, Johnson, Mullins, Neto, Thompson and Allan Winans (Atlanta) all played in major league games, marking the first time that five former Camels appeared in MLB in the same year.
Thomas Harrington | Pittsburgh Pirates | AAA Indianapolis Indians
Tabbed as the number three prospect in the Pirates organization, Harrington made his major league debut on April 1 and has been called up twice by the parent club. He has appeared in three games with Pittsburgh, including his first career MLB start against the Tampa Bay Rays. Harrington has compiled a 0-1 won-lost record with a 15.58 ERA and seven strikeouts in 8.2 innings on the major league level. He was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis on Aug. 2.
With Indianapolis, he has posted a 7-8 mark with a 5.48 ERA and 84 Ks in 90.1 innings over 19 appearances (18 starts).
Now in his third professional season, Harrington has made 67 pitching appearances in the minors (65 starts) and posted a 21-17 record, 3.73 ERA and 345 whiffs in 335.0 frames.
Drafted in the first round (36th overall) by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2022, Harrington received a $2 million signing bonus. He was named the Big South freshman of the year in 2021 and the Big South pitcher of the year in 2022. In his final year at CU, the All-American led the nation with 12 wins (12-2) with a 2.53 ERA and 0.94 WHIP. He struck out a program-record 111 batters while walking just 18.
Seth Johnson | Philadelphia Phillies
Johnson was called up to the parent club initially on June 1 and has been on the Phillies' major league roster since Independence Day.
With Philadelphia, Johnson has made nine appearances, all in relief, and has posted a 1-1 won-lost record with a 5.06 ERA and 12 strikeouts in 10.2 innings.
Converted to a reliever as pitching primarily as a starter in his 6-year pro career, Johnson's four-seam fastball touched 99 miles per hour in 24 games (4 starts) this year at Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He posted a 2-4 record, 4.43 ERA and 53 strikeouts in 42.2 innings in the minors.
Named the No. 12 prospect in the Phillies system, Johnson has made 93 career minor league appearances (66 starts), posted an 11-21 record, 3.08 ERA and fanned 328 batters in 286.1 innings. He made his major league debut with the Phillies on Sept. 8, 2024.
The 40th overall selection in the 2019 draft by the Tampa Bay Rays, Johnson was acquired by the Phillies in a trade with the Baltimore Orioles on June 30, 2024. The Rays swapped him to the Orioles on Aug. 1, 2022.
In one season at Campbell (2019) after transferring from Louisburg JC, Johnson made 14 appearances, including 11 starts, while posting a 3-3 record with 85 strikeouts across 66.1 innings.
Cedric Mullins | New York Mets
After spending his first eight seasons as the starting center fielder for the Baltimore Orioles, Cedric Mullins was traded to the New York Mets on July 31 in exchange for three pitching prospects.
At the time of the trade, Mullins led the Orioles in home runs (15), stolen bases (14) and RBI (49) in spite of a 10-day stint on the injured list in early June. In 91 games at Baltimore, Mullins batted .229 and ranked second on the team with 19 doubles. He was 1-for-8 at the plate with 3 runs scored and one steal through his first three games with the Mets.
Over his MLB career, Mullins is batting .249 with 101 homers, 327 RBI, 149 steals and a .987 fielding percentage in 787 games.
He was Baltimore's 15th-round pick in the 2015 draft and made his major league debut on Aug. 10, 2018. Mullins was the starting center fielder for the American League in the 2021 All-Star Game and won a Silver Slugger Award after becoming the first Orioles player to hit at least 30 home runs (30) and steal 30 bases (37) in the same season since the franchise moved from St. Louis to Baltimore in 1954.
In his only season at Campbell after transferring from Louisburg JC, Mullins batted a team-leading .340 with 59 runs scored and an astounding 34 extra base hits in 2015. He tallied 23 doubles with seven triples and four home runs, tacking on 23 stolen bases. Mullins was named Second Team Atlantic All-Region by the American Baseball Coaches Association and Second Team All-Big South.
Zach Neto | Los Angeles Angels
The Angels' top pick in the 2022 draft is now in his third season as the team's everyday shortstop. Through his first 93 games, Neto is batting .273 with 22 doubles, 16 homers, 44 RBI and 68 runs scored plus 21 stolen bases. He is slugging .468 and owns a .793 OPS through games of Aug 3.
After only 48 minor league games, he was called up to the Angels and made his MLB debut on Apr. 15, 2023. The 13th overall pick in 2022, Neto has played in played in 332 career major league games and slashed .251/.318/.435 with 176 runs scored, 73 doubles, 48 homers, 155 RBI and 56 stolen bases. In 2024, he became the first infielder in Angels franchise history (which dates to 1961) to hit 20 or more home runs (23) and steal 20 or more bases in one year.
Neto and the Angels made Fenway Park history on Monday, June 2 when the Halos became the first visiting team ever to hit three home runs in the first inning at the ballpark, which opened in 1912. Neto led off the game with a homer, while Mike Trout followed with a three-run blast and Jo Adell added a solo shot in a six-run inning.
Neto won back-to-back Big South player of the year honors in 2021 and 2022 and was the tournament MVP in '23. The highest draft pick in program history and was a unanimous 2022 All-American choice. The Miami native slashed .403/.500/.751 in 100 career games at Campbell, where he set the school's all-time batting average record among hitters with 300 ABs, second all-time in OBP and slugging.
Ryan Thompson | Arizona Diamondbacks
Now in his third season as a relief pitcher with the Diamondbacks, Thompson has appeared in 36 games this year with a 2-2 record, 4.45 ERA, one save, and 30 strikeouts in 32.1 innings. He was played on the 15-day injured list (right scapular strain) on July 6. Originally selected by Houston in the 23rd round of the 2014 MLB draft, he has pitched in two World Series – in 2020 for the Tampa Bay Rays and 2023 for Arizona.
In six major league seasons since making his MLB debut on July 24, 2020 with the Rays, Thompson has made 242 pitching appearances with a 17-16 record, eight saves, a 3.60 ERA and 202 Ks in 232.1 innings.
In two seasons at Campbell, Thompson led the Camels to back-to-back Big South title games and the program's first league championship in 24 years in 2014. The 2013 Big South pitcher of the year after leading the Camels to a 49-10 record and the conference regular season title, he was named tournament MVP one year later.
Allan Winans | AAA | Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (New York Yankees)
Winans was called up by the New York Yankees twice during the 2025 season. He has made three appearances, including one start and owns a 0-1 record with an 8.68 ERA over 9.1 innings. He was optioned to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on July 29.
In his first season with the Bronx Bombers' Triple-A team, Winans owns a 9-0 record with a 1.27 ERA in 14 outings (12 starts) for the RailRiders. He has struck out 70 batters in 64.1 innings.
He made eight MLB starts with the Braves over the 2023 and 2024 seasons and compiled a 1-4 record, 7.20 ERA and 38 strikeouts in 40 frames. The Yankees claimed him off waivers from the Atlanta Braves on Jan. 23,
Now in his eighth season in organized ball, Winans' has made 142 minor league pitching appearances (57 starts) and owns a 29-21 record, 2.73 ERA and 448 Ks in 478.1 innings plus 15 saves.
Originally a 17th round selection of the New York Mets in the 2018 draft, the Braves claimed him off waivers on Dec. 8, 2021. Winans made his MLB debut on July 22, 2023 with the Braves.
The Big South pitcher of the year in 2018, Winans posted a 6-4 record with a 2.73 ERA and 96 strikeouts in just 82 innings. He turned in 10 quality starts, and his 10.49 Ks per 9 innings that season was a program record at the time.
Minor Leagues
Spencer Packard | AAA | Tacoma Rainiers (Seattle Mariners)
A non-roster invitee to MLB spring training with the Mariners, Packard is batting .270 with 19 doubles, seven home runs and 48 RBI through his first 86 games this season at Triple-A Tacoma. He owns a .388 on-base percentage while slugging .430.
A ninth-round choice of the Seattle Mariners in the 2021 draft, Packard reached AAA for the first time in the '24 season. In 401 minor league games over five seasons, the 2021 All-American owns a .282/.388/.430 slash line with 86 doubles, 43 homers and 247 RBI.
As a senior in 2021, Packard ranked fourth in the nation and first in the Big South Conference with 67 RBI on his way to earning second-team All-America honors. He helped lead Campbell to NCAA Regional finals in 2019 and 2021.
Ty Cummings | AA | Montgomery Biscuits (Tampa Bay Rays)
Cummings owns a 5-2 won-lost record with a 2.95 ERA and 70 strikeouts over 85.1 combined innings between Double-A Montgomery and the Triple-A Durham Bulls.
Acquired in a trade with Seattle last October, Cummings was named the Southern League pitcher of the week on April 20, Cummings has posted a 4-2 record with a 3.02 ERA and 68 strikeouts in 83.1 frames in 20 games (13 starts) at AA. While in Durham from May 9-17, he posted a 1-0 record and did not allow an earned run over two relief outings.
Now in his second pro season, Cummings has compiled a 79-7 won-lost mark, 3.65 ERA and 194 Ks over 202.0 innings over 47 appearances (38 starts).
Chosen in the seventh round of the 2023 draft by the Seattle Mariners, the right-handed hurler was Campbell's most-used bullpen arm over his three seasons (2021-23), making 74 total appearances, good for the sixth-most total appearances in program history. He logged 135 total strikeouts in 154.1 innings of work with a career 4.37 ERA while earning Big South all-conference honors twice.
Cade Kuehler | High-A | Rome Emperors (Atlanta Braves)
Kuehler opened the year on the 60-day injured list after offseason surgery on his pitching arm. He made his professional debut in 2024 and made 12 starts with the (Single-A) Augusta GreenJackets and (High-A) Rome Emperors. He posted a 3-6 record with a 3.74 ERA with 48 strikeouts over 53 innings before going on the injured list July 19, 2024.
Chosen by Atlanta in the 2nd round (70th overall) of the 2023 draft, Kuehler was an All-Big South first-team pitcher in 2023, going 8-1 with a team-best 2.71 ERA. He compiled 243 career strikeouts, the third-most in program history and the only pitcher in the program's top 10 to reach that mark in just three seasons.
Cole Peschl | High-A | Cedar Rapids Kernels (Minnesota Twins)
Peschl opened his first professional season at Single-A Fort Myers before being promoted to High-A Cedar Rapids on May 21. He owns a 5-2 record with a 2.49 ERA and one save while fanning 67 hitters over 68.2 innings in 15 appearances (11 starts). He was placed on the 7-day injured list on July 25.
Chosen in the 15th round of the '24 draft by the Minnesota Twins, the right-hander led the Camels with 83 strikeouts over 69 innings and made 16 starts with a 3-3 record and 5.48 ERA in his only season at CU..
Aaron Rund | High-A | Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Milwaukee Brewers)
Now in his second professional season, Rund sported a 1-1 record with five saves and a 3.90 ERA over his first 26 relief appearances in 2025. He struck out 28 batters over 32.1 innings through games of Aug. 3.
In 65 career minor league games, Rund sports a 5-3 record, 3.32 ERA, 13 saves in and 84 strikeouts in 89.1 career professional innings. He signed a non-drafted minor league free agent contract with the Brewers on Dec. 19, 2023.
In three seasons at Campbell (2021-23), Rund went 12-3 with a 4.90 ERA and 156 strikeouts over 150 2/3 innings and helped the Camels to three NCAA regional appearances.
Bryce Arnold | High-A | Vancouver Canadian (Toronto Blue Jays)
Now in his third minor league season, Arnold was promoted to High-A Vancouver on June 23. He has batted .224 with 10 homers and 39 RBI in 75 games split between Single-A Dunedin and the Canadians.
In 55 games at Single-A Dunedin, Arnold hit .256 with nine home runs and 31 RBI. Since moving up to Vancouver, the shortstop is batting .138 with one homer and eight RBI in 20 contests). He has played in 203 career minor league games (including three at the Triple-A level) since signing with the Blue Jays organization as a non-drafted free agent in 2023.
Arnold was named All-American in for the Camels in 2023 after leading the Big South Conference with 19 doubles. He played in three-straight regionals for Campbell (2021-23).
Ernie Day | A | Palm Beach Cardinals (St. Louis Cardinals)
Signed by the Cardinals organization to a minor league free agent contract on Feb. 18, Day made 17 relief appearances and posted a 0-2 record and a 7.20 ERA with 16 strikeouts in 15.0 innings at Single-A Palm Beach in the Florida State League before his release on Aug. 3
In his three pro seasons, he has made 45 career appearances with a 3-4 record and 10.47 ERA and 42 Ks in 38.2 innings. He was a 14th round choice in the 2023 draft by the Seattle Mariners, Day made 14 appearances in his only season (2023) with the Camels after transferring from Iowa Western.
Grant Knipp | Rookie | ACL Mariners (Seattle Mariners)
Knipp opened 2025 on the full season injured list after undergoing surgery. He was selected as a two-way player in the sixth round of the 2024 draft by the Seattle Mariners. Despite playing in only 29 games due to injury, Knipp was named first-team All-CAA in 2024 after batting .402/.547/1.029 with 18 home runs and 46 RBI. On the mound, he had a 1.59 ERA and two saves in six relief appearances. After signing with the Mariners on July 23, Knipp did not play in any games during the 2024 minor league season. A 6-foot-2 catcher, Knipp was named first-team all-conference and the 2023 Big South tournament MVP.
Derek Vartanian | Rookie | FCL Braves (Atlanta Braves)
Vartanian signed a minor league free agent contract July 17, 2024, with the Atlanta Braves, but has yet to make his professional debut. He opened the 2025 campaign on the 60-day injured list. In his only season at Campbell (2024) after transferring from Gaston College, Vartanian posted a 1-2 record with a 7.36 ERA and 15 strikeouts over 11 innings in three games before sitting out the rest of the year due to injury.
Dalen Thompson | Florence Y'alls | Frontier League (Independent)
In 10 games after signing with the Florence (Ky.) Y'alls of the Pioneer (Independent) League,
Dalen Thompson is batting .278 with two doubles, one homer, three RBI and two stolen bases. He homered in his first professional at-bat in the circuit that includes 18 teams spread over the U.S. and Canada, including the Kinston (N.C.) Bird Dawgs.
In his final season with the Camels, Thompson was named a member of the 2025 All-CAA Second Team after batting .330 on the season and making 51 appearances with 49 starts in center field. The Dunn, N.C., native ended the year with a 29-game on-base streak, which consisted of a 12-game hit streak (April 13-May 10). Thompson finished his Campbell career boasting a .313 batting average including 160 hits, 28 doubles, three triples, 20 home runs, and 110 RBI over 162 games.
Jake Murray | Minnesota Twins
Murray signed a minor league free agent contract with the Minnesota Twins organization on August 3. Murray finished his Campbell career with a 4.60 ERA in 38 appearances, making 19 starts. He pitched a total of 101.2 innings holding opponents to a .212 batting average. The left-hander was named All-CAA Honorable Mention and tabbed CAA Pitcher of the Week twice in his final season with the Camels. He led the squad with 15 starts and fanned a team-high 82 batters, which tied for third in the CAA.
