Pro Update: Former Runnin' Bulldogs Producing in Professional Baseball
August 07, 2026 | Baseball
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Five former Gardner-Webb baseball standouts have moved on to play professional baseball after donning the Red and Black of the Runnin' Bulldogs.
Mason Miller of the San Diego Padres continues to be one of the best relievers in Major League Baseball. Miller has saw action in 46 games out of the pen for the Padres, compiling a 4-1 overall record while maintaining a 0.74 earned run average to go along with 28 saves, third most in baseball, and 90 strikeouts. Miller has allowed only four earned runs in 48.1 innings pitched while being named to the MLB All Star Game for the second time in his career in 2026.
Mark Black is in his second professional year and first with the Evansville Otters of the Frontier League. Black is batting .233 with 30 hits, including six doubles and three homeruns to go along with 20 runs batted in.
Merik Carter is in the American Association with the Cleburne Railroaders and has seen action in eight games while collecting 11 hits in 24 at-bats, including a homerun in his first-ever plate appearance. He has also notched four doubles and five RBIs for the Railroaders. Carter boasts a line of .458/.618/.750.
Zack Thompson found his way to the West Virginia Black Bears of the MLB Draft League where he is a regular player, seeing action in 24 games with 92 at-bats. Thompson has racked up 35 hits while batting .380 with eight doubles, a triple, and three homeruns to go along with 17 RBIs. He has also put together a .437 on-base percentage and .587 slugging percentage.
Josh Gentile also made his way to the MLB Draft League, signing with the State College Spikes. In his most recent outing, Gentile tossed two scoreless frames while striking out three batters.
