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Ole Miss in the Pros: James McArthur gets the call and Tim Elko moves up the ranks in the minors

11by:Jake Thompson•06/26/23•

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MLB: Spring Training-Toronto Blue Jays at Philadelphia Phillies
Feb 28, 2023; Clearwater, Florida, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher James McArthur (82) throws a pitch against the Toronto Blue Jays in the third inning during spring training at BayCare Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

This season has been a good one for former Ole Miss baseball players who are living out their dreams as professional baseball players and this weekend provided more good news.

Former Rebels pitcher James McArthur got the call to head up to ‘The Show’ by the Kansas City Royals. Tim Elko continued the strong start to his professional career with his move up within the Chicago White Six minor league system.

Pitching for Ole Miss from 2016 to 2018 McArthur has experienced all the ups and downs a minor league player can have within the last two months. On May 8 McArthur was traded by the Philadelphia Phillies to the Royals.

The Phillies selected McArthur in the 2018 MLB Draft and he worked throughout their minor league system over the last four-plus seasons.

But a month and a half into being with the Omaha Storm Chasers — the Royals Triple-A affiliate — the former Ole Miss starting pitcher was called up to Kansas City on Saturday.

McArthur has a 0-3 record this season in 17 appearances with a 5.95 earned run average. He has 46 strikeouts in 36.1 innings worked.

Tim Elko continues to destroy baseballs a year after helping Ole Miss win its first national title and is getting rewarded for it.

Elko hit his Carolina League-leading 17th home run of the season on Sunday for his only hit of the game but it was good enough for three runs.

Following the game it was reported that Elko and teammate Jacob Burke were getting called up to the White Sox Single-A affiliate the Winston-Salem Dash.

This marks the former Ole Miss first baseman’s first call up of any kind three months into his first season in the minor leagues. Along with the home run tally Elko also led the Carolina League in runs batted in with 57, 10 clear of second. He also led the league in hits with 77 and hitting .297 on the season which is fourth best in the league.

The Kannapolis Cannon Ballers, which was the team Elko was elevated from, activated another former Ole Miss pitcher in Drew McDaniel on Friday. McDaniel has gone up and down throughout the season and currently has a 2-5 record to go with a 5.06 ERA and 34 strikeouts.

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