Former Russellville baseball star continues professional career on mound
Former Russellville High School and Auburn University baseball standout Cody Greenhill recently wrapped up the first half of the 2022 Minor League season with the Single-A Fredericksburg Nationals.
Greenhill and the FredNats finished up the first half of the 2022 Carolina League North Division schedule by just missing out on a playoff berth with a 33-33 record. The Lynchburg Hillcats, a Cleveland Guardians affiliate, took first place with a 35-31 mark.
Early in the second half, Fredericksburg is 5-1 as of July 1, which puts them in first place.
Greenhill graduated from RHS in 2017 and was a key member of three-straight Class 5A state championship-winning teams. After his playing days as a Golden Tiger came to an end, the right-handed pitcher went to play at Auburn, where he was a top contributor on the mound from 2018-21.
The 2019 season at AU was a memorable one, with the Tigers advancing to Omaha for the Men’s College World Series.
Greenhill wasn’t drafted by a Major League club at the end of his senior season at Auburn, but the Washington Nationals of the MLB showed interest and signed him to a free agent deal Aug. 2, 2021.
A day later, Greenhill was assigned to the Florida Complex League Nationals to begin his professional career.
April 7 of this year, Greenhill was assigned to the Fredericksburg Nationals. The FredNats are located in Fredericksburg, Va., about 50 miles south of Washington, just off Interstate 95.
In addition to the Nationals, the Carolina League consists of the Augusta GreenJackets, Carolina Mudcats, Charleston RiverDogs, Columbia Fireflies, Delmarva Shorebirds, Down East Wood Ducks, Fayetteville Woodpeckers, Kannapolis Cannon Ballers, Lynchburg Hillcats, Myrtle Beach Pelicans and Salem Red Sox.
Greenhill, 23, is working hard to advance up the ranks of the Washington Nationals’ Minor League system, which includes the High-A Wilmington Blue Rocks, Double-A Harrisburg Senators and Triple-A Rochester Red Wings.
The 6-foot-4, 216-pound Greenhill wears jersey No. 40 for the Fredericksburg team. As of July 1, he has a 1-0 record with a 4.76 ERA, with all of his 17 appearances coming out of the bullpen.
Greenhill has pitched 22.2 innings in 2022 and has struck out 35, with batters hitting .244 against him. During his pro career, he has a 1-0 record with a 4.00 ERA in 20 games.
A couple of familiar faces are also on the roster of the FredNats with Greenhill. Two of his former Auburn teammates, Peyton Glavine and Steven Williams, are on the squad. All three played at AU up until 2021.
Glavine is the son of Hall of Fame pitcher for the Atlanta Braves and New York Mets, Tom Glavine. He is currently on the seven-day injured list and has a 0-0 record and a 1.54 ERA in 2022 during seven appearances for Fredericksburg.
Williams is a catcher for the Nationals and is hitting .245 with 12 RBIs as of July 1.
The Fredericksburg team is managed by Jake Lowery.
