With the 2026 Double-A season coming to a close, three former Kalamazoo Growlers and University of Virginia standouts put together impressive seasons across the minor leagues.
Henry Godbout, Jake Gelof and Griff O’Ferrall all spent their college careers at Virginia while also spending summers in Kalamazoo with the Growlers. Now, all three are making an impact in professional baseball.
Godbout, who spent the summer of 2023 with the Growlers while attending Virginia, wrapped up his first full professional season in the Boston Red Sox organization after being selected in the second round of the 2025 MLB Draft. Godbout is currently ranked as the No. 6 prospect in the Red Sox organization by MLB Pipeline.
Pictured (left to right) Gelof, Godbout, O'Ferrall suited up for Virginia
Despite missing time with an injury, Godbout played across three levels this season, making stops in Single-A, High-A and Double-A. Across 61 games, the infielder slashed .291/.402/.530 with 15 home runs and 35 RBI, good for a .932 OPS.
Godbout finished the season with Double-A Portland after earning a promotion in August, capping off a strong first full season in professional baseball.
Henry Godbout scoring a run in 2023.
Another former Cavalier and Growler had one of the biggest power seasons in Double-A.
Jake Gelof, who spent the summer of 2021 in Kalamazoo while playing collegiately at Virginia, spent the entire 2026 season with the Tulsa Drillers, the Double-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Gelof hit 34 home runs across 124 games while driving in 103 runs and finishing the year with a .950 OPS. His 34 home runs led the Texas League and also set a new Tulsa professional baseball modern-era single-season record.
Jake Gelof playing third base at Honor Credit Union Stadium in 2021.
Griff O’Ferrall, who also spent a summer in Kalamazoo during his career at Virginia, continued his development in the Baltimore Orioles organization after being selected 32nd overall in the first round of the 2024 MLB Draft.
O’Ferrall spent the 2026 season with Double-A Chesapeake and finished the year especially strong. During the month of September, O’Ferrall slashed .410/.477/.513, including a four-hit performance on September 8. It was his second four-hit game of the season after also accomplishing the feat on May 29.
Griff O'Ferrall playing shortstop at Honor Credit Union Stadium in 2022.
Godbout, Gelof and O’Ferrall each took a similar path through college baseball, playing at Virginia while spending a summer in Kalamazoo with the Growlers before eventually hearing their names called in the MLB Draft.
Now, all three former Cavaliers and Growlers continue to work their way through professional baseball after putting together impressive 2026 seasons.
