Another draft, another year of Buckeyes being selected. Two Buckeyes were selected in the 2009 MLB Amateur draft making it the 8th consecutive season at least two Buckeyes were selected by MLB teams. Senior All-American closer Jake Hale was selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 27th round, and Junior outfielder Zach Hurley was selected by the Florida Marlins in the 45th round.
Hale having exhausted his eligibility signed quickly and is in the Diamondbacks system.
Hale was sent to Arizona's short-season A league team, the Yakima Bears in the Northwest League. Willie or Jake whichever you choose, has appeared in six games, all in relief, throwing 7.2 innings and posting a 10.57 ERA off of nine earned runs in that time.
Opponents are batting .414 off the tall righty collecting 12 hits, two home runs, have drawn five walks, while striking out seven times. Not all of the numbers suggest Hale is struggling, after six games Hale's ground-out to air-out ratio is 2.75 which is very encouraging, especially for a reliever.
More than likely to not follow suit and join Hale in the professional ranks is Hurley. Hurley remains unsigned and all signs appear that Zach will be returning in 2010 for his senior season as the Buckeyes defend their Big Ten Championship. The Buckeye Nine wll be catching up with Hurley in the next few weeks to discuss the chance to be drafed, what goes into making a decision, and ultimately his final decision and his future.
1 comment:
Wow Hale is struggling in pro ball a little,that stinks to see but knowing Jake he will get it going in the right direction real soon. It is not like Jake to walk batters or give up HR either. I guess playing pro ball in the Northwest is a totaly differant deal than at OSU.
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