Buckeyes in the Minors: Baseball America Injury Report

From one Big Ten Pitcher of the Year to another...

Posted Jul. 22, 2009 12:29 pm by Ben Badler

Cory Luebke, lhp, Padres: Luebke had surrendered just one earned run in three starts since his promotion to Double-A San Antonio, but he had to leave his July 12 start at Tulsa with a right hamstring injury. Luebke, 24, spent most of the season taming the high Class A California League, where he left Lake Elsinore with a 2.34 ERA in 88 1/3 innings thanks in large part to his walking just 1.7 batters per nine at that level.

Baseball America Injury Report

Luebke during his July 12st start at Tulsa had pitched 3.1 innings of no-hit baseball, before he felt the hamstring start bothering him. Luebke's AA numbers since being promoted, 1-0, .69 ERA, 13 IP, 7 K's, 5 BB, .184 BAA.

Luebke says the injury is coming along alright and it shouldn't be too much longer before he returns to the mound. Luebke on return has a chance to really turn heads and play himself into a welcoming position. The Padres this past weekend called-up top prospect Mat Latos from AA San Antonio, leaving a void in the Missions rotation that is duly felt from the Luebke injury. Latos debuted against the Rockies July 18th, pitching 4 innings of 2-run baseball.

The Padres who see the writing on the wall for the 2009 season are starting to call up some of their prospects and see what they have for the future. If Luebke can continue his dominance and pitch well in August, come September when rosters are expanded its not out of question to see Luebke toe the rubber in a big league park.

The 2007 Big Ten Pitcher of the Year has shown great command only walking 22 in 101.1 IP over the two levels. Cory says he is starting to add some cut to his fastball, his change up is coming along, but his slider has been his pitch of choice to get California and now Texas League batters out, as a result he has 87 K's, and a .221 BAA in 2009. After taking a step back in 2008 in finishing with Low-A Fort Wayne after starting in Advanced A, the Marion Local product is back on the fast track for the Padres and come 2010 will really be a name for those on the west coast to know of.