Buckeye Baseball Alumni Update 7/31

It's the last day of July and while the MLB trade deadline highlights most baseball circles, there is a lot going on related to Buckeye baseball.

In our latest alumni news we have yet another Buckeye minor league promotion, a return from the DL, an unfortunate return to the DL, and a continuation of a very impressive season for one pitcher.



Alumni
Former Buckeye Shuck Promoted to Round Rock

I had aimed to do an alumni update yesterday after skipping the alumni section in our last notebook and it is a good thing that I did. As a result of the Lance Berkman trade to New York from Houston, a shake-up in the Astros system has made JB Shuck (2006-08) take the jump from AA to AAA

The Galion native, a sixth-round selection in the 2008 draft was having a solid year for Corpus Christi to date batting .298 on the season in 101 games, with an on-base percentage of .372, with 14 doubles, two triples and two home runs for a .360 slugging percentage. Shuck becomes the third Buckeye to be promoted to AAA following OF Matt Angle and LHP Cory Luebke, both of were at Ohio State from 2005-07. Those three join Doug Deeds (2000-02) as Buckeyes just one step from MLB. Feel free to take part in the pool to the left on which current AAA Buckeye you feel will first receive a MLB call-up. Angle, Deeds, Luebke, or Shuck?

DeLucia Lands on DL, Fryer Returns

LHP Dan DeLucia (04-08) and C Eric Fryer (05-07) represent the two Buckeyes in Advanced A ball, both currently in the Florida State League, both recently involved in roster changes. For DeLucia the only three-time captain in OSU baseball history lands on the DL for the second time this season. DeLucia's last outing came on July 21st for the Dunedin Blue Jays.

For Fryer, he finds himself returning from the DL after four weeks of being inactive. On July 1st Fryer was hit in the face with a pitch, forcing him to miss extended playing time for the Bradenton Marauders before returning Thursday night. Fryer who was one of the FSL's hottest hitters before the injury, picked up right where he left off goign 3-for-5 with a triple, three RBI, and three runs.

Hale Storm

Former All-American reliever Jake Hale (06-09) continues to be lights out in the Northwest League for Yakima. Having now appeared in 14 games, the righty has yielded just two runs, one earned, for an impressive 0.37 ERA. With a 3-2 record with one save Hale has struck out 25 against just four walks, limiting opponents to a stingy .184 average. With 16 his, Hale's WHIP on the season is 0.80.

Elsewhere

In rounding up our minor league report Zach Hurley (06-10) who like Hale is playing in the Northwest League, is batting .240 with two RBI for the Vancouver Canadians.

Jumping from Short-Season A to AAA Cory Luebke improves to 2-0 for the Portland Beavers though it came in his shakiest effort of the year. In five innings Luebke allowed eight runs, five earned, off nine hits with a walk and two strikeouts. Three of the eight hits were home runs for Salt Lake City, but Luebke's Portland teammates provided him with 14 runs in the victory.

Staying in the Pacific Coast League Doug Deeds is batting .298 with eight home runs, three triples, and a league high 34 doubles for the Reno Aces. Our last Buckeye outfielder Matt Angle is currently batting .273 with 18 stolen bases for the Norfolk Tides.