Summer League Buckeyes 7/16 Update

Update #2 is a bit later than I had hoped, but it's better late than never.

The past three weeks have seen little change in the seasons of our Buckeyes. Dean Wolosianky, Jared Strayer, and Drew Rucinski continue to have stellar seasons from the mound, while Matt Streng continues to lead the Buckeye batters with a productive and consistent summer thus far.

Not all is good however as we see a pair of Buckeyes in slumps, a few more who continue to whiff at a higher than desired rate, and a new Buckeye whose first impressions aren't exactly good.



Valley League

Luray Wranglers

Brian DeLucia: 17 G, 10 GS, 37 AB, 8 H, .216 AVG, 3 R, 6 RBI, 1 2B, .243 SLG, 7 BB, 10 SO, .333 OBP

Drew Rucinski: 7 G, 4 GS, 23.1 IP, 3-1 W-L, 3 SV, 24 H, 9 R, 7 ER, 7 BB, 19 SO, .282 BAA

Since the last update, just one of Rucinski's last three games have been starts. He has received a decision in each of those games going 1-1 with a save. During that time just one run has scored ove eight innings. On the other side DeLucia has gone 6-for-21 since the last update a .285 average. Again, there is not a need to go too in-depth on these two. As now veterans of Buckeye baseball, you know what you'll get come spring from Drew and Brian. Summer numbers don't mean a ton, but it is nice to see both doing well of late.


Coastal Plains League

Asheboro Copperheads

Jared Strayer: 5 G, 4 GS, 23.2 IP, 2.28 ERA, 3-0 W-L, 20 H, 7 R, 6 ER, 12 BB, 17 SO, .233 BAA

Brett McKinney: 4 G, 4 GS, 21.0 IP, 5.57 ERA, 2-1, 20 H, 15 R, 13 ER, 15 BB, 26 SO, .316 BAA.

Strayer continues to have a great summer, going 2-0 over three starts since the last update. After pitching back-to-back gems June 28th, 7 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 5 BB, 9 SO; July 5th 8 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 9 SO, McKinney was knocked around on Monday, lasting just two innings in giving up eight runs, seven earned, off nine hits. Unlike Strayer, the summer has been anything but consistent for McKinney with two great starts sandwiched by two bad starts. For both, the amount of base-on-balls is a concern as Strayer has walked 10 against nine strikeouts over his last three games, while McKinney has yet to have a start when issuing fewer than three walks. You have to like what you see from Strayer as his summer continues, while there are things to like of McKinney 11.14 K/9, but he needs to be more consistent.


Great Lakes League

Delaware Cows

Matt Streng: 22 G, 22 GS, 82 AB, 24 H, .293 AVG, 15 R, 10 RBI, 4 2B, 1 HR, .378 SLG, 12 BB, 11 S0, .402 OBP, 4-6 SB-ATT

Theron Minium: 4 G, 4 GS, 16.1 IP, 2-0 W-L, 4.41 ERA, 16 H, 10 R, 8 ER, 4 BB, 10 K, .250 BAA.

Streng continues to have a good summer at the plate. Since last time, over nine games his average has bumped up one point, while adding a double and home run, as well as drawing four walks, with five strikeouts. Consistent. After a down 2010 season, continued success with the wood will hopefully carry over in fall practices with momentum going into the 2011 season for the Buckeyes' first baseman. Minium has logged just one start over the last three weeks, an outing that last just two innings on July 11th. Not sure what to make of the short start, it was the second game of a double-header and hopefully a game where they were trying to get as many pitchers in prior to the all-star break, and not an injury of some sort. Will be interesting to see when Theron returns to the mound and for how long.

Hamilton Joes

David Corna: 6 G, 2 GS, 9 AB, 2 R, 1 H, .111 AVG, 1 RBI, .111 SLG, 2 BB, 5 SO, .273 OBP

Corna has not appeared in a game since the last update.

Stark County Terriers

Ryan Cypret: 21 G, 18 GS, 69 AB, 15 H, .217 AVG, 12 R, 9 RBI, 5 2B, .290 SLG, 6 BB, 8 SO, .299 OBP, 3-for-3 SB-ATT

Cypret is in a 3-for-22 slump that has seen his average fall .38 points over his last eight games. One would assume that Cypret is in line to take over for Cory Kovanda as the Buckeyes everyday second baseman, but with two incoming middle-infielders, nothing is of certain. Hopefully Cypret can finish the summer strong and have a good showing in the Autumn. He showed a solid bat in spurts during his red-shirt freshman season of 2010.


Northwoods Leauge

Wisconsin Rapid Rafters

Brad Hallberg: 19 G, 43 AB, 7 H, .163 AVG, 2 R, 2 RBI, .163 SLG, 2 BB, 7 SO, .200 OBP

Struggling to find consistent playing time, Hallberg is having a disappointing summer in his native Cheesehead State. The third baseman has collected four hits in 22 at-bats over 11 games since last time. A cause for concern is the absence of power from Brad thus far as all seven hits have been singles.


Prospect League

West Virginia Miners

Dean Wolosiansky: 6 G, 6 GS, 45 IP, 3-1 W-L, 1.40 ERA, 34 H, 18 BB, 35 SO.

Wolosiansky continues a summer of re-birth in West Virginia. Though he has added a run to his ERA over his last three starts, the Prospect League All-Star is putting up numbers that show he is ready to solidify the Bucks weekend rotation in his senior season. His near 2:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio is serviceable, while his WHIP of 1.15 is fantastic, showing he continues to induce soft contact. Wolosiansky received a tough-luck loss his last time out, allowing a run off four hits during seven innings in a 2-0 loss on Wednesday to a tough Chillicothe Paints team, a team Perfect Game has ranked as the fourth best in America this summer.


Florida Collegiate Summer League

Winter Park Diamond Dogs

Brad Hutton: 21 G, 68 AB, 16 H, .235 AVG, 11 R, 13 RBI, 4 2B, 3 HR, .426 SLG, 7 BB, 22 SO, .365 OBP

Hutton continues to show power, as well as a tendency to strikeout. Five games have been played since the last update in which he has gone 5-for-21. Of the five hits three have been doubles. He has also recorded five strikeouts in the handful of games. Hutton figures to be able to hit for power, if he can do so consistently he'll have a leg-up in the crowded backstop position fight.

Orlando Mavericks

Hunter Mayfield: 21 G, 74 AB, 15 H, .203 AVG, 5 R, 8 RBI, 2 2B, 1 HR, .270 SLG, 4 BB, 18 SO, .256 OBP

Hutton isn't the only Buckeye racking up strikeouts in Florida. Mayfield is approaching his Sunshine State counterpart's numbers. In his last 10 games, Mayfield has recorded 11 strikeouts against just two walks. During that time he is 10-for-40 picking up a double and home run. While it is good to see more balls finding holes for Mayfield, you would like to see more balls put in play versus the strikeout, as well as more walks against the K's.


New York Collegiate Baseball League

Mohawk Valley DiamondDogs

Greg Solomon: 17 G, 15 GS, 58 AB, 12 H, .207 AVG, 6 R, 6 RBI, 2 2B, 1 HR, .293 AVG, 1 BB, 19 SO, .226 OBP

I skipped him in the first update, but Solomon is a JUCO transfer catcher from Paradise CC in Arizona. Little info is known of him, other than he signed a NLI to play at Ohio State this upcoming season. It is hard to look at his numbers and make too much of an assumption, except the 19 SO in 58 ABs, with just one walk is a red-flag. Will keep an eye on his summer.