Luebke Set to Join Padres

Former Buckeye Recalled by San Diego


It has long been speculated but the time has officially come. The 2007 Big Ten Pitcher of the Year, former Buckeye Cory Luebke is on his way to join the San Diego Padres. Luebke will be the second Buckeye big leaguer joining New York Yankee Nick Swisher.



Picked in the Supplemental First-round by the Padres in 2007, the 63rd overall pick from that year's draft has had quite the 2010 season. After missing more than a month to start the season with a strained oblique muscles sustained during the final days of spring training, once healthy Luebke was sent to AA San Antonio were he had no problem picking up where a successful 2009 season left off.

Making eight starts over 10 games for the San Antonio Mission, Luebke went 5-1 with a 2.40 ERA, striking out 44 over 56.1 innings against 12 walks. On July 15th, Luebke made his first AAA start for the Portland Beavers and in the nine games since he has not slowed down. As the Beavers' top pitcher Luebke is 5-0 with a 2.97 in nine starts with 44 more strikeouts while walking 17. Opponents batted just .200 off the southpaw at both levels.

For some time it was expected that Luebke would join the Padres once MLB allowed teams to expand their rosters to 40-man on September 1st. The time proved to be no better as Luebke ends his AAA stint with a 15-inning scoreless streak.

Recently Padres' GM Jed Hoyer had the following to say about Luebke; "He's a guy we can spot start in September to give guys a rest."

Luebke left Ohio State after three seasons near the top of many Buckeye pitching records. At the time Luebke was 18th in wins with (20), 11th in innings pitched at (274.0), 16th in strikeouts with (217), 6th in fewest earned runs with (87), and 4th in ERA at (2.86).

As always the Buckeye Nine is the top source for all things Buckeye baseball and will have more on Luebke's promotion later including thoughts from the Maria Stein Marion Local product.