Wimmers Tosses Five Hitless Innings

First-rounder earns first victory in third start

Courtesy Fort Myers Miracle

By Alex Raskin/Special to MLB.com

Having thrown only 5 2/3 innings as a professional, Fort Myers starter Alex Wimmers had to take a seat after five hitless frames Tuesday.

The 2010 first-round pick struck out six and walked one en route to the Class A Advanced Miracle's 4-1 win over the Palm Beach Cardinals.

Buckeye Baseball News and Notes 8/7

We kick off the weekend with big news as Alex Wimmers has signed a contract with the Minnesota Twins, officially starting his professional journey while ending his Buckeye days. Speaking of professional beginnings, Michael Stephens makes his pro debut last night for River City in the Frontier League.

While Coach Greg Beals will not have the services of Wimmers or Stephens, he will have Jared Strayer and Brad Hallberg who were on display last night in their respect Coastal Plain and Northwoods League action.

Buckeye Baseball News & Notes 7/19

Spanning the internet for the latest in Ohio State baseball news, we find more about the affection and connection George Steinbrenner had to Buckeye baseball and a former captain. Drew Rucinski moved to 4-1 last night with a win in the Valley League, while back in the Great Lakes League two Buckeyes had solid Sunday afternoons.

Buckeye Baseball News & Notes 7/18

Today's news and notes include another award for the All-American Alex Wimmers, an alum of the program making a move to become closer to the program, two Buckeyes with good days at the plate last night, and Coach Beals' latest interview.

Remember to follow ChrsWebb on Twitter for the latest on all things Ohio State baseball.

Wimmers an All-American Yet Again

When Alex Wimmers finally agrees to a contract with the Minnesota Twins, he better make sure it is enough to buy a pretty large trophy case. The two-time Big Ten Pitcher of the Year has received another postseason honor, in picking up his fourth 2010 All-American award.

The latest AA honor comes from the American Baseball Coaches Association who in partner with Rawlings tabbed the junior right-handed pitcher a second-team All-American. This becomes Alex's second second-team selection as he previously was selected such by the National College Baseball Writers Association. The two paired with first-team All-American honors by PING! Baseball, and Collegiate Baseball/Louisville Slugger, puts a stamp on Wimmers' career making him one of the most decorated Buckeyes regardless of sport.

Wimmers a Pitcher of the Year Finalist

The College Baseball Foundation has revealed their final three candidates for their Pitcher of the Year award, and the first back-to-back Big Ten Pitcher of the Year winner Alex Wimmers had made the final cut.

Wimmers, the 21st overall pick by the Minnesota Twins in the MLB First-Year Player Draft, is joined by fellow first rounders, LHP Chris Sale of Florida Gulf Coast, and RHP Drew Pomeranz of Ole Miss. All three are juniors.

Wimmers is coming off of one of the finest seasons in Ohio State history, a fact even more amazing given Wimmers missed three starts with a left hamstring injury. The Cincinnati native and Moeller product would finish 2010 undefeated at 9-0 with a 1.61 ERA, while striking out 86 batters in 73 innings. The righty's ERA is the 5th lowest in the nation.

The finalist nod is yet another honor for Wimmers, a three-time All-American in 2010. Ping!Baseball and Collegiate Baseball each named Wimmers a First-team All-American, while the National College Baseball Writers provided Wimmers with a Second-team honor.

Hiatus Over, What's Next for Buckeye Baseball

I'm back.

Basically had to fight off a viral infection for the last three weeks that wanted me dead. Throw in the end of the quarter, finals, work, etc, it's been a rough month.

A lot has happened over the last three weeks. Alex Wimmers has twice been named 1st team All-America. He, Dan Burkhart, and Zach Hurley were selected last week in the MLB First-Year Player Draft. There is also this thing with the head coaching vacancy, that is in it's final days.

I've learned not to set deadlines, it causes stress and leaves everyone disappointed when I can't meet them, but here is what I would like to do this week.

Recap the season
Touch on Coach Todd's tenure
Discuss the draft
Give you guys the insight into Ohio State's next baseball coach
Start to look ahead to summer leagues

It'll be a fun and hopefully informative week.

Sorry for the hiatus, but we're back.

Wimmers Named Big Ten Pitcher of Year, Makes History

Ohio State Jr. RHP Alex Wimmers becomes the first Big Ten pitcher ever to be name Pitcher of the Year in back-to-back seasons as the Cincinnati native received the 2010 honor announced today by the Big Ten.

Though the Moeller product missed three starts with a left hamstring injury, Wimmers still led the Big Ten with a 1.60 ERA and .218 opponents batting average against. Wimmers struck out 86 over 73 innings in going 9-0 in 10 starts.

Joining Wimmers in receiving 1st team All-Big Ten honors is Zach Hurley. Ryan Dew received 2nd team honors at DH, while Michael Stephens picked up a 3rd team selection.

More on the Big Ten honors and these four later.

Wimmers makes cut on National Pitcher of the Year Watch List

The right-handed junior from Cincinnati Moeller is one of 25 on list

Though his season is currently on hold, there is no stopping the accolades and honors junior Alex Wimmers continues to receive. With a 9-0 record and 1.61 ERA for the season, Wimmers is one of 25 collegiate pitchers across the country that is on the College Baseball Foundation's revised Pitcher of the Year watch list.

Having suffered a hamstring injury minutes before his scheduled start against Michigan on April 30th, Wimmers has missed his last two starts but still boasts numbers that rank him among the nation's best. The All-American is still the only pitcher in the country to win every start, and before his injury, his 9-0 mark was the best in the nation. There is no timetable on when or if, Wimmers will return to the Buckeye rotation.

The entire College Baseball Foundation Pitcher of the Year watch list can be found here.

No time for dispair, Louisville in town for a pair

By now you've heard that Alex Wimmers suffered a hamstring injury just minutes before taking the mound against Michigan last Friday.

You're also aware that Michigan took 2 of 3, sending Ohio State into a three-way tie for third in the Big Ten at 8-7 while dropping to 24-15 overall.

I hope you're aware of the blackhole that has become the bottom of Ohio State's order and a continued usage of players in the wrong spots in the order, limiting potential Buckeye success at the plate.

A round of applause goes to the Buckeye bullpen led by Dean Wolosiansky and Eric Best who completely shut down the Maize & Blue over the weekend, as well as to Drew Rucinski who delivered a huge victory when the Buckeyes needed it most. (So much for pitching being the team's downfall)

While I could and will go indepth in all of that in the next day or so, the time has come to focus on Louisville.

The Cardinals come to Columbus as the 10th best team in the nation by the polls and the 3-best by RPI.Louisville is an impressive 36-7 overall, 14-4 in the Big East, and truly are an Omaha contender.

The Buckeyes will have their hands full and I apologize for not being able to find time to spend on the midweek set, life happens, but will have something of note to read tomorrow.

Until then I hope you don't mind another audio interview as I was able to speak to the Cardinals' head coach Dan McDonnell as his team was on their way up to Columbus. You can listen to the audio of McDonnell and I here.

Again sorry about the lack of articles and reading content, hope that the audio supplements the on-and-off of any set schedule.

Go Bucks.

Wimmers Capture's Sixth Career Pitcher of the Week Honor

You know how in Golf it is Tiger vs. the Field?

Well when it comes to Big Ten Pitcher of the Week awards it's starting to be Wimmers vs. the Field.

After his 14-strikeout complete game on Friday, moving him to 7-0 on the year, a mark matched only by 2007 Big Ten Pitcher of the Year Cory Luebke, Wimmers picks up his second Big Ten PiOW award of the season, his sixth over the last year+. The award also happens to be Ohio State's sixth weekly honor of 2010.

From the Big Ten

Weekend Wrap: Buckeyes Take Two from Hoosiers

I'll take back what I said last weekend. While winning two of three isn't bad, and I'm not entirely upset, this was a weekend where a sweep was there for the taking.

In what is a bit unsettling for the veteran team the Bucks field, play behind the pitchers is still a problem, and Saturday it gave the Hoosiers a few extra outs, at-bats, and runs preventing the three game sweep.

Still with the first Big Ten series at Bill Davis in the books, the Buckeyes are tied atop the Big Ten heading into next weekend's showdown with Michigan State, and there is a lot to feel good and look forward to as the season progresses.

In the wrap you'll find out which players had a great weekend, which ones not so much, how the games where won, how Saturday was lost, and other random tidbits thrown together in a buffet of Buckeye Baseball. Ohio State is now 19-9 overall, 4-2 in Big Ten play.

Indiana Preview & Special Interview

With Indiana comes the first Big Ten home opponent for the Buckeyes. The weekend presents you, the Buckeye faithful, with three opportunities to support the men of Scarlet & Gray. Fresh off of a 12-7 midweek victory over Xavier, the weekend provides the student-athlete Buckeyes with a statement to make to the rest of the Big Ten as they defend their conference championship taking on the tournament champ of a year ago.

In our preview we'll have a side-by-side comparison of the two teams, projected rotations, a brief intro of Indiana, a key match-up, available media outlets, and other goodies and nuggets for your reading pleasure that includes a special feature you surely want to read that you can only get here.

Bucks Take Two of Three from Wildcats

Really there isn't much to say about the weekend, it pretty much went as expected.

I think we should feel comfortable expecting to take every series, with an occasional sweep against Iowa or Purdue, ultimately ending with a Big Ten mark not too far from the 18-6 2009 campaign.

A solid pitching performance was followed by two games of serviceable pitching. For two games the offense was there. An error-free game was followed by a three-error game. Ho-hum.

I don't advocate being content, but given the horrible schedule the Buckeyes faced in Florida, there will be no at-large berth this season and no "need" to ring up x amount of wins. It's Big Ten Tournament or bust, which we luckily host at Bill Davis Stadium.

So for the next seven weekends, I'm fine taking two of three, with some improvement here or there, securing one of the top two spots come conference tournament play and letting the dominoes fall.

But back to the weekend.

Lots of Buckeye baseball notes

The season is eight days away? You wouldn't know looking outside but it truly is.

Here is a rundown of this week's news. Come Monday I'll dig into providing my thoughts on the team. I know it has been a long time coming just bear with me one more weekend.

Wimmers & Burkhart continue to be noticed nationally

Here is the latest media to provide insight into Burkhart & Wimmers

College Baseball Insider caught up with the two to discuss the conjoined path to presentday.

Baseball America and Yahoo! Sports has features on the two upcoming here shortly. Buckeye State Baseball has the info on that.

CollegeBaseball360 announces Big East/Big Ten Challenge videocast schedule

CollegeBaseball360 is going above and beyond bringing exposure to northern baseball. CB360 has finalized their schedule in covering challenge between the weather-strickend conferences as they meet in the clash in Florida. You can check out when the Buckeyes will be on the stream by going here.

Big Ten Preview?

College Baseball Insider spoke to 8 of the 10 Big Ten coaches, though they did not state who, to gather their thoughts and answers on the season.

Collectively the coaches agreed Ohio State is the team to beat. Wimmers is the top Big Ten pitcher. Burkhart is the best defensive catcher while Michael Stephens is the best defensive outfielder. Stephens is one of the conference's best power hitters, while Ryan Dew and Burkhart are two of the purest hitters.

You can read all of the answers provided by the Big Ten coaches here.

Ohio State Athletics Communications continue their Ohio State preview

The talented Jerry Emig continued breaking down the Scarlet & Gray for 2010 in previewing the catching corp. Though Burkhart is the brightest star and biggest name, the group has depth. You can read the preview here.

That is the latest and greatest news about the Big Ten defending champions.

Our Honor Defend

The 2010 season is officially underway with practice in full swing as the defending Big Ten champions prepare to defend their crown while also looking to take the next step on a national level.

With the season opening in 16 days as the Buckeyes take on North Florida to kick off one of their most highly anticipated seasons in recent years, there is plenty of time to preview and dig into the 2010 version of the Scarlet & Gray.

For now lets recap all of the preseason buzz...

All-Americans

When you capture Big Ten Player and co-Pitcher of the year as sophomores you'll have a spotlight on you entering your junior season. When you spend your summer perfecting your craft in the Cape Cod League and prove to be among the best at your position, that spotlight only gets brighter.

The junior battery of RHP Alex Wimmers and C Dan Burkhart picked up a few preseason honors headed into that all important junior season.

First the National College Baseball Writers Association, selected both Wimmers and Burkhart to their second-team All-America squad.

The honor was followed by Wimmers being named a second-team Louisville Slugger All-American.

With Ping! Baseball tabbing Wimmers as a first-team AA selection, while Burkhart once again receives a second-team mention.


Preseason polls
2010 will not be a season Ohio State sneaks up on anyone.

As the six major preseason polls were released, the Bucks found homes in five of them, barely missing a ranking in Baseball America's top 25.

The high water mark was set by Collegiate Baseball who penciled the Buckeyes in at 14th.

The Coaches in their ESPN/USAToday Poll determined the Buckeyes to be the 21st best team entering the new year.

Kendall Rogers of Rivals.com/Yahoo Sports gave the Bob Todd and his team a 22nd ranking.

The NCBWA were right in line with the previous two polls, slotting the Scarlet & Gray at 23rd.

Ping! rounds out the quintet of rankings, as they gave the Bucks a preseason ranking of 24 in their 30 team poll.


Now what?

As previews start to be released nationally, some with more insight and value say College Baseball Today than others I'll keep you in formed on that.

Otherwise I'll start previewing the Bucks as they enter 2010 with one word on their mind: Omaha. Over the next two and a half weeks.

More honors for Burkhart and Wimmers

More accolades for the duo

I do not mean to sound like a broken record, but once again the battery of Dan Burkhart and Alex Wimmers have received honors, awards, and recognition.

The Moeller products who enter the 2010 season as the Big Ten's gold standard, were named pre-season All-Americans by Ping! Baseball.

Burkhart received his second second-team All-America honor, the first by way of the National College Baseball Writers Association. Burkhart, the reigning Big Ten Player of the Year was the team's MVP in Coach Todd's eyes in 2009.

The Friday night starter who will be throwing to Burkhart in Wimmers has now received his third pre-season honor. Ping! selected Wimmers to their first-team. That AA honor coincides with second-team selections by NCBWA and Collegiate Baseball.

The College Baseball Blog has selected the 2009 co-Big Ten Pitcher of the Year as their #9 player for the 2010 season.

Misc.
Not much to report here. Though I can pass along sources within the Ohio State Department of Athletics have told us replacing the field and sod is on the docket of "things to do" for the DoA.

Bill Davis Stadium has received upgrades in the external facade and recognition along the outfield wall for retired numbers. Now finally the playing surface will be address.

Changes coming to NCAA schedule?

NCAA to vote to override schedule changes


Held this past weekend was the national America Baseball Coaches Association convention. The most concerning issue was what to do with the NCAA Division I college baseball schedule.

Last week the NCAA announced they were set to vote on an override requested to amend the current scheduling process.

As many of you know the NCAA received complaints left and right regarding the universal start date. Among the complaints were how it effect student-athlete travel and classtime spent on the road opposed to travel. That was the politically correct complaint presented by the southern programs.

The honest reason was it exposed their lack of pitching depth, as well as ours here in Columbus, with having to have multiple midweek games, playing five games a week. Something we all know is custom here, pre-Big Ten weekend switch from four to three games.

Anyhow the official NCAA release can be found here While a the article plus a few thoughts from Bowling Green's Danny Schmitz provided courtesy Buckeye State Baseball can be found here (Slight self-promotion)

As you can see all 11 Big Ten institutes were part of the opposition.



Misc.

Other than that news has been quite. We expect Alex Wimmers to be named amongst the Top 100 College Baseball Players in 2010 by the College Baseball Blog, as they enter the final 10 of their countdown. When that happens we will link it.

Also working on a question and answer with the Buckeyes 2010 captains Zach Hurley and Cory Kovanda here in the upcoming days.

Preseason honors and rankings

As we figured, coming off of 2009 success with just three seniors being lost due to graduation, 2010 was to be a year of high expectations. What we knew in Columbus has made its way around the college baseball world and is starting to be reflectedin various publications.

Rankings
In the first two preseason rankings, the Bucks crack both top 25s and are in very welcoming company.

Ping!Baseball released its preseason list first and slotted the Bucks at 24th which you can see here.

Ping!'s write-up on the Bucks:

While the Big 10 isn't much of a baseball power conference these days, it hasn't always been that way. Up until the mid 80's a Big 10 representative was often in Omaha . Yet for Ohio State , the layoff has been even longer. The Buckeyes made it to the Series three times in the 60's (including winning the title in '66), but haven't visited since. This year's team is hoping to end that streak and is in good position to do so. Dan Burkhart (.354, 10, 62) will be looking to parlay last season's success with a fine Cape showing to lead the offense which returns almost its entire startling lineup. Alex Wimmers (9-2, 3.27, 136 Ks in 104.2 IP) is a dandy of a Friday nights starter, but the rest of the rest of the arms will have to turn it up a notch if team is going to make it out of Regionals.

Where Ping! set the bar College Baseball News put it on an entirely different level. A week later Collegiate Baseball ranked the Bucks preseason #14. The CBN's poll is here.

Myself personally, I feel you split the difference and at #19 is about where the Bucks should be.


Kendall Rogers thoughts
Rogers has made no secret his thoughts and opinions of the Buckeyes and continue to group Ohio State and Omaha in the same sentence.

In his storylines to watch in 2010, the Buckeyes make a cameo with this write-up:
Ohio State has talent and experience to reach College World Series

It’s not often a Big Ten team is expected to compete for a CWS berth. But Michigan a couple of seasons ago and Ohio State this season are the exceptions.

The Wolverines fell short of meeting their goals despite hosting a regional two seasons ago. OSU, though, hopes to turn the tide for the conference.

The Buckeyes welcome back several key hitters from a lineup that finished last season with a solid .328 batting average. The offense is expected to emulate that production this season.

The Buckeyes also welcome back one of the nation’s best pitchers in starter Alex Wimmers. Drew Rucinsky and Eric Best also are key returning pitchers. However, the bullpen is a huge concern and could keep OSU from reaching its goals.

Ohio State’s success this season could be huge for northern baseball.


In his Big Ten snapshot, this quick hit and run statement was thrown to the public:

Ohio State

2009 record: 42-19

Top returning player: P Alex Wimmers

What needs to improve: The Buckeyes know what could keep them from reaching their big goals this season. The Buckeyes welcome back several talented hitters from a lineup that finished last season with a .328 batting average. However, the pitching staff is a concern. The Buckeyes have one of the nation's best in Alex Wimmers, but the rest of the weekend rotation must be better. Also, the bullpen was unimpressive last season and is without top arm Jake Hale. Ohio State will be an Omaha contender if the pitching staff rises to the occasion.


I do think Rogers is underappreciating the staff as a whole. More insight and knowledge about the pitching would realize that Wolo and Rucinski pitched way better than their numbers. A healthy Best and Armstrong will mean the world to Ohio State, as well as Oltorik. With perhaps the biggest wild card being freshman Brett McKinney, who has a very reasonable chance to nail down a weekend rotation spot.



All-Americans
The last bit of news to compile would be the releasing of two All-American lists. First the National College Baseball Writers Association released their 2010 preseason AA team

The Buckeye battery of Alex Wimmers and Dan Burkhart were both selected second-team preseason All-Americans. Respectively the two are reigning Big Ten Pitcher and Player of the years.

College Baseball News released its preseason All-America team where Wimmers received third-team honors.

With practice beginning in less than four weeks, it is time to gear up and get ready for the upcoming season.

Wimmers & Burkhart named Preseason All-Americans

The junior battery was selected to the Collegiate Baseball Writers’ second team

Courtesy Ohio State Athletics

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State junior ace Alex Wimmers and junior catcher Dan Burkart, the 2009 Big Ten Conference co-pitcher and player of the year, respectively, have been named to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association of America (NCBWA) preseason All-America second team. Both players are from Cincinnati, Ohio and played for Archbishop Moeller High School.

Wimmers, a semifinalist last year for both the Golden Spikes Award and the College Baseball Foundation National Pitcher of the Year Award, is coming off a sophomore campaign that included a 9-2 record, a 3.27 earned run average and 136 strikeouts (vs. 55 walks) in 104.2 innings. He was named first-team All-America by Louisville Slugger and PING! Baseball and third-team All-America by Collegiate Baseball and the NCBWA.


Burkhart was a semifinalist for the Coleman Company-Johnny Bench Award, given annually to the nation’s top collegiate catcher last year. Considered the best everyday player on the Big Ten champion Buckeyes team last year, Burkhart hit .354 with 13 doubles, three triples, 10 home runs and 62 runs batted in. He also scored 48 runs, slugged at a .589 clip, and threw out 35-percent of runners attempting to steal.

Only three Big Ten Conference players were named on the baseball writer’s three preseason All-America teams. Michigan outfielder Ryan LaMarre was the only other player from the Big Ten named. The NCBWA preseason All-America team release is attached.

The college baseball season opens the weekend of Feb. 19. Ohio State will play three games at the University of North Florida – vs. North Florida, Florida A&M and vs. Richmond – Feb. 19, 20 and 21, respectively, to open its season.