B9 Q&A with Tony Kennedy

Prior to this season, fifth-year senior Tony Kennedy had made 65 starts and all but one of them had been split between second and third base. The other start was as the team's designated hitter. This season he has made a switch to the outfield. It took him a while to get used to the nuances that come with the position and he took some grief from his teammates at first, but he is willing to do what it takes to help the team win.

That was what was so tough for him last week when he was tearing it up at the plate. In the four games at Northwestern he batted .647 with 11 hits and eight runs scored. Obviously, he was thrilled with his individual effort but was disappointing to come away with a split. He had an incredible April, going 30-for-79 (.379) with 19 runs scored. In six games last week, he raised his average from .306 (seventh on the team) going into the midweek doubleheader vs. Akron April 23 to .356 (fourth on the team) after the four games at Northwestern.

Now, the team heads to first-place Michigan for a four-game series struggling a bit, just a game above .500 and a fourth-place slot behind the Wolverines, Purdue and Illinois. Just a half game out of third, the Buckeyes have just a half-game lead ahead of Penn State and Northwestern for the final of six spots in this year's Big Ten tournament. The Buckeyes have won two of the last three and four of the last six conference tournament titles, including last year in Ann Arbor.

Kennedy, who graduated from Bloomington (Ind.) South High School, chose Ohio State partly because of its success on the baseball diamond. The Buckeyes have been the most successful team in the Big Ten under head coach Bob Todd and set the league record for conference wins at 25. Michigan is on pace to break the record but rather than try to worry about what Michigan can accomplish, the part-time disc jockey is more worried about getting his young Buckeye teammates concentrate on their own game. If everything could come together this weekend, it would be sweet music in the ears of Buckeye fans.


B9: You had quite a weekend last weekend, batting .647 with 11 hits and eight runs scored? You're a monster. What's the deal?
TK: "Last weekend was bittersweet. I saw the ball pretty well with us getting to face a pitching staff dominated by lefties from Northwestern, but we were only able to win two out of four games. I was able to get the pitches I wanted to hit and was fortunate to get a few hits to fall in for me with the wind blowing like crazy all weekend. I hope to continue it this weekend against our rivals, Michigan."

B9: Why do you think you are having success at the plate?
TK: "Lately I have been able to relax at the plate and get in a groove. Sometimes as a hitter you just have weeks where the pitcher ends up throwing the pitch you're looking for and are able to keep a consistent approach at the plate, giving you a good chance to get a hit. Those are the times as a hitter you hope to get as many at bats as you can, so you can take advantage of the recent confidence you've developed at the plate."

B9: You were a veteran infielder now roaming the outfield. Talk about the adjustment?
TK: "The adjustment was a little crazy at first because I was not familiar with any of the nuances of playing outfield, but I initially took an aggressive, open-minded approach to learning outfield and I think that has helped me a lot in the long run. In general, the position switch has given me a fresh new outlook on the game, which has allowed me to relax and really enjoy my last year at Ohio State."

B9: Did you take much grief from your teammates about moving out there?
TK: "Yea, there have been times where I have looked like a fish out of water out there, but the grief they give me is all in jest since they realize how difficult the switch can be. They're so used to me being at different positions on the infield the past couple years that I still don't think they're used to seeing me out there. The most difficult obstacle to overcome has been allowing myself to not get caught up in expectations and instead just be aggressive and focus on playing the game."

B9: What is the mindset of the team as it prepares for the Michigan series? They seem to have Ohio State's number lately?
TK: "Our mindset is and has always been to focus on playing our game regardless of who we are playing. The rivalry with Michigan has always added a little emotion to the game, but we feel like as a team no matter who we are playing as long as we concentrate on playing all phases of the game well, we should be successful. Since I have been at Ohio State I cannot remember taking a regular season series from Michigan, so as a fifth-year senior it will be important to do my best to change that while I still can."

B9: Michigan is on pace to obliterate OSU's record of 25 wins in conference play. They have 17 wins with 12 games remaining. Would you like a big weekend to help keep them from matching or surpassing that total?
TK: "Regardless of what records Michigan can accomplish for the whole Big Ten season, we need to come out and do our part this weekend. It's great that OSU still holds that record, but as long as we do our job on the field this weekend we should make it as hard as possible for Michigan to challenge the record."


B9: How do you keep the team focused down the stretch?
TK: "Especially with our team being as young as it is, it will be a continuing challenge to maintain consistency down the stretch. A lot of the younger guys are not used to playing this many games and going through the demanding Big Ten weekly schedule, so it will be important for the seniors especially to help everyone stay focused on playing one game at a time. As a whole, the schedule can be tough mentally, but as long as we take it one game and week at a time, keeping a consistent approach should be an attainable goal."

B9: Is the lack of power a concern?
TK: "I wouldn't call it a concern, its just part of our team's makeup. A lot of us have gap-to-gap, line-drive type swings that aren't tailored to hit the ball out of the park. We rely mostly on our ability to find holes through the infield and utilize our team speed. With that being said, it can be hard to come from behind when a team lacks power, but we know that and try to make up for it by getting leads early."

B9: Who is faster on the team, you or J.B. Shuck?
TK: "We have similar speed and have never raced one on one before. Contrary to what was earlier reported, I'm willing to race him to find out though."

B9: How did a guy from Bloomington, Ind., end up at Ohio State?
TK: "A lot of the influence came from Ohio State being one of the best baseball programs in the Midwest. I come from a Big Ten background having lived in both Champaign, Ill. (University of Illinois) and Bloomington, Ind. (Indiana University), so the campus was a good fit for me. Combine that with a lot of family living in Columbus, Ohio, most notably my Grandpa who has always been a big influence, and it ended up being a great fit for me athletically, academically and logistically."

B9: Do you still DJ?
TK: "I tried my best to DJ as much as my schedule would allow this fall and winter. I really enjoy being able to play music I like for my friends and be able to watch them have fun, which is why DJ-ing has always been fun for me. Unfortunately between school work and baseball I haven't had as much time as I would have liked to pursue it, so it remains a fun hobby of mine that I do on the side occasionally."

B9: What is your DJ nickname?
TK: "I've always been known as the Great White DJ (GWDJ). Ever since 4th grade, yes it actually began that early, I have been known by my close friends as the person to go to for new music. One thing I cannot stand is the way the radio overplays songs to a point where a song gets annoying. Ever since I developed that pet peeve I've always tried my very best to stay ahead of radio when it comes to discovering music."

Photo courtesy of Megan Levins' Facebook page.

Buckeye Nine Q&A with J.B. Shuck

Is there anything J.B. Shuck can’t do? The Galion, Ohio native is the Buckeyes’ do-everything player. When he’s not chasing a ball in the gap, he’s striking out the opposition. He’s not too shabby at the plate either and boasts a .431 batting average (sixth in the Big Ten) in 15 games this season. He’s tied for the team lead with 25 hits, including three doubles and a triple. He’s also driven in nine runs and has scored a team-most 18 times.

Shuck’s three pitching victories lead the team. He’s lost just once in his four starts this season and has a 4.09 ERA. His 22.0 innings are the most on the team and his 21 strikeouts are two off the pace of senior Dan DeLucia. What does stand out are his 14 walks and of the 15 hits he has allowed eight have been for extra bases, yet he’s limiting opposing batters to a .192 average.

The former Galion High School Tiger, who has collected baseball cards almost as long as he can remember, says he is equally comfortable in the outfield, at the plate and on the mound. That is because he has worked hard. He has a tough task replacing Matt Angle in centerfield, but while he admits he doesn’t have Angle’s speed, he isn’t sure where his quick shoes rank on this year’s squad. He spent last summer playing for Cotuit in the Cape Cod League, but spent most of his time on the hill, putting together a 3-2 record to go with a 3.30 ERA.

He has already equaled that win total and no doubt would like to surpass the eight wins he accumulated his freshman season, but he is putting individual goals on the backburner in helping the Buckeyes win their first Big Ten regular-season championship since 2001.


B9: What do you attribute your success at the plate this season?
JB: “I worked very hard in the off season, and faced very good pitchers before the season. Our pitchers threw very well in the offseason which helped me get ready when we actually got started.”

B9: Talk about taking over in centerfield for Matt Angle.
JB: “He left some very tough shoes to fill. Matt could catch anything that was hit anywhere close to centerfield, and I am doing my best to do the same thing. I'm not nearly as fast as him so it is pretty hard to do.”

B9: What has been the hardest part about playing centerfield?
JB: “The hardest part for me has just been getting back out there and doing it again. I have not played center since high school and the balls fly a lot different than they do in the corner outfield spots.”

B9: Are you the fastest guy on the team?
JB: “I am not sure if I am the fastest guy or not. No one will race me to find out.”

B9: Who would be in contention?
JB: “We have some pretty fast guys this year, so there would be some good races to find out who is. Tony Kennedy, Brian DeLucia, Chris Griffin, Gus Miller, and I would be a very good race.”

B9: What are the challenges of being a utility player?
JB: “The biggest challenge is practicing both positions and trying to hit during practice. I have really had to work hard to throw a bullpen early in practice, then change my shoes and go catch fly balls. It has been tough but the coaches have really worked hard to make sure I get work at both things.”

B9: Which do you enjoy more and why, batting/fielding or pitching?
JB: “I enjoy doing both the same. I have had success at both so I still like doing them. The best part about hitting is when you have a bad game, you get to get right back at it the next day, as for pitching you have to wait a whole week. The best part about pitching is you are in control of the entire game. I really like having the pressure of that on me when I am throwing.”

B9: Talk about how you think the season is going so far.
JB: “The season is going alright for us this year. We have had some very good wins, but we have also had leads in almost every game and have not been able to close them out. I would have liked to see us win a few more of those games, but I am pleased with how the guys are playing and handling the pressure.”

B9: What should we expect from this team the rest of the way?
JB: “You should expect a lot of big things. We have really started playing as a team, and we are having a lot of guys step up and do a very good job. If we continue to work hard we are going to make a good run at the Big Ten championship and we will go far in the tournament.”

B9: Talk about your experience in the Cape Cod League last summer? How were you used?
JB: “I had a very good experience in the Cape last summer. I was used mainly as a pitcher, but got a few at bats. I had good success on the mound, and learned a lot from all of the other players. I believe that I became a much better pitcher, mentally and physically because of the Cape.”

B9: What is your most treasured baseball card?
JB: “I have two cards that are my favorite. One is just a regular Joe Carter, and it was the first card I ever received. The other card that I treasure is a Kenny Lofton rookie card. He is my favorite player so I really like that card. I have many more cards that are worth a lot more money than those, but those are my favorite.”

B9: When did you start collecting baseball cards and how did you get into it?
JB: “I started collecting them when I was about 4 years old. I started collecting them because my grandfather bought me a pack of them and I thought they were really cool. So every time we would go to the store he would buy me a pack, and I just continued buying them ever since.”

Photo courtesy of Bill Wells.

Buckeye Nine Q&A with Former OSU Catcher Joe Wilkins

Joe Wilkins was a catcher of the Buckeyes from 1999-2002 and now is a catching instructor and coach at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. The Buckeyes will play several of their games there during the spring break trip which begins Saturday against Cornell. That first game will be in Sarasota at Ed Smith Stadium, the spring training home of the Cincinnati Reds, but the others will be played in Bradenton either at IMG Academy Park or at Manatee Community College just across the street.

Wilkins was named the MVP of the 2002 Big Ten tournament after the Buckeyes swept through the event with wins vs. Indiana, Northwestern and Minnesota. In the three games, he was 6-for-11 (.545) with three RBI, four runs scored and added a sacrifice fly. Wilkins had a double and a triple in addition to his walk-off home run in the bottom of the 10th inning in an 11-10 victory against the Hoosiers. The Buckeyes went on to play for the championship of the NCAA South Bend Regional but came up short against the Fighting Irish.

After that season, Wilkins signed as a free agent with the Arizona Diamondbacks and played a few years of professional baseball before hanging up his cleats. It was long before he decided to return to the game as a coach. He has coached at Tiffin University and in the Great Lakes Collegiate Baseball Summer League and now at IMG. Be sure to say hello to Joe when you see him next week. We enjoyed catching up with him by email this week.

B9: I understand you are an instructor at the IMG Academy? When did you start working there?
JW: “I am the catching instructor as well as the junior varsity head coach for the Pendelton School, located on the IMG campus. I started in last August, right after the Great Lakes College League ended.”

B9: What did you do in the Great Lakes League?
JW: “I was the Head Coach for the Stark County Terriers this past summer. I was an assistant the year before for the Delaware Cows in the same league.”

B9: What led you to IMG? Was it traveling there with Ohio State?
JW: “Travelling here with Ohio State had a huge part in the connection. I was able to coach here in the summer of 2004 after playing a couple years of professional baseball. I knew I wanted to stay in the game and I called the guys I met when we were down here with the Buckeyes and they set me up. After two years at Tiffin University, I needed a job, and once again they needed a guy.”

B9: Talk about your playing career after leaving Ohio State.
JW: “I signed as a free agent with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2002, about 10 days after the draft. I was sent out to Yakima, Wash. to be the third catcher and was able to work my way into the starting line-up by mid-season. I was invited back to spring training and started out that year in South Bend, Ind. I was sent to Lancaster, Calif. halfway through that season, did pretty well, and was invited back to spring training again in 2004. I was traded to the Colorado Rockies towards the end of the spring and that was the beginning of the end of my playing days. The transition affected me a lot and before I knew it I was heading home, looking for coaching jobs.”

B9: Talk about your experience as a graduate assistant coach at Tiffin. How did the team do?
JW: “My experience at Tiffin was very educational. I started there in the fall of 2005 and I was put into the recruiting coordinator, camp director, and sports marketing roles right away. The team was a .500 club while I was there but we were able to recruit very aggressively and hopefully we will see that pay off in the next couple years. I was also able to get my MBA there, which was nice.”

B9: When did you decide to get into coaching?
JW: “That question probably gets a similar answer...probably within a week of being away from the game as a player. I knew I wanted to be in the game the rest of my life and I appreciate what the game has been able to do for me and my family.”

B9: Did you ever think about coaching when you were at Ohio State?
JW: “Coach (Bob) Todd is the reason our team’s practices ran so smoothly. I remember all the team drills we used to do in the fall and in the Woody Hayes Complex. As a catcher, we were able to get hundreds of repetitions, learning concepts and not just going through the motions. The coaching staff was able to get us game-ready for every situation. I am very grateful for that, especially now that I have my own teams and kids to coach.”

B9: What is your fondest memory from your playing days at Ohio State?
JW: “I have so many great memories from playing at Ohio State. It is hard to think of one, but I have a couple. The 1999 regional and super regional (against Cal State Fullerton) at Bill Davis Stadium, the Mississippi State trip in 2002 and the Big Ten tournament in 2002. I would say that out of those, the Big Ten tournament in 2002 was when I had the most fun on the field.”

B9: What else have you been doing since you left Ohio State?
JW: “Coaching and getting my MBA have taken up most of my time but I did find the time to get engaged. My fiancee Mishelle Hilliard and I are getting married in December in the Domincan Republic. We haven't set a specific date yet though.”

B9: Buckeye fans came to know your parents during your career at Ohio State. How are they doing now?
JW: “They are great. My dad is actually down here now to see the Buckeyes play in Florida. Mom is back home, busy in the real estate business, trying to pay for dad's trip. But they are doing great and they are still involved in baseball as much as they can be.”

Buckeye Nine Q&A with Dan DeLucia

Ohio State senior pitcher Dan DeLucia made his return from Tommy John surgery to start the season opener Feb. 22 vs. Arkansas State at the Service Academies Spring Classic in Millington, Tenn. What made the outing special was not that it was his third opening-day start, but that he made his return 10 months and 12 days after undergoing surgery April 10, 2007. It typically takes 12-15 months to bounce back after the surgery, which repairs the ulnar collateral ligament.

Anyone who knows DeLucia knows he possesses the strongest work ethic on the team, still many, including himself, were shocked to see the only three-time Ohio State captain start on opening day. After an ambitious rehab program, the cold temperatures in Tennessee made it hard to stay warm and loose during the game. He pitched 4.0 innings, allowed one run on five hits and fanned two of the 17 batters he faced. Ohio State won 7-3.

The last time Ohio State was in College Station, the Buckeyes were playing in the 2007 NCAA regional after winning their eighth Big Ten tournament title and DeLucia was filling in as the color analyst on the radio broadcasts. This time he is slated for the Friday night start against the Aggies, who dashed dreams last June, ending the Buckeyes’ season with a 10-4 win.

This time though, they will have to face DeLucia.

B9: How did it feel to be back on the mound?
DD: “It felt really good to be out on the mound again. After having to wait pretty much a whole year, there was plenty adrenaline flowing. There were mixed feelings of anxiety and nervousness, but once I faced a few batters, I seemed to settle in.”

B9: When did they tell you to expect to be back?
DD: “The doctors said that I would be able to throw competitively again around spring break. It is a 9-12 month recovery for Tommy John surgery, but people are rarely throwing full go to batters at 9 months.”

B9: Describe your rehab? What made it so aggressive?
DD: “My rehab took an average of an hour a day, five days a week. The protocol says to only rehab every other day, but in my unique situation, I tried to speed up the process and did it five times a week. The rehab consisted of various shoulder exercises that try to strengthen the labrum and rotator cuff. There isn’t really any rehab for the elbow except for forearm lifts. The common misperception about Tommy John recovery is that they tighten the actual ligament in your elbow. While they restructure it, they don’t actually make it tighter than before. The rehab got very boring at times, but I knew that it had to be done in order for my comeback to be a success.”

B9: What did the trainers/coaches say when you told them you wanted to pitch opening day?
DD: “I don’t think they were that surprised because they knew how hard I worked the past year, but they still wanted to stay on the precautionary side. Before they were to actually let me throw, they wanted to see me throw against live hitters at a full go pace.”

B9: What was your pitch count against Arkansas State?
DD: “I threw 54 pitches, which was right around the amount I was looking for in the first outing.”

B9: How did it feel when you were done pitching?
DD: “After I came out of the game my arm felt tired and a little sore in the elbow, which is expected I guess after 10 months of not facing another team. Also, it was pretty cold during the game, so that made it more difficult to keep it warm and loose throughout the game.”

B9: Did you surprise yourself?
DD: “I guess I did surprise myself a little bit, since I have only been throwing live to batters for a few weeks. I was just happy that I still have confidence in my pitches and abilities when I’m on the mound. I’m glad that I was able to battle out of tough situations, which shows that even though I was out for nearly a year, the mental part of the game for me is still strong.”

B9: When will you pitch next?
DD: “I am scheduled to start on Friday against Texas A&M, which will be a big test considering the atmosphere and team we’re competing against.”

B9: What will the pitch count be?
DD: “My pitch count will be pretty similar to my first outing. My target is around 50-55 pitches, and if it feels pretty good, then I might go five or 10 more.”

B9: When do you expect to be full-go?
DD: “Hopefully I will be able to pitch full-go without a pitch count after spring break. The way that I’m gradually working my pitch count up should put me in good position for the beginning of the Big Ten season.”

B9: Obviously you have your mind set on a Big Ten championship and a regional berth, but what do you hope to accomplish on a personal level this season?
DD: “On a personal level, I want to get to the point where I was my junior year. I felt that I had good command of my pitches and my confidence in my arm was very strong. Also, it might be a reach, but I always want to strive for being the Big Ten Pitcher of the Year, an All-American, and an Academic All-American. Those are great honors to have and I know if I can reach them then I can say that all the hard work for me paid off.”