Very light update. A few alumni quick hits. More news on the Buckeyes 2011 schedule, prepare for an extended stay in California. Lastly, a look at the life of being a summer league Buckeye.
Showing posts with label Eric Fryer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Eric Fryer. Show all posts
Monday, August 2, 2010
Saturday, July 31, 2010
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.
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.
Friday, July 16, 2010
Buckeyes in the Pros
This has been well past-due.
In turning our attention from the current Buckeyes to those who help make the program the Big Ten's best, we take a look at those who donned the scarlet and gray and are currently in the professional ranks.
With Buckeyes on nearly every step of the farm system ladder, the group is highlighted by a pair of former teammates who received All-Star recognition this week in Nick Swisher and Doug Deeds, a pair of another teammates who have received promotions to AAA, as well as one last pair of former teammates from the 2009 Big Ten Champion team currently in the Northwest League.
In turning our attention from the current Buckeyes to those who help make the program the Big Ten's best, we take a look at those who donned the scarlet and gray and are currently in the professional ranks.
With Buckeyes on nearly every step of the farm system ladder, the group is highlighted by a pair of former teammates who received All-Star recognition this week in Nick Swisher and Doug Deeds, a pair of another teammates who have received promotions to AAA, as well as one last pair of former teammates from the 2009 Big Ten Champion team currently in the Northwest League.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Buckeyes in the Minors: Strong day for 2007 Draft trio
Cory Luebke, Matt Angle, and Eric Fryer came to Ohio State in the Autumn of 2004 as part of a highly touted recruiting class as they were the 4th, 6th, and 17th best 2004 high schoolers according to The Buckeye Scout. The three-year starters would be mainstays in Coach Todd's line-up from day one littering the Buckeye record books until the trio was drafted in the 2007 MLB Amateur Draft as top 10 round draft picks. Now in their third professional season the products of Maria Stein Marion Local, Whitehall-Yearling, and Reynoldsburg are making the climbs through the minors.
Luebke making his second start after spending nearly three weeks on the DL after tweeking his hamstring had a very strong outing last night for the AA San Antonio Mission the AA San Diego Padre farm team. Cory would toss two innings of one-run baseball allowing five hits, while striking out four and walking two. After dominating the High A California League Luebke while fighting injury has handled his own in the Texas League. On the season the lanky lefty is 2-0, with a 1.27 ERA, in 21.1 IP, he has struck out 13 walked 8, and opponents are batting .217 off of the 2007 Big Ten Pitcher of the Year.
From the blazing heat of mid-Texas to the coastal breeze of the Atlantic in the Carolinas we see Angle and Fryer having solid nights.
Angle the everyday centerfielder of the High A Frederick Keys has been the prototypical leadoff hitter in his professional carrer. With an ability to make consistent contact and speed to kill for, it was the big fly that sparked Angle's evening last night from Winston-Salem. Angle would go 2-for-4 hitting a two-run homer to right, picking two RBI and a run scored on the evening. The long ball was the first this summer for 2007 seventh round pick of the Orioles who known for his speed is hitting .286 in 101 games, picking up 113 hits and stealing 32 bases in the process.
As Angle was getting the job done in North Carolina it was Fryer getting it done in South Carolina. Fryer echoed Angles 2-for-4 outing in Myrtle Beach for the Lynchburg Hillcats as Fryer was involved in a mid-season trade between the Pirates and Yankees. In splitting time between the outfield and behind the dish Fryers combined numbers have him hitting .241 with 15 doubles, 2 triples, and 3 home runs.
As the summer seasons are coming to an end for the current Buckeyes I'll try to more actively cover the progress of the former players. We'll check in n 2008 draft picks JB Shuck and Dan DeLucia on Monday.
Didn't plan it but figured these three would be the 400th post on here. Oh well they're good guys, great friends and deserve it. As part of the 2004 HS class myself, knowing Angle for 10 years now, then later Luebke and Fryer through baseball, without them I honestly would not be interested in Buckeye baseball and be here doing this, so I should also send them a thank you.
Luebke making his second start after spending nearly three weeks on the DL after tweeking his hamstring had a very strong outing last night for the AA San Antonio Mission the AA San Diego Padre farm team. Cory would toss two innings of one-run baseball allowing five hits, while striking out four and walking two. After dominating the High A California League Luebke while fighting injury has handled his own in the Texas League. On the season the lanky lefty is 2-0, with a 1.27 ERA, in 21.1 IP, he has struck out 13 walked 8, and opponents are batting .217 off of the 2007 Big Ten Pitcher of the Year.
From the blazing heat of mid-Texas to the coastal breeze of the Atlantic in the Carolinas we see Angle and Fryer having solid nights.
Angle the everyday centerfielder of the High A Frederick Keys has been the prototypical leadoff hitter in his professional carrer. With an ability to make consistent contact and speed to kill for, it was the big fly that sparked Angle's evening last night from Winston-Salem. Angle would go 2-for-4 hitting a two-run homer to right, picking two RBI and a run scored on the evening. The long ball was the first this summer for 2007 seventh round pick of the Orioles who known for his speed is hitting .286 in 101 games, picking up 113 hits and stealing 32 bases in the process.
As Angle was getting the job done in North Carolina it was Fryer getting it done in South Carolina. Fryer echoed Angles 2-for-4 outing in Myrtle Beach for the Lynchburg Hillcats as Fryer was involved in a mid-season trade between the Pirates and Yankees. In splitting time between the outfield and behind the dish Fryers combined numbers have him hitting .241 with 15 doubles, 2 triples, and 3 home runs.
As the summer seasons are coming to an end for the current Buckeyes I'll try to more actively cover the progress of the former players. We'll check in n 2008 draft picks JB Shuck and Dan DeLucia on Monday.
Didn't plan it but figured these three would be the 400th post on here. Oh well they're good guys, great friends and deserve it. As part of the 2004 HS class myself, knowing Angle for 10 years now, then later Luebke and Fryer through baseball, without them I honestly would not be interested in Buckeye baseball and be here doing this, so I should also send them a thank you.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Buckeyes in the Minors: Courtesy BuckeyeSports.com
The longer I'm in this "blogging business" a few things I have learned. First, if you have an idea, do it. Because second, if you don't someone else will.
Well I've been wanting to update the world on the former Buckeyes in the minor leagues and how they're doing. Unfortunately I've been struggling to find the time to sit down and do it, my apologies, with work, interning, and starting this new Ohio baseball site.
Fortunately, BuckeyeSports.com did took the time to look up and see how former players were doing. Kudos to the Buckeye Sports Bulletin for taking time and effort to follow some of our former Buckeyes, when up to this point, the Department of Athletics has embarrassingly put out little regarding even our current Buckeyes and their summer situations. They even plug the Buckeye Nine.
Talkin' Baseball and the Buckeyes
By Marcus Hartman
BuckeyeSports.com
Posted Jul 1, 2009
First, on Eric Fryer: the Yanks traded the outfielder who can also catch as part of a deal to acquire veteran third baseman Eric Hinske on Tuesday, a move MLB.com seems to think could have been in the works for a while:
The Pirates have had their eye on Fryer for over a year now, with Huntington noting that the Pirates tried to acquire him last year while Fryer was in the Brewers' system. Fryer, 23, has been playing with the Yankees' high Class A Tampa affiliate, where he made 55 appearances in left, five behind the plate and one in right this season. In 59 games, he's hit .250 with 11 doubles, two home runs, 24 RBIs and 34 runs scored. Fryer, a 10th-round Draft selection in 2007, has been assigned to high Class A Lynchburg, and the Pirates plan to develop him as a catcher.
New York originally acquired Fryer this past offseason after he had a huge season in Single-A for the Milwaukee Brewers organization...
Other MiLB performers of note this year (this is not a comprehensive list but rather some highlights):
Outfielder Matt Angle is hitting .282 with 24 stolen bases in 30 tries in 66 games for the Frederick Keys (Baltimore Orioles) in advanced Single-A in the Carolina League.
First baseman Ronnie Bourquin was recently called up to Double-A Erie in the Eastern League after a torrid 62 games with West Michigan in low Single-A. For the Whitecaps, he hit .304 with 21 doubles and 47 RBI. He is off to a slow start with the SeaWolves, however, with seven hits in his first 23 at-bats (.174 average). He did hit a homer and a triple while driving in five runs in his first seven games in Erie.
Also sent to Double-A recently but having a much better go of it (and in the Southern League) is outfielder Doug Deeds, who is hitting .352 with an 1.011 OPS in 16 games with the Tennessee Smokies. The downside for Deeds? His move this season was down rather than up. He began the year with Iowa in the Triple-A Pacific Coast League, where he batted .264 with 15 extra-base hits in 47 games after being a non-roster invitee to spring training. He drove in 18 and struck out 37 times with 10 walks in Iowa.
A bit further down the line, Jack "J.B." Shuck entered July hitting .314 with 15 stolen bases and a .393 OBP through 70 games for the Lancaster JetHawks in the advanced Single-A California League. Among his 91 hits were 13 doubles and six triples in his first full year as a pro.
Turning to pitchers, we have two notable Buckeyes.
June 29, lefty Cory Luebke made his first appearance of the season in Double-A, and it was winning debut for the Maria Stein Marion Local product. Pitching for San Antonio in the Padres organization, he struck out four while walking one and allowing four hits and one run (earned) in 5.0 innings. That was after going 8-2 with a 2.34 ERA in 14 starts in the California League.
Meanwhile, second-year pro Dan DeLucia made his first appearance of the year with one inning for the Gulf Coach League Blue Jays in rookie ball June 23. He struck out one and walked another while not allowing a hit. (DeLucia, by the way, is a writer for the website ColumbusSports.com, and he chronicles some of his travels there, as you'll see if you follow this link).
As blog The Buckeye Nine pointed out last week, Luebke and Bourquin both took part in midseason all-star games in June.
With all that said, we have to leave you with some bad news: Former Ohio State LHP and the Cleveland Indians' starter in the home opener this season Scott Lewis will see Dr. James Andrews for a second opinion about his ailing pitching arm, says The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer.
Well I've been wanting to update the world on the former Buckeyes in the minor leagues and how they're doing. Unfortunately I've been struggling to find the time to sit down and do it, my apologies, with work, interning, and starting this new Ohio baseball site.
Fortunately, BuckeyeSports.com did took the time to look up and see how former players were doing. Kudos to the Buckeye Sports Bulletin for taking time and effort to follow some of our former Buckeyes, when up to this point, the Department of Athletics has embarrassingly put out little regarding even our current Buckeyes and their summer situations. They even plug the Buckeye Nine.
Talkin' Baseball and the Buckeyes
By Marcus Hartman
BuckeyeSports.com
Posted Jul 1, 2009
First, on Eric Fryer: the Yanks traded the outfielder who can also catch as part of a deal to acquire veteran third baseman Eric Hinske on Tuesday, a move MLB.com seems to think could have been in the works for a while:
The Pirates have had their eye on Fryer for over a year now, with Huntington noting that the Pirates tried to acquire him last year while Fryer was in the Brewers' system. Fryer, 23, has been playing with the Yankees' high Class A Tampa affiliate, where he made 55 appearances in left, five behind the plate and one in right this season. In 59 games, he's hit .250 with 11 doubles, two home runs, 24 RBIs and 34 runs scored. Fryer, a 10th-round Draft selection in 2007, has been assigned to high Class A Lynchburg, and the Pirates plan to develop him as a catcher.
New York originally acquired Fryer this past offseason after he had a huge season in Single-A for the Milwaukee Brewers organization...
Other MiLB performers of note this year (this is not a comprehensive list but rather some highlights):
Outfielder Matt Angle is hitting .282 with 24 stolen bases in 30 tries in 66 games for the Frederick Keys (Baltimore Orioles) in advanced Single-A in the Carolina League.
First baseman Ronnie Bourquin was recently called up to Double-A Erie in the Eastern League after a torrid 62 games with West Michigan in low Single-A. For the Whitecaps, he hit .304 with 21 doubles and 47 RBI. He is off to a slow start with the SeaWolves, however, with seven hits in his first 23 at-bats (.174 average). He did hit a homer and a triple while driving in five runs in his first seven games in Erie.
Also sent to Double-A recently but having a much better go of it (and in the Southern League) is outfielder Doug Deeds, who is hitting .352 with an 1.011 OPS in 16 games with the Tennessee Smokies. The downside for Deeds? His move this season was down rather than up. He began the year with Iowa in the Triple-A Pacific Coast League, where he batted .264 with 15 extra-base hits in 47 games after being a non-roster invitee to spring training. He drove in 18 and struck out 37 times with 10 walks in Iowa.
A bit further down the line, Jack "J.B." Shuck entered July hitting .314 with 15 stolen bases and a .393 OBP through 70 games for the Lancaster JetHawks in the advanced Single-A California League. Among his 91 hits were 13 doubles and six triples in his first full year as a pro.
Turning to pitchers, we have two notable Buckeyes.
June 29, lefty Cory Luebke made his first appearance of the season in Double-A, and it was winning debut for the Maria Stein Marion Local product. Pitching for San Antonio in the Padres organization, he struck out four while walking one and allowing four hits and one run (earned) in 5.0 innings. That was after going 8-2 with a 2.34 ERA in 14 starts in the California League.
Meanwhile, second-year pro Dan DeLucia made his first appearance of the year with one inning for the Gulf Coach League Blue Jays in rookie ball June 23. He struck out one and walked another while not allowing a hit. (DeLucia, by the way, is a writer for the website ColumbusSports.com, and he chronicles some of his travels there, as you'll see if you follow this link).
As blog The Buckeye Nine pointed out last week, Luebke and Bourquin both took part in midseason all-star games in June.
With all that said, we have to leave you with some bad news: Former Ohio State LHP and the Cleveland Indians' starter in the home opener this season Scott Lewis will see Dr. James Andrews for a second opinion about his ailing pitching arm, says The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Buckeyes in the Minors: Fryer involved in Yankees trade
NEW YORK -- Eric Hinske has been acquired by the New York Yankees from the Pittsburgh Pirates for a pair of minor leaguers.
Pittsburgh will receive right-hander Casey Erickson and outfielder Eric Fryer for the utilityman. In addition, the Pirates will give the Yankees cash.
The 31-year-old Hinske hit .255 in 106 at-bats this season with nine doubles, one homer and 11 RBIs, playing right field, first base and third base.
Well this is interesting. I have a Q&A with Fryer I was going to put out this week as I start to dig into summer ball action with current Buckeyes and MiLB/MLB action with former players. Oh well.
Fryer was acquired by the Yankees this past off-season, coming over from the Brewers organization. Fryer had the 2009 season to this point in High A with the Tampa Yankees. After starting out slow Fryer's bat has started to come around. Would assume Fryer will be sent to the Pirates High A team Lynchburg, in the Carolina League.
Pittsburgh will receive right-hander Casey Erickson and outfielder Eric Fryer for the utilityman. In addition, the Pirates will give the Yankees cash.
The 31-year-old Hinske hit .255 in 106 at-bats this season with nine doubles, one homer and 11 RBIs, playing right field, first base and third base.
Well this is interesting. I have a Q&A with Fryer I was going to put out this week as I start to dig into summer ball action with current Buckeyes and MiLB/MLB action with former players. Oh well.
Fryer was acquired by the Yankees this past off-season, coming over from the Brewers organization. Fryer had the 2009 season to this point in High A with the Tampa Yankees. After starting out slow Fryer's bat has started to come around. Would assume Fryer will be sent to the Pirates High A team Lynchburg, in the Carolina League.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Buckeyes in the Minors, Part 2
I must apologize for the extreme delay in getting this up. Did not anticipate a day would take a month, but life tends to throw curveballs, it is on us to be patient enough to drive it the other way. As we continue...
The minor league baseball regular seasons across America are now wrapping, if not already over. Though there is postseason action to be played throughout the 20 minor leagues, we can look back on this past season and see how a few more former Buckeyes played.
I left off with the 2007 draft class trio of Angle, Fryer, Luebke. Going back a year to 2006 we have two Buckeye infielders that were drafted. 3B Ronnie Bourquin in the round 2 by the Detroit Tigers, and SS Jedidiah Stephen, drafted in the 8th round by the Balitmore Orioles.
3B Ron Bourquin- The former hot corner All American spent the 2008 campaign with just one team in one league, this after playing in SS-A and Advanced A in 2007. Splitting the difference of last year, playing as a West Michigan Whitecaps in A ball action, Bourquin joined Luebke as the second former Buck in the Midwest League.
Though he posted a .235 BA, he did have a .339 on-base percentage with 25 extra base hits, that helped keep him in the lineup for 118 games. Bourquin played well in the second half of the season, in which he hit .269, and had a OBP/SLG/OPS line of .361/.358/.720, compared to .315/.269/.584.
SS Jedidiah Stephen-As did Ron, Jed spent the 2007 season in SS-A and Advanced A. This season however took a different path for Stephen, culminating being teammates again with another Buckeye alum. The Orioles as an organization felt it was in the best interest of both the team and player to keep Stephen in extended spring training to start the season. Though he wasn't required to learn a new position during his stay as Fryer was, Stephen worked on refining he swing and becoming a complete player.
Starting the 2008 season as an Aberdeen IronBird of the New York-Penn League, Jed provided a bit of power. In his 46 games in the NYPL, Stephen hit 8 Home Runs, and 9 Doubles to post a .445 Slugging Percentage. Though his strikeouts were a bit high, 55 in 173 AB's, the O's felt Stephen could handle a promotion for the last end of the season, and moved him up to the South Atlantic League, joining Matt Angle in the Delmarva Shorebirds' lineup. In his 7 games as a Shorebird, Stephen went 1-for-25, with 13 strikeouts to 1 walk.
Coming off of a 2005 Big Ten Tournament championship, and a trip to the Corvallis Regional, Mike Madsen was drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the 21st round. Former pitcher Trent Luyster was also drafted in 2005, by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 30th round, but Trent did not pitch this year in the minors.
P Mike Madsen-After pitching during MLB's All Star Weekend in 2007, as a player in the Futures Game, Madsen and the A's had high expectations for the 2008 season. Starting the season with the Midland RockHounds as a Texas Leaguer, Madsen was showing he had no trouble with AA hitters. In 2 starts spanning 12 innings, Madsen allowed just 3 earned runs on 7 hits and 3 BB's, posting a 2.25 ERA.
Unfortunately those 2 starts would be the only starts Madsen had this year with the RockHounds. An arm injury sidelined him for 2 months, before returning in rookie ball with the Athletics Arizona League in July. Playing with the AZL A's was step 1 in rehab process in returning to the mound, tough luck would have that the start would also be the end. Only able to throw just 1 inning before having the discomfort return, the A's decided to shut Madsen down for the year.
With 8 former players down and just 5 more professional ex-Bucks to go, tomorrow I'll recap the seasons of the 2002-2004 draft classes which saw the following Ohio State products drafted:
2004 Scott Lewis Cleveland Indians (3rd)
2004 Drew Anderson Cincinnati Reds (13th)
2004 Josh Newman Colorado Rockies (19th)
2003 Matt Davis Cleveland Indians (7th)
2002 Doug Deeds Minnesota Twins (9th)
2002 Nick Swisher Oakland Athletics (1st)
Updating the last post, Eric Fryer was name a South Atlantic League post-season All Star. Fryer finished the season winning the batting title, hitting a robust .335 in Sally League play. Also making an All Star team was JB Shuck, playing in the NYPL All Star game. Congrats to Eric and JB.
Hopefully by the end of the week we'll have a bit of information regarding the current Buckeyes as they start to return to campus and enter fall ball.
The minor league baseball regular seasons across America are now wrapping, if not already over. Though there is postseason action to be played throughout the 20 minor leagues, we can look back on this past season and see how a few more former Buckeyes played.
I left off with the 2007 draft class trio of Angle, Fryer, Luebke. Going back a year to 2006 we have two Buckeye infielders that were drafted. 3B Ronnie Bourquin in the round 2 by the Detroit Tigers, and SS Jedidiah Stephen, drafted in the 8th round by the Balitmore Orioles.
3B Ron Bourquin- The former hot corner All American spent the 2008 campaign with just one team in one league, this after playing in SS-A and Advanced A in 2007. Splitting the difference of last year, playing as a West Michigan Whitecaps in A ball action, Bourquin joined Luebke as the second former Buck in the Midwest League.
Though he posted a .235 BA, he did have a .339 on-base percentage with 25 extra base hits, that helped keep him in the lineup for 118 games. Bourquin played well in the second half of the season, in which he hit .269, and had a OBP/SLG/OPS line of .361/.358/.720, compared to .315/.269/.584.
SS Jedidiah Stephen-As did Ron, Jed spent the 2007 season in SS-A and Advanced A. This season however took a different path for Stephen, culminating being teammates again with another Buckeye alum. The Orioles as an organization felt it was in the best interest of both the team and player to keep Stephen in extended spring training to start the season. Though he wasn't required to learn a new position during his stay as Fryer was, Stephen worked on refining he swing and becoming a complete player.
Starting the 2008 season as an Aberdeen IronBird of the New York-Penn League, Jed provided a bit of power. In his 46 games in the NYPL, Stephen hit 8 Home Runs, and 9 Doubles to post a .445 Slugging Percentage. Though his strikeouts were a bit high, 55 in 173 AB's, the O's felt Stephen could handle a promotion for the last end of the season, and moved him up to the South Atlantic League, joining Matt Angle in the Delmarva Shorebirds' lineup. In his 7 games as a Shorebird, Stephen went 1-for-25, with 13 strikeouts to 1 walk.
Coming off of a 2005 Big Ten Tournament championship, and a trip to the Corvallis Regional, Mike Madsen was drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the 21st round. Former pitcher Trent Luyster was also drafted in 2005, by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 30th round, but Trent did not pitch this year in the minors.
P Mike Madsen-After pitching during MLB's All Star Weekend in 2007, as a player in the Futures Game, Madsen and the A's had high expectations for the 2008 season. Starting the season with the Midland RockHounds as a Texas Leaguer, Madsen was showing he had no trouble with AA hitters. In 2 starts spanning 12 innings, Madsen allowed just 3 earned runs on 7 hits and 3 BB's, posting a 2.25 ERA.
Unfortunately those 2 starts would be the only starts Madsen had this year with the RockHounds. An arm injury sidelined him for 2 months, before returning in rookie ball with the Athletics Arizona League in July. Playing with the AZL A's was step 1 in rehab process in returning to the mound, tough luck would have that the start would also be the end. Only able to throw just 1 inning before having the discomfort return, the A's decided to shut Madsen down for the year.
With 8 former players down and just 5 more professional ex-Bucks to go, tomorrow I'll recap the seasons of the 2002-2004 draft classes which saw the following Ohio State products drafted:
2004 Scott Lewis Cleveland Indians (3rd)
2004 Drew Anderson Cincinnati Reds (13th)
2004 Josh Newman Colorado Rockies (19th)
2003 Matt Davis Cleveland Indians (7th)
2002 Doug Deeds Minnesota Twins (9th)
2002 Nick Swisher Oakland Athletics (1st)
Updating the last post, Eric Fryer was name a South Atlantic League post-season All Star. Fryer finished the season winning the batting title, hitting a robust .335 in Sally League play. Also making an All Star team was JB Shuck, playing in the NYPL All Star game. Congrats to Eric and JB.
Hopefully by the end of the week we'll have a bit of information regarding the current Buckeyes as they start to return to campus and enter fall ball.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Buckeyes in the Minors, Part 1
With Senior LHP Dan DeLucia, and Junior OF/P J.B. Shuck drafted this past June, the total of former Buckeyes in the minors continue to grow each year, as the baseball program continue to produce elite baseball player.
With Buckeyes scattered across the ranks from Short Season A all the way up to AAA, playing across America in places from Salisbury, Maryland to Omaha, Nebraska, and in leagues such as the New York-Penn League, or the Pacific Coast League, there are former Bucks making an impact in Minor League Baseball.
Today I'll provide the Buckeye Nine with a brief rundown of former Buckeyes that were drafted in the last 2 seasons, and how they are currently doing in their respective farm systems.
Jack "JB" Shuck- JB has been showing why the Astros made him a 6th round pick this past June. JB who is currently playing with the Tri-City ValleyCats, the 'Stros SS-A ball team, is currently in the top 15 in multiple New York-Penn League categories.
As a lead off hitter, be it by hit, or other means it is undeniable how important it is to get on base. JB shows he can handle batting at the top of the order, hitting at a .304 clip, good enough for 13th best in the league and by drawing 23 walks, good enough for 7th. His superb batting, combined with his strike zone discipline has his on-base percentage at a robust .392, which 9th in the league.
Getting on base isn't only where JB is getting it done, wth help from his ValleyCats line-up, JB has cross home more than any other player in the New York-Penn League, with his 35 runs. JB has collected 4 triples the 3rd most in NYPL, and has only committed 1 error in patrolling center field.
Dan DeLucia- It was a pleasant surprise when in the 35th round, the Detroit Tigers selected the only 3-time captain in Ohio State baseball history. Rebounding from an injury shortened 2007 season, DeLucia put together a solid final campaign that made scouts aware that the Lefty still has it in him. Like JB, Dan is playing in the New York-Penn League, with the Oneonta Tigers.
Working mostly out of the bullpen, with 8 appearances and 1 start, DeLucia has been lights out in posting a record of 2-1. Compiling 17 innings in those 8 games, Dan has allowed only 2 earned runs to cross the plate. That equates to a minuscule 1.06 ERA.
NYPL batters have managed only 1 hit an inning off Dan, for total of 17, are are only hitting .258 off him. He has shown good solid command in striking out 11 times, while drawing only 8 walks.
Matt Angle- The Buckeyes have produced two very good lead off hitting center fielders in the past two drafts. As many know, before JB, it was Matt Angle who roamed center field in Bill Davis Stadium. Angle was drafted in June of 2007 by the Baltimore Orioles in the 7th round after his Junior season.
After a slow start in which he hit .244 in the first 63 games, Angle, who plays for the Delmarva Shorebirds, has been on fire batting .339 in his last 43, to where he is currently hitting .284 on the season. Angle like JB, has outstanding strike zone discipline, and has drawn a South Atlantic League, or "Sally League" best 55 walks.
With the ability to obtain base on balls, he posts a .374 on-base percentage which is 14th best. Angle doesn't just stop with getting on best, the swift left-handed hitter has 30 stolen bases, 10th best, and 65 runs, which is 15th. His speed has enabled him to hit 4 triples at the plate, while in the field has led him to cover ground better than any Sally Leaguer, with just 1 error on the season.
Eric Fryer-The former Buckeye catcher, also selected in the 2007 draft, joins Angle as the 2nd player Ohio State has in the Sally League. Playing for the Brewers Class A affiliate, the West Virginia Power, Fryer has emerged as one of the top hitters in the league, even though he had a delay in starting his season.
Spending the start of the season in extended spring training, the Brewers organization wanted to see if Fryer could handle a position change. After his extended stay, and move from catcher to left fielder, Eric hit the Sally League with a force, and a sign he could more than handle the change. Fryer has spent time this season as both an outfielder and catcher, doing both well, but it is his bat that has opposing managers talking.
Fryer is hitting .337 for the second best batting average, has a on-base percentage of .401 3rd best, a slugging percentage of .512 6th best, and checks in at 6th as well in OPS, combined on-base plus slugging. He has put up gaudy power numbers with 18 Doubles, 4 Triples, and 8 Home Runs, in just 80 games, yet pitchers must pay attention to him on the bases, as he has stolen a surprising 13 bases in 15 attempts.
As you can see, each athlete is playing great baseball and succeeding at their level of play. As they continue to climb the ranks of professional baseball, they are showing just how great of baseball players come from The Ohio State University, while representing the program with class. Good luck to all, and I'm sure the readers of the Buckeye Nine wish them the best, and a strong finish as minor league seasons across America wind down.
Tomorrow I will give an update on how the older former Buckeyes are doing for their respective teams and how their seasons are going.
With Buckeyes scattered across the ranks from Short Season A all the way up to AAA, playing across America in places from Salisbury, Maryland to Omaha, Nebraska, and in leagues such as the New York-Penn League, or the Pacific Coast League, there are former Bucks making an impact in Minor League Baseball.
Today I'll provide the Buckeye Nine with a brief rundown of former Buckeyes that were drafted in the last 2 seasons, and how they are currently doing in their respective farm systems.
Jack "JB" Shuck- JB has been showing why the Astros made him a 6th round pick this past June. JB who is currently playing with the Tri-City ValleyCats, the 'Stros SS-A ball team, is currently in the top 15 in multiple New York-Penn League categories.
As a lead off hitter, be it by hit, or other means it is undeniable how important it is to get on base. JB shows he can handle batting at the top of the order, hitting at a .304 clip, good enough for 13th best in the league and by drawing 23 walks, good enough for 7th. His superb batting, combined with his strike zone discipline has his on-base percentage at a robust .392, which 9th in the league.
Getting on base isn't only where JB is getting it done, wth help from his ValleyCats line-up, JB has cross home more than any other player in the New York-Penn League, with his 35 runs. JB has collected 4 triples the 3rd most in NYPL, and has only committed 1 error in patrolling center field.
Dan DeLucia- It was a pleasant surprise when in the 35th round, the Detroit Tigers selected the only 3-time captain in Ohio State baseball history. Rebounding from an injury shortened 2007 season, DeLucia put together a solid final campaign that made scouts aware that the Lefty still has it in him. Like JB, Dan is playing in the New York-Penn League, with the Oneonta Tigers.
Working mostly out of the bullpen, with 8 appearances and 1 start, DeLucia has been lights out in posting a record of 2-1. Compiling 17 innings in those 8 games, Dan has allowed only 2 earned runs to cross the plate. That equates to a minuscule 1.06 ERA.
NYPL batters have managed only 1 hit an inning off Dan, for total of 17, are are only hitting .258 off him. He has shown good solid command in striking out 11 times, while drawing only 8 walks.
Matt Angle- The Buckeyes have produced two very good lead off hitting center fielders in the past two drafts. As many know, before JB, it was Matt Angle who roamed center field in Bill Davis Stadium. Angle was drafted in June of 2007 by the Baltimore Orioles in the 7th round after his Junior season.
After a slow start in which he hit .244 in the first 63 games, Angle, who plays for the Delmarva Shorebirds, has been on fire batting .339 in his last 43, to where he is currently hitting .284 on the season. Angle like JB, has outstanding strike zone discipline, and has drawn a South Atlantic League, or "Sally League" best 55 walks.
With the ability to obtain base on balls, he posts a .374 on-base percentage which is 14th best. Angle doesn't just stop with getting on best, the swift left-handed hitter has 30 stolen bases, 10th best, and 65 runs, which is 15th. His speed has enabled him to hit 4 triples at the plate, while in the field has led him to cover ground better than any Sally Leaguer, with just 1 error on the season.
Eric Fryer-The former Buckeye catcher, also selected in the 2007 draft, joins Angle as the 2nd player Ohio State has in the Sally League. Playing for the Brewers Class A affiliate, the West Virginia Power, Fryer has emerged as one of the top hitters in the league, even though he had a delay in starting his season.
Spending the start of the season in extended spring training, the Brewers organization wanted to see if Fryer could handle a position change. After his extended stay, and move from catcher to left fielder, Eric hit the Sally League with a force, and a sign he could more than handle the change. Fryer has spent time this season as both an outfielder and catcher, doing both well, but it is his bat that has opposing managers talking.
Fryer is hitting .337 for the second best batting average, has a on-base percentage of .401 3rd best, a slugging percentage of .512 6th best, and checks in at 6th as well in OPS, combined on-base plus slugging. He has put up gaudy power numbers with 18 Doubles, 4 Triples, and 8 Home Runs, in just 80 games, yet pitchers must pay attention to him on the bases, as he has stolen a surprising 13 bases in 15 attempts.
Cory Luebke- The third Buckeye drafted in the 2007 draft, was actually the first to come off the board. Coming off of an amazing season, in which he was name Big Ten Pitcher of the Year, Big Ten Tournament Outstanding Player, and popping up on All American lists across the county, Luebke was selected with the 63rd pick overall by the San Diego Padres.
An impressive 2007 minor league season saw Luebke play in 3 different levels. Rising from SS-A to A+ in finishing with the Lake Elsinore Storm of the California League for their playoff run. Lake Elsinore is where Cory started the 2008 season.
Though he at times showed the stuff that made him an incredible pitcher in 2007, 2008 started a bit rough as in 72.1 innings Luebke allowed 97 hits, and 55 earned runs, he did have an impressive 60 K's in those 72.1 IP. After a few tweaks in his mechanics, and a change of scenery, Luebke emerged as a Fort Wayne Wizard of the Midwest League in late July.
Be it pitching closer to home, or the changes his pitching coaches has helped him made, Luebke is pitching like the Big Ten Pitcher of the Year he was, and as he did a year before is getting it done in Class A. In 23.1 innings with Ft. Wayne, Cory has a 2-2 record, with a 3.47 ERA. In his 5 starts he has allowed 24 hits, 9 earned runs, 8 walks, while striking out 14.
As you can see, each athlete is playing great baseball and succeeding at their level of play. As they continue to climb the ranks of professional baseball, they are showing just how great of baseball players come from The Ohio State University, while representing the program with class. Good luck to all, and I'm sure the readers of the Buckeye Nine wish them the best, and a strong finish as minor league seasons across America wind down.
Tomorrow I will give an update on how the older former Buckeyes are doing for their respective teams and how their seasons are going.
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