Ohio State News & Notes

Just a collection of news and notes on all things Ohio State baseball that is on the Internet. In this update we hear from on of Ohio State's latest class of 2011 commits, a former Buckeye on the cusp of the majors, and the midweek previews from the Ohio State Athletic Communications on Marshall and Ohio who the Buckeyes respectively host and travel to on Tuesday and Wednesday.

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.

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.

Angle & Luebke invited to Big League Spring Training

The season must be getting close if I'm back to daily updates correct?

Two former Buckeyes invited to MLB camps

I have the great pleasure to inform everyone that two of our former Buckeyes and close friends of mine, Cory Luebke and Matt Angle have received invites to attend their Padres and Orioles respective spring trainings.

Luebke the 2007 Big Ten Pitcher of the Year, is coming off of a breakout season in the minors where he was named a Class High A, Califonia League All-Star while playing for the Lake Elsinore Storm. Luebke, the former 2007 first round pick, was promoted to AA San Antonio shortly thereafter and finished the 2009 summer playing for Team USA in the IBF World Championships.

Angle a two-time All Big Ten selection, selected in the seventh round of the 2007 draft is rising through the Orioles ranks with his hardword being rewarded with the invite. Angle is also coming off of a solid 2009 summer. Angle was named a postseason High Class A Carolina League All-Star. Finishing the summer with AA Bowie, Angle played in the highly touted Arizona Fall League sharpening his tools against the best.

Though Luebke is expected to start the season at AAA Portland, and Angle to return to AA Bowie, the chance for the two to rub shoulders and be among big leaguers day in and day out is amazing, and a hopefully a sign of future things to come.

Red-hot Angle sparks Desert Dogs

Orioles prospect records fifth straight multi-hit game
By Daren Smith / MLB.com

The fact that Matt Angle has logged five straight multi-hit games for the Arizona Fall League's Phoenix Desert Dogs came as news to Matt Angle.

"Really?" the Orioles outfield prospect asked after Saturday's three-hit night. "When you're not playing every day, sometimes it's hard to keep track."

Angle went 3-for-5, grabbed a share of the league lead with his sixth stolen base and scored twice as the Desert Dogs cruised to a 7-3 victory over the Scottsdale Scorpions.

The 2007 seventh-round Draft pick might not be the best known prospect among the Orioles' contingent, but he's making a name for himself in the AFL. Angle is 13-for-25 with 10 runs scored during his current tear to raise his average to .406.

"I just wanted to come out here and play, get some experience," he said. "There are some great players out there and I just wanted to compete with them. I was excited to play some winter ball."

Even when he struggled in his first two Fall League games, going 0-for-7, the Ohio State product drew three walks, stole a couple of bases and scored a run.


"I definitely already made a couple of adjustments," he said after working with coaches Moe Hill and Brian McArn. "I shortened up a little bit from the first week I was here. I'm using my hands a lot more than my body."

Angle hit .289 with 40 steals at Class A Advanced Frederick this season before a brief stint at Double-A Bowie. He attributes his recent success at the plate to preparation.

"I try to get to the cage early," he said. "I take the same number of swings every day going into the game. ... I just try to see pitches and when the opportunity's there to steal, I try to take advantage. I don't try to force anything too much."

Angle helped the Desert Dogs (7-4) erase an early two-run deficit. Held to two hits over four innings by Scorpions starter Joe Martinez (Giants), Phoenix scored five times in the fifth. A.J. Jimenez (Blue Jays) and Angle had RBI base hits, former first-round pick Chris Marrero (Nationals) delivered a two-run single and Brandon Waring (Orioles) drew a bases-loaded walk.

Waring capped the Desert Dogs' scoring with a two-run double in the seventh.

Ryohei Tanaka (1-1), an Orioles farmhand who rooms with Angle, got the win after tossing 3 1/3 innings of scoreless relief.

Diamondbacks first baseman Brandon Allen went 3-for-3 with an RBI double for Scottsdale (6-5).

Angle named Carolina League Postseason All-Star

News comes in bunches these days.

A day after being promoted to AA Bowie, 2005-2007 Buckeye CF Matt Angle was names a Carolina League Post-season All-Star for the High A Frederick Keys.

The All-Star selection is the second in Angle's career as he was a New York-Penn League midseason All-Star in 2007 with the Aberdeen IronBirds.

Angle becomes the third ex-Buckeye to be named to a 2009 MiLB All-Star team joining Cory Luebke and Ronnie Bourquin who were midseason selections in the High A California League and Low A Midwest League respectively.

J.B. Shuck is seeing a stellar season come to a conclusion at High A Lancaster in the Cali League, but MiLB.com only selects one player per position for their league postseason honors and Shuck was unfortunately left off.

A mere three posts down you can read up further on Angle's accolades as well as his fall plans.

Buckeyes in the Minors: Angle promoted to AA

In continuing the theme of the 2007 season with Luebke and Howell.. 2007 7th round draft pick Matt Angle was promoted in the Orioles system to AA Bowie. Angle in his Baysox debut went 2-for-3, with a BB. Angle's MiLB player card

The minors are entering their last 10 days of the season, but with the Baysox in a playoff chase, and Angle having a successful A+ season, the decision was made to bring the swift-footed left hander hitter up to AA. Angle batted .289 in the pitcher dominant Carolina League, finishing in the top 5 in hitting, OBP .370, and SB 40.

It was announced last week Angle will partake in the highly esteemed Arizona Fall League this Autumn. Angle will actually be on the same team as 2009 #1 overall pick Stephen Strasburg as the Nationals and Orioles representavtive will play for the Phoenix Desert Dogs. Here is the entire Desert Dogs roster.

With former Buckeye and 2007 draft classmate Cory Luebke being selected for Team USA, Angle is currently the only former Buckeye in AA.

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.

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.

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.

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.