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The Ohio State Baseball (Official Thread)

STAFFORD ELEVATED TO ASSOCIATE HEAD COACH FOR OHIO STATE BASEBALL

Stafford set to begin eighth season with Buckeye baseball program

COLUMBUS, Ohio
– Ohio State baseball head coach Greg Beals announced the promotion of pitching coach Mike Stafford to associate head coach on Wednesday. Stafford is entering his eighth season with the Buckeye baseball program.

“I am very excited to announce Coach Stafford’s new title of associate head coach,” Beals said. “Mike and I have been together for a long time and he has earned this promotion. Our entire staff is looking forward to collectively working towards another championship run in 2018.”

“I feel very honored and fortunate to have been named the associated head coach for the Ohio State baseball program,” Stafford said. “I want to thank Gene Smith, Shaun Richard and Coach Beals for their continued support. I also want to thank my wife, Chelsea, who has been with me throughout the ups and downs of the coaching process. This isn’t about me. It’s about all the guys from the past to the present that has made Ohio State what it is today. I’m honored to go to work every day at my alma mater.”

Stafford, who is the longest tenured pitching coach in the Big Ten, is set to begin his 15th season as Beals’ pitching coach. During his time as a Division I coach, Stafford has been known for developing his pitchers as 17 have gone on to play professional baseball.

In 2016, Stafford's squad broke the school record for strikeouts in a season (495) during the team’s run to the Big Ten Tournament title. Tanner Tully was named a first team All-Big Ten selection. Both Tully and Michael Horejsei inked professional contracts with MLB organizations. The group led the Big Ten with a 2.63 ERA in conference play and ranked sixth in the country in strikeout-to-walk ratio (3.07) and walks allowed per nine innings (2.47).....


http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/010318aaa.html
 
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Baseball: Pitcher Seth Lonsway ruled out for season with high school “academic issues”

Ohio State freshman starting pitcher Seth Lonsway will not make his collegiate debut and play this season for the Buckeyes.

“[Lonsway] is ineligible for the season with academic issues from his high school,” head coach Greg Beals said at the team’s media availability Friday.

Beals added that his first semester at Ohio State “went great” academically, but the NCAA took issue with a few of the classes on his high school transcript.

Lonsway is arguably the most talented prospect the Buckeyes have brought aboard in the past few seasons. He was projected as a top starter for Ohio State this year.
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The left-hander has a fastball that reaches the mid-90s and a slider that Prep Baseball Report called “filthy.” His high school accolades included a perfect game and a 17-strikeout single-game performance.

The Cincinnati Reds drafted Lonsway in the 19th round out of high school, but Lonsway came to Ohio State with hopes of improving his draft stock.

Entire article: https://www.thelantern.com/2018/01/...-for-season-with-high-school-academic-issues/

Just sayin': He won't improve his "draft stock" by not playing. Since he can't pitch for Ohio State this year, it wouldn't surprise me to see him drop out of school and sign with the Reds now.
 
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Baseball: Pitcher Seth Lonsway ruled out for season with high school “academic issues”



Ohio State freshman starting pitcher Seth Lonsway will not make his collegiate debut and play this season for the Buckeyes.

“[Lonsway] is ineligible for the season with academic issues from his high school,” head coach Greg Beals said at the team’s media availability Friday.

Beals added that his first semester at Ohio State “went great” academically, but the NCAA took issue with a few of the classes on his high school transcript.

Lonsway is arguably the most talented prospect the Buckeyes have brought aboard in the past few seasons. He was projected as a top starter for Ohio State this year.
.
.
.
The left-hander has a fastball that reaches the mid-90s and a slider that Prep Baseball Report called “filthy.” His high school accolades included a perfect game and a 17-strikeout single-game performance.

The Cincinnati Reds drafted Lonsway in the 19th round out of high school, but Lonsway came to Ohio State with hopes of improving his draft stock.

Entire article: https://www.thelantern.com/2018/01/...-for-season-with-high-school-academic-issues/

Just sayin': He won't improve his "draft stock" by not playing. Since he can't pitch for Ohio State this year, it wouldn't surprise me to see him drop out of school and sign with the Reds now.

Well that's a kick in the gut...fuck
 
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BASEBALL BUCKEYES OPEN PRACTICE

Scarlet and Gray will begin the 135th season of Ohio State baseball Feb. 16-18 in Port Charlotte, Fla.

Jan. 27, 2018

RELATED INFO
Follow the Buckeyes on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram | Photo Gallery | Coach Beals Interview | Niemeyer Interview | Michalik Interview

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Members of the Ohio State baseball team started official preparation for the 2018 season with its first full team practice over sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-50s Friday afternoon at Nick Swisher Field at Bill Davis Stadium. The team will be continue practice outside or at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center in advance of its season opening weekend, which is set for Feb. 16-18 in Port Charlotte, Fla.

Coach Greg Beals, beginning his eighth year at Ohio State, welcomed 35 student-athletes, including 10 newcomers on the 2018 squad Friday. It ended with a six-inning scrimmage as several pitchers squared off for the first time vs. the Buckeye hitters in a live situation. That’s a solid first day for the boys of spring.

“We’ve had a great offseason in the weight room and in the training room and now we get to put it all together,” Beals said. “To be able to step out on to the field and go full go,’ it’s exciting. We are going to be able to go into a scrimmage today and to be able to do that, it’s ahead of schedule for what we are normally able to do in our preparation.”





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The Buckeyes return 22 letterwinners from a year ago. The team will be led by an experienced pitching staff, especially in the bullpen as several familiar faces return that made a big impact on the team’s run to a 2016 tournament title. Overall, Beals and has staff will have seven pitchers with starting experience on the mound. The team also will be led by a nine-member senior class, including fifth-year senior captains Adam Niemeyer and Kyle Michalik. Watch videos of Coach Beals, Niemeyer and Michalik by clicking the links above.

Ohio State will hold its annual Meet The Team Dinner Saturday, Feb. 3, at the Fawcett Center. Buckeye great Nick Swisher will be the featured speaker. For ticket information, go to buckeyediamondclub.com.

Comments from the Captains
Adam Niemeyer

Being able to get outside for the first practice is awesome. I’m pretty excited how everyone plays today in our first scrimmage.”

“Our pitching staff is experienced. We still have a lot of guys that pitched on the 2016 championship team. That experience will help us. Our goal right now to start practice is to have a this-pitch mentality and not letting things affect us that happen the game before or the inning before.”

Kyle Michalik
“How Adam said, we have a lot of returning guys. I feel like last year we were a newer and younger team. This year we have grown together with the newer guys. As a whole, we have grown close to each other and I’m excited how that is going to transition on to the field.”

“I think everyone is excited for the scrimmage today. It’s definitely good for us to be outside on the first day and throw live to our hitters. We all woke up with a little extra juice this morning.”

http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/012718aaa.html
 
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FELTNER LISTED AS 2018 TOP BIG TEN PROSPECT BY PERFECT GAME

Junior right-hander one of five Buckeyes highlighted in Big Ten preview by Perfect Game
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Jan. 25, 2018

RELATED INFO
Follow the Buckeyes on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram | 2018 Schedule | 2018 Perfect Game Preview

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Junior pitcher Ryan Feltner was listed as the 2018 top prospect out of the Big Ten Conference, Perfect Game announced Thursday afternoon in its Big Ten College Baseball Preview. Feltner, from Hudson, Ohio, was also named the preseason all-conference list by Perfect Game. In all, five Buckeyes were highlighted on Perfect Game’s Big Ten prospect list.

From, Hudson, Ohio, the 6-4, 195-pound right-hander has collected 118 strikeouts in 131.1 innings pitched in two seasons with the Buckeyes. He was named the 2017 Cape League Relief Pitcher of the Year and a CCBL All-Star. Feltner did not allow an earned run in 14 games with 16 strikeouts on the mound last summer. He was named the top prospect out of the Big Ten on D1Baseball’s Top 100 2018 prospect list earlier this month.

Junior left-hander Connor Curlis ranked as the No. 21 ranked prospect out of the Big Ten in 2018 by Perfect Game. Sophomore outfielder Dominic Canzone (No. 6) and sophomore third baseman Conner Pohl (No. 13) were selected in the 2019 Big Ten prospect list, while freshman catcher Dillon Dingler (No. 5) was featured in the 2020 list.





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Perfect Game said on the 2018 Buckeyes, “With better health and injury luck in 2018, the Buckeyes are poised to potentially make a huge jump back into the conference's elite, especially on the mound. It's an extremely experienced pitching staff with a lot of seniors, and given health, could be one of the best staffs in the conference.”

Click above to read Perfect Game’s full Big Ten baseball preview (subscription required).

The Scarlet and Gray open the 135th season Feb. 16-18 at the Snowbird Classic in Port Charlotte, Fla. The Buckeyes will play four games during the opening weekend against UW-Milwaukee and Canisius.

http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/012518aaa.html
 
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Baseball: Pitcher Seth Lonsway ruled out for season with high school “academic issues”

Ohio State freshman starting pitcher Seth Lonsway will not make his collegiate debut and play this season for the Buckeyes.

“[Lonsway] is ineligible for the season with academic issues from his high school,” head coach Greg Beals said at the team’s media availability Friday.

Beals added that his first semester at Ohio State “went great” academically, but the NCAA took issue with a few of the classes on his high school transcript.

Lonsway is arguably the most talented prospect the Buckeyes have brought aboard in the past few seasons. He was projected as a top starter for Ohio State this year.
.
.
.
The left-hander has a fastball that reaches the mid-90s and a slider that Prep Baseball Report called “filthy.” His high school accolades included a perfect game and a 17-strikeout single-game performance.

The Cincinnati Reds drafted Lonsway in the 19th round out of high school, but Lonsway came to Ohio State with hopes of improving his draft stock.

Entire article: https://www.thelantern.com/2018/01/...-for-season-with-high-school-academic-issues/

Just sayin': He won't improve his "draft stock" by not playing. Since he can't pitch for Ohio State this year, it wouldn't surprise me to see him drop out of school and sign with the Reds now.

I blame the fucking Reds

Anything they touch turns to shit
 
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Home » Sports » Baseball » Baseball: Ohio State turns to transfer Kobie Foppe to replace two-time captain at shortstop
Baseball: Ohio State turns to transfer Kobie Foppe to replace two-time captain at shortstop
By Andy Anders: andy-anders February 5, 2018 0



Ohio State junior shortstop Kobie Foppe throws a ball during practice. Foppe is set to start at short in 2018 for the Buckeyes. Credit: Courtesy of Ohio State Athletics

The Ohio State baseball team was dealt a blow after the end of the 2017 season when senior shortstop Jalen Washington graduated and left for professional baseball.

The two-time captain was not only one of the most productive hitters for the team, but he also gave the Buckeyes a veteran dynamic it lacked.

“I think the thing we’ll miss more than anything is his leadership and his presence in our clubhouse,” head coach Greg Beals said.

One of the people tasked with helping replace him will be Kobie Foppe, a transfer from South Mountain Community College in Phoenix. It will not be easy.

Washington was a versatile defender who could play both catcher and shortstop. He consistently hit in the top two positions of the lineup, tying for the team lead with both seven home runs and 14 stolen bases. He led the Buckeyes with 38 RBI and was the only player to appear in all 56 games.

Foppe is set to be the team’s starting shortstop to open the season.

Despite being touted as the 10th-best high-school prospect from Arizona in the 2014 class by baseball scouting service Perfect Game, Foppe went the junior college route.

“I originally was gonna go to [Arizona State University] out of high school,” Foppe said. “Unfortunately there were a couple events that didn’t work out the way I would have wanted to, but going to South Mountain I think was actually probably better for me in turn.”

Beals said he and his staff do their best to maintain connections with junior colleges in Arizona. Beals specifically reached out to his junior college contacts for a shortstop to add to the Buckeyes’ 2017 recruiting class.

“We felt like that shortstop spot was somebody that we wanted to have some experience,” Beals said. “We felt like whomever was coming in needed to step in and play right away.”

Foppe was identified as having the abilities Beals wanted. Then it became just a matter of convincing the Phoenix native that Columbus was the place for him.

Foppe was sold on his visit.

“I came on a gameday when they played Purdue. It was what they say, what they preach here, a brotherhood,” Foppe said. “That was really appealing to me and that ended up being a deciding factor.”

In addition to a fielding style Beals termed “smooth,” Foppe has a vice grip on the mechanics required to play shortstop.

“Just his instincts around the position,” Beals said. “The angles that he takes, just a real solid feel for baseball and a knack for being in the right spot.”

Beals also is confident in the double-play combination created by Foppe and second baseman Brady Cherry.

“They’re doing really well together,” Beals said. “Cherry has a lot of arm strength, which is usually not a characteristic of a second baseman, so that facilitates a good double-play turn.”

Now that he’s earned his starting role, Foppe wants to improve his offensive consistency to help contribute to the batting order. He doesn’t expect to fully replace Washington in home run or RBI production, but Beals does not need that from him.

“This lineup, while it may not have a [former Ohio State left fielder] Ronnie Dawson in it, I like the one through nine and the depth within this lineup,” Beals said. “The vision of this offense is to be really tough, and wear down a pitching staff because of the quality of the at-bat we’re gonna be able to give top to bottom.”

Foppe’s debut with the Buckeyes occurs on Feb. 16 when the team opens the 2018 season in Port Charlotte, Florida, in the Snowbird Classic.

https://www.thelantern.com/2018/02/...ppe-to-replace-two-time-captain-at-shortstop/
 
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Buckeyes Baseball 2018: Meet The Team…And A Remake Of The Mindset!
by Sonny Fulks | OSU, OSU Feature

Kinker_interior0204.jpg

Bullpen 'stud', Seth Kinker, returns from a 3-1 and 2.95 ERA in 24 appearances in 2017. "I'll do anything to get back to the Big Ten Championship," he promises. (Press Pros Feature File Photos)

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Sonny Fulks
Managing Editor
Sonny Fulks is a graduate of Ohio State University and pitched four varsity seasons for the Buckeye baseball team from 1971 through 1974. He furthered his baseball experience as a minor league league umpire for seven years, working in the Florida State League (A), the Southern League (AA), and the American Association (AAA). He has written for numerous websites and outdoor publications, and for the past ten years has served as a regular columnist and photo editor for Gettysburg Magazine, published by the University of Nebraska Press. Widely knowledgeable on that period of American History, Fulks is a frequent speaker on the Civil War at local roundtables throughout the Midwest. He and wife Mindy have two grown children and live in Covington, Ohio.

CONTACT
They fly south this week for three days of outside preparation before launching their 2018 campaign the following weekend. The overtone of Saturday night’s Meet The Team banquet was…restore the roar to Buckeye baseball in 2018.

Columbus – Former Buckeye and major league first baseman/outfielder Nick Swisher was the featured entertainment for the annual Ohio State ‘Meet The Team’ baseball banquet Saturday night, and Swisher, a ten year-veteran with the Oakland A’s, White Sox, Yankees, Indians, and Atlanta, didn’t disappoint.

Known for his personality and high energy profile, he charmed the nearly four hundred in attendance with baseball war stories and his mantra of anything is possible if you approach it with a positive attitude. And they don’t come more positive than Nick Swisher, who finished his big league career two years ago with a .249 career batting average, 249 home runs, and 803 runs batted in.

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Former Buckeye and major leaguer Nick Swisher was the keynote attraction to Saturday’s banquet.

A native of Columbus, himself, Swisher now resides in Los Angeles and works as an analyst for the MLB network – and actually spent three days with the Buckeyes last week during workouts at Bill Davis Stadium – talking, mentoring, pressing the flesh, and generally expressing a “can do” atttitude to a program that doesn’t need much motivation beyond the black and white of their 2017 season. The Buckeyes finished 11th in the final Big Ten standings, ahead of only Rutgers and Penn State, and lost seven of eight weekend series against Big Ten competition. A year after winning the 2016 Big Ten Tournament, in Omaha, their lost season was punctuated by an ugly 8-1 April loss to NKU (Northern Kentucky University).

But was it, the 2017 season, lost?

Well, if you’re one that believes the old adage that night is darkest right before the dawn their 22-34 record from a year ago does bode some positive perspective.

For one, it marked the emergence of a pair of freshman hitters, Dominic Canzone and Conner Pohl, who took the opportunity of playing time and simply ran with it. Canzone finished his year with a .343 average; and Pohl, from Arcanum, Ohio, hit .325 while playing at third, second and first base in 31 games.

Foppe_inset0204.jpg

What’s New? JUCO (South Mountain JC, Phoenix) Kobie Foppe moves in to the shortstop position in 2018.

At third base, sophomore Brady Cherry rebounded from a finding-his-way freshman campaign to hit .260 with 4 homers and 26 runs batted in – while probably leading the team in ‘hard outs’, balls hit right at waiting defenders.....

https://pressprosmagazine.com/buckeyes-baseball-2018-meet-the-team-and-a-remake-of-the-mindset/
 
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http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/020818aab.html

When Greg Beals first met with his team following winter break, he looked around the clubhouse and felt a different vibe from a year ago. One filled with optimism and maturity. Beals, who is set to begin his eighth season as the head coach of the Ohio State baseball team, said few words to the boys on last season. The collective focus underneath the stands at Bill Davis Stadium was simple; getting the program back in contention for a Big Ten championship and a NCAA Regional bid in 2018.

"As always we are excited to get started," Beals said. "After the holiday break and New Year, it's baseball season for us in college baseball. I'm really excited about this team and where we are in our process."

The 2017 season was a tough one for the Scarlet and Gray. The team finished with a 22-34 overall record. Now, Beals and his veteran staff welcome back 22 letterwinners along with 10 newcomers for the 2018 season. With Opening Day just 13 days out, there are still questions to be answered, but Coach Beals has an optimistic outlook for the 2018 campaign.

continued...
 
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