Ohio State Supplying Talent in MLB Draft
Pitcher Dan DeLucia, who took part in graduation ceremonies a few Sundays ago on the campus of Ohio State University, was selected in the 35th round of the MLB First Year Player Draft by the Detroit Tigers. The left-hander from Columbus and Bishop Watterson H.S. was on his way to Bill Davis Stadium to hit some baseballs when he got the call that he was chosen in the draft. “I am ecstatic,” DeLucia said. “This has been a dream of mine for years to get drafted and have an opportunity to play professional baseball and I am just so grateful that the Tigers are giving me that opportunity.”
DeLucia compiled a 3-3 record and a 4.70 ERA in 51.2 innings pitched during the Buckeyes’ 2008 season. Buckeye fans look forward to another good season as they bring out their Ohio State Buckeyes merchandise. His career numbers are most impressive: a 24-13 record and 3.91 ERA in 317.1 innings pitched. He started 52 times and limited opposing batters to a .263 batting average.
“I was honestly surprised to be drafted,” DeLucia, the first three-time captain in 125 years of Ohio State baseball, said. “I am just so happy that Detroit considered my entire five-year career at Ohio State rather than just what I did this year coming off the surgery.”
DeLucia joins another left-handed Ohio State pitcher, J.B. Shuck, in this year’s MLB Draft. Shuck went in the sixth round to the Houston Astros.
DeLucia and Ohio State’s other three seniors from 2008 – Tony Kennedy, Chris Macke and Rory Meister – took part in graduation ceremonies on Ohio State’s campus. DeLucia’s not sure where he will be assigned within the Tigers’ organization, but he knows he will be going somewhere…to play baseball…and he’s happy about that. He will have his new team’s merchandise as well as Ohio State Buckeyes apparel.
J.B. Shuck was chosen Thursday in the sixth round of the Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft by the Houston Astros. The left-hander from Galion, Ohio and Galion High School was the Astros’ fifth choice in the draft and he was the 182nd player taken overall.
“I got the phone call about 9:45 p.m.,” Shuck said Friday, “about two minutes before I saw my name pop up on the internet. I was home in Galion with my family. I was getting pretty nervous toward the end of the night, but it sure was a relief when the call came. It got wild when the call did come through and it was very exciting.” It should have been no surprise to him because the football team won nearly every game the past two years. The baseball team was also good. That call was exciting just like when his relatives gave him some Ohio State Buckeyes gifts. It really made his day and night a little bit better.
Shuck, 5-11 and 185 pounds, is coming off a fine junior season in which he was chosen third-team all-Big Ten Conference as both an outfielder and a pitcher. He led the Ohio State pitching staff with 76 strikeouts and an opponents’ batting average of .216 while posting a 5-3 record and a 4.29 ERA.
Offensively, Shuck was second on the team with a .356 average and he led with 47 runs scored and 22 stolen bases.
“A gritty baseball player,” is how Shuck was described by new Astros scouting director Bobby Heck in an article on the Houston Chronicle’s web site.
Shuck, the seventh Big Ten Conference player selected in the draft, is the 18th Buckeye since 1994 to be drafted in the top 10 rounds. Big Ten players and fans alike have more than just team jerseys. They have Shuck’s jersey and they also have products like an Ohio State Buckeyes flag.
There have been many Ohio State players that have been drafted in the top 10 rounds since 1990. Nick Swisher was sent to the Oakland A’s in 2002. Ronnie Bourquin was sent to the Detroit Tigers in 2006. Mike Durant was sent to the Minnesota Twins in 1991. Scott Lewis was sent to the Cleveland Indians in 2004. Blasé sparma was sent to the Atlanta Braves in 1991. Matt Beaumont was sent to the California Angels in 1994. Scott Klingenbeck was sent to the Baltimore Orioles in 1992. Jamie Taylor was sent to the Cleveland Indians in 1992. Tim Smith was sent to the Oakland A’s in 1991. J.B. Shuck was sent to the Houston Astros in 2008. Christian Snavely was sent to the Toronto Blue Jays in 2003. Matt Angle was sent to the Baltimore Orioles in 2007. Matt Davis was sent to the Cleveland Indians in 2003. Jedidiah Stephen was sent to the Baltimore Orioles in 2006. Mike Kremblas was sent to the Toronto Blue Jays in 1998. Eric Fryer was sent to the Milwaukee Brewers in 2007. Doug Deeds was sent to the Minnesota Twins in 2002. Buckeyes will miss seeing an Ohio State Buckeyes helmet with each of these players under them.
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