Confidence key for Benedictine U. right-hander Pizer

BY STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

Austin Pizer is scheduled to make a spot start on the mound today (April 30) for the Benedictine University Eagles. A doubleheader is slated for noon Central Time at Illinois Tech in Chicago.

Whenever the junior right-hander takes to the hill, he has a few keys in his mind that he takes from Ben U. pitching coach Adam O’Malley.

“Throw everything with confidence,” says Pizer. “We’ve worked really hard to command the baseball and worked on the pitch shapes. Now I have to go to trust it. We know the stuff is there, we just to be able to throw every pitch in every count, have confidence in myself and the defense that we’re going to get the job done.”

The Eagles use Rapsodo camera/radar technology.

“It gives us all the data we could ever imagine for pitching,” says Pizer, who has used feedback on release height and movement patterns to help him throw more strikes.

“I want to limit the walks,” says Pizer. “That’s been a big key this year.”

In 13 appearances (12 out of the bullpen), Pizer is 4-1 with four saves, a 1.93 earned run average, 29 strikeouts and seven walks in 32 2/3 innings. Opponents hit .248 against the 5-foot-10, 200-pounder.

Benedictine, an NCAA Division III program steered by Adam Smith, is 25-9 overall and 14-6 in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference. The Eagles are working to improve their seeding before the eight-team NACC tournament played at home in Lisle, Ill.

Pizer delivers the baseball sidearm.

From there, he mixes a two-seam fastball, slider and change-up.

The two-seamer is a strictly horizontal pitch — moving 9-to-3 on the clock face — with arm-side run. It’s topped at 84 mph and sits at 81 to 83.

The slider has very little to no vertical break.

“The two-seam and slider play very well off each other,” says Pizer. 

Since he has dropped down, it’s not a typical “circle” change that comes from Pizer.

“It drops a little more on the back foot of a righty that a traditional change-up,” says Pizer.

Throwing with minor discomfort during his first season at Benedictine, Pizer got into nine games (all in relief) and was 2-0 with one save, a 4.66 ERA, 15 strikeouts and five walks in 19 1/3 innings. He followed that up in 2023 with five bullpen appearances, a 0-0 record, a save 11.12 ERA, five K’s and five walks in 5 2/3 innings.

Born in Munster, Ind., Pizer grew up in Highland, Ind.

From age 7 to 13, he played both at Highland Little League and for much of that time with the traveling Highland Heat.

His 14U season found him with the New Lenox (Ill.) Rebels. From 15U to 17U, he played for the Cangelosi Sparks.

He was injured his freshman year (2018) at Highland High School. Pizer was on varsity as a sophomore (2019) and senior (2021). The COVID-19 pandemic took away his junior season in 2020.

John Bogner was Highland’s head coach. 

“He’s a great guy,” says Pizer of Bogner, who is now head coach at Chesterton (Ind.) High School. “He’s really, really passionate about what he does. I definitely would not be where I am now without him.

“He put a really big emphasis playing the game the right way. That’s one of the things I respected most about him. Whether we were going to win or lose it was going to be with class and the right way. That’s something I carry with me to this day.”

If his arm continues to feel good, Pizer says he plans to return to the Northern League’s Lake County CornDogs for summer ball. He was with the Crown Point, Ind.- based team in 2023. He took the summer of 2022 off to rest his arm. That led to an MRI which led to surgery for a torn labrum in August 2022.

Pizer, 21, is Social Science major at Benedictine with an emphasis in History. His minor is Secondary Education.

“I’m a big fan of the Revolutionary War and Colonial America,” says Pizer. “That’s what I’m interested in.”

Older brother Zak Pizer, who briefly attended Benedictine, is a Social Studies teacher and first-year head baseball coach at Highland High. 

Zak (who turns 24 in May) and Austin are the sons of Michael and Annamarie Pizer.

Austin roots for the Chicago White Sox. He admires many big leaguers.

“Tanner Houck of the (Boston) Red Sox is quickly becoming one of my favorite pitchers to watch,” says Pizer of the right-hander. “The way he throws and attacks the game is how I imagine myself to look like. We have a very similar pitch arsenal. 

“I’ve always partial to (right-hander) Marcus Stroman (now with the New York Yankees) as well and how he competes. He’s an undersized guy. He plays with a lot of passion.

“That’s something I like to emulate.”

Austin Pizer. (Benedictine University Photo)

Austin Pizer. (Benedictine University Photo)

Austin Pizer. (Lake County CornDogs Image)

Austin Pizer. (Nick Shelton Photo)

Austin Pizer. (Nick Shelton Photo)

Austin Pizer. (Nick Shelton Photo)

Greensburg alum Meyer changing diamond mindset

BY STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

Alex Meyer is in the third season of changing baseball minds at his alma mater.

“We came in and the program was struggling a little bit and we’re starting to see things heading in the right direction,” says Meyer, the 2008 Greensburg (Ind.) Community High School graduate, Indiana Mr. Baseball and former big league pitcher has been head coach for the Pirates program since 2022. “It’s taken a lot of time and a lot of hard work to establish a different mindset. They’re starting to buy in and believe they can play the game, too.

“We want to throw strikes on the mound, throw strikes across the diamond, catch the ball when it’s hit to us and put the ball in-play in the batter’s box. If you do those four things as the high school level, every game you should have an opportunity to win.”

Meyer, 34, is also emphasizing enjoyment.

“We’re just trying to make it as much for the kids as we can,” says Meyer. “If people are nervous and not having fun and walking around on eggshells it’s going to be really hard to find success in baseball. 

“We want kids to have confidence. We want them to have fun while they’re doing it.”

Greensburg (enrollment around 660) is a member of the Eastern Indiana Athletic Conference (with Batesville, Connersville, East Central, Franklin County, Lawrenceburg, Rushville Consolidated and South Dearborn).

The Pirates are part of an IHSAA Class 3A sectional grouping in 2024 with Batesville, Connersville, Franklin County, Lawrenceburg (host), Rushville Consolidated and South Dearborn. Greensburg has won nine sectional — the last in 2016.

Other teams on the 2024 schedule include Columbus East, Hauser, North Decatur, Oldenburg Academy, South Ripley and Union County.

Catcher/pitcher Gavin Owens (Greensburg Class of 2024) is committed to Indiana University Columbus and other current Pirates have shown an interest in college baseball.

Meyer’s assistants are Keegan McCamment, Kirby Dunagan and Collin Rigney with the varsity and Tom Mulig, Austin Schultz and Colton Williams with the junior varsity.

McCamment works with hitters, Dunagan guides catchers and coaches first base and Rigney oversees infielders. Meyer manages the whole program and coaches third base in games.

After a three-year stint at the University of Kentucky (2009-11) and six in pro ball (2012-17), including 22 games with the Minnesota Twins and Los Angeles Angels, Meyer coached in the Indiana Bulls travel organization.

He had the same approach as he does at Greensburg.

“It was about putting the kids first and making it about them,” says Meyer. “It’s what they need. Each team is different every year and you have to adjust accordingly.”

His first two years as a prep head coach, the 6-foot-9 right-hander would occasionally throw batting practice but he has left that to others so far this season.

“It’s not as easy as it used to be,” says Meyer. “I do not plan on doing that.”

The Pirates play and practice at an on-campus diamond.

Feeding the high school program are Greensburg Junior High School. Before that comes Greensburg Youth Baseball League — an organization where Meyer himself played growing up.

“Some kids stay local and some play travel ball,” says Meyer. “As long as they’re playing, that’s the biggest thing for us. We want to make sure they have a ball in their hand as much as they can.”

Alex and Kyra Meyer have three children — sons Roman (5) and Max (4) and daughter Renn (1). 

Both sets of grandparents live in town. David and Sandy Meyer are Alex’s parents. His father helping with the transition away from owning a Ford dealership and his mother is retired. Kristen is his older sister. Eric is his younger brother.

“Family has always been a big part for my wife and I,” says Alex. “We had good support systems growing up and we wanted to make sure our kids have the same opportunity.”

The Meyer family: Alex (holding Max), Kyra (holding Renn) and Roman.

Greensburg (Ind.) Community High School.

Former two-way player Biven focusing on mound for U. of Louisville

BY STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

When last seen on the mound for the University of Louisville, Tucker Biven was walking off after shutting the door on the Hurricanes to clinch an Atlantic Coast Conference series win and you could see it on his face.

“My emotions just came out in the end,” says Biven.

The Cardinals triumphed 6-5 in 10 innings Saturday, April 20 at the University of Miami’s Mark Light Field in Coral Gables, Fla.

Biven, a sophomore right-hander from New Albany, Ind., tossed a scoreless ninth and 10th inning with two strikeouts and moved to 3-0 on the 2024 season.

Two singles to open the Miami 10th was followed by a U of L double play then a game-clinching strikeout from Biven. He fired a first-pitch strike to a right-handed batter then came back from a 3-1 count to strike him out, with the the last pitch being a sinker in.

“In ACC play I’ve been throwing a lot of sinkers in and sliders away,” says Biven. “They mix well.”

The 6-foot-1, 210-pounder also uses a curveball, change-up and four-seam fastball from an arm slot just above three-quarter.

His four-seamer has gone as high as 96 mph. His sinker generally travels at 91 to 94.

Biven has made 15 mound appearances in 2024 (all in relief) and is 3-0 (with wins vs. Bellarmine, Wake Forest and Miami), four saves (against Florida State, North Carolina State twice and Miami), 1.96 earned run average, 29 strikeouts and six walks in 23 innings. 

Opponents are hitting .209 against him and his longest stint was 3 1/3 innings March 23 against Wake Forest when he recorded a season-best five strikeouts.

Biven has finished in more than half his games.

“We don’t really have roles at the beginning of the season,” says Biven. “We figure out who’s best in which situation.

“When everything’s on you and you need to get outs at the end of the game, I kind of like that role.”

A two-time Class 4A all-stater and rated as the No. 1 shortstop and No. 3 overall player in Indiana and the No. 18 shortstop in the nation by Perfect Game, Biven from went New Albany High School to Louisville as a two-way player.  He was in the Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association North/South All-Star Series in Marion.

In 2023, he went 2-of-6 at the plate and pitched 20 times (16 out of the bullpen) and was 0-2 with a 4.81 ERA, 26 strikeouts and 21 walks in 33 2/3 innings.

In the summer, Biven got into two games (3 1/3 innings) with the Cape Cod League’s Falmouth Commodores and came home after a minor injury cropped up.

“Last fall I decided I just want to focus on pitching, get better at my craft, try to get as good as I can and help this team win,” says Biven. “I felt like that was the best option for me.”

Plans call for Biven to go back to Cape Cod this summer with the Orleans Firebirds.

But first there’s business to attend with the Louisville Cardinals (24-16, 9-9).

After a non-conference win Tuesday, April 23 against Western Kentucky at Jim Patterson Stadium in which Biven did not pitch, U of L hosts a three-game series Friday through Sunday, April 26-28 against ACC Atlantic Division leader Clemson.

Dan McDonnell is in his 18th season as Louisville’s head coach.

When describing what he wants from his athletes, including Biven, McDonnell uses words like tough, athletic, strong, durable and versatlie.

Biven says players need to buy into the team culture being built by the coach.

“That should all be routine for everyone — be in-touch with the process, go out and play as hard as you can,” says Biven.

Roger Williams is in his 18th season as the Cardinals pitching coach and 10th as associate head coach.

“He’s calmer with a lower tone of voice than Coach Mac,” says Biven of Williams. “He doesn’t just want to hear you say it, but wants to see results. He holds us accountable.”

While about 10 miles separate New Albany and the U of L, Biven lives on-campus with teammates.

A Sport Administration major, Biven sees himself serving someday as a college baseball coach and/or an athletic director or director of operations following his playing career. He becomes eligible for the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft in 2025.

Biven got his baseball start in New Albany Little League and was in travel ball with the Ironmen and Canes Midwest (15U to 17U).

Biven was a four-year varsity player in baseball and basketball at New Albany, where he graduated in 2022.

His head coaches — Chris McIntyre on the diamond and Jim Shannon on the hardwood — had long, successful careers. 

McIntyre is in the IHSBCA Hall of Fame with nearly 600 victories. 

“He’s a dude that’s going to hold you accountable,” says Biven of McIntyre. “You do stuff the right way. He’ll teach you the game and how to be a man in life.”

Shannon’s resume includes more than 600 wins and a state championship.

“It was a pleasure to play for him,” says Biven of Shannon. “He’s going to discipline you. He’s going to get on you. He wants the best from you.”

Josh and Jessica Biven are the parents of two sons — Cooper (22) and Tucker (20). 

Josh Biven, a retired Louisville firefighter, played college baseball at Louisville, Campbellsville and Indiana University Southeast.

Jessica Biven is co-owner of a financial advisors firm.

Cooper Biven (New Albany Class of 2020) played baseball briefly at Kentucky Wesleyan College and now owns a landscaping business.

In a family of St. Louis Cardinals fans, Tucker also pulls for that MLB team. His favorite athlete is Kobe Bryant.

“It’s because of his work ethic and his (Mamba) Mentality,” says Biven. “I also liked to wear his shoes growing up.”

Tucker Biven. (University of Louisville Photo)

Tucker Biven. (University of Louisville Photo)

Tucker Biven. (University of Louisville Photo)

Tucker Biven. (University of Louisville Photo)

Tucker Biven. (University of Louisville Photo)

Tucker Biven. (University of Louisville Photo)

Tucker Biven. (University of Louisville Photo)

Simmons pitching in for Oakland City U. diamond success

BY STEVE KRAH 

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

Benjamen Simmons and his Oakland City (Ind.) University baseball teammates have combined their talents to go 36-13 overall and 17-7 in the NAIA River States Conference so far during the 2024 season.

The Mighty Oaks have already surpassed the win totals of 2023 (34) and 2022 (31).

Every additional victory adds to the single-season school record.

Simmons, a 5-foot-10, 185-pound right-handed pitcher, is 9-1 with 2.61 earned run average as one of OCU’s weekend starters (the others are junior right-hander Gehrig Tenhumberg at 7-2 and 2.26 and senior right-hander Thomas King at 5-1 and 1.93). 

“Our pitching has always been very effective,” says Simmons, 22 and a Business Marketing major. “We’ve been dominating on the mound. 

“The biggest difference this year to last year is that the offense has been producing a lot better. It allows us to win games we wouldn’t have won last year and the year before.”

As evidence of the run support, heading into a non-conference game April 23 at Bethel University (McKenzie, Tenn.), Oakland City has scored 382 runs and allowed 160 in 49 games. That’s an average of 7.79 runs scored per contest and 3.26 yielded.

A deep 2024 OCU pitching staff (22 have made at least one mound appearance) has a combined 2.95 ERA.

Regular mid-week starters have been freshman right-hander Mick Uebelhor (3-1, 2.01) and junior left-hander Cole Lambird (2-1, 5.96).

Sophomore left-hander Evan Price has record four of the Mighty Oak’s 11 saves.

Oakland City carries a total roster near 50 with some junior varsity games. All pitchers are active during varsity games with about eight or nine seeing the bulk of the in-game action.

The large number of arms allow for live at-bats and scrimmages even during the regular season.

“We’re constantly playing baseball and staying in game shape,” says Simmons, who has 57 strikeouts and 23 walks in 62 innings over 12 outings this season. He was named RSC Pitcher of the Week Feb. 20.

What has made Simmons so effective?

“I’m able to command all my pitches,” says Simmons. “I locate very well. I always try to mimic (Hall of Famer) Greg Maddux. I don’t throw the hardest, but I have really good movement. I don’t throw anything flat. 

“I put my pitches where I want them most of the time. I’d say that’s my strength.”

Throwing from a low three-quarter arm angle, Simmons get a lot of arm-side run on his pitches. His mix includes a sinker, change-up, slider and four-seam fastball.

“My change-up has probably been my best pitch this year,” says Simmons. “I throw it 35 to 40 percent of the time, especially to left-handed hitters (moving like a screwball).

“I like playing it off my sinker. They are very similar. There’s about a 10 mph change in velocity and the change-up has a lot of depth to it.”

Last fall, he reached 89 mph with a few deliveries. This spring, he sits at 86 to 87 mph with his four-seam and 84 to 86 with the sinker.

Simmons threw a four-seamer and slider in high school. The other pitches have been developed in college.

A reliever as a freshman in 2022, Simmons filled in as a starter and excelled when a teammate got hurt halfway through the RSC schedule and has been in that role ever since.

The 2022 season was also one in which Simmons was named a third team All-American by the National Christian College Athletic Association.

Simmons has not played summer collegiate baseball, using the time to develop his pitches and strength while rest his arm. Doing much of his training on his own, he has done some at Ryan Miller’s Complete Game Softball and Baseball Academy in Evansville.

Andy Lasher has been Mighty Oaks head coach since April 2020.

“He’s very straight-forward,” says Simmons of Lasher. “He cares about winning. He likes to give opportunities to a lot of coaches. I know a lot of coaches will have their favorites. If he sees you working hard, he’s going to let you go out there for sure.

“That’s what he did with me and it panned out. I love him. He’s a great coach and he cares a lot about the program he’s built.”

Lasher’s staff features first-year pitching coach first-year pitching coach Dakota Greer.

“I love him,” says Simmons of Greer, a former left-handed pitcher in the Olney (Ill.) Central College and Midway (Ky.) University programs. “He knows baseball very well. He cares. He’s on-campus all the time. He’s in the weight room with the guys.

“He’s very present. I like that about him.”

Jack Murphy is in his third season on the OCU staff and student assistant Treven Madden his first.

Born and raised in Evansville, Ind., Benjamen Simmons got his start in the Plaza Park leagues and was coached by father Danny Simmons.

“I was with my buddies,” says Benjamen. “I wasn’t super-serious about baseball.”

At 12, he started playing at Mulzer Park. At 14, he was with the Newburgh Inferno travel ball team. At 15, he played for the Newburgh American Legion Post 44 Junior team that lost just three games all summer.

“I built a passion for baseball,” says Simmons, who spent three summers of Babe Ruth League ball with McCutchanville Ball Club and in his senior year at Evansville Harrison High School the Post 44 Seniors.

Josh Heldt was the head coach at Harrison in Simmons’ first three prep seasons. Houston Dillman came on for his senior year of 2021.

“Heldt wanted us to do really well,” says Simmons. “Dillman was the best players coach I’ve ever had. He pulled for his guys more than any coach ever had. 

“He always looked out for me.”

Benjamen is the youngest of account executive Danny and former nurse Suzanne Simmons’ three children behind Brianna and Caleb. All three kids went to Harrison.

The youngest Simmons decided on OCU for its proximity to home so his parents can easily see him play. He has made the 30-minute commute all three years.

“I enjoy the small campus life aspect,” says Simmons, who is part of student body of about 650 with 65 to 70 percent of those being athletes. 

The private school in Gibson County sponsors eight sports for men and eight for women.

Benjamen Simmons. (Oakland City University Photo)

Benjamen Simmons. (Oakland City University Photo)

Benjamen Simmons. (Oakland City University Photo)

Mariners minor leaguer Wainscott always learning about the game

BY STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

With continued devotion to strength, Indianapolis native Jesse Wainscott is preparing for his first full season of professional baseball.

“I’m consistently in the weight room,” says Wainscott, a 6-foot-1, 207-pound right-handed pitcher signed with the Seattle Mariners as a minor league free agent on Aug. 10, 2023 and assigned to the Arizona Complex League Mariners to do a six-week rehab assignment. “For a pitcher, it’s how fast and explosive can you be? 

“It’s smooth, controlled explosion. When I was younger I knew I wanted to throw harder and I wasn’t always the tallest guy. With bigger, stronger legs I can produce more force.”

It’s the principle of Mass = Gas.

Throwing from a three-quarter arm slot, Wainscott delivers a four-seam fastball, slider and change-up. 

The “rise/run” four-seamer has reached 95 mph this spring. The “gyro” slider is thrown harder and breaks later than a “sweeper” and generally travels 84 to 85 mph.

Wainscott describes his change-up grip as “mid-split.”

“If you were to take a two-seam grip and move it up on the horseshoe, my middle finger is on the right horseshoe and my ring finger grabs the other one,” says Wainscott, who saw his first pro action in minor league Arizona spring training games. “It’s all about refining and fine-tuning your best pitches.

“I enjoy having three (pitches) because the change-up I have now really opens up everything to (left-handed batters). They don’t just minimize and take out one pitch because I have a change-up and that helps me out tremendously.”

His focus is on winning 0-0 counts and getting first-pitch strikes.

“If I’m doing that it doesn’t matter what pitch it is,” says Wainscott. “Getting ahead in the count is very big.

“In pro ball, we’re putting ourselves in a spot to succeed.”

Wainscott, 23, expects to find out soon where he will begin the 2024 season. Mariners affiliates after the Peoria Sports Complex-based ACL Mariners are the Low Class-A Modesto (Calif.) Nuts, High-A Everett (Wash.) AquaSox, Double-A Arkansas Travelers and Triple-A Tacoma (Wash.) Rainiers.

To get ready for spring training, Wainscott went to PRP Baseball in Noblesville, Ind., working extensively with Assistant Director of Pitching Luke Jaksich.

“He’s smart and knows what he’s talking about,” says Wainscott of Jaksich, who played at Andrean High School in Merrillville, Ind., Saint Joseph’s College in Rensselaer, Ind., Ball State University and for the independent pro Sioux City (Iowa) Explorers.

Wainscott pitched four seasons at Eastern Illinois University (2019-22), where he was a Communication Studies major and Dietetics minor.

With an extra year granted because of the 2020 season being shortened because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the hurler spent a fifth year at Arizona State University (2023) where he was a teammate of former Fort Wayne Carroll High School and Valparaiso University right-hander Nolan Lebamoff.

In 36 mound appearances (28 in relief) for the Jason Anderson-coached EIU Panthers, Wainscott went 3-5 with one save, a 5.12 earned run average, 83 strikeouts and 52 walks in 91 1/3 innings. In 2022, he held teams scoreless five times and struck out at least one person in all of his 15 appearances (14 as a reliever).

Wainscott played in the summers following each of his first four college seasons — Prospect League’s Danville (Ill.) Dans in 2019, College Summer League at Grand Park (Westfield, Ind.)’s Snapping Turtles in 2020 and 2021 (as a CSL All-Star), MLB Draft League’s West Virginia Black Bears for about two weeks in 2021 and Northwoods League‘s Kenosha (Wis.) Kingfish in 2022.

“The was a fun summer,” says Wainscott. “There was a lot of morale, good dudes and good baseball.

“That summer I felt like I finally came into myself with mound presence and confidence. My velo ticked up and my breaking ball really started snapping harder. I really came into the back-end bullpen role.”

He had the chance to return to EIU, but Wainscott opted to transfer to Arizona State for the exposure and competition that he would have the chance to experience at such a high-profile program.

In 16 games (all out of the bullpen) for the Willie Bloomquist-coached Sun Devils, the righty went 1-1 with two saves, a 6.53 ERA, 18 strikeouts and five walks in 20 2/3 innings.

Wainscott grew up in Perry Township on Indy’s south side and is a 2018 graduate of Perry Meridian High School. He honorable mention all-Mid-State Conference as a sophomore after posting a 2.05 ERA and 50 strikeouts in 44 1/3 innings in 2016. He was first-team all-MSC and honorable mention all-state after going 5-3 with 1.76 ERA and 60 strikeouts in 47 2/3 innings in 2017.

Jake Banwart became Perry Meridian head coach in 2018.

Among his travel ball teams were the Indiana Prospects and Tom Ancelet-coached Midwest Astros (now 5 Star National Indiana).

Jesse is the oldest of Vince and Patty Wainscott’s two sons and considers them both strong mentors.

“I call my dad after every bullpen or outing,” says Jesse. “I go to him for baseball/life advice all the time.

“My mom doesn’t always understand the baseball side. Early in my career, I really looked up to Coach Ancelet. He always trusted me with the baseball.” 

Wainscott’s mentality is about adapting and growing. He’s always picking the brains of other players and coaches.

“I just try to pick up on things,” says Wainscott. “If I’m learning something new everyday, I’m consistently getting better.”

Younger brother Chris Wainscott (Perry Meridian Class of 2020) is a thrower (discus, hammer and shot) on the track and field team at Appalachian State University in Boone, N.C., after beginning his college career at Thomas More University in Crestview Hills, Ky., as a track and football athlete.

“He’s just a tank,” says Jesse of his 270-pound sibling.

Jesse Wainscott. (Kenosha Kingfish Image)

Jesse Wainscott. (Seattle Mariners Photo)

Jesse Wainscott. (Eastern Illinois University Photo)

Jesse Wainscott. (Arizona State University Photo)

Jesse Wainscott. (Arizona State University Photo)

Wright State’s Greenwell makes cutting down K’s priority in 2024

BY STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

Julian Greenwell is in his fifth and final college baseball season.

This year, the lefty swinger from Columbus, Ind., and Wright State University first baseman is focusing on plate discipline.

“This year I’ve been focusing on limiting my strikeouts,” says Greenwell, 23. “The last couple of year I’ve struck out quite a bit more than I would like.”

Through his first 46 at-bats of 2024, Greenwell has three walks and one strikeout while hitting .348 (16 hits with one home run, four doubles, 11 runs batted in and eight runs scored). He has a .915 OPS (.415 on-base percentage plus .500 slugging average).

“I understand that striking out is part of the game, but I like to get on-base,” says Greenwell, who fanned 43 times and coaxed 36 walks in 2022 and whiffed on 31 occasions and drew 17 free passes in 2023. “In our BP and everyday hitting we’ll have a lot to two-strike rounds and two-strike approaches.

“You still want to hit the ball hard with two strikes, but putting the ball in-play is definitely going to give you a better shot.”

Attack mode is important at the school in Dayton, Ohio.

“We’re definitely an aggressive team,” says Greenwell of the Raider Gang. “Our coaches preach that it’s OK to make mistakes if they’re aggressive mistakes.”

Alex Sogard is Wright State’s head coach. Chase Slone is the associate head coach hitting coach. Gehrig Anglin is director of hitting development and helps Greenwell with his infield play. Assistant coach/recruiting coordinator Jordan Chiero has come back to the staff has lends his hitting expertise.

In 154 career games (131 starts), Greenwell is hitting .309 (154-of-499) with 20 homers (including 10 in 2023 and eight in 2022), eight triples, 43 doubles, 108 RBIs, 118 runs and .965 OPS (.418/.547). He’s also been plunked by 31 pitches.

“I’m a line drive hitter with power,” says Greenwell. “I don’t go up there intentionally trying hit home runs.

“I’m mostly a gap-to-gap hitter.”

Greenwell was on the all-Horizon League first team and all-HL Tournament team in 2022.

“I’m not a very flashy player,” says Greenwell. “I try to stay as consistent as I can throughout everything. I’m not a very flashy player.

“On defense, I’m very vocal.”

Granted an extra year of eligibility because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Greenwell has completed a Business Management degree at WSU and has started on his general Master of Business Administration degree.

After the season, he sees himself going into the business world but still wants to stay connected with the baseball in some way.

Injuries have restricted Greenwell to one collegiate summer season. He was on the College Summer League at Grand Park champion Turf Monsters in 2020.

Otherwise, summers have been reserved for getting surgeries and recuperating. There were procedures for his left foot his freshmen year, left throwing elbow his sophomore year and right foot his junior year. He’s had a Jones Fracture (fifth metatarsal break) in both feet.

“There’s a lot of resting,” says Greenwell. “Once you do come back you really have to focus on strengthening and stretching your hips, knees and ankles because you haven’t used them for two or three months and everything is tight and weak.

“My big struggle was finding strength and flexibility after my foot surgeries.”

The 5-foot-11, 210-pound Greenwell started college as a two-way player, but gave mostly up pitching after tearing his Ulnar Collateral Ligament and having Tommy John elbow surgery though he did face four batters earned a mound victory in 2023. All 11 of his college appearances are out of the bullpen.

A 2019 Columbus East High School graduate, Greenwell played for Olympians head coach Jon Gratz and participated in the Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association North/South All-Star Series in Madison.

He got started on the diamond with the Indiana Blazers from about 6 to 12 and played for the Indiana Prospects from 13 until the end of high school.

Julian is the son of John Greenwell and Missy Borkhardt and the older brother of Blake Borkhardt.

Both parents live in Columbus. His father works at Jackson County Bank and mother at Watts Family Dentistry.

Blake Borkhardt (Columbus East Class of 2024) has committed to play baseball at Jackson (Mich.) College.

Wright State (4-7) is scheduled to play March 8-10 at Eastern Kentucky with a home contest at Nischwitz Stadium March 12 against Xavier.

Julian Greenwell. (Wright State University Photo)

Julian Greenwell. (Wright State University Photo)

Julian Greenwell. (Wright State University Photo)

Julian Greenwell. (Wright State University Photo)

Julian Greenwell. (Wright State University Photo)

Julian Greenwell. (Wright State University Photo)

Small things matter for Franklin Community alum, head coach McKinney

By STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

As a pitcher, Jeremy McKinney competed at the high school, junior college, NCAA Division I and minor league levels.

When he returned home, McKinney became a Whiteland, Ind., police officer and a baseball coach.

“It’s exciting,” says McKinney. “I enjoy coaching at Franklin where I played baseball. I’m trying to keep traditions and do what we used to do.”

McKinney, a 2013 graduate of Franklin (Ind.) Community High School, who played at Northwest Florida State College (2014), Indiana State University (2015-17) and in the Washington Nationals organization (2017-19) was a Grizzly Cubs assistant in 2022 and 2023 and goes into 2024 as head coach. “I look forward to instilling the discipline, work ethic, responsibility, character traits and getting these kids ready for what comes after high school baseball.”

Discipline to McKinney means doing things correctly and attention to detail.

“It’s the small things that matter,” says McKinney, 29. “Everybody can look at the big picture. A win’s a win, right? But the way to win is by doing the small things correctly and the only way we can do the small things correctly is by instilling the discipline, work ethic and responsibility in these kids.”

McKinney, a former Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association North/South All-Star Series participant, was named head coach around the beginning of the 2023-24 school year and led players in IHSAA Limited Contact Period activities in the fall.

“We did a lot of team stuff,” says McKinney, who led the Grizzlies through defensive and hitting work. “I kind of gave pitchers off in the fall because they throw so much now. Kids arms are young, right? They’ve got to have rest at some point. 

“If you’re constantly putting that pressure on your arm you never give it time to heal.”

The winter Limited Contact Period began Dec. 4. Pitchers got on the mound but have been limited to 10 to 15 tosses with no off-speed pitches. 

All players — pitchers and non-pitchers — are doing arm care.

Working in shifts because practice facility size, seniors and juniors as well as sophomores and freshmen come in for work.

The Grizzlies will field two teams this spring — varsity and JV.

McKinney’s coaching staff includes Ty Urban (a long-time Franklin assistant), Javin Drake (who played at Western Illinois University and Indiana State), Connor Ulmer (who is junior varsity head coach) and Bryce Garrity (who is a JV assistant).

An addition to Mercer Field is a 180-degree camera that can be used to study player performance and to share clips with college coaches. There’s also a possibility of live streaming games.

There is a booster club that hosts golf and bowling outings and other events to raise funds for the program.

McKinney says the aim is turf on the field and an adjacent practice building.

Max Clark (Franklin Community Class of 2023) was named the Indiana Player of the Year by several sources after his senior season and is now in the Detroit Tigers system.

McKinney says that example is a positive for the current and future pack of Grizzly Cubs.

“Kids see that and they want to be that, right?,” says McKinney. “Having Max there amped our competition up a little bit.

“Max is a once-in-a-lifetime talent. Not every kid is going to be Max Clark. But if every kid can work like Max Clark did in a team setting we’re going to fare pretty well.”

McKinney and Mason Clark (Max’s older brother) were in the same class. There were times when Franklin Community players wanted to get in some swings during a game and went down to the batting cage and there was Max.

“We would physically have to fight Max to get him out of the cage,” says McKinney. “I love that work ethic.”

Franklin Community (enrollment around 1,660) is part of the Mid-State Conference (with Decatur Central, Greenwood Community, Martinsville, Mooresville, Perry Meridian, Plainfield and Whiteland Community).

MSC teams typically play and home-and-home series on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

The Grizzly Cubs are part of an IHSAA Class 4A sectional grouping with Columbus East, Columbus North, East Central, Shelbyville and Whiteland Community. Franklin Community has won five sectional crowns — the last in 2013.

Jeremy and wife Drue (neé Kluemper) met while attending Indiana State were married in 2022. Drue McKinney is a Registered Nurse. The couple is expecting a baby boy in July.

Jeremy McKinney. (Steve Krah Photo)

Franklin Community High School.

Jimtown, Ball State alum Floyd heading into third season with Orioles player development

BY STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

Nick Floyd looked into his future while he was still a baseball player and saw himself teaching the game and helping others get better at it.

“Coaching was something in the back of my head that I would pursue,” says Floyd. “It worked out that I did.”

Floyd, 26, is doing it during the fall and winter months by giving lessons to ages 10 through college in his hometown of Elkhart, Ind. 

A 2015 graduate of Jimtown High School, Floyd is conducting sessions though January at D-Bat Elkhart or at a young client’s home and has been asked by Jimtown head coach Cory Stoner to address JHS players before resuming duties on the professional player development side with the Baltimore Orioles organization. 

Floyd is slated to be a bullpen coach/staff assistant with the Low Class A Carolina League’s Delmarva Shorebirds in Salisbury, Md., in 2024 after two seasons as a staff assistant with the Triple-A International League’s Norfolk (Va.) Tides.

On a typical day during a Tuesday-through-Sunday homestand, Floyd would arrive at the park around 11:30 a.m. and leave around 11:30 p.m., with tasks to perform before, during and after games. 

Floyd will again do things like throw batting practice, swing a fungo bat and work with technology but will also work closely with pitchers.

A year ago, Floyd became close with major league offensive strategy coach Cody Asche and also assisted co-hitting coaches Matt Borgschulte and Ryan Fuller and Anthony Villa in his role as minor league hitting coordinator. Villa is now director of player development.

The Orioles have exposed Floyd to high level players and their skills and practice habits — as hitters or pitchers.

“All those things I’ve learned from the Orioles have just been an incredible experience that can make me a more well-rounded coach in the future,” says Floyd.

Unlike some systems, the O’s like to have a challenging practice environment that coaches put on the players.

“Instead of normal tee work, flips or something that’s a little bit easier and ‘feel-good’ hitting we do a lot of things that challenge players on a daily basis.”

There’s competitive BP, curveball machine or other drill that’s not easy.

“They’re designed to almost fail,” says Floyd. “It’s not showing up at the park, hitting off a tee and then playing a game. It’s about getting better.”

In competitive BP, Floyd throws to a medicine ball behind the plate which represents the strike zone and throws a mix of pitches. It becomes a competition between pitcher and hitter.

“We’re trying to simulate a game atmosphere in practice more often,” says Floyd. “A lot of professional organizations don’t quite do that.”

The Orioles want their batters to have plate discipline.

“The most important aspect of hitting is making good swing decisions or not chasing balls out of the (strike) zone.

“It’s about knowing your strengths and weaknesses and what the pitcher is trying to do to get you out.

“We practice situational hitting in BP as well. There’s a man on third with less than two outs or bases are loaded with no outs and we try to do damage.”

Floyd was at big league spring training camp in 2023. 

“There was a lot of on-field stuff getting the guys prepped,” says Floyd. “Once you go off to your season that’s when a lot the technology comes in.”

Minor league spring training in Sarasota, Fla., begins in February.

Floyd pitched four seasons at Ball State University in Muncie, Ind. (2016-19) and earned a Finance degree. His head coach was Rich Maloney and his pitching coach was Dustin Glant.

Floyd experienced independent professional ball with the American Association’s Gary (Ind.) SouthShore RailCats, The Battle of the Bourbon Trail’s Florence (Ky.) Y’alls (part of a COVID-19 pop-up circuit) and Pioneer League’s Idaho Falls Chukars.

An opportunity to go into coaching came at the end of Floyd’s playing days and with encouragement from Glant he went after the pitching coach at Indiana University-Kokomo and served on the staff of Drew Brantley for the 2022 season.

Chase Sebby, who was a catcher for Floyd at Ball State who was now an Orioles minor league coach, made his friend aware of a need for staff assistants — a newly-created position.

In the last few years, Floyd has gone from viewing baseball through the lens of a player to that of a coach.

On the mound, he had one job to do — get outs with his assortment of pitches.

“As a coach I try to pay attention to everything in the game,” says Floyd. “When I was pitching I was focused on my job. Everything else was not my job so I let my teammates do the rest of it.”

As a coach, he is aware you can’t have a cookie-cutter approach with all athletes.

“Players respond to criticism or encouragement in different ways,” says Floyd. “In professional baseball it becomes really individualized. No two players are getting coached up the same way. Some players need to work on the same things but it’s not for the same reason.”

At Ball State, Maloney brought in guest speakers to talk about the mental side of baseball including visualization.

“You close your eyes and see a play happen in your head,” says Floyd. “Visualizing is harder than what some people think. Your mind can go a bunch of different ways if you’re distracted.

“You can never take a play off, especially in pro ball. The margin of error is so small. One mistake can cost a game or season.”

With the Orioles, mental skills coaches are ex-Navy Seals that go over topics like handling pressure, proper rest, performance and preparation.

In college, Maloney, Glant and other coaches taught Floyd about competing and confidence.

“We carried ourselves like we were the best pitching staff in the country,” says Floyd. 

Since leaving Ball State, Floyd has crossed paths with many former teammates and coaches.

Besides Sebby, there’s former BSU roommate Chayce McDermott (a pitcher in the Orioles organization who could make his MLB debut in 2024), Zach Plesac (a pitcher who recently went from the Cleveland Guardians to the Los Angeles Angels) and Drey Jameson (a pitcher who made his MLB debut with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2022).

“Both are incredible competitors,” says Floyd of Plesac and Jameson. “Drey has that attitude. He’s got that swagger about him.”

Alex Call (outfielder in the Washington Nationals organization), Kyle Nicolas (pitcher in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization) and Ty Weatherly (pitcher in the Orioles system) are among the others.

“One of the coolest things has been all the connections in baseball,” says Floyd.

Nick Floyd. (Baltimore Orioles Photo)

McCormick goes from Gyrenes to Red Sox

BY STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

With know-how gained as a player, trainer and coach, Michael McCormick has been hired to guide pitchers in the Boston Red Sox organization.

McCormick, a 2012 graduate of Speedway (Ind.) High School, pitched at Parkland College in Champaign, Ill., and Eastern Illinois University and in the Chicago White Sox system and independent ball followed by stints as a Driveline Baseball trainer and pitching coach (2020) then head coach at Ave Maria (Fla.) University (2021-23).

The Red Sox reached out at the beginning of the fall. Hired about a month ago, McCormick will be a pitching coach for the rookie ball team based in Fort Myers, Fla. Camp starts in January and the Florida Complex League season begins in June.

Until seeing the players and other personnel, McCormick is go over data while familiarizing himself with different Red Sox systems and getting on-boarded onto those systems.

“I’m familiarizing myself with each guy and getting an idea of what they need to improve on this next season,” says McCormick.

He expects a smooth transition and will continue to emphasize relationship leadership over transactional.

“It reinforces the fact that the development of relationships between coaches and players in fundamental for trying to develop guys on the baseball field,” says McCormick, 30. “It’s just getting to know the person — off the field as well as on the field. 

“You’ve just got to build that rapport. It’s easier to make those adjustments when there’s trust going both ways.”

The roster will be made up of player selected in the 2023 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft or those coming from the Dominican academy.

McCormick, who took Spanish in highs school, says he is conversational in the language and got to use it while playing pro ball and with bilinguals at Ave Maria.

“I’m looking forward to using it everyday (with the Red Sox) and it getting even better,” says McCormick.

Former big league left-hander Craig Breslow was hired in October as the Red Sox chief baseball officer after being Director of Strategic Initiatives for Baseball Operations with the Chicago Cubs.

Justin Willard became the Red Sox director of pitching in December after serving as pitching coordinator for the Minnesota Twins.

“I’m really excited to work with those two,” says McCormick. “It’s also the gains the Red Sox have been able to make on the pitching side I’m excited to contribute where I can.

“The emphasis will be more so on the player development side as opposed to winning at the rookie ball level. But when you focus on the important things sometimes winning is a result.

“The end goal is to win a (World Series) championship.”

McCormick will also interact with Red Sox Director of Player Development Brian Abraham as well as many others in the system’s player development department especially those who focus on pitchers. There are other former Driveline employees, too.

There will be daily interaction with the strength and conditioning staff, athletic trainers and nutritionists.

“It’s a holistic approach when it comes to player development,” says McCormick. “More goes into it than solely pitching.”

The job change does not require McCormick and his family to move. He will commute from Ave Maria to Fort Myers, a distance of about 35 miles.

Wife Teigan McCormick is heading into her first season as indoor/beach volleyball coach at AMU, which recently upgraded Tom Golisano Field House. 

The McCormicks met at Parkland when he was playing baseball and she volleyball. The couple has three children — daughter Kolby Rae (7) and sons Steston (2) and Augustin (4 months). Kolby Rae attends Rhodora J. Donahue Academy of Ave Maria.

“We love living here in Ave Maria,” says McCormick. “It really worked out.”

Staying in Ave Maria also means that when time allows Michael will be able to visit the team and his younger brother Nicholas McCormick (a Speedway and Eastern Illinois graduate) — who was elevated from Gyrenes pitching coach to head coach with Michael’s leaving. Nicholas is a 2014 Speedway alum.

Ave Maria plays in The Sun Conference and that NAIA-affiliated league’s tournament is slated for JetBlue Park at Fenway South in Fort Myers.

Marcus McCormick — father of Michael and Nicholas — was the head baseball coach at Speedway through the 2023 season. He has stepped away from that position and is now athletic director at Speedway Middle School while also giving baseball lessons.

The Sparkplugs baseball program is now led by former McCormick assistant Matt Burke.

Michael McCormick. (Ave Maria University Photo)

South Bend pitcher sharing knowledge through Beck Performance

BY STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

Tyler Beck has accumulated a vast body of baseball knowledge.

He has excelled on the diamond with the traveling Indiana Chargers and Michiana Scrappers, South Bend (Ind.) Saint Joseph High School, Pasco-Hernando State College (New Port Richey, Fla.) and the University of Tampa (after starting his college career at Purdue University) and is currently a free agent after pitching for the Minnesota Twins and Washington Nationals organizations (2019, 2021-23), making it to Triple-A with each.

In 2023, the 6-foot-1 right-hander made a combined 26 mound appearances (25 in relief) and went 5-0 with a 5.71 earned run average, 44 strikeouts and 25 walks in 41 innings.

Tyler and wife Melanie, who are eloped and are planning a Dec. 31 wedding, have a daughter born in November — Bella Marie.

Beck, 28, has an Exercise Science degree from Tampa and has worked as many human performance labs and training facilities. 

As he gets ready for his next move as a player, Beck is starting his own player development service based in South Bend — Beck Performance — and is operating out of the 1st Source Bank Performance Center at Four Winds Field in South Bend, where Mark Haley is general manager and South Bend Cubs Foundation executive director. “I’m trying to provide a product I wish I had in this area. Ultimately, I want to offer an all-inclusive environment for baseball players to challenge themselves and become the best athlete they can possibly be.

“From a baseball perspective that includes a place you can show up to get your lifting, throwing, speed and recovery work done all at the same facility. It’s a one-stop shop.”

Beck recently made a presentation on a 12-week throwing program to the South Bend Cubs Foundation Cubbies Coaches Club.

He talked about things like acute and chronic workload and injury risk and spelled out a training cycle.

Beck explained overuse and underdevelopment.

The program for high schoolers is open to pitchers and position players and runs from Jan. 8-March 31 with two group workouts each week — 9 a.m. Sundays and at a time to be determined Thursdays.

The program includes the following:

* A mapped-out throwing progression leading into the high school season (constraint throws, long toss, plyo throws, med ball throws, bullpens, pitch design and Live ABs).

* Two throwing sessions per week on high-intent days.

* Velo recording with Stalker Pro II to track continuous progress for med ball, plyo and constraint throwing.

* Rapsodo Pitching 2.0 for bullpens and pitch design.

* Other Modalities: Core Velo Belt, Water Bags, Weight Balls and Plyo Balls.

* Weight room workouts, mobility correctives and arm care.

* Four lifts per week (2 Upper and 2 Lower).

* Individual mobility exercises.

* Post throw and pre throw routines.

All of this is programmed through the TrainHeroic App, where you will have access to videos and descriptions of the exercises. This allows the athlete to do their workouts at their most convenient gym, if they cannot use 1st Source Bank Performance Center.

Each athlete will have access to the weight room at the Performance Center.

If there is enough interest, Beck is willing to have morning lifts at the Performance Center before school.

There will also be video analysis to look for clear movement deficiencies and tailor throwing/weight room progressions towards those weaknesses.

“I want to get these guys prepped for the season,” says Beck.

Cost is three payments of $320 (Jan. 8, Feb. 5 and March 4).

Contact Beck at 574-303-2189 or tylerb755@gmail.com.

Tyler Beck. (Minnesota Twins Photo)

Tyler Beck. (Cedar Rapids Kernels Photos)