Bowling Green State University Athletics
Former Falcons Having Successful Seasons In Professional Baseball
August 01, 2011 | Baseball
Falcon baseball has a tradition richer than most teams in the Midwest, so it comes as no surprise that six former Falcons are thriving at their respective levels of competition this summer. Nolan Reimold, Burke Badenhop, Andy Tracy, Brennan Smith, Jon Berti, and Ross Gerdeman are all having successful seasons in the professional ranks.
Nolan Reimold, currently a member of the Baltimore Orioles has found a home in left field, wearing number 14. After beginning the season with the Norfolk Tides (AAA for the Baltimore Orioles), Reimold was called up, and hasn't looked back. He is batting .240 in 36 games, while banging six home runs and legging out four doubles thus far. His on-base percentage is .336, while he is slugging .460. Reimold's best game of the season came on May 26 against Kansas City, when he went 4-4 with two home runs, a double, and 4 RBI. The Orioles have struggled this season, but Reimold hopes to find a permanent home, roaming left field at Camden Yards.
Burke Badenhop is having one of his better seasons as a major-leaguer; this his fourth season in the big leagues. Badenhop, who like Reimold, began the season in AAA, is currently with the parent-club, the Florida Marlins. The 6'5”, 220 lb. right-hander, has a 2-1 record as one of the Marlins primary middle-relief pitchers. On top of his winning record, Badenhop has converted his only save opportunity of the season, while having a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 2-1 (30 K—15 BB). His best game of the season came on July 17, when Badenhop went three innings, while striking out three and not allowing a run, in the Marlins 7-5 win at Wrigley Field. The former Falcon hurler from Perrysburg, Ohio, will look to finish this season strong, and use the momentum to find his way on to an opening day roster in the big leagues next season.
Andy Tracy, a first baseman for the Reno Aces, is in his 16 minor league season. This is Tracy's first season with the Aces, the AAA affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks. In 55 games, Tracy is batting .280 with 10 home runs and 14 doubles. He has an impressive on-base percentage of .377, while slugging .527. Tracy, the MVP of the Eastern League in 1999, has the Aces leading the PCL's North Division by 9.5 games. If Tracy doesn't make the Diamondbacks as a September call-up, he will most certainly look to lead the Aces to a AAA National Championship at the conclusion of the season.
Brennan Smith has been at many levels of single-A this summer; beginning the season with the West Michigan Whitecaps before moving on to the Connecticut Tigers. Both teams are affiliates of the Detroit Tigers. Since coming to the Connecticut, Smith has pitched well, holding opponents down with a 2.11 ERA. He has started all seven games he has appeared in, with one complete game. He has pitched 47 innings with Connecticut, while striking out 36 against just 11 walks. Smith will look to build on his success with Connecticut, and quickly move up the ranks in the Detroit system.
Jon Berti, playing his first season as a professional ball player, has picked up right where he left off as a Falcon star. Playing for the Vancouver Canadians (A for the Toronto Blue Jays), Berti is the starting second-baseman. Batting .331, Jon has banged out 42 hits (2 doubles, 4 triples, 1 home run), while stealing 16 bases. He has an on-base percentage of .415 and a slugging percentage of .433. Berti's impressive offensive numbers, mixed with his defense, should mean that he has a successful baseball career ahead of him.
Ross Gerdeman, currently with the Arizona League Diamondbakcs, is learning the ropes of professional baseball this summer. He has a 1-1 record with a 3.75 ERA. Gerdeman has appeared in eight games, while starting two. He has pitched 24.0 innings, while striking out 14 batters. The big right-hander with a live fastball is sure to flourish in the coming years as a professional baseball player.
These six former Falcons all flourished at the college ranks in the Mid American Conference, and now have found their niche in professional baseball. They are leading by example, and showing current Falcons what the Falcon tradition is all about.
