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Bowling Green State University Athletics
Baseball Notebook: Former Falcon Update
May 31, 2012 | Baseball
While the 2012 Falcon baseball season has come and gone, the professional baseball season is just heating up. Five former Falcons are currently playing professional baseball at various levels. Burke Badenhop and Nolan Reimold are playing in the MLB, while Brennan Smith, Jon Berti, and Ross Gerdeman are all competing at the minor league levels.
At the conclusion of last season, Andy Tracy announced his retirement from professional baseball, ending a 16 year career. Tracy hit 296 minor league home runs during his career, while knocking 13 out in parts of five major league seasons. This season, Tracy will manage the Williamsport Crosscutters—a short-season minor league affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies.
Burke Badenhop, who played at Bowling Green from 2003-05, was drafted in the 19th round of the 2005 draft by the Detroit Tigers. After four seasons with the Florida Marlins (now known as the Miami Marlins), he was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays this past offseason. Badenhop has appeared in 24 games in relief for the Rays to this point, compiling an 0-1 record with an ERA of 3.97. He has struck out 18 batters in his 22.2 innings of work. Badenhop and the Rays currently hold a record of 29-22, which is tied for first in the American League East with Baltimore.
Nolan Reimold, who was drafted in the second round of the 2005 draft by the Baltimore Orioles, is currently in his fourth major league season. Reimold, who is currently rehabbing a herniated disk injury in Florida, had played in 16 games prior to the injury. He was batting .313, with an on-base percentage of .333 and a slugging percentage of .627. Reimold and the Orioles currently sit on top of the AL East standings with the Tampa Bay Rays.
Brennan Smith is currently playing for the West Michigan Whitecaps of the Midwest League. In his nine starts this season for the Detroit Tigers' minor league affiliate, he has compiled a 1-3 record with an ERA of 3.91. In his 46 innings pitched, Smith has struck out 35 batters while only walking nine.
Jon Berti, who was drafted last season, has quickly moved up the ranks in minor league baseball. After winning a championship with the Vancouver Canadians in 2011, Berti has begun 2012 with the Lansing Lugnuts of the Midwest League. The Lugnuts are a single-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. Berti is currently hitting over .300, with seven doubles, two triples, and two home runs. He has scored 28 runs, while stealing a team-leading 24 bases. Berti and the Lugnuts (38-14) currently lead their division by 10.5 games, and lead the entire league by 4.5 games.
Ross Gerdeman, who joined Berti in the 2011 draft class, has made one start for the Visalia Rawhide this season. Visalia, who is a class-A advanced affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, competes in the California League. In his May 22 start, Gerdeman was tagged with the loss against Bakersfield.
While just five Falcons are active in competition in professional baseball, many others are still involved. Orel Hershiser, a 1979 draftee, is currently a color-commentator for ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball. Hershiser was the recipient of the 1988 Cy Young Award for the National League. Roger McDowell, a 1982 draftee, is currently the pitching coach for the Atlanta Braves.
For the latest information on Falcon baseball, be sure to check back to BGSUFalcons.com or follow @BGAthletics or @WEAREBGBaseball on Twitter for the latest updates.
At the conclusion of last season, Andy Tracy announced his retirement from professional baseball, ending a 16 year career. Tracy hit 296 minor league home runs during his career, while knocking 13 out in parts of five major league seasons. This season, Tracy will manage the Williamsport Crosscutters—a short-season minor league affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies.
Burke Badenhop, who played at Bowling Green from 2003-05, was drafted in the 19th round of the 2005 draft by the Detroit Tigers. After four seasons with the Florida Marlins (now known as the Miami Marlins), he was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays this past offseason. Badenhop has appeared in 24 games in relief for the Rays to this point, compiling an 0-1 record with an ERA of 3.97. He has struck out 18 batters in his 22.2 innings of work. Badenhop and the Rays currently hold a record of 29-22, which is tied for first in the American League East with Baltimore.
Nolan Reimold, who was drafted in the second round of the 2005 draft by the Baltimore Orioles, is currently in his fourth major league season. Reimold, who is currently rehabbing a herniated disk injury in Florida, had played in 16 games prior to the injury. He was batting .313, with an on-base percentage of .333 and a slugging percentage of .627. Reimold and the Orioles currently sit on top of the AL East standings with the Tampa Bay Rays.
Brennan Smith is currently playing for the West Michigan Whitecaps of the Midwest League. In his nine starts this season for the Detroit Tigers' minor league affiliate, he has compiled a 1-3 record with an ERA of 3.91. In his 46 innings pitched, Smith has struck out 35 batters while only walking nine.
Jon Berti, who was drafted last season, has quickly moved up the ranks in minor league baseball. After winning a championship with the Vancouver Canadians in 2011, Berti has begun 2012 with the Lansing Lugnuts of the Midwest League. The Lugnuts are a single-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. Berti is currently hitting over .300, with seven doubles, two triples, and two home runs. He has scored 28 runs, while stealing a team-leading 24 bases. Berti and the Lugnuts (38-14) currently lead their division by 10.5 games, and lead the entire league by 4.5 games.
Ross Gerdeman, who joined Berti in the 2011 draft class, has made one start for the Visalia Rawhide this season. Visalia, who is a class-A advanced affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, competes in the California League. In his May 22 start, Gerdeman was tagged with the loss against Bakersfield.
While just five Falcons are active in competition in professional baseball, many others are still involved. Orel Hershiser, a 1979 draftee, is currently a color-commentator for ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball. Hershiser was the recipient of the 1988 Cy Young Award for the National League. Roger McDowell, a 1982 draftee, is currently the pitching coach for the Atlanta Braves.
For the latest information on Falcon baseball, be sure to check back to BGSUFalcons.com or follow @BGAthletics or @WEAREBGBaseball on Twitter for the latest updates.
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