Bowling Green State University Athletics
Former Falcons Continue To Thrive In Professional Baseball
July 03, 2012 | Baseball
As the Major League Baseball seasons' unofficial first half nears its conclusion with the All-Star game slated for Tuesday, July 10, many former Bowling Green State University Falcons continue to fight their way through the professional baseball ranks. Six former Falcons are currently playing professional baseball, while one is managing in the New York-Penn League.
Burke Badenhop, a native of Perrysburg, Ohio, continues to pitch well in relief for manager Joe Maddon and the Tampa Bay Rays. Badenhop has compiled a 1-2 record on the season, but has an ERA of just 3.78. He has appeared in 35 games—all in relief—while striking out 27 batters to date. On Saturday (June 30), Badenhop pitched one inning in relief against the Detroit Tigers. Badenhop was drafted by the Tigers in the 2005 draft, before being traded to the Florida Marlins. The Rays currently sit in fourth place in the American League East Division, at 42-38. They are just 0.5 game back of the second-place Baltimore Orioles, which also puts them just 0.5 game back for the second, and final, wild card spot in the American League.
Nolan Reimold had potentially season-ending surgery last Monday (June 25). The surgery was performed by Dr. Ziya Gokaslan, a nationally-renowned spine specialist. Reimold is expected to miss the remainder of the 2012 season, and return to the field in 2013.
Jon Berti and Brennan Smith are both currently competing in the Midwest League. Berti, currently with the Lansing Lugnuts, was an all-star this season. He is batting .279 on the season, which is the fourth-highest batting average on the team. Berti has hit seven doubles, two triples, and two home runs, while stealing 26 bases thus far. The Lugnuts won the Eastern Division's first half with a record of 47-22, but have gotten off to a slow start in the second half, at just 5-6. Brennan Smith is currently with the West Michigan Whitecaps, an affiliate with the Detroit Tigers. Smith has a record of 1-4 on the season, with a 3.99 ERA. He has struck out 46 batters in his 56.1 innings pitched, while only walking 15 batters. He is currently on the seven-day disabled list with shoulder soreness.
Ross Gerdeman is playing with the Missoula Osprey, a class-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Gerdeman has received three starts for the Osprey, posting a 1-0 record. Gerdeman also made one spot start for Visalia earlier in the year.
After being drafted in the first round of the 2012 Frontier League Draft, Charles Wooten is currently playing with the London Rippers. Wooten has appeared in six games in relief for the Rippers, compiling a 1-0 record. London has a record of 17-25 as of July 3.
Andy Tracy is in his first year as a manager with the Williamsport Crosscutters. Tracy's squad is just 7-8 currently, but they hold the league's third-best team batting average.
Stay up to date with all current and former Falcons at BGSUFalcons.com, or on Twitter @WEAREBGBaseball.
Burke Badenhop, a native of Perrysburg, Ohio, continues to pitch well in relief for manager Joe Maddon and the Tampa Bay Rays. Badenhop has compiled a 1-2 record on the season, but has an ERA of just 3.78. He has appeared in 35 games—all in relief—while striking out 27 batters to date. On Saturday (June 30), Badenhop pitched one inning in relief against the Detroit Tigers. Badenhop was drafted by the Tigers in the 2005 draft, before being traded to the Florida Marlins. The Rays currently sit in fourth place in the American League East Division, at 42-38. They are just 0.5 game back of the second-place Baltimore Orioles, which also puts them just 0.5 game back for the second, and final, wild card spot in the American League.
Nolan Reimold had potentially season-ending surgery last Monday (June 25). The surgery was performed by Dr. Ziya Gokaslan, a nationally-renowned spine specialist. Reimold is expected to miss the remainder of the 2012 season, and return to the field in 2013.
Jon Berti and Brennan Smith are both currently competing in the Midwest League. Berti, currently with the Lansing Lugnuts, was an all-star this season. He is batting .279 on the season, which is the fourth-highest batting average on the team. Berti has hit seven doubles, two triples, and two home runs, while stealing 26 bases thus far. The Lugnuts won the Eastern Division's first half with a record of 47-22, but have gotten off to a slow start in the second half, at just 5-6. Brennan Smith is currently with the West Michigan Whitecaps, an affiliate with the Detroit Tigers. Smith has a record of 1-4 on the season, with a 3.99 ERA. He has struck out 46 batters in his 56.1 innings pitched, while only walking 15 batters. He is currently on the seven-day disabled list with shoulder soreness.
Ross Gerdeman is playing with the Missoula Osprey, a class-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Gerdeman has received three starts for the Osprey, posting a 1-0 record. Gerdeman also made one spot start for Visalia earlier in the year.
After being drafted in the first round of the 2012 Frontier League Draft, Charles Wooten is currently playing with the London Rippers. Wooten has appeared in six games in relief for the Rippers, compiling a 1-0 record. London has a record of 17-25 as of July 3.
Andy Tracy is in his first year as a manager with the Williamsport Crosscutters. Tracy's squad is just 7-8 currently, but they hold the league's third-best team batting average.
Stay up to date with all current and former Falcons at BGSUFalcons.com, or on Twitter @WEAREBGBaseball.
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