Astros select Rummel

The Houston Astros selected Kutztown pitcher Phil Rummel with the 932nd pick in the 2008 entry draft.

Spotts the most recent of KU athletes gone pro

If you haven’t already heard the news, former Kutztown University quarterback Kyle Spotts signed with the New York Dragons of the Arena Football League last week. Spotts, originally from my hometown of Pottsville, Pa., was one of the premier quarterbacks in the PSAC during his three seasons at KU.

The Dragons already have two quarterbacks on their roster, including starter Aaron Garcia, who is third all-time in the AFL with more than 20,000 passing yards. Spotts will be the third string quarterback, but will be inactive on the practice squad in the near future.

The AFL season is currently in full swing and the Dragons sit third in the National Eastern Division with a 7-6 record. If either Garcia or backup quarterback Juston Wood is injured, Spotts could be activated this season. You can follow both Spotts and the Dragons at New York’s official website: www.newyorkdragons.com.

While I’m on the topic of KU grads gone pro (and since it’s major league baseball draft day), now is as good a time as any to get you caught up on KU’s recent baseball players who made a run at pro ball during the past few years.

In case you’re unfamiliar with who the minor leagues work, I’ll give you a quick run through. The MLB is obviously the goal for each player, but when you’re drafted you are most likely going to start out playing rookie ball. Most clubs have three teams for rookies and most first-year players will play on that team for an entire season. If the player is good enough, they will then advance to ‘A’ ball. From there, a player would advance to ‘Advanced A’, ‘AA’, and ‘AAA’. The majors would be next in line after AAA.

Now, on to the players (who are in no particular order)…

Kyle Sadlowski (2003-05) – Sadlowski was drafted by the Cardinals in 2005 and has worked his way up to AA Springfield. He has done a very respectable job at each level and that has earned him opportunities to shine at the next level. Sadlowski started the 2008 season at Advanced A Palm Beach, notching a 3-1 record and a 3.89 ERA. Since being called up to Springfield, Sadlowski has been even more effective, holding a 2-0 record with a 3.24 ERA. Combined, he has struck out 40 in 50 innings of work and opponents are hitting just .246 against him.

Mike McCardell (2004-07) – McCardell was drafted by the Twins in the sixth round of last year’s entry draft. Since his arrival, he has been on a steady uphill climb to the major leagues. Last year, he began his pro career with the Gulf Coast League (GCL) Twins, before quickly being promoted to the Elizabethton Twins (a more advanced rookie ball team). In 2008, he is pitching for the A Beloit Snappers and is 1-1 with a 3.38 ERA in seven appearances (six starts). McCardell has struck out an impressive 36 opponents in 32 innings of work, while walking just 12.

Jason Mills (2007) – Mills pitched just one season for KU, but the MLB scouts took notice. The Orioles drafted him in 2006, signed him in 2007, and then sent him to play rookie ball for the Bluefield Orioles. Mills made five appearances in 2007 and allowed just one earned run on five hits in 6.2 innings of work. He struck out eight and didn’t walk anyone. He is currently listed on Bluefield’s 2008 roster, but that could change after the draft. Bluefield is set to start their season on June 17.

Ron Chiavacci (1998) – Chiavacci was drafted by the Expos in 1998 and has since spent time with the minor league affiliates of the Pirates, Tigers, Phillies, and most recently, the Astros. Chiavacci actually began the 2008 season with the AAA Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs, but was traded to the Astros on June 2. He has yet to be assigned to a club. He was 1-7 with a 5.90 ERA in 11 starts with LV this season. In 11 minor league seasons, he has a combined 62-79 record and a 4.03 ERA. He has 1,001 career strikeouts at the minor league level, averaging just under eight strikeouts per nine innings.

Ryan Vogelsong (1996-98) – Vogelsong was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the fifth round of the 1998 draft and made his major league debut with the Giants in 2000. In 2001, Vogelsong was traded to the Pirates in a deal that included Jason Schmidt. He spent a majority of his time in Pittsburgh in the majors before leaving the majors in 2006 to sign with his current team, the Hanshin Tigers of the Japanese Professional Baseball League. On May 29, Vogelsong was dropped for readjustment, which is basically the major league baseball equivalent of being demoted to the minor leagues. He was 2-1 with a 4.55 ERA in 27.2 innings of work prior to the demotion.

Matt Maradeo (2005-06) – Maradeo signed with the Cubs in 2006 just a few days after the conclusion of KU’s season. He was sent to the A Peoria Chiefs where he struggled in his first year of pro ball, recording a 1-1 record and a 10.24 ERA in 19.1 innings. In 2007, Maradeo did a much better job for the Chiefs. He made 28 appearances out of the bullpen, notching an 0-3 record and a 2.96 ERA. In 45.2 innings of work, Maradeo struck out 45, while walking just 16. Opponents hit just .165 against him. The Cubs, surprisingly, decided to release Maradeo on the last day of 2008 spring training, so he signed with the Washington Wildthings of the independent Frontier League. He has made six relief appearances this season and is 0-0 with 5.73 ERA. He has 12 strikeouts in 11 innings of work.

Matt Keller (2003-07) – Keller was not drafted, but he did sign with the Slippery Rock Sliders of the Frontier League following KU’s 2007 season. He was traded not long after that to the River City Rascals who released him just six days later.

Tim Bausher (1998-01) – Bausher was drafted by the Mariners in 2001 and, despite spending a majority of his baseball career in the minor leagues, he became the third Golden Bear ever to play in the majors in 2005 when the Red Sox called him up for one game. He also had stints with the Brewers, Rockies, Reds, and Royals. After being released by the Royals in 2007, Bausher signed with the Nashua Pride of the Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball (CanAm League). Nashua exercised its option on Bausher for the 2008 season, but placed him on waivers in February. The New Jersey Jackals claimed him on February 14, but he was released on May 3 and is now a free agent.

Glenn Woolard (2000-02) – Woolard was drafted in the 10^th round of the 2002 draft by the Giants. He spent time at low A Salem-Keizer in 2002 and A Hagerstown in 2003 before getting traded to the Brewers on March 30, 2004. He pitched a majority of the 2004 season for AA Huntsville, but also saw some time at AAA Indianapolis. In 2005, Woolard wrapped up his minor league career with a 7-11 record and 4.92 ERA for Huntsville. He managed a 25-26 record and 3.77 ERA in his minor league career.

Andy Bausher (1995-97) – Bausher was drafted by the Pirates in the sixth round of the 1997 draft. He spent 1997-2000 playing low-A, A, and high-A ball for the Pirates before being traded to the Padres on August 8, 2000. He started 2001 with San Diego’s high-A team (Lake Elsinore) before working his way up to AAA Portland by the end of 2002. Bausher’s minor league career concluded after making seven AAA appearances in 2003. He had a 27-37 career record and a 4.44 career ERA.

Steve Fitch (1997-00) – Fitch was drafted by the Indians in the 2000 draft. He worked his way up to AA Akron in 2001, but spent 2002 playing at A Hickory and advanced A Kinston before signing with the Pirates on December 6, 2002. He made just 12 appearances at high A Lynchburg in 2003 before his career came to an end. He managed a 15-14 career record and a 4.11 ERA.

John Rozich (1996-99) – Rozich, the only KU non-pitcher to get drafted, was drafted by the Dodgers in 1999 and lasted just one season at low-A Yakima. The catcher hit .231 and hit two homers in his 134 at bat career.

Matt Haverly (2002-04) – Haverly’s professional baseball career lasted just one season as a part of two independent Northern League teams in 2004. He pitched a combined 7.1 innings for Lincoln and Winnipeg, notching an 8.87 ERA before he was released.

Nick Johnson (1999-00) – Johnson played for three Frontier league teams following the conclusion of his career at KU. The Designated hitter/outfielder started out with Cook County in 2003 and played through the 2006 season with Windy City and Rockford. He hit .304 and notched 21 homers in 1087 career at bats.

Clay Kuklick (2002-05) – Kuklick, a catcher and current KU assistant coach, spent 2005 with the Elmira Pioneers of the CanAm League before moving on to the New Jersey Jackals for the 2006 and 2007 campaigns. Kuklick had a .280 career batting average and hit three homeruns in 389 at bats.

Donny Langdon (2003-04) – Langdon signed with the Evansville Otters of the Frontier League in 2004 and spent and year and a half there before signing with the Mariners to play at A Wisconsin. He managed a 0-3 record and 4.75 ERA there before returning to Evansville in 2006. Langdon moved on to the North Shore Spirit of the CanAm League in 2007. Combined, he managed a 7-8 record and 3.23 ERA in his minor league career. Langdon is currently a member of the Pensacola Pelicans of the American Association League and is the pitching coach at King’s College. He is 1-0 with a 1.74 ERA in 6 relief appearances for the Pelicans this season.

I believe I covered everyone from the 1990s until the present time. If you find something I missed, please email me or leave a comment on this article and I will be sure to update it.

Also, some other random alumni news: Women’s basketball center Mercedes Van Wagner heads to Europe in July to try out for a European team and then will play overseas for three to four months starting in September.