Ben Wetzler

Benjamin Alen Holmes-Wetzler (born September 12, 1991) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks of the American Association of Professional Baseball. He attended Oregon State University, and played for the Oregon State Beavers.

Ben Wetzler
Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks – No. 23
Pitcher
Born: (1991-09-12) September 12, 1991
Clackamas, Oregon
Bats: Left
Throws: Left

Wetzler starred for the baseball team at Clackamas High School in Clackamas, Oregon. He then enrolled at Oregon State to play for the Beavers. After his junior year, the Philadelphia Phillies selected Wetzler in the fifth round of the 2013 Major League Baseball draft. Wetzler used an agent for negotiations, against National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) rules, but "something that reportedly happens all the time". When Wetzler chose to return to Oregon State rather than sign, the Phillies reported Wetzler's violation to the NCAA.

Amateur career

Wetzler attended Clackamas High School in Clackamas, Oregon. He pitched to a 12–0 win–loss record and a 0.33 earned run average (ERA) in his senior year, as well as a complete game shutout in the Class 6A state championship game. Wetzler was named the Class 6A player of the year.[1][2] He finished his high school career with a 28–3 win–loss record, a 0.87 ERA, and 342 strikeouts.[3]

The Cleveland Indians of Major League Baseball (MLB) selected Wetzler in the 15th round of the 2010 MLB draft.[4] He did not sign with Cleveland, and instead enrolled at Oregon State University, to play college baseball for the Oregon State Beavers baseball team. In 2012, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Falmouth Commodores of the Cape Cod Baseball League.[5] As a junior, Wetzler pitched to a 10–1 win–loss record with a 2.25 ERA, and was named an All-Pac-12 Conference selection.[6]

The Philadelphia Phillies selected Wetzler in the fifth round of the 2013 MLB draft, with the 151st overall selection. Wetzler did not sign, opting to return to Oregon State for his senior year.[7] The Phillies reported Wetlzer and Jason Monda of Washington State University, their sixth round pick who also did not sign, to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) for violating the rule against using a sports agent during financial negotiations, which is "something that reportedly happens all the time".[8][9][10] The NCAA suspended Wetzler for 11 games, which is 20% of the Beavers' season.[8][11] He made his season debut on March 2, defeating the Wright State Raiders,[12][13] and then beating the Northern Illinois Huskies the next week.[14] Weztler recorded his 31st win at the Oregon State on April 25, setting a new school record.[15] Collegiate Baseball named Wetzler a First Team All-American.[16]

Professional career

Miami Marlins

The Miami Marlins selected Wetzler in the ninth round, with the 257th overall selection, of the 2014 MLB draft.[17] He signed and spent 2014 with the Batavia Muckdogs where he was 0–2 with a 2.95 ERA in 11 games started. In 2015, he played for both the Greensboro Grasshoppers and Jupiter Hammerheads where he pitched to a combined 6–7 record with a 4.55 ERA in 27 games (24 starts), and in 2016, he returned to Greensboro and Jupiter where he posted a 7–2 record, 1.18 ERA, and 0.99 WHIP in 35 games (34 relief appearances). Wetzler spent 2017 with Jupiter where he collected a 1–6 record and 4.17 ERA in 73.1 innings pitched.[18] He began the 2018 season split between Jupiter and the Double-A Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, and was released by the organization on June 27, 2018, after allowing 7 earned runs in 11.1 innings.[19]

Los Angeles Dodgers

On July 6, 2018, Holmes signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He split the remainder of the 2018 season between the High-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes and the Double-A Tulsa Drillers, recording a 2.82 ERA in Tulsa and a 1.06 ERA with the Quakes. He split 2019 between the Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers and Tulsa, pitching to a 2–4 record and 5.31 ERA with 64 strikeouts in 61.0 innings of work.[20] Wetzler did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[21] He was released by the Dodgers organization on July 1, 2020.[22]

Chicago Cubs

On February 23, 2021, Wetzler signed a minor league contract with the Chicago Cubs organization.[23] He was assigned to the Triple-A Iowa Cubs to begin the season. He made two starts for Iowa, struggling to an 0–1 record and 6.52 ERA with 9 strikeouts in 9.2 innings pitched. He was released by the Cubs on June 24, 2022.[24]

Milwaukee Milkmen

On July 15, 2022, Holmes signed with the Milwaukee Milkmen of the American Association of Professional Baseball.[25] Holmes made 11 appearances (4 starts) for Milwaukee down the stretch, logging a 4–0 record and 6.03 ERA with 27 strikeouts in 37.1 innings pitched.

Chicago White Sox

On March 14, 2023, prior to the start of the American Association season, Holmes’ contract was purchased by the Chicago White Sox organization.[26] In 31 combined appearances between the Double–A Birmingham Barons and Triple–A Charlotte Knights, he accumulated a 2–6 record and 5.25 ERA with 42 strikeouts and 4 saves in 36.0 innings of work. On July 25, Holmes was released by Chicago.[27]

Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks

On August 26, 2023, Holmes signed with the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks of the American Association of Professional Baseball.[28]

Personal

In 2001, Wetzler was named the junior champion in sheep showing at the Clackamas County fair.[3]

References
  1. "Baseball: Clackamas' Ben Wetzler chosen 6A player of the year – OregonLive.com". Highschoolsports.oregonlive.com. June 15, 2010. Retrieved February 21, 2014.
  2. "Indians excited to draft Washington | MLB.com: News". Mlb.mlb.com. May 24, 2013. Retrieved February 21, 2014.
  3. "Ben Wetzler's goal is at hand: Be the next great Oregonian pitcher to lead Oregon State to Omaha". OregonLive.com. May 30, 2013. Retrieved February 21, 2014.
  4. "Live chat recap: Oregon high school players selected in the 2010 MLB Draft – OregonLive.com". Highschoolsports.oregonlive.com. June 9, 2010. Retrieved February 21, 2014.
  5. "#25 Ben Wetzler - Profile". pointstreak.com. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
  6. "NCAA suspends OSU pitcher Ben Wetzler indefinitely". Portland Tribune. February 14, 2014. Retrieved February 21, 2014.
  7. Ross William Hamilton/The Oregonian (July 12, 2013). "Oregon State baseball: It's 'Christmas on July 12' as pitchers Ben Wetzler and Scott Schultz announce they're coming back for senior seasons". OregonLive.com. Retrieved February 21, 2014.
  8. "Ben Wetzler, draft pick that Phillies reportedly told NCAA on, suspended". NJ.com. February 21, 2014. Retrieved February 22, 2014.
  9. Eggers, Kerry (February 14, 2014). "NCAA suspends Oregon State pitcher". KOIN.com. Retrieved February 21, 2014.
  10. Axson, Scooby (February 14, 2014). "Report: Phillies turn in Oregon State's Ben Wetzler to NCAA for using an agent | SI Wire". Tracking.si.com. Retrieved February 21, 2014.
  11. Snyder, Matt (June 11, 2008). "Ben Wetzler suspended for 20 percent of Oregon State's season". CBSSports.com. Retrieved February 22, 2014.
  12. Letourneau, Connor (February 27, 2014). "Oregon State rundown: Pat Casey, other Beavers discuss Ben Wetzler's return". The Oregonian. Retrieved February 28, 2014.
  13. "Horowitz: Oregon State's Wetzler returns in style after unwarranted NCAA suspension | Statesman Journal | statesmanjournal.com". www.statesmanjournal.com. Archived from the original on March 8, 2014. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
  14. "Ben Wetzler strikes out 12 as Oregon State rolls past Northern Illinois". OregonLive.com. March 7, 2014. Retrieved March 18, 2014.
  15. "Ben Wetzler sets Oregon State's career wins record as No. 5 Beavers beat No. 19 Ducks 3–1". OregonLive.com. April 25, 2014. Retrieved April 28, 2014.
  16. "Oregon State Beavers' Jace Fry, Ben Wetzler and Michael Conforto named first-team All Americans". OregonLive.com. May 29, 2014. Retrieved June 12, 2014.
  17. "Ben Wetzler selected by Miami Marlins in ninth round of 2014 MLB draft". June 7, 2014.
  18. "Ben Holmes Stats, Highlights, Bio – MiLB.com Stats – The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved March 30, 2018.
  19. "Ben Holmes Stats, Fantasy & News".
  20. "Ben Holmes College, Amateur, Minor & Fall Leagues Statistics & History".
  21. "2020 Minor League Season Canceled".
  22. "Starling Heredia, Jake Peter Among Dodgers Minor League Players Released". July 12, 2020.
  23. "Cubs Sign Lefty Ben Holmes After Driveline Pro Day". February 23, 2021.
  24. https://www.milb.com/player/ben-holmes-592411
  25. https://aabaseball.com/transactions/2022-transactions/
  26. https://aabaseball.com/transactions/
  27. https://www.milb.com/transactions/2023-07-25
  28. "2023 Transactions". aabaseball.com. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
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