Ben Wetzler

Benjamin Alen Holmes-Wetzler (born September 12, 1991) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent. He attended Oregon State University, and played for the Oregon State Beavers.

Ben Wetzler
Free agent
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.

Baseball 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]

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 was released by the Dodgers organization on July 1, 2020.

Personal

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

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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. 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.
  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. http://www.oregonlive.com/beavers/index.ssf/2014/06/ben_wetzler_selected_by_miami.html
  18. "Ben Holmes Stats, Highlights, Bio – MiLB.com Stats – The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved March 30, 2018.
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