Ben Wetzler

Benjamin A. Holmes-Wetzler (born September 12, 1991) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Miami Marlins organization. He attended Oregon State University, and played for the Oregon State Beavers.

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. 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.^[5]

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.^[6] 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".^[7][8][9] The NCAA suspended Wetzler for 11 games, which is 20% of the Beavers' season.^[7][10] He made his season debut on March 2, defeating the Wright State Raiders,^[11][12] and then beating the Northern Illinois Huskies the next week.^[13] Weztler recorded his 31st win at the Oregon State on April 25, setting a new school record.^[14] Collegiate Baseball named Wetzler a First Team All-American.^[15]

The Miami Marlins selected Wetzler in the ninth round, with the 257th overall selection, of the 2014 MLB draft.^[16] After he signed with the Marlins, he played for the Batavia Muckdogs of the Class A-Short Season New York–Penn League. In 2015, he pitched for the Greensboro Grasshoppers of the Class A South Atlantic League and the Jupiter Hammerheads of the Class A-Advanced California League.

Personal

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

References

External links

• Career statistics and player information from The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)