And here's a player who is no stranger to Valley League prospect lists- Ohio State's Drew Rucinski. Drew, a rising junior for the Buckeyes, was ATVL's #1 starter in the league last year. This year, Drew didn't get as many innings and his numbers weren't at the same level as 2008, but Luray's coach, Mike Bocock, said his 2009 season was very similar to his performance in 2008. Drew was the pitcher Bocock went to when Luray needed a win or a save.
Here's Jesse Burkhart's writeup on Drew in Baseball America:
Rucinski logged nearly 75 innings of relief last spring and finished with an unusual 12-2, 5.54 record. The heavy workload didn't seem to negatively impact Rucinski's performance this summer though, as the 6-foot-2, 175-pound righthander went 3-1, 3.22 with 48 strikeouts and 14 walks for the Wranglers. According to one scout, Rucinski had the best command in the league, using a repeatable delivery to locate three pitches to both sides of the plate. His repertoire includes a running fastball that ranges from 89-93 mph, a late-breaking 11-to-5 curveball that clocks at 79-83, and an 84-86 changeup that tails away from righthanders. Rucinski, an engineering major, has a good understanding of the pitching process and should throw harder as he adds strength to a slender frame.
Watch for Drew and former Wrangler Alex Wimmers (08) to throw well for Ohio State next spring!
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