Local Minor Leaguers Finish Great Season
Volume 1 Issue 13
Nine total minor leaguers from Northwest Ohio wrapped up their 2022 season recently. Spanning from Single-A to Triple-A, local talent showcased their skills across the country for baseball fans and have proved the worth as potential major leaguers in years to come.
The biggest star of the minor leaguers is Zach Willeman (Napoleon) who played this year for the Triple-A Omaha Storm Chasers of the International League. The Royals affiliate has shown interest in bringing Willeman up to the majors and after Kansas City’s struggles this year it would not be a surprise to see him don a major league jersey next season.
In Double A Connor Curlis (Findlay) played the whole year for the Chattanooga Lookouts of the Southern League. Curlis has 124 strikeouts this season over 110.2 innings pitched. Farther north, Adam Wolf (Milan/Edison) helped the Erie SeaWolves to a runners-up finish in the Eastern League. Wolf pitched in 89.1 innings with 92 strikeouts in his first year in Double-A. Ross Adolph (Findlay/Van Buren) suffered an injury early in the season which forced him into a rehab assignment for the Rookie-League Astros. Making his way back to Double-A in early August, Adolph finished with and on base percentage of .435 in Double-A over the course of 59 games.
At the Single-A+ level Nick Thwaits (Fort Recovery) pitched for the Fort Wayne Tincaps in 62 games with an ERA of 3.12. Thwaits was also called up to Double-A San Antonio for one game. Down in the Carolina Jase Bowen (Northwood/Toledo Central Catholic) was promoted to the Greensboro Grasshoppers in August after playing for the Single-A Bradenton Marauders. In Single-A Bowen 66 RBIs and 14 HRs. In his one month in Single-A+ Bowen then recorded 8 RBIs and 3 HRs and is one of the Pirates most promising prospects.
Down at the Single-A level Seth Lonsway (Celina) starred for the San Jose Giants he had 9 wins and 120 strikeouts on the season in his first full season in the minors. On the opposite side of the country teammates Cody Orr (Rossford) and Deylen Miley (Bryan) started for the Fayetteville Woodpeckers. Miley had 111 strikeouts over 24 games and was 10th in the Carolina League in strikeouts. Orr had 25 RBIs and 4 home runs and is currently a free agent.
Time will tell which of these athletes may have a shot at the big leagues. The fact remains, no matter where you are in the country, you can see local talent shine at the next level.
Kalen Etzler (Convoy Crestview) at Ohio State Media Day
Leading Updates
Art Warren (Napoleon) was placed on the 60-day IL by the Cincinnati Reds.
Notable Game Updates
On September 25th Luke Fortner (Sylvania/Northview) started at center for the Jacksonville Jaguars.
On September 30th Chad Johnson (North Robinson/Colonel Crawford) finished 6th place at the Gans Creek Classic for Iowa State with an 8k time of 23:45.6.
On October 1st Dallas Gant (Toledo/Toledo Central Catholic) had 13 total tackles for Toledo in a win over Central Michigan.
Interesting Reads
High school golf league tournaments: St. John's wins 10th straight TRAC title
'He is Genoa': Football field to be named after former coach Firestone
HS Football Power Rankings
Top CC Times of the Week
Just For Fun
Looking at Every Local Athlete to win the World Series
Doug Bair (1984 Tigers & 1982 Cardinals)
Doug Bair was the last local athlete to win a World Series title when he did so with the Detroit Tigers in 1984. Two years prior Bair also a World Series title with the St. Louis Cardinals. The Oakwood High School graduate (which was absorbed by Paulding in 1971) won 5 games in both the 1982 and 1984 campaigns. Bair played in the majors from 1976 to 1990 and is the only local athlete to win two World Series titles.
Grant Jackson (1979 Pirates)
Fostoria native Grant Jackson helped the Pirates to their last World Series title in 1979. During the season Jackson had 8 wins and a 2.96 ERA. In the 1979 World Series Jackson pitched in four games, including getting the title clinching win in Game 7. During the series Jackson gave up no hits and no earned runs.
Gates Brown (1968 Tigers)
During his 1968 campaign, Gates Brown had a .370 batting average and a .685 slugging percentage. The Crestline native served as a pinch hitter for the Tigers and hit a walk-off home run to win the Tigers first game of the season. Brown played his whole career for the Tigers. He actually won another title with them as a scout in1984, alongside fellow NWOer Doug Bair.
Elmer Smith (1920 Indians)
Elmer Smith made history in 1920 when he hit the first grand slam in World Series history. The Sandusky born and and Milan raised Smith was a Milan High graduate (now Edison) who helped lead Cleveland to their first ever World Series title in 1920. During his 1920 campaign he had 103 RBIs and a .316 batting average.
Roger Bresnahan (1905 Giants)
The first Northwest Ohio Athlete to win a World Series was Basebal Hall of Famer and Toledo native Roger Bresnahan. The Toledo Central graduate (eventually turned into Scott) helped the New York Giants to the title in 1905. Bresnahan had a .313 batting average for the series and didn’t miss a pitch as catcher.
Jim Leyland - Manager (1997 Marlins)
Although not a player, Perrysburg native Jim Leyland did manage the Florida Marlins to the their first ever World Series title in 1997. The Marlins won 92 games that season and defeated the Cleveland Indians in Game 7 to clinch the title.