Collegiate Baseball The Voice Of Amateur Baseball Started In 1958 At The Request Of Our Nation’s Baseball Coaches Vol. 62, No. 4 Friday, Feb. 22, 2019 $4.00 Photo By Scobel Wiggins, courtesy Oregon State Sports Information Photo By Scobel Wiggins, Oregon State switch hitting catcher Adley Rutschman increased his batting average from .234 to .408 last season. Amazing Adley Rutschman Talented OSU receiver His greatest strides have been made as and over again. a switch hitter. One he will never forget was a walkoff was 1,197th pick in MLB As a freshman two seasons ago, he hit an inside-the-park home run in the 10th inning Draft out of high school, anemic .234 in 61 games with 7 doubles, against Nevada as he went 4-for-4 with now favorite to be No. 1 2 homers, 33 RBI and 27 walks over 209 two walks. at-bats. Oregon State Head Coach Pat Bailey, overall selection in 2019. Last year was remarkable as he hit 174 one of the top hitting minds in the game, points higher with a.408 batting average. said subtle changes were made with By LOU PAVLOVICH, JR. He had 15 more doubles (22), 7 more Rutschman after his freshman season. Editor/Collegiate Baseball homers (9) and collected 26 more walks “Adley was a disciplined hitter when he (53) as he turned into a skilled hitter from came in our program and worked hard. But ORVALLIS, Ore. — Imagine being both sides of the plate. I feel there were two keys to his success the 1,197th pick in the MLB Draft It was one of the greatest turnarounds by last season. Cout of high school and three years a hitter in college baseball history. “First, he didn’t play football for Oregon later the odds on favorite to be the No. 1 At the College World Series last year, State after his freshman season. So we had pick overall. he was on fire. him the entire fall of 2017 which allowed Oregon State’s 6-foot-2, 216-pound Over eight games against elite pitching us to clean some things up.” catcher Adley Rutschman is that man. staffs, he hit .567 as he collected a College Rutschman was the placekicker for He was only 19 picks away from being World Series record 17 hits in 30 at-bats the football team his freshman year as he the last pick of the draft in the 40th round and recorded 13 RBI, 3 doubles, 2 homers served as a kickoff specialist, averaging three years ago by the Seattle Mariners and 7 walks. 59.5 yards per kick with 20 touchbacks. from Sherwood High School (Sherwood, He tallied three hits and two RBI in At Sherwood High School (Sherwood, Ore.) the national title game win over Arkansas Ore.), he booted a state-record 63-yard Since that time, he has improved as Rutschman was named Most Valuable field goal as a senior in 2015. dramatically in every phase of his game Player of the 2018 CWS. at Oregon State. Last season he delivered clutch hits over See SKILLED RECEIVER, Page 2 ADLEY RUTSCHMAN Inside Collegiate Baseball Web Site: www.baseballnews.com Unbelievable Achievement Living Out A Special Dream Lewis’ Legendary Irish O’Reilly Augustana overcomes massive Army’s Cam Opp wanted to play Nobody will ever duplicate this obstacles to win 2018 NCAA college baseball in worst way but remarkable man’s passion and Division II national title/Page 6 faced serious challenges/Page 10 love for game of baseball/Page 4 Page 2 Collegiate Baseball Friday, Feb. 22, 2019 Skilled Receiver Rutschman Collegiate Baseball The Voice Of Has Soft Hands, 96 MPH Arm Amateur Baseball Continued From Page 1 “Second, he was consistently Collegiate Baseball (ISSN 0530-9751) is published twice a month collapsing his back side which January-May and once in June, July, September and October was causing him to come off the (14 total issues) by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper, Inc., 2515 ball earlier on the front side. That N. Stone Ave., Tucson, AZ 85705. Periodicals postage paid at was the No. 1 thing we cleaned up. Tucson, AZ. We did different drills with him to refine that area. Postmaster: Send address changes to: “Being a hard worker allowed Collegiate Baseball Adley to improve quickly. As a P.O. Box 50566 switch hitter, he had issues from Tucson, AZ 85703 both sides. But he collapsed more from the left side. We just tried to Overnight Mail: 2515 N. Stone Ave., Tucson, AZ 85705 get him to stay tall on his back side Past Publishers: Abe Chanin, Lou Pavlovich, Sr. and keep a proper distance between Single 1-Year Subscription Rate: $28 for 14 issues. his feet. Single 1-Year First Class U.S. Subscription: $45 “He needed to be more balanced. Single 1-Year Foreign Air Mail Subscription: $50 Posture determines a hitter’s swing Special Team Subscriptions: 11 papers each issue sent to one path. All the things we did to help address — $110 (save $198 off the single subscription price), and Adley had to do with timing, 21 papers each issue sent to one address — $189 (save $399). rhythm and balance. And balance Other Multiple Subscription Offers: Please inquire with sub- is the key to Adley.” scription department at (520) 623-4530. Bailey said Rutschman’s leadership skills are off the chart. Directory “He is a selfless, great young man. I have known Adley since he Area Code (520) was five years old going back to Publisher: Lou Pavlovich, Jr. (Call 623-4530) the days when I coached at George Editor: Lou Pavlovich, Jr. (Call 623-4530 to report stories) Fox University with Adley’s dad Advertising Director: Diane Pavlovich (Call 623-4530) Randy. Subscription Department: (Call 623-4530) “When you work with baseball Fax Machine: (Call 624-5501) players, some are more risk takers E-Mail: [email protected] than others, and Adley certainly fits Web Site: www.baseballnews.com that mold. Part of that is personality Courtesy Oregon State Sports Information Photo By Scobel Wiggins, and part is self confidence. Adley Oregon St. All-American Catcher Adley Rutschman 2019 Publication Schedule has always been willing to make the program which has posted a pitches to get to the bottom of the changes so he can improve.” 111-18-1 cumulative record. zone so you get more strikes called. January 4 March 8 May 3 September 6 Incredible Catcher “He brings toughness, charisma, Things like that are extremely January 25 March 22 May 17 October 4 February 8 April 5 June 14 Rutschman is much more than a focus, energy as well as a positive valuable with a lot of collaboration February 22 April 19 July 12 great switch hitter. attitude and work ethic that spills going on.” He also is a skilled catcher who over to not only our pitching staff Rutschman said he has developed can receive pitches with soft hands but our program as a whole. a soft glove hand through thousands and has a cannon for an arm. “He positively affects so many of hours of work. Moving? Rarely do runners try to steal people on and off the field that his “Slowing the game down has Make Sure CB Moves Along With You! off him and the pitching staff at presence and efforts are something helped and getting stronger so your To change your address, please write us 30 days in advance if Oregon State as they hold runners that can and will continue to impact glove can be soft when receiving you can. Mail to: Collegiate Baseball Newspaper extremely well. any team he plays for. pitches. Dept. Address Change Last season he threw out 5 of 18 “The guy is a winner, and any “Beating pitches to spots helps P.O. Box 50566 runners trying to steal off him. The team that he plays for will see that a lot in the development of a soft Tucson, Ariz. 85703 year before, he threw out 12 of 26 on the field but also feel it in their glove hand. Also, you strive not 1. Please print OLD address here. runners as a freshman. clubhouse and community.” to receive balls with your glove Oregon State only allowed 17 Yeskie said Rutschman’s arm is at an awkward angle which might NAME stolen bases in 33 attempts over 62 Big League ready right now. allow the glove to move out of the STREET APT. # games in 2017 and 17 stolen bases “He typically throws a ball to zone.” CITY STATE ZIP in 36 attempts over 68 games last second in 1.8-1.9 seconds. We Many great catching coaches season. haven’t put a radar gun on him as over the years have demanded that DATE OF Rutschman has been a key a catcher, but he is 96 mph off the the glove of a catcher be below MOVE: component of Oregon State’s mound.” the back elbow of the hitter as a great pitching success the last two Rutschman has played in 128 of starting point. 2. Please print NEW address here. years. 130 games over the past two years “For me, it is a feel thing with NAME He is adept at getting more and is an ironman as a receiver. the starting point of my glove. You STREET APT. # strikes than most catchers because “Adley is able to play in that have to know the pitcher you are CITY STATE ZIP of his skills at receiving along with many games because he takes working with and knowing the pitch his ability to formulate pitching care of his body so well.