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Princeton University Athletics
Princeton Baseball Spring Alumni Report
May 11, 2006 | Baseball
May 11, 2006
As the temperature rises and the independent and short season leagues prepare for opening day, Princeton baseball is once again well represented throughout the professional baseball world. Chris Young continues to be strong in the Major League's, now pitching for the San Diego Padres, while Princeton two-sport stars Will Venable and B.J. Szymanski are having strong season in the Midwest League, and Tim Lahey continues his transformation from a power-hitting catcher to an effective reliever.
Young has made seven starts this season in San Diego and has a 3-2 record with a 3.61 ERA as he allowed 17 earned runs onin 42 innings. Young has allowed 32 hits in that span and has a 2-to-1 strikeout to walk ratio. Playing in the National League this season, he picked up his first career hit, and has a pair of doubles.
Meanwhile, in the Florida State League, Lahey has become a set-up man for the Fort Myers Miracle, a hi A affiliate of Minnesota. He is 3-0 in relief with a 5.95 ERA, a hold and a save. He has pitched 20 innings and has allowed 13 runs.
In the Midwest League, Venable and Szymanski can both be found atop the league's offensive stats. Venable, playing for Fort Wayne in the Padres' organization, ranks in the Top 10 in batting average, runs scored, stolen bases and on-base percentage. Szymanski, a Dayton Dragon in the Reds' organization, ranks second in the league in home runs.
Two Princeton players currently find themselves in extended spring training. Thomas Pauly, a Reds second-round pick in 2003, is rehabbing after surgery and looks to be back on the mound this summer. Brian Kappel is in the Mariners organization and is destined for short season A or Rookie ball. Pat Boran begins his second season playing in the Atlantic League with the Somerset Patriots. He was a member of the Patriot team that won the league championship a year ago. Lastly, Adam Balkan, a senior on last year's Princeton squad will begin his professional career wit the independent St. Paul Saints of the American Association. His season begins on May 15.
2005 Recap
With the Somerset Patriots win over Nashua in early October, the Atlantic League Championship was decided, and the final game of 2005 for the cast of nine Princeton alums playing professional baseball was played. Chris Young, who completed his rookie season in the Major Leagues with a 12-7 record and a 4.26 ERA with the Texas Rangers, led the group that included four players in A ball, three in Rookie Ball and one in an independent league.
Young started 31 games for Texas. He ranked second on the team in wins, ERA among starters and innings pitched. His 137 strikeouts led the team and ranked 19th in the America League.
Ross Ohlendorf, B.J. Szymanski, Will Venable and Steve Young all played at the Class A level. Ohlendorf pitched for Arizona's affiliate in South Bend, Ind., and went 11-10 in 27 starts. He had a 4.53 ERA and struck out 144 batters in 157 innings pitched. He also picked up a playoff win as the Silver Hawks won the Midwest League Championship.
Szymanski battled through injuries during the year to appear in 50 games for the Dayton Dragon, an affiliate of Cincinnati. He batted .262 with 10 home runs and 26 RBIs. Steve Young spent his season playing for Detroit's affiliate, the West Michigan Whitecaps. He appeared at both second base and shortstop for the team, playing in 63 games. He hit .233 and had a .326 on-base percentage.
Venable was one of three Tigers to play at Princeton in 2005 and then sign and start a pro career in the summer. After signing with San Diego, he was assigned to rookie ball in Arizona where he hit .322 in 15 games. That prompted a call up to Class A Eugene where he played in 42 games and hit .216.
Tim Lahey spent his second season with Minnesota's Rookie team in Elizabethton, Tenn., but did so as a pitcher after catching there the previous season. Lahey began to pitch during spring training and was the team's closer when the season began. He notched 15 saves in 26 appearances for the Twins and struck out 30 batters in 25 innings. Lahey saved both games as the team won Appalachian League Championship Series 2-1.
Worth Lumry and Brian Kappel continued their careers as teammates with Seattle's Arizona Summer League team. Lumry pitched in 16 games, going 2-1 with a 6.66 ERA, while Kappel, a mid-season pick-up, pitched five times with a 2-1 record and a 0.00 ERA.
Pat Boran, spent most of the season playing independent baseball for the Somerset Patriots of the Atlantic League. Boran was one of six players on the roster of the 2005 league champion that did not have any Major League experience. In 76 games with the team, he batted .280 with 15 extra-base hits and 34 RBIs.
Thomas Pauly, a member of the Cincinnati Reds organization, sat out the year following shoulder surgery but had been assigned to Class AA Chatanooga prior to the surgery.
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Many Princeton baseball players have gone on to professional careers. Among the most prominent are Moe Berg '23, a famous catcher for the Boston Red Sox, and Dave Sisler '53, a Red Sox pitcher. Charlie Caldwell '25, the renowned Princeton football coach, had a brief stint as a pitcher for the New York Yankees. Bob Tufts '77 reached the majors as a member of both the San Francisco Giants and the Kansas City Royals, John Easton '58 played with the Philadelphia Phillies, and Chris Young '02 who completed a full season with the Texas Rangers before a trade to San Diego.
Many other Princetonians have signed professional contracts or been drafted. This list includes:
Woodie Wagenhurst '88 Arthur Meier '02 Steven Waite '11 Hyland Gunning '12 Roger Salmon '12 Charles Sterrett '12 Ralph Reed '13 Charles Lear '14 Duke Kelleher '16 Walter MacPhee '22 Thomas McNamara '22 Moe Berg '23 Leroy Talcott '43 James Fairchild '51 Wil Prior '51 Harry Brightman '52 Ray Chirurgi '52 Joe Golden '53 Dave Sisler '53 Bob Unger '54 John Easton '58 Jack Whitehouse '62 Jack Singer '65 Tom Peppler '67 Stephen Cushmore '68 Mike Fremuth '69 Robert Vaughan '69 Arnie Holtberg '70 Jack Hittson '71 Ray Huard '71 Bob Schifner '71 Bill Binder '72 Randy Blevins '73 Mark Softy '76 Bob Tufts '77 Mark Lockenmeyer '81 Steve Kordish '83 Mike Fiala '85 Dan Arendas '86 Scott LaForest '86 Drew Stratton '87 Todd Tuckner '87 Greg Kuzma '88 Jeff Barton '90 Ed Hockenbury '90 Richey Nash '91 Matt Golden '94 Tim Taylor '94 Mike Ciminiello '96 Tommy Hage '96 Pete Silletti '96 Justin Griffin '98 Mike Hazen '98 Buster Small '00 Chris Young '02 Pat Boran '02 Scott Hindman '03 Tim Lahey '04 Thomas Pauly '04 Steve Young '04 Brian Kappel '05 Worth Lumry '05 Will Venable '05 Ross Ohlendorf '06 B.J. Szymanski '06