After 15 years and hundreds of D1 games, I now have 2 years of D3 baseball under my belt and have noticed the number of 2-Way players in D3 is far greater than I saw in D1. I would be interested in people providing the stats of D3 2-Way players that have impressed them (lets limit it to players who play a position in the field and not DH/P's).
One of the better two-way guys in DIII is ECSU's Will Musson. Musson was a pitcher at UCONN and played in the Alaska Baseball League last summer. He was a two-way player for the Mat-Su Miners, seeing time in the infield and pitching in relief. He is currently sporting a 2-0 record with a 1.12 ERA, while also hitting .308 for the undefeated ECSU. Will's teammate, Shawn Giblar, is also one of the best two-way players out there. However, since Musson is a new face, I thought I would mention him.
Last year, Kurt Yacko for Chapman.
I cannot find the link for the 2008 Chapman stats on the new home page.
If we want to go way back, Carthage had All-American Gavin Winfield in 1996 and 1997. Great LHP on the hill and ususally hit a ton while in RF on his "off" days.
Why aren't there more 2 way players in D3 baseball? Most pitchers were 2 way players in high school, so why not let them continue in college? I have never understood this. And why are only certain players deemed worthy of being given this opportunity?
Quote from: szlongball on March 26, 2009, 12:49:00 PM
Why aren't there more 2 way players in D3 baseball? Most pitchers were 2 way players in high school, so why not let them continue in college? I have never understood this. And why are only certain players deemed worthy of being given this opportunity?
Just speculating here, but perhaps it is not a matter of '
let them continue' or 'deemed worthy of being given this opportunity'. I'd imagine most coaches will play the players that give them the best opportunity to win. Perhaps (generally speaking) the best pitchers are not the best position players, and vice versa.
Mike Giarrizzi, Christopher Newport University, starting centerfielder, great range defensively, hitting .397, 25 runs scored, 16 RBI's in 19 games; on the mound, 2-0 record, 11 innings pitched, 21 K's, 4 hits allowed, ERA of 0.00.
Quote from: Ralph Turner on March 26, 2009, 11:17:28 AM
Last year, Kurt Yacko for Chapman.
I cannot find the link for the 2008 Chapman stats on the new home page.
http://www1.chapman.edu/athletics/07-08/baseball/teamcume.htm (http://www1.chapman.edu/athletics/07-08/baseball/teamcume.htm)
here you go Ralph. The stats on Yacko are amazing.
I agree we are seeing it a lot more in Division III, but DII and DI have a lot of guys going both ways now, especially with the squad size limits that DI is under now.
2007 was not a bad year either. Yacko was D3 POY this year
http://www1.chapman.edu/athletics/06-07/baseball/teamcume.htm
Here is how the d3baseball.com preseason allamericans are doing this season:
Player AVG GP AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI TB SLG% BB SO OB% SF SH SB-ATT FLD%
Shawn Gilblair, ECSU. .375 11 40 12 15 8 0 0 12 23 .575 4 5 .447 1 0 0-0 1.000
Bruce Cameron, Ozarks .307 23 75 27 23 5 1 4 13 42 .560 11 12 .411 1 2 10-10 .982
Player ERA W-L APP GS CG SV IP H R ER BB SO 2B 3B HR AB B/Avg WP HBP
Shawn Gilblair, ECSU. 3.00 2-0 2 2 0 0 9.0 8 3 3 2 15 1 0 1 34 .235 1 0
Bruce Cameron, Ozarks 5.30 2-2 6 6 2 0 37.1 46 23 22 10 25 12 0 3 145 .317 1 6
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 26, 2009, 11:23:00 AM
If we want to go way back, Carthage had All-American Gavin Winfield in 1996 and 1997. Great LHP on the hill and ususally hit a ton while in RF on his "off" days.
at the same time, Marietta had Joe Thomas (P and 1B). Joe was the DIII player of the year in both 1996 & 1997; a hard-throwing lefty on the mound, and a career .410 hitter with tons of power.
McMurry 1B Brent Voorhees (All-American 2007) was used as a "2-way" in 2007. His two starts came against UTDallas and Marietta.
In a 5inning +3 batter no decision versus UTD he had this bad outing. (McMurry lost 13-12.)
McMurry University IP H R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
Brent Voorhees...... 5.0 12 11 10 1 3 27 32
Versus Marietta (a no-decision)
McMurry University IP H R ER BB SO AB BF versus
-----------------------------------------------
Brent Voorhees...... 5.0 6 4 4 4 2 21 29
Player ERA W-L APP GS CG SHO/CBO SV IP H R ER BB SO 2B 3B HR AB B/Avg WP HBP BK SFA SHA
28 Brent Voorhees... 7.94 0-0 8 2 0 0/0 3 17.0 23 16 15 5 14 3 0 2 74 .311 5 7 0 0 1
In the other 6 relief appearances, he had 7.0 IP 2 runs, 1 earned and 3 saves (including one versus Trinity TX).
As a 1B he hit...
Player AVG GP-GS AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI TB SLG% BB HBP SO GDP OB% SF SH SB-ATT PO A E FLD%
28 Brent Voorhees...370 46-46 189 54 70 12 0 14 56 124 .656 32 0 24 0 .455 3 0 0-0 407 23 6 .986
Ralph,
Wouldn't Josh Lee be considered a very top 2 way player?
I know he was a very good pitcher and then was drafted as a 1B who had a lot of power as a hitter.
Quote from: infielddad on March 26, 2009, 07:30:26 PM
Ralph,
Wouldn't Josh Lee be considered a very top 2 way player?
I know he was a very good pitcher and then was drafted as a 1B who had a lot of power as a hitter.
Yes! Thanks for reminding me.
Here are his 2004 stats.
Player AVG GP-GS AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI TB SLG% BB HBP SO GDP OB% SF SH SB-ATT PO A E FLD%
28 Josh Lee....372 44-44 145 44 54 7 0 17 53 112 .772 37 3 32 0 .500 3 0 0-0 263 35 3 .990
Player ERA W-L APP GS CG SHO/CBO SV IP H R ER BB SO
28 Josh Lee......... 2.76 8-3 12 12 5 3/1 0 88.0 70 35 27 19 71
Yost, for Averett in 2003. Around .356 with 9 homeruns. 9-1 with a 2.40 on the mound.
A question was asked why aren't there more two way players in D1? I think one reason is the number of quality players that are avaiable at the D1 level. They don't need to have that many two way players. Another reason from my standpoint is the time and dedicaion of a practice schedule for two positions at the D1 level. From watching D1 and D3 baseball the overall talent level of hitters are different. D1 lineups go much deeper than a D3 lineups that I have watched. Pitchers need to be focused and dedicated at the D1 level. D3 you can actually be a thrower and not a pitcher and get by. Not bad mouthing either level just something I have noticed.
Some good points there baseballdad. When you take the practice and work that pitchers do then add on top of that the work involved with being a hitter and a position player, that really adds up to a lot of extra wear and tear in the course of a few months. You would have to think some coaches just don't want to risk the chance of injury either if you are a good starting pitcher, they are not that easy to come by so that may be why some coaches are reluctant to do it. I'm sure there are more kids across the country that could effectively do both but just never get the chance if they at a top pitcher on their team.
Here is a quick list of the national all-americans who were listed as utility players.
1985: Steve Durelli, NC Wesleyan
1988: Rod Correia, Mass Dartmouth; Tom Aldrich, Bowdoin
1989: John Nielson, Carleton; Dave Niemeyer, William Penn; Matt Malario, Marietta
1990: Paul Urrutia, Claremont-Mudd-Scripts
1991: Dave Kennedy, Montclair State; Mike McCarroll, Marietta; John Neilson, Carleton
1992: Doug Huffman, Marietta
1993: Harry Torgerson, Illinois Benedictine; Mike Susi, Eastern Conn State; Chris Coste, Concordia-Morehead
1996: Kevin O'Leary Bridgewater State (Mass); Garvin Winfield, Carthage
1997: Joe Thomas, MariettaMike Garvis, Emory; Cale Shepherd, Chapman; Kevin Montelbano, William Paterson
1998: Dan Farnham, Marietta
2000: Eric Albright, Chapman; Dam Marchetti, Ohio Wesleyan; Eric Servais, Wisconsin-Oshkosh; Zack Brown, Tufts
2001: Derek Johnson, Denison; Nick Johnson, Ripon; Scott Allan, Montclair State; Nik Lubisich, Willamette
2002: Todd Meyer, Alvernia; Travis Teeter, Rensselaer; Brady Endl, Wisconsin-Whitewater; Steve Plucinski, Lakeland
2003: Nick Johnson, Ripon; Tyler Mott, Ohio Wesleyan; Thomas Meeks, Ferrum; Jason Beale, Ferrum; Derek Dormanen, Concordia-Morehead
2004: Brady Endl, Wisconsin.-Whitewater; Drew Shamrock, Denison; Josh Lee, McMurry
2005: Derrick Jones, George Fox; Zach Lutz, Alvernia
2006: Jason Connely, Western New England; Jeremy Peters, Ithaca; Matt Fuller, St John Fisher; Zack Lutz, Alvernia
2007: Kurt Yacko, Chapman; Shawn Gilblair, Eastern Conn; Jordan Zimmermann, UW-SP; Zach Lutz, Alvernia; Adam Rosen, Maryville; Andy Shields, Washington (Mo.); Sam Mann, Wash. & Jeff
2008: Shane Wolf, Ithaca; Chandler Barnard, Trinity (Conn.); Ken Carroll, RPI; Kurt Yacko, Chapman; Scott Fisher, Richard Stockton; Greg Ford, Keene State
As for "NEXTEL" guys, that is what Coach Anderson from SU calls them, must point out (Soph), Greg VanSickler
Current Stats :
http://su.edu/athletics/bb/current/teamcume.htm
The 2008 USA South Conference and Virginia State Sports Information Directors Association Rookie of the Year... Outstanding competitor... has All-America potential... As a freshman: earned league Rookie of the Year honors after hitting .439 overall and an even .500 in league play... was named either the league's rookie pitcher or rookie player of the week in every week except one this spring... earned first team All-USA South honors at utility... named USA South Conference Rookie Player of the Week on February 25 after contributing five hits in eight at-bats in wins over Waynesburg and DeSales... drove in four runs in those two contests... was named USA South Conference Rookie Pitcher of the Week on March 3 after scattering nine hits in a 7-3 win over Methodist on March 1... did not walk a batter and had four strikeouts in that victory... grabbed his third league honor in four weeks after hitting .529 as the Hornets played Piedmont, LaGrange and Christopher Newport twice and Gettysburg and Maryville one time... had one double and one home run in those contests... grabbed his second Rookie pitcher honor on March 24 after beating Averett 9-7 on March 22... also hit .467 at the plate for the week... earned another USA South Conference player honor on March 31 after hitting .429 with five runs scored, five RBI and two walks as SU defeated Dickinson and swept Ferrum... went 4 for 6 with a double and a pair of RBI against NC Wesleyan on April 6 to help earn another USA South Conference Player honor on April 7... also had a win on the mound (over EMU) during that week... kept the streak going by being named again on April 14 after hitting .642 in games against Catholic, Frostburg and a pair against Greensboro... hit .667 over the weekend series with Greensboro... capped his year by being named Rookie of the Year for the entire department... also named second team All-South by the American Baseball Coaches Association.