June 10, 2014
Steve Ascher drafted by Tampa Bay Rays
For former SUNY Oneonta baseball player, Steve Ascher (Cutchogue/Mattituck), the weather should be warmer.
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The lefthander, who just completed his third season at Oneonta, was drafted Saturday by the Tampa Bay Rays of Major League Baseball in the 17th round of the amateur draft. Ascher was the third Division III pitcher and the only player from a New York college selected in this year's draft and the 518th overall pick. The first Division III pitcher taken, Trevor Lubking of Pacific Lutheran, also a left-handed pitcher, was taken in the 14th round by the Rays. In all, there were 15 players selected from the Division III ranks.
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Ascher becomes the first Oneonta baseball player drafted since 2010 when Dave Filak was taken in the fourth round by the Atlanta Braves, which is the highest any Oneonta player has ever been selected. Prior to Filak, left-handed pitcher, Chris Salamida was taken in the 13th round by the Houston Astros. The only other player to be drafted for the Red Dragons was right-handed pitcher, Roger Weaver, who was selected in the 16th round by the Detroit Tigers.
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Weaver is the only player ever to play in the big leagues, as he made his MLB debut on June 6, 1980 and pitched his last game in the majors on October 4, 1980. In 19 games, he was 3-4 with a 4.10 ERA with 42 strikeouts in 63.2 innings pitched.
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Ascher signed his contract today and will play for the Princeton (VA) Rays of the Rookie League.
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"I couldn't be happier for Steve," said head coach Ben Grimm. "To see how far he's come since his freshman year has been something special. He took a real leap in the last year, which is a testament to his work ethic."
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This past Friday night, Ascher received a call from his advisor telling him that both the Rays and the Kansas City Royals were thinking of drafting him early on Saturday, which was rounds 11-40. Ascher has been playing for the Cotuit Kettlers of the prestigious Cape Cod Baseball League.
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"I left the hotel early in the morning and went back to my host family's house to get ready for my doubleheader," emailed Ascher. "Just as I was leaving to go to the field, I received a call from the Royals asking me if I was still sign able and asking what I wanted."
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Ascher continued, "During the second inning of game 1 I got the same call from the New York Mets and actually thought that's where I was going to be headed. A few minutes later I received two text messages congratulating me. I figured I should check the draft board and that's when I saw I had been selected by the Rays."
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"I then ran to the concessions stand where my family and girlfriend were listening to the draft on their phones. I then got the phone call from Tim Alexander of the Rays explaining that he would work out all the details with my advisor that night."
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Ascher was the SUNYAC Pitcher of the Year and finished the season with a record of 6-4 with a 1.82 ERA. In 10 starts this spring he recorded three complete games while registering two shutouts. He struck out 82 batters, which led the SUNYAC, in 69 innings while holding opponents to a .193 batting average against. He was a first team All-SUNYAC selection while also being named to the D3Baseball.com All-New York Region first team.
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Ascher's season highlight was a complete game, four-hit, shutout against Kean University, who was ranked No. 3 at the time of the game.
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"I think today allowed me to realize that all the hard work does pay off," commented Ascher. "Now I need to continue working hard and stay inspired, dedicated and motivated to reach my goal to play in the Major Leagues."
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In his three-years with Oneonta, Ascher started 25 games and had a 12-10 record overall with a 2.58 ERA. In 164 innings, he struck out 157 batters and held opponents to a .247 batting average. He recorded five complete games and two shutouts.
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Ascher finished, "I'd like to thank all my friends and family who have texted and sent me any sort of congratulations through social media. I'd also like to say thanks to all my coaches, from my dad as my little league coach to coach Grimm as my college coach."
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Grimm concluded, "I'm sure I speak for the entire Oneonta community in wishing Steve all the best in the next step of his career with the Tampa Bay organization."
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The lefthander, who just completed his third season at Oneonta, was drafted Saturday by the Tampa Bay Rays of Major League Baseball in the 17th round of the amateur draft. Ascher was the third Division III pitcher and the only player from a New York college selected in this year's draft and the 518th overall pick. The first Division III pitcher taken, Trevor Lubking of Pacific Lutheran, also a left-handed pitcher, was taken in the 14th round by the Rays. In all, there were 15 players selected from the Division III ranks.
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Ascher becomes the first Oneonta baseball player drafted since 2010 when Dave Filak was taken in the fourth round by the Atlanta Braves, which is the highest any Oneonta player has ever been selected. Prior to Filak, left-handed pitcher, Chris Salamida was taken in the 13th round by the Houston Astros. The only other player to be drafted for the Red Dragons was right-handed pitcher, Roger Weaver, who was selected in the 16th round by the Detroit Tigers.
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Weaver is the only player ever to play in the big leagues, as he made his MLB debut on June 6, 1980 and pitched his last game in the majors on October 4, 1980. In 19 games, he was 3-4 with a 4.10 ERA with 42 strikeouts in 63.2 innings pitched.
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Ascher signed his contract today and will play for the Princeton (VA) Rays of the Rookie League.
Â
"I couldn't be happier for Steve," said head coach Ben Grimm. "To see how far he's come since his freshman year has been something special. He took a real leap in the last year, which is a testament to his work ethic."
Â
This past Friday night, Ascher received a call from his advisor telling him that both the Rays and the Kansas City Royals were thinking of drafting him early on Saturday, which was rounds 11-40. Ascher has been playing for the Cotuit Kettlers of the prestigious Cape Cod Baseball League.
Â
"I left the hotel early in the morning and went back to my host family's house to get ready for my doubleheader," emailed Ascher. "Just as I was leaving to go to the field, I received a call from the Royals asking me if I was still sign able and asking what I wanted."
Â
Ascher continued, "During the second inning of game 1 I got the same call from the New York Mets and actually thought that's where I was going to be headed. A few minutes later I received two text messages congratulating me. I figured I should check the draft board and that's when I saw I had been selected by the Rays."
Â
"I then ran to the concessions stand where my family and girlfriend were listening to the draft on their phones. I then got the phone call from Tim Alexander of the Rays explaining that he would work out all the details with my advisor that night."
Â
Ascher was the SUNYAC Pitcher of the Year and finished the season with a record of 6-4 with a 1.82 ERA. In 10 starts this spring he recorded three complete games while registering two shutouts. He struck out 82 batters, which led the SUNYAC, in 69 innings while holding opponents to a .193 batting average against. He was a first team All-SUNYAC selection while also being named to the D3Baseball.com All-New York Region first team.
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Ascher's season highlight was a complete game, four-hit, shutout against Kean University, who was ranked No. 3 at the time of the game.
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"I think today allowed me to realize that all the hard work does pay off," commented Ascher. "Now I need to continue working hard and stay inspired, dedicated and motivated to reach my goal to play in the Major Leagues."
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In his three-years with Oneonta, Ascher started 25 games and had a 12-10 record overall with a 2.58 ERA. In 164 innings, he struck out 157 batters and held opponents to a .247 batting average. He recorded five complete games and two shutouts.
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Ascher finished, "I'd like to thank all my friends and family who have texted and sent me any sort of congratulations through social media. I'd also like to say thanks to all my coaches, from my dad as my little league coach to coach Grimm as my college coach."
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Grimm concluded, "I'm sure I speak for the entire Oneonta community in wishing Steve all the best in the next step of his career with the Tampa Bay organization."
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