Keeping up: Ohio State baseball in MLB, minor leagues, 8/24

MLB

Cleveland Indians 1B Nick Swisher (2000-02)

Bad news came recently of the most recognizable Buckeye in the bigs. Swisher underwent arthroscopic surgery on both knees on Wednesday, ending a disappointing season for the first baseman. Expected to be ready for Spring Training next season, Swisher batted .208 over 97 games, hitting eight home runs on his way to a career-worst .608 OPS.

Minnesota Twins - Rochester Red Wings C Eric Fryer (2005-07)

Fryer has appeared in 21 games for the Twins, his most extensive playing time in his fourth stint in MLB. Serving as the Twins backup catcher since June, Fryer has 13 hits in 59 at-bats, batting .220 with two doubles and a home run. Fryer's last ten games has spanned a month from July 23 to Aug. 23, where he is batting .250.

AAA

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim - Salt Lake Bees OF J.B. Shuck (2006-08)

Shuck began the year on the Angels 25-man roster, but was optioned to AAA in mid-April. Shuck has appeared in a total of 22 games for the Angels, batting .167. Though he has failed to match his 2013 production when he batted .293 as the Angels' everyday left fielder, Shuck is likely to be back on the Angels' roster when it expands to 40 members on Sept. 1. Shuck has performed strong in AAA, batting .319 with 15 doubles, nine triples and three home runs, only 26 strikeouts in 373 at-bats.

AA

New York Yankees - Trenton Thunder RHP Jaron Long (2012-13)

A year removed from signing with the Yankees as an undrafted free agent, Long is turning heads throughout baseball as he rapidly climbs the ranks. With two promotions in 2014 under his belt, Long is a member of the AA Trenton Thunder, excelling only two steps from the bigs.

Long has a 2.54 ERA next to a 6-1 record for the Thunder, striking out 38 next to 10 walks in 56.2 innings. Over three levels Long is 11-4 with a 2.25 ERA, pitching 132 inning this year.

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim - Arkansas Travelers RHP Drew Rucinski (2008-11)

A strong season in AA was momentarily interrupted when Rucinski made his MLB debut on July 10. Pitching an inning against the Texas Rangers, allowing two runs with a strikeout, Rucinski added another chapter to a remarkable story, pitching in a big league stadium one year removed from pitching in an independent league.

Yet to appear in another MLB game, Rucinski is 10-6 with a 3.07 ERA in 137.2 innings for the Travelers. Rucinski has struck out 128 batters and walked 36.

Minnesota Twins - New Britain RockCats RHP Alex Wimmers (2008-10)

Regaining a little bit of his fallen prospect status, two-time Big Ten Pitcher of the Year Alex Wimmers is showing signs of his former self. After eventual Tommy John surgery ended an initial run in AA in 2012, Wimmers is back with the New Britain RockCats.

Going 3-3 with a 4.04 ERA over 62.1 innings with 70 strikeouts for Fort Myers, Wimmers was promoted in mid-July. The first round pick of the Twins in 2010 has struck out 21 against four walks in 16.2 innings, holding a .246 opponent's average.

A+

Chicago White Sox - Winston-Salem Dash RHP Brad Goldberg (2011-13)

It's been a rocky season for the 2013 third-team All-Big Ten selection. Moving from the rotation to the bullpen, Goldberg holds a 5.56 ERA in 32 outings in the Carolina League. Over 68 innings the right-handed has struck out 58 batters, walked 38 and has a WHIP of 1.84.

Pittsburgh Pirates - Bradenton Marauders RHP John Kuchno (2011-12)

The strikeouts have been absent and the walk rate has increased, but former Buckeye John Kuchno is keeping the opposition off the scoreboard. The 6'5 right-handed has a 2.54 groundout-to-flyout ratio, helping him have a 3.56 ERA over 144 innings, though he has walked 58 and struck out 62 batters.

A

Pittsburgh Pirates - West Virginia Power RHP Brett McKinney (2010-13)

McKinney has showed well out of the bullpen in his first full professional season. A member of the West Virginia Power in the South Atlantic League, McKinney has appeared in 36 games, logging 47.2 innings. A 19th round draft pick in 2013, McKinney has struck out 46 batters, walked 20 and holds a .209 batting average against.

Rookie

Miami Marlins - Gulf Coast League Marlins RHP Greg Greve (2011-14)

The lone Buckeye drafted in June's First-year Player Draft, Greg Greve has pitched well in his introduction to professional baseball. Selected in the 29th round by the Miami Marlins, Greve has pitched for the Marlins' rookie level club in their Spring Training home of Jupiter. Greve has pitched 30 innings for the GCL Marlins, holding a 3.90 ERA through 19 games. The right-handed holds a 3:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio with 18 punchouts against six free passes. Greve appeared in one game for the Advance-A Jupiter on July 13, pitching a scoreless inning.