Ace right-hander Ben Brown began his collegiate career at the University of Florida before heading to Tampa and going 7-2 with a 2.67 ERA in 11 starts and a relief appearance in 2012. Right-hander Jon Keller was the Mariners’ 11th round pick in 2010 and made 24 starts at Nebraska between 2011 and 2012 before managing a great 35-15 strikeout to walk ratio in the Cape Cod League in 2012. Zach Alvord was another 2010 draft pick, by the Braves in Round 18, and hit .258 with 6 home runs as Auburn’s starting second baseman in 2012. Catcher Shane Rowland was drafted by the Red Sox out of high school in 2010 (Round 36) and was Miami’s starting catcher in 2011 before missing all of 2012. Lefty-hander Jimmy Hodgskin was drafted by the Phillies in 2010 (Round 43) and struck out 32 batters in 36.2 innings for Troy in 2012.  And even though he wasn’t drafted, third baseman Sean O’Brien showed enough talent to be recruited by Florida State but wound up as a backup infielder who saw little time, going 11 for 43 (.256) between 2011 and 2012. Just among Division I transfers, Urso managed to gather for himself quite a group of talent. Even the best laid plans quite often fall apart- Alvord and Hodgskin will miss the season with an MCL tear and Tommy John Surgery respectively while Keller has also been sidelined by arm trouble- but by giving all these players opportunities, Urso has found a way to keep his team right up there among the best in Division II season after season including Division II national championships in 2006 and 2007. Everything Urso and the Spartans have done has not gone unnoticed by the Rays.

From the Tampa Bay Rays franchise’s first draft in 1996 until 2008, 32 players were drafted out of the University of Tampa. Shockingly, not a single one of those players was selected by the Tampa Bay Rays. They were so close to the school and had a front row seat to scout any prospect at the school even at a moment’s notice- how in the world did they not end up selecting a single player? But in recent years, the Rays have finally given the University of Tampa the recognition it deserves, selecting 3 players from the school in the last four years: right-hander Alex Koronis (10th Round, 2009), catcher Michael Bourdon (29th round, 2011), and most notably left-hander Sean Bierman in the 10th round of the 2012 MLB Draft. Bierman rode incredible control and command of his sinker, changeup, and curveball to go 4-2 with a 2.75 ERA, a 36-5 strikeout to walk ratio, and a 59.4% groundball rate in 11 starts at Short Season-A Hudson Valley in his pro debut, and although he’s already 24 years old, he has a chance to move quickly through the minor leagues as a back-of-the-rotation starter or middle reliever. It’s been interesting how the University of Tampa’s run of success has mirrored the Rays- and now the Rays hope to make their successes collide and find players with ability to contribute to their big league squad from the Spartans squad playing just minutes away.

After years of ignoring their Tampa Bay baseball brethren, the Rays have to acknowledge how impressed they are with what the University of Tampa has done to revitalize their program in recent years. By finding Division I castoffs and turning them into key pieces of their success, Joe Urso and the Spartans have done a spectacular job embodying what Tampa Bay baseball is all about, and the results they have gotten speak for themselves. It’s always nice to see the local college team doing well- but it’s even better to see them utilizing creative methods to become one of the best teams at their level and watching some of their players not just graduate to the major leagues but also continue their impact to Tampa Bay baseball by joining the Rays organization.

Nice that the Rays are giving the local Bierman a chance to put his career back together. (Credit: University of Tampa student newspaper)

Bierman may be the oldest player selected in the first 10 rounds of the draft, already 23 years old. He’s a player who once had considerable promise. Coming out of Kinnelon High School in New Jersey, Bierman was a 6’1″, 175 lefty who hit 91 MPH with his fastball. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the 42nd round of the 2007 draft but didn’t sign, attending Vanderbilt. But Bierman suffered an elbow injury as a freshman at Vanderbilt and never got on track, undergoing Tommy John Surgery. Bierman transferred to the University of Tampa in 2010 but his injury problems persisted as he appeared in just 7 games as a pitcher over the next two years. But in 2012, as a redshirt senior, Bierman finally stayed healthy and got it all together. Bierman was the ace of a standout staff, going 8-3 with a 2.27 ERA, with 85 strikeouts, just 11 walks, and just 2 home runs allowed in 15 starts and 83.1 IP.

Bierman’s fastball velocity is in the high-80′s now despite the fact that he’s a filled-out 6’1″, 195, but he has really improved his secondary pitches, a curveball and a changeup. Bierman is shifty and he knows how to pitch. His command is top-notch. We’ll have to see how far he can go.

Bierman is a different type of upside pick considering he’s already 23 years old.  But he has shown some nice stuff in the past and if it ever comes back, combined with his excellent command he could be a solid pitcher. It’s nice that the Rays are giving the local a shot to prove himself. Let’s see what he can do.