Pitching With A Purpose
 
Earlier this summer, Owen Rice was selected in the 20th round of the 2024 MLB Draft by the St. Louis Cardinals. In being picked, Rice became Milwaukee's 26th-ever selection in the draft including the eighth pitcher of Milwaukee's last 12 draftees to have their name called mid-summer.
 
Pitching has always been a strength for the Panthers over their Division I existence, which includes finishing in the top-half of the Horizon League in team earned run average in all but two seasons dating back to the 2010 championship team.
 
"From the pitching side, a ton of this credit goes to Cory Bigler and his individualized plans and relationships with the student-athletes," noted current Panther Head Coach Shaun Wegner. "We do not 'cookie-cut' our pitcher's development, but instead meet them where they are at and attack their deficiencies while continuing building upon their strengths."
 
Milwaukee has had a wide array of pitchers pass through their doors during Bigler's time as pitching coach for the past 20 seasons, each coming with their own arsenal of strengths.
 
"Our program believes and invests heavily in the development aspect of the game," added Wegner. "Often, we search for and bring in underdeveloped and physically behind potential student athletes that we feel can excel and succeed with their current skill set with some minor tweaks and a commitment to their bodies."
 
While Rice was Milwaukee's most-recent draftee, he joins Riley Frey, drafted by the Atlanta Braves in 2022, and AJ Blubaugh, selected in 2021 by the Houston Astros.
 
"All three of these guys have a love and desire to play at the highest level," commented Wegner. "It starts with their individual passion for the sport and becoming a Major Leaguer … each one of them has their strengths and weaknesses but their ability to buy in, trust their coaching staff, and develop was there."
 
Rice played two seasons with the Panthers after beginning his collegiate career at McHenry County College in Crystal Lake, Illinois. The East Troy, Wisconsin-native finished his Panther career with 65 strikeouts over 44 1/3 innings of work, including 51 strikeouts over 33 innings in 2024.
 
"Owen was always the physically imposing with a high ceiling that could lift and carry his fastball to the highest-level," Bigler commented. "He suits more as a power bullpen arm looking to throw an upper 90s fastball with a splitter and a developing sweeper. He came to us after a year playing for Coach Wacker at McHenry and was someone who blossomed late into his high school career and was more so hidden heading into college."
 
Not every Panther draftee comes by way of transfer to the Black & Gold, Frey played three seasons with the Panthers after joining the program from Oshkosh West High School. While not overpowering in terms of velocity like Rice, Frey climbed the ranks on Milwaukee's all-time strikeout list and recorded 239 over his 249 innings, tied for the second-most strikeouts in a career with Milwaukee.
 
"Riley is a crossfire style pitcher with a high level of deception and ability to hide his pitches," noted Bigler. "He can spin and move the baseball in multiple directions and possesses the arsenal to be a starter at the next level. His mentality is what separates him as he wants to be on the attack and knows he can beat anyone he faces."
 
The list continues with Blubaugh, who is on the knocking on the door of becoming Milwaukee's second Major Leaguer [behind Daulton Varsho] and is expected to be a likely candidate in spring training next season to make the Houston Astros' roster in 2025. Blubaugh has been on the rise since being drafted and was named to the All-Star Futures Game in July earlier this season.
 
"AJ is a more methodical in his delivery and creates a high level of lift with his upper 90s fastball while throwing a newer developed sweeper and changeup," added Bigler. "His deception comes in a different variety, but it explodes on the hitter, and he has filled both the starter and closer roles. He also has the mentality that he can attack and defeat any hitter he faces in the box."
 
Jake Sommers preceded Blubaugh as Milwaukee's 23rd all-time draftee in 2019 by the St. Louis Cardinals. Austin Schulfer (Minnesota Twins, 2018), Adam Ruess (Oakland Athletics, 2017), Brian Keller (New York Yankees, 2016), and Justin Langley (Miami Marlins, 2015) round out Milwaukee's eight pitching draftees in the last decade.
 
"We always want individuals with bigger goals and plans to play professional baseball," continued Wegner. "The motivation to show up every day with a purpose and plan looking towards the draft in the future is a positive. We talk weekly about who is developing towards a professional career and might have a path on our roster while also speaking towards the ceiling of recruits we are looking at. If we are doing our job, the players coming in should have upside and drive."

Beyond Milwaukee's eight pitchers over the last 10 seasons, infielder Trevor Schwecke was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2019, while Varsho was a competitive balance round selection following the second round in 2017. Utilityman Sam Koenig (Los Angeles Angels) and Mitch Ghelfi (Milwaukee Brewers) were also draftees along with Langley in 2015.