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Ben Pfinsgraff

My name is Ben Pfinsgraff and I am very interested in playing baseball in the Netherlands next season. I attended to the University of Maryland where I was the number one starter for three years and one of the top pitchers in the Atlantic Coast Conferance. In addition, my teammates voted me Captain of the team both my junior and senior seasons.

Following the 2006 season I was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies. After being drafted I played in the New York Penn League where I made the mid-season All-Star team with a 4-4 record, 1.12 ERA, 25 hits, 44 SO's, in 40.1 innings. Just prior to the All-Star game I was moved up to the Low A Lakewood team. In Lakewood I had a 1-2 record, 2.28 ERA, 17 hits, 25 SO's, in 23.2 innings, and helped the Lakewood team win the 2006 South Atlantic League Championship. During the off-season Baseball America rated me as having the best performance of my draft class for the 2006 season, in their Prospect Handbook.

Following Spring Training in 2007, I started the season in Low A Lakewood; where I had a 1-2 record, 2.43 ERA, 28 hits, 38 SO's, in 33.1 innings and was named to the South Atlantic All-Star team. Just following the All-Star game I was promoted to High A Clearwater. Unfortunately, shortly after getting to Clearwater I started having shoulder problems and had to have minor shoulder surgery at the end of the season. Following the 2007 season my minor league numbers: 7-9 record, 2.88 ERA, 115.2 innings pitched, 101 hits, 25 BB's, 119 K's.

I rehabbed all off-season and I got a late start to the season due to my surgery. I did a rehab stint in Low A Lakewood where I had a 3.41 ERA in 37 innings pitched, 4 BB's, 37 K's, and a WHIP of 0.91. I was again promoted to High A Clearwater and just recently finished the 2008 season.

I am 24 years old and wanted to be in Double A at this point in my career. Beyond making the Major Leagues it has always been a dream of mine to play over seas. My arm feels great now and I would love the opportunity to play for a team in the Netherlands. I am planning a trip to Europe this off-season from October 15 - November 4. We will be traveling throughout Europe during that time period, but I would be more than willing to rearrange my travel plans in order to have the opportunity to meet with team representatives and participate in a try-out if possible.

References

Steve Roadcap: Managed the Low A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies for the past two seasons. He has been in Minor and Major League Baseball as a Player, Coach, and Coordinator for the past 21 years.

Dave Lundquist: Pitching Coach for the Low A affiliate of the Lakewood Blueclaws. Dave has been a minor league baseball coach for several seasons and played in the Major Leagues for the Chicago White Sox and the San Diego Padres. He also spent a short time playing professionally in Japan.

Ed Hodge: Ed is currently an instructor with the IMG academy, an international sports agency and player development program based out of Florida. Ed has been a pitching coach at several minor league levels with Cinncinati Reds and Philadelphia Phillies. In addition, Ed played in the Major Leagues with the Minnesota Twins.

Kevin Jordan: Kevin was the hitting instructor for the High A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies this past season. Kevin played eight years in the Major Leagues with the Philadelphia Phillies. I consider Kevin a very close friend and one of the best influences I have ever had within or outside of baseball.

Steve Shrenk: Steve has been a pitching coach with the Philadelphia Phillies for three seasons, last season he was the pitching coach for the High A affiliate. He played in the Major Leagues with the Chicago White Sox and Philadelphia Phillies.

E-mail: benpfins@aol.com