Ben Casparius
Ben Casparius | |
---|---|
Los Angeles Dodgers – No. 78 | |
Pitcher | |
Born: Westport, Connecticut,U.S. | February 11, 1999|
Bats:Right Throws:Right | |
MLB debut | |
August 31, 2024, for the Los Angeles Dodgers | |
MLB statistics (through 2024 season) | |
Win–loss record | 2–0 |
Earned run average | 2.16 |
Strikeouts | 12 |
Teams | |
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Benjamin Keith Casparius(born February 11, 1999) is an Americanprofessional baseballpitcherfor theLos Angeles DodgersofMajor League Baseball(MLB).
Career
[edit]Amateur career
[edit]Casparius attendedStaples High SchoolinWestport, Connecticut,where he set the state's all-time hits record and led them to a state title in 2017 while being awarded as the Connecticut Gatorade Player of the Year.[1]He playedcollege baseballatUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hillfor two years, where he was a two-way player. As a freshman he had a 1.69 ERA in 10 pitching appearances while collecting 18 hits and 15 RBI and helpingthemto a berth in theCollege World Series.[2]Thefollowing season,he struggled a bit at the plate so the Tar Heels asked him to concentrate on pitching where he had a 4.41 ERA in 12 outings.[3]After the season, he playedcollegiate summer baseballin both theCape Cod Leaguewith theFalmouth Commodores,[4]and in theNew England Collegiate Baseball League.[5]
He transferred to theUniversity of Connecticut Huskiesin 2020, but was denied a waiver and had to sit out his junior season, which wound up being cancelled anyway by theCOVID-19 pandemic.[1]He played instead in theFutures Collegiate Baseball Leaguefor theNew Britain Bees[5]and hoped to be selected in the2020 MLB draftbut because of its shortened length he was not chosen and opted to play for theHuskiesin 2021.[1][6]In 15 starts he was 8–5 with a 4.03 ERA.[5]
Los Angeles Dodgers
[edit]Casparius was selected by theLos Angeles Dodgersin the fifth round of the2021 Major League Baseball draft,[7]and signed for a $247,500 bonus on July 26.[8]
Casparius spent his first professional season with theArizona Complex League DodgersandRancho Cucamonga Quakes,pitching in five games and allowing two earned runs in six innings.[5]He pitched 2022 with Rancho Cucamonga and theGreat Lakes Loons,pitching89+2⁄3innings in 27 games (16 starts) for a 6.42 ERA.[5]The following season, with Great Lakes and theTulsa Drillershe made 26 appearances (21 starts) and was 6–7 with a 5.27 ERA.[5][9]After the 2023 season, Casparius pitched in theArizona Fall Leaguefor theGlendale Desert Dogs.[10]He started 2024 with Tulsa, making five starts with a 3.32 ERA[5]before being promoted to the Triple-AOklahoma City Baseball Club.[11]In 16 games (14 starts) at AAA, he was 4–3 with a 3.36 ERA.[5]
Casparius was promoted to the major leagues for the first time on August 18, 2024,[12]but was optioned back to Oklahoma City on August 21, without appearing in a major league game.[13]Casparius was promoted to the major leagues for a second time on August 31[14]and made his debut that day in relief against theArizona Diamondbacks,working a scoreless inning of relief to pick up his first career win.[15]His first strikeout was ofNolan Jonesof theColorado Rockieson September 22.[16]He pitched a total of8+1⁄3innings in three games, with two wins, nine hits and two runs allowed with 12 strikeouts.[17]
References
[edit]- ^abcBorges, David (April 29, 2021)."UConn ace, Westport native Ben Casparius sees MLB draft prospects rise as strikeout numbers soar".The Hour.RetrievedAugust 18,2024.
- ^"Ben Casparius bio".North Carolina Tar Heels.RetrievedAugust 18,2024.
- ^Borges, David (August 20, 2019)."Westport's Ben Casparius returns" home "after transferring from North Carolina to UConn".Middletown Press.RetrievedAugust 18,2024.
- ^"Ben Casparius - Profile".pointstreak.RetrievedSeptember 10,2024.
- ^abcdefgh"Ben Casparius College, Amateur and Minor League Statistics".Baseball Reference.RetrievedAugust 18,2024.
- ^Borges, David (June 24, 2020)."Formers Staples baseball star Ben Casparius of Westport will play at UConn for his senior season".New Haven Register.RetrievedAugust 18,2024.
- ^Aldam, Will (July 12, 2021)."UConn battery mates Casparius, Winkel picked on Day 2 of MLB draft".CT Insider.RetrievedAugust 18,2024.
- ^Stephen, Eric (August 4, 2021)."Dodgers 2021 MLB Draft tracker".SB Nation.RetrievedAugust 18,2024.
- ^Borges, David (July 15, 2023)."Uconn product Ben Casparius adjusting to new minor league level".CT Insider.RetrievedAugust 18,2024.
- ^Weinrib, Ben (November 7, 2023)."Ramos, Casparius earn Week 5 Fall League honors".MLB.RetrievedAugust 18,2024.
- ^Borges, David (June 1, 2024)."CT native, ex-UConn Pitcher, one step away from LA Dodgers rotation".RetrievedAugust 18,2024.
- ^Borges, David (August 18, 2024)."Los Angeles Dodgers call up Ben Casparius, former Staples High, UConn baseball standout".The Hour.RetrievedAugust 18,2024.
- ^Stephen, Eric (August 21, 2024)."Dodgers activate Blake Treinen from injured list, option Ben Casparius".SB Nation.RetrievedAugust 21,2024.
- ^"Dodgers Place Clayton Kershaw On Injured List Due To Bone Spur In Toe".mlbtraderumors.RetrievedAugust 31,2024.
- ^"Dodgers vs Diamondbacks (August 31, 2024)".ESPN.RetrievedAugust 31,2024.
- ^"Colorado Rockies vs Los Angeles Dodgers Box Score: September 22, 2024".Baseball Reference.RetrievedSeptember 29,2024.
- ^"Ben Casparius Stats".Baseball References.RetrievedSeptember 29,2024.
External links
[edit]- Career statistics and player information fromMLB,orBaseball Reference,orBaseball Reference (Minors)
- 1999 births
- Living people
- Arizona Complex League Dodgers players
- Baseball players from Fairfield County, Connecticut
- Falmouth Commodores players
- Glendale Desert Dogs players
- Great Lakes Loons players
- Los Angeles Dodgers players
- Major League Baseball pitchers
- New Britain Bees players
- North Carolina Tar Heels baseball players
- Ocean State Waves players
- Oklahoma City Baseball Club players
- People from Westport, Connecticut
- Rancho Cucamonga Quakes players
- Tulsa Drillers players
- UConn Huskies baseball players