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Former Bobcats’ catcher Ben Crabtree was drafted by the Texas Rangers in 2005 and was promoted on May 14 to the organization’s high A-class team, the Bakersfield Blaze in the California League. Crabtree is Ohio’s all-time hits leader and runner-up for RBIs.

Editor’s note: This is the second installment in a seven-part series taking a closer look at former Ohio baseball players competing in the minor leagues of Major League Baseball.by Nick BrockmanStaff Writernb244904@ohiou.edu

Despite a slow start to the professional career of former Ohio baseball player, catcher Ben Crabtree, the Bobcats’ all-time hits leader and most recently drafted baseball player has much to offer at the next level.

Crabtree, drafted in the 26th round of the 2005 draft by the Texas Rangers, amazed coaches and scouts throughout his collegiate career (2002-05) at Ohio with his multi-dimensional talents.

However, Crabtree has struggled to contribute with his hitting abilities in his limited time in professional baseball.

“I’m not hitting very well,” Crabtree said. “It’s just a matter of getting my at-bats so I can develop some more consistency.”

Ohio’s all-time hits leader and runner-up for RBIs hit just .149 with 8 RBIs with the Clinton Lumberkings, the Rangers’ low A-class team of the Midwest League, before being promoted to the organization’s high A-class team, the Bakersfield Blaze in the California League, May 14.

Although Crabtree’s promotion may be short-lived, it is a chance for him to show his skills against even better competition.

“Two catchers in Bakersfield got hurt so I’m going to be here for another four or five days until they get healthy and I’ll go back to Clinton, I imagine,” he said.

Since his arrival in Bakersfield, Crabtree has managed one hit in 12 at-bats, but Ohio coach Joe Carbone said he felt one area places Crabtree among the catching elite.

“His throwing arm is comparable with any catcher I think in professional baseball,” Carbone said. “The throwing is his plus so if he can prove his receiving skills and make the adjustment to wood bats who knows, he might be up there.”

During his 2005 All-American senior campaign, Crabtree threw out 22-of-46 runners attempting to steal.

Ohio pitcher Dan Utts, Crabtree’s teammate during 2004-05, discussed the significance of having such a reliable player behind the plate.

“As far as his arm goes it’s one of the best I’ve seen,” Utts said. “It just kind of gives all of the pitchers a sense of confidence that if this (runner) is stealing then he’s got a good chance of throwing him out because of his arm.”

Crabtree agreed with the words of Carbone and Utts as the catcher described his professional performance thus far.

“I’ve been throwing the ball pretty well so throwing out runners and the running game is the best aspect of my game,” Crabtree said.

Carbone also mentioned Crabtree’s leadership as one of his defining characteristics.

“Ben’s a take-charge guy,” Carbone said. “He takes charge with the pitchers. He’ll let the manager know all the information of what’s going on.”

Ohio senior pitcher and long-time teammate of Crabtree, Derek Witt, also said that the former Bobcats’ ability to control the game from behind the plate played a significant role in the success of both the team and pitchers.

“When he called pitches you didn’t have to shake off that much,” Witt said. “He was thinking along with you and that just made it easy to work with him.”

However, Crabtree emphasized that despite his defensive and leadership skills it is his hitting abilities that will determine his future in professional baseball.

“If I don’t hit I’m not going to move up so that’s pretty much the thing that’s going to separate me from anything,” Crabtree said.

Nonetheless, Utts said he felt it is Crabtree’s knowledge of the sport that has allowed him to rise to the next level.

“He also knows a lot about the game,” Utts said. “He’s a real student of the game and I think that’s one of the reasons he’s made it as far as he has.”