Player: Greg Ferrell
Position: Outfield
Year: Junior
School: Mount Union
What better way to resume our series of the top 30 Division III position players to watch in 2010, than with pound-for-pound the best player. There is a handful of players whose game is just a step above the elite, you can argue for any one of the five or six, but you cannot argue that Ferrell isn’t amongst the cream of the crop.
The Uniontown native Ferrell is entering his third season for the Mount Union College Raiders, and in 2010 he will be a player labeled with an honor few carry: Gold Glove winner.
Ferrell is coming off of a 2009 season in which he received second team all Ohio Athletic Conference honors after hitting .381; 56-for-147, with 18 doubles, three triples, five home runs and 35 RBI in leading Mount Union to a 20-18 record and a sixth place OAC finish. That type of productivity would be enough to make Ferrell one to watch. Throw in stealing 12 of 13 bases successfully and you have a well-rounded toolsy player. Where Ferrell separates from the pack is that he is a true 5-tool player.
The center fielder for the purple & white started all 38 Raider games in centerfield, and in 95 chances did not make one error while providing two assists. Few athletes have the range that Ferrell has, there isn’t much ground from left-center to right-center Ferrell cannot cover. As a result Rawlings in partnership with the American Baseball Coaches Association, tabbed Ferrell as one of just nine players to receive their prestigious National Gold Glove.
Ferrell isn’t a flash in the pan either with just one strong year under his belt. In fact offensively 2009 might not have been his best season to date.
As just a freshman, Ferrell was named All-OAC honorable mention, and second team All-Mideast Region after hitting a team leading .411. In going 53-for-129, Ferrell collected eight doubles, three triples, four home runs, while collecting 31 RBI.
The most telling stat that was a testament to Ferrell’s readiness and advance skill at such an early stage is the fact Ferrell struck out just eight times in those 129 at-bats with 15 base on balls drawn. So you can add plate discipline to his repertoire. For good measure the left-handed hitting Ferrell stole 10 bases.
Just when you think Ferrell cannot further state his abilities with on-field play, the 2009 summer saw Ferrell play centerfield for the Stark County Terriers of the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League. A summer league mostly composed of Division I players from the MAC, Big Ten, and Horizon League.
To play on that level with a wooden bat is rare for a Division III player. To play on that level and shine brighter than highly sought touted Division I players is beyond rare.
Ferrell finished in the top 15 in hitting, batting .320 sandwiched between a Xavier Musketeer in John McCambridge and a Kent State Golden Flash in Kyle McMillen both of Licking County. Ferrell finished fourth in the league in doubles with 10, collected a triple, drove in 15, had 18 walks against 13 strikeouts to post a .424 on-base percentage, and stole 11 of 12 bases.
Ferrell has shown for two springs he is amongst the best on a Division III level, and for a summer has shown he also can compete with the big boys.
Entering his junior season, the sky is pretty much the limit for Ferrell. He’ll hit close to .400, drive in about three dozen runs, play incredible defense, steal more than dozen bases, knock out a handful of home runs, and once again show he might be the best all-around player amongst Ohio Division III players.
Filed under: Division III | Tagged: Mount Union
Chris
As a follower of SEC college baseball for almost 30 years Ive seen a lot of toolsy players rise above the cream of the crop and become rare finds. Most go on to high achievements in MLB, others to prominence in various professional fields. All members of this elite club shared one thing in common and that was a refuasl to lose which Greg Ferrell vigorously demonstates on and off the field. The singlemost attribute of his character as a player between the lines is an acute awareness of all aspects of the game and where he is among the game’s narrative. This is common among all super-rare players of this caliber and provides the edge needed against all challenges.
Keep your eyes on ferrell and watch where this kid lands in life’s drama.