Illinois Players Making Impact In MLB Playoffs

September 29, 2014

By Drake Skleba
Senior Writer

Back in 2005, current Washington Nationals right-handed pitcher Tanner Roark led his Wilmington Wildcats to the IHSA Class A State Championship. As a senior, Roark earned PBR first-team All-State honors after going 14-0 with a 1.35 ERA. In 83 innings, he racked up 116 Ks. For good measure, Roark batted .515 with 10 homers and 63 RBI.

After a tumultuous but successful career at the University of Illinois, Roark was drafted in the 25^th round by the Texas Rangers. On June 30, 2010, Roark, along with Ryan Tatusko (minors), was traded to the Washington Nationals for Christian Guzman, who played 11 years in the MLB for the Twins, Nationals and Rangers.

Roark burst onto the MLB scene on August 7, 2013 in a relief stint for the Nationals against the Atlanta Braves. Roark went on to appear in 14 games, starting five and compiling a 7-1 record with a miniscule 1.51 ERA.

This season, as part of one of the best pitching staffs in baseball for the National League’s Eastern Division Champion Nationals, Roark finished 15-10 with a 2.85 ERA, which ranked 12th in the league. Roark fanned 138 in his 198.2 innings of work.

Roark will make his first MLB Divisional Playoff start of his career against the NL Wild Card game-winner to be played Wednesday night between the San Francisco Giants and the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Another Illinois prep standout has been a solid contributor for another MLB Divisional Champion. The Stagg HS alum in 2006, LHP TJ McFarland, has had a solid season as a middle-to-late reliever for the American League Eastern Division Champion Baltimore Orioles. After compiling a 4-1 record with a 4.22 ERA in 2013, McFarland had a 4-2 record with a sparkling 2.76 ERA. The Orioles will meet the AL Central champion Detroit Tigers in the Divisional Series in Baltimore on Thursday.

Neuqua Valley’s LHP Ian Krol has pitched in 45 games for the American League Central Division Champion Detroit Tigers. Krol has no record with a 4.96 ERA. Krol nailed down his first major league save for the Tigers this summer.

A couple of PBR Illinois Players of the Year stepped up big in 2014. 2008 POY RHP Jake Odorizzi of Highland HS, as the No. 5 starter for the Tampa Bay Rays, compiled an 11-13 record with a respectable 4.18 ERA in 2014. Odorizzi fanned 174 batters in the 168 innings he pitched for the Rays. The 174 punchouts ranked 13th in the American League.

Rockford Boylan’s 2007 PBR Player of the Year, Jake Smolinski, has been one of the few bright lights for the struggling Texas Rangers in 2014. After making his MLB debut on July 7, in 24 games for the Rangers, the former Titan star hit at a .349 clip with three homers and 12 RBI. Smolinski has a pair of four-hit games for the Rangers.

Glenbrook North’s Jason Kipnis and Illinois Valley Central’s Zach McAllister dropped off in 2014 after solid 2013 campaigns for the Cleveland Indians. Kipnis, who plays second base for the Tribe, hit .240 with six homers and 41 RBI. Kipnis added 22 stolen bases. In 2013, Kipnis had a breakout season, batting .284 with 17 homers, 84 RBI and 30 stolen bases. The former Grey Ghost hurler McAllister struggled through an injury-plagued season, going 4-7 with a 5.23 ERA. In 2013, McAllister was 9-9 with a 3.75 ERA for the Tribe.

Minooka’s RHP Mike Foltynewicz and Virginia HS’s LHP Eric Jokisch made their MLB debuts with the Houston Astros and the Chicago Cubs this summer. On August 2, Foltynewicz debuted for the Astros and has pitched in 16 games this season. Foltynewicz, who was the No. 1-ranked prospect in 2010, finished 0-1 with a 5.33 ERA.

Jokisch, who starred at Northwestern, debuted with the Cubs on September 7. He pitched in four games, with one start against the Brewers on September 26, for the Cubbies with no record and a fine 1.88 ERA.

Breese Mater Dei C Josh Thole hit .248 with seven RBI for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2014.

Illinois Players Making Impact In MLB Playoffs

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