For the second time in Notre Dame College baseball history, a baseball player from South Euclid was drafted in the MLB draft. Notre Dame College shortstop Ben Ross is the first player ever from NDC who graduated and was drafted. (Ross graduated a year yearly and was a redshirt junior this past season.) He was selected in the fifth round (pick 144 by the Minnesota Twins.)
"It's a great day for Ben and NDC baseball,"Head Coach Len Barker stated.
Ross played two full season at Notre Dame College and the shortened COVID season of 2020. In the COVID shortened year in 2020 Ross played in 11 games starting 10 before the season was cancelled due to COVID-19.
In 2021 the six foot one shortstop from Springfield, OH played in and started all 40 games. He led the Mountain East Conference in batting average (.426,) hits (60,) hits per game (1.50,) doubles (20,) total bases (119,) and slugging percentage (.844.) He was second in the league in home runs with 11 and tied for fourth in triples with three. He posted a team leading 31 RBI. Ross was the first NDC All-American in school history as he was a Second Team All-American that year. He also garnered First Team All- Atlantic Region and Second Team All-MEC.
Many wondered what Ross would do for an encore in 2022 and he did not disappoint. He played in and started all 52 games this season. He led the team in batting average (.392,) OPS ((1.199,) slugging percentage (.747,) on base percentage (.452,) hits (73,) doubles (20,) triples (3,) home runs (14,) RBI's (60,) total bases (139,) and runs scored (53.) In the MEC Ross ranked sixth in batting average, third in OPS, second in slugging percentage, second in total hits, third in doubles, tied for 13th in triples, third in home runs, second in RBI and first in total bases. Ross set several NDC records for a single season in 2022. This included hits, RBI, Home Runs, runs scored, total bases, intentional walks and sacrifice flies, while tying his own record for doubles. He was the MEC hitter of the week the week of 5/10. He was also the MEC Player Of the Year and was selected to the All-MEC First Team. The Springfield native was selected as First Team All-Atlantic Region by the ABCA (America Baseball Coaches Association) and Rawlings, along with Second Team All Region by the D2CAA (Division II Coaches Commisioner's Association) and the NCBWA (National Collegiate Baseball Writer's Association.) He was the first player in NDC history to be named a First Team All-American by the ABCA/Rawlings. Ross was the first two time All-American in school history and second player in MEC history according to the ABCWA/Rawlings. He also had a career .968 fielding percentage.
Associate Head Coach Jason Erdelyi had these thoughts about Ross:
"We are extremely proud to see Ben get drafted, "Erdelyi mentioned. He is an exceptionally talented athlete who displays great character both on and off the field. Ben gives 100 percent effort all of the time. I have never seen him take a rep off and he does everything at the highest level. His ability and athleticism are constantly improving."
Tanner Scott was the other NDC player to play for Barker and be drafted. He played for NDC in the 2013 season and would transfer to Howard University the following season. Scott made his MLB debut with the Orioles in 2017 and is currently the closer for the Miami Marlins where he has picked up 12 saves.
Ross played this summer in the Nothwoods League for the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters. They are a college summer league wood bat squad. He batted .421 with 72 hits, 18 extra bases hits, 10 home runs and 39 RBI in 42 games. Ross was the first DII player taken in this year's draft. Erdelyi gave the final thought:
"Ben has accomplished so much here at NDC, but his greatest accomplishments are yet to come. I look forward to watching him thrive doing what he loves."
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