When Olivet Nazarene University talks baseball, three names continue to be the topic of many conversations: alumni Josh Altmann ’16, Ben Zobrist ’04 and Ben Heller ’13.
Utility man Josh Altmann was named the June 2018 Player of the Month for Minor League Baseball’s (MiLB) Carolina League. Playing for the Down East Wood Ducks MiLB team, he played 19 games and collected hits in 14 of those, in June alone. He led his league in OPS (1.1.83), extra-base hits (14), slugging percentage (.758) and on-base percentage (.425). He also leads his team in home runs and RBIs for the half, already setting career highs for a season in both — with just 69 games played as of July 9.
At the end of the 2017 season, Josh had 10 homeruns and 38 RBIs with a .244 batting average. He also made his first All-Star roster appearance in the 2017 Carolina League All-Star Classic.
Josh was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 22nd round of the 2015 MLB draft. He was the 17th of 40 players drafted from the NAIA and one of three drafted from the CCAC.
Ben Zobrist of the Chicago Cubs —another utility man — continues to demonstrate why he was chosen as Most Valuable Player of the 2016 World Series. In the July 7th match-up between the Cubs and the Cincinnati Reds at Wrigley Field, he delivered a clutch two-run double to help spark the Cubs to an 8-7 comeback victory.
For the 2018 season to date, Ben has racked up six home runs and 35 RBIs with a .292 batting average and .812 OPS. During his MLB career, he totals 163 home runs and 728 RBIs.
Ben is a three-time All-Star and two-time World Champion, now in his third season with the Cubs after he signed a four-year deal in December 2015. He played for the United States in the World Baseball Classic in 2013. He was the starting shortstop for Team USA at the 2005 World Cup in the Netherlands. He was originally drafted by the Houston Astros in the sixth round of the 2004 MLB draft.
Ben Heller is a pitcher with the New York Yankees. Currently on the disabled list, look for him to return to action for the 2019 season. He was selected by the Cleveland Indians in the 22nd round of the 2013 First-Year Player Draft out of Olivet. In a July 2016 dramatic trade, he went to the Yankees and has made 19 appearances since then. He posts a 3.00 ERA with 15 strikeouts in 18 career innings.
To learn more about Olivet’s Tiger baseball program, contact the Office of Admissions at admissions@olivet.edu or 800-648-1463.
Published: 7/13/2018
