WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. - In a pair of publications, Monmouth University junior pitcher Ryan Buch is listed as a "Top-100 Prospect" in the upcoming 2009 Major League Baseball Draft. This year's draft, which will begin on June 9th, will most likely feature San Diego State's Stephen Strasburg as the No. 1 overall pick, while Buch, who has helped lead the Hawks to 105 wins in the last three years will look to become the sixth Monmouth player drafted since 2003.
Buch, who holds an overall record of 22-8, with 234 strikeouts in 210.0 innings of work in his career in the Blue and White, set a new single-season record for strikeouts this year with 92, while leading the Hawks to a 2009 NCAA Regional appearance.
A three-time All-Northeast Conference selection, the right-hander ranks as a "Second-Round Talent" in the latest edition of Baseball America: "Buch broke out in 2007, when he went 9-2, 2.44 ERA as a freshman, and ranked as the No. 1 prospect in the Atlantic Collegiate League that summer. He's always had a prototype pitcher's frame and an excellent curveball, but his stock soared in April along with his velocity. Buch has reached the low 90s with his fastball since he was a freshman, and he has still pitched in that range for most of this spring. More recently he had run his fastball up to 95, sitting at 92-93. The velocity on his sharp, downer curveball has also spiked, reaching 84-85 mph... But scouts can dream on him, and he seems likely to be drafted in the first two rounds in June."
According to Baseball America, Buch is ranked as the 90th top prospect in the draft, and the No. 24 overall right-handed pitcher.
Perfect Game Crosschecker lists Buch as the No. 74 overall prospect.
If selected, the 6-3, 190 lb., Buch will join Brad Brach (San Diego Padres; 2008), Kyle Higgins (Texas Rangers; 2008), Chris Della Rocco (St. Louis Cardinals; 2004), Lance Koenig (Houston Astros; 2003) and Mike St. Martine (Montreal Expos; 2003) as Division I drafted players from Monmouth.
In 39 career appearances, which includes 35 starts, Buch stands second all-time at Monmouth in strikeouts and victories, both behind Brach (2005-08). His 3.43 overall ERA in three seasons also ranks third all-time in the Hawks' annals, while his freshman season ERA of 2.44 still stands fifth-best as a single-year mark.
The 2007 NEC and New Jersey Collegiate Baseball Association Rookie of the Year, and Freshman All-American by Collegiate Baseball, Buch made two starts for the Hawks in NCAA Regionals, facing Nebraska in 2007 in Tempe, Arizona, and squaring off against Missouri's Kyle Gibson (No. 4 overall prospect in this year's draft) last week in Oxford, Mississippi.
