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Herrmann Answers Cleveland Indians' Call
Friday, June 04, 2010
Courtesy of Harvard Athletic Communications
Contributions from Justin B. Hill, MLB.com
COLUMBUS, Ohio –- Former Harvard pitcher Frank Herrmann has been called up to the Major League and will be pitching for the Cleveland Indians this weekend. The Chicago White Sox will host Cleveland on Friday, Saturday and Sunday before the Tribe returns home for a seven-game homestand with the first four coming against the Boston Red Sox.
Before getting the call, Herrmann was having a masterful season at AAA Columbus as a relief pitcher for the Clippers. Going into Wednesday night's game, RHP Frank Herrmann had pitched 27 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings. For the season, Herrmann is 3-0 with two saves and a microscopic 0.31 ERA in 28 2/3 innings. He has allowed just 15 hits and eight walks while striking out 22.
His latest stint came in a 4-3 win against Louisville on Memorial Day when he struck out the side in a scoreless ninth inning en route to a victory. Herrmann is clearly on the radar screen for the Cleveland Indian’s top minor league affiliate.
Back in the summer of 2005, Herrmann’s connections at Harvard brought him to Hawaii, where the big right-hander figured would be a good place to spend the summer playing baseball.
"I said, 'Wow, living in Hawaii for six weeks for free, what an opportunity,'" he recalled thinking.
Playing baseball in Hawaii wasn't nearly the opportunity that opened up for him after his summer there ended. For Herrmann impressed an Indians scout, who took Herrmann's name to higher-ups in the organization. They decided the right-handed prospect was worth the investment.
They talked dollars with Herrmann, and when the Indians agreed to let Herrmann, an economics major, return to Harvard in time for fall classes, the two sides settled on a deal with a bit more than pocket money as his signing bonus.
"It was an amazing whirlwind of events how it all happened," Herrmann said. "If one thing went wrong, if the Indians had said, 'No, you can't go back to school your next fall,'" Herrmann, 23, wouldn't be working his way toward the big leagues.
To read the complete story, head to GoCrimson.com, the home of Harvard University athletics.
