Optimism of Ohlendorf '05 goes far

Imagine this: It's one of your first days in the major leagues, and you are on the mound against your team's most storied rival. You throw a pitch to the opposing batter, and you hear the dreadful crack of the ball being hit out of the park.

On Sept. 15, 2007, this became reality for New York Yankees relief pitcher Ross Ohlendorf '05. In only his second major league game ever, the six foot, four inch, 235-pound right hander gave up a home run to Boston Red Sox first baseman Eric Hinske.

Luckily for Ohlendorf, giving up the home run did not have a profound impact on the overall result of the game. The Yankees were already facing a 9-1 deficit when Ohlendorf stepped up to the mound in the ninth inning.

When Ohlendorf is asked about his experience against the Red Sox, he doesn't mention giving up the longball. Instead, he focuses on getting the opportunity to play.

"It was really exciting," Ohlendorf said. "I'm glad I got to pitch a game at Fenway. Even though it doesn't hold as many fans as other stadiums, it was packed and created a great atmosphere."

His ability to remain positive even in adverse situations has contributed to his coveted spot on the Yankees playoff roster. As a reliever during the regular season, Ohlendorf pitched 6.1 total innings with a 2.84 ERA, striking out nine batters in the process.

Known for his stellar sinker, Ohlendorf laid the foundations for his success during his three years as a Tiger. In 2002, he earned Ivy League Rookie of the Year honors after going 6-3 with a 3.08 ERA. In 2003, he remained consistent, and finished the season with a 3.57 ERA.

After winning seven games his junior year, he was picked by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the fourth round of the MLB draft. Later, Ohlendorf became part of a trade that made him unintentionally famous. Then-Yankees pitcher Randy Johnson was sent to the Diamondbacks, and Ohlendorf packed his bags for New York.

Playing for Scranton Wilkes-Barre, a AAA affiliate of the Yankees, Ohlendorf struggled. In 66.1 innings, he had a 5.02 ERA with three wins and three losses. During that stretch, he suffered back and hamstring injuries.

Ohlendorf's determination and optimism helped him get through the injuries and, eventually, into the major leagues. For Ohlendorf, injury was just another obstacle to overcome.

"My back and hamstring are fine now," Ohlendorf said. "I went to Tampa for two months to initially work on getting healthy and then to work on getting my arm back into pitching shape."

His first major league relief duty came on Sept. 11, 2007, against the Toronto Blue Jays, a game that the Yankees won by a score of 9-2. During the ninth inning, Ohlendorf surrendered no hits and struck out one batter. Solid performances like his first start against the Blue Jays enabled him to make the playoff roster.

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Unfortunately for Ohlendorf, his performance in the playoffs has been less than stellar. In Game One of the American League Divisional Series against the Cleveland Indians, his number was called after starting pitcher Chien-Ming Wang gave up seven runs in four-and-a-half innings on the mound.

With the Yankees down 7-3, Ohlendorf officially made his mark on the MLB playoffs. Unfortunately for the Yankees, it was not a good mark. Third baseman Casey Blake hit a double into right field, scoring teammates centerfielder Kenny Lofton and rightfielder Franklin Gutierrez. Blake's double increased the Indians' lead to six, essentially putting the game out of reach for Ohlendorf and the Yankees.

As of Sunday evening, the Yankees were down 2-1 in the series against the Indians, and it is unlikely that Ohlendorf will be called on to pitch again during the series.

Through all of his tough times and all the adversity he has faced, Ohlendorf remained positive and believes that bad days are just a part of the game.

"[You have to] believe in yourself even when things aren't going well," Ohlendorf said. "Some people continue to struggle because they get down on themselves. You have to have confidence to do well, and it can be tough to stay confident when you have a bad game or two."

Though Ohlendorf's future remains less than certain, especially considering his recent playoff performance, one thing is for sure — the positive mentality and determination he shows on and off the field will continue even if he does not don Yankee pinstripes next season.