UConn: Westporter Ben Casparius Selected in Fifth Round of MLB Draft by Los Angeles Dodgers
Photo by Ian BethuneFrom SB Nation: The UConn BlogUConn pitcher Ben Casparius selected in fifth round of MLB Draft by Los Angeles Dodgers
The Westport, Connecticut native will likely begin his professional career with Los Angeles.
by Shawn McGrath
UConn baseball right-handed pitcher Ben Casparius has been selected in the fifth round of the MLB Draft by the Los Angeles Dodgers, No. 162 overall. The recommended signing bonus value for this pick is $318,200.
He will join Wills Montgomerie, who was selected in the sixth round in 2017, in the Dodgers organization.
Casparius, originally from Westport, Connecticut, only had one season in Storrs but made it count. He made a team-leading 15 starts, earning an 8-5 record with a 4.03 ERA. His best outing of the season was March 5 against Miami (OH), scattering three hits in a complete-game shutout with 11 strikeouts. He also exited three additional starts without surrendering a run, including against UMass, Georgetown and Creighton. Casparius struck out 15 hitters in seven innings against the Hoyas, his career-high.
He led the Huskies in innings (91 2/3), as well as strikeouts (127), which translates to 12.5 strikeouts per nine innings. His strikeout mark is also second in UConn history, behind only Colin McLaughlin, who notched 138 punch-outs in nearly 20 more innings (111). This was enough to earn Casparius ABCA First-Team honors for the Northeast region, as well as second-team all-conference honors and a spot on the Big East all-tournament team.
Casparius’ best pitch is his change-up, which MLBPipeline graded a 55 on the 20-80 scouting scale, which translates to above-average. His fastball, slider and control were each given 50 grades, which is average. His fastball sits around 91 mph but he has been recorded as high as 95 mph. He projects as a strike-thrower with a solid three-pitch mix. This, despite his slight 6-foot, 208-pound build, leaves him a chance to start through his professional career.
Casparius spent his first two years at North Carolina, where he played sporadically as both a hitter and pitcher, before missing the 2020 season due to transfer rules. As a result, he has some eligibility remaining, should he decide to return to UConn.
Mensa Foundation Awards Two Westporters Scholarships
Olivia Consoli and Whitney O’Reardon, both of Westport, were awarded scholarships by the Mensa Foundation. Contributed photo .Olivia Consoli is the only recipient of the 4 Paws and a Tail Scholarship in 2021. This is a national level scholarship. Olivia is currently enrolled at Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine. After working in Oncology at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital and the Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, she is now focusing on general practice.
Whitney O’Reardon is the recipient of the Diana Mossip Memorial Scholarship. Whitney is currently enrolled at Wheaton College in Norton, Massachusetts. Her interests are architecture, visual arts and historical preservation. She plans to be a historic bui private sector as well as with nonprofit organizations worldwide.
The Foundation’s scholarship program bases its awards totally on a 500-word essay written by the applicants. There are no requirements for Mensa membership, grades, or financial need. To learn more about the Foundation and the scholarship program, contact local scholarship chair Darcy Sledge at darcy.sledge@icloud.com, or visit www.mensafoundation.org
Bradley Street Blooms for Independence Day
Hydrangeas are in full bloom on the corner of Bradley Street and Compo Road South, with the mass of color surrounding the home known for the annual display of pedals just in time for Independence Day.