Eric Eymann:  Steadily Scaling the Rungs of the Baseball Ladder

Mark Wetzel hitting student Eric Eymann is a man with a plan:  "I just want to keep moving up.  I don't want to ever get stuck at any level," commented the Chattanooga Lookout's third baseman during a telephone interview from his home in Tennessee, then quickly adding with a chuckle, "well, at least not until I get to the majors, that is."   So far, that plan is working to perfection for the 2002 Creighton Prep graduate who just finished his fourth season of minor league ball in the Cincinnati Reds organization.  Following each of his three previous seasons, he has started the next season at a higher level.  After a breakout year in 2008 with the Looks, he hopes to move on up to the Red's AAA affiliate, the Louisville Bats of the International League -- located just 90 miles down I-71 from the Big Club.

Eymann's pro career got off to a bumpy start in the summer of 2005 when he suffered a broken bone in his hand in only his second game for the Gulf Coast Reds in short-season high rookie league action -- after going 1-for-3 with a double and a run scored in his first game.  Fortunately, Eymann was able to rebound from a six-week layoff to finish the season with the Billings (MT) Mustangs in the Pioneer League, hitting .239 in 34 games.  A strong showing in the League playoffs for the Mustangs at the end of the season helped propel Eymann up a level to the Red's Low A affiliate, the Dayton (OH) Dragons of the Midwest League, for the 2006 season.  Eymann spent a full season with the Dragons, playing third base, batting .238 and making the Midwest League's Mid-Season All-Star Game. 

Prior to the 2007 season, Eymann was promoted to the Red's Advanced A affiliate, the Sarasota (FL) Reds, where he saw action at shortstop, led the team in hits (121), doubles (28), was third in RBI's (53) and enjoyed an eleven game hitting streak in July during which he hit .370 -- all good enough for another promotion, this time to the AA Chattanooga Lookouts of the Southern League. 

Eric had a strong 2008 season for the Lookouts after working his way into the role of everyday starter at third base, finishing the year just one hit shy of .300 and making the roster of the Southern League Mid-Season All-Star Game.  Eymann's .299 season batting average was second only to teammate Chris Valaika's .301 for team high honors and was also second highest across the Reds' minor league system.  He led the team in doubles (31) and RBI's (71).  The highlight of Eric's 2008 season with the Lookouts came on May 18 when he drove in eight runs on three doubles while going 3-for-5 in a 17-11 win over the Mississippi Braves.  That outburst earned Eymann a share of the Lookouts' single-game RBI record with Jose Canseco (1985) and Butch Garcia (1989). 

Based on his improvement in 2008, Eymann is hopeful about the possibility of moving up to AAA Louisville.  "I feel that I came into my own as a hitter last season.  I've shown them (the Reds' management) that I can hit and that I can play multiple positions," offered Eymann.  "The Reds focus on being able to play a couple of positions.  I've played a lot of short and third, some first base, and I can even play outfield.  So that makes me feel that I have a shot to move up.  But I'll just have to wait and see.  I should have a pretty good idea later this month."

When asked about his work with Mark Wetzel and how it has contributed to his success in professional baseball, Eymann responded, "taking lessons from Mark has had a huge impact on my career.  He tries to make the swing as easy and simple as possible because there are so many other things that a hitter has to deal with at the plate.  It's a great way to hit.  I still go back to the drills that Mark and I have worked on over the years to solve problems that I'm having at the plate.  And I try to get in some workouts with him whenever I'm back in town."

Eric's affiliation with Wetzel began during his sophomore year in high school.  "I made varsity as a sophomore, but I was small.  I needed some extra work to catch up.  It wasn't until my senior year, though, that I really bought into what Mark was teaching.  That's the key . . . you have to buy into his system.  I really credit Mark with the improvement that I made going into my senior season."

During his junior and senior years at Prep, Eymann and his teammates won three state championships -- the spring high school season championship in 2001 and 2002 and the Class A American Legion State Championship in 2001 (finishing runner-up in 2002).  The Junior Bluejays were ranked third nationally in his junior year and seventh in the nation and first in the Midwest by USA Today the following year.  As a senior, he led his team in batting average (.482), on base percentage (.508), slugging (.800), doubles, RBI, hits and runs scored and was named First Team All-Nebraska. 

Following graduation from Prep, Eric played baseball at the University of Illinois for two seasons, earning Freshman All-America and Second Team All-Big Ten honors his freshman year -- starting at shortstop in all fifty-three of the Illini's games and finishing second on the team in batting average (.359), runs (37), triples (2), home runs (5), RBI's (32), slugging percentage (.530) and total bases (105).    

After his sophomore year, Eric transferred to Kansas State to improve his chances of getting drafted.  Despite playing for a month with a dislocated finger which hampered his productivity, he finished the season with a .303 batting average and was taken by Cincinnati in the 19th round.  And from there the steady ascent up the ladder has continued.

| More Information about Eric Eymann on MiLB website |