Ben Orloff

Ben Orloff
UC Irvine Anteaters
Coach
Born: (1987-04-26) April 26, 1987
Simi Valley, California
Bats: Right Throws: Right

Ben Orloff (born April 26, 1987) is an American former professional baseball player. A shortstop, Orloff played minor league baseball for the Houston Astros organization from 2009 to 2013. Orloff retired on June 12, 2013 and became an assistant coach for the UC Irvine baseball team, replacing Pat Shine.[1][2]

Prior to playing professionally, he played college baseball for the University of California, Irvine, where he won the Brooks Wallace Award. He has also played in the World Baseball Classic, for the Israel national team.

High school and college

Orloff attended Simi Valley High School in Simi Valley, California, where he played for the school's baseball team as a shortstop, winning the California Interscholastic Federation championship in his junior year.[3] He then enrolled at the University of California, Irvine (UC Irvine), where he played college baseball for the UC Irvine Anteaters baseball team in the Big West Conference (BWC). He began his freshman season as a second baseman, but became the team's starting shortstop later in the year. He led the nation in sacrifice hits as a freshman, but struggled with a .217 batting average. He improved his hitting in his sophomore season,[4] as he finished the year with a .324 average.[5]

After his junior year, in which he had a .344 batting average, the Colorado Rockies drafted Orloff in the 19th round of the 2008 Major League Baseball draft, but he chose to return to college for his senior year.[5] In the 2009 season, Orloff had a .358 batting average and was named the BWC player of the year as the Anteaters won their first BWC championship in school history. Orloff received further recognition, as he won the Brooks Wallace Award as the nation's top collegiate shortstop, and received first-team All-America honors from the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association and third-team All-American honors from Collegiate Baseball. Orloff also set school records for career hits (280), runs scored (178), and games played (241).[6] The Houston Astros drafted Orloff in the ninth round of the 2009 Major League Baseball draft, and he signed.

Minor leagues

Orloff suffered from elbow tendinitis in 2009, while playing for the Tri-City ValleyCats of the Class A-Short Season New York–Penn League (NYP).[7] Returning to Tri-City in 2010, Orloff led the team with a .307 batting average and 52 runs scored. He was named to the team's most valuable player and was recognized as a member of the NYP's all-star team.[8] He played for the Lexington Legends of the Class A South Atlantic League in 2011,[9] and the Lancaster JetHawks of the Class A-Advanced California League[10] and Corpus Christi Hooks of the Class AA Texas League in 2012.

Israel national team

Orloff, who is Jewish, played on the Israeli national baseball team during the qualifying round of the 2013 World Baseball Classic.[11]

References

  1. ↑ "Orloff joining 'Eaters coaching staff". Daily Pilot. Retrieved October 14, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Orloff retires in minors". Daily Pilot. Retrieved October 14, 2014.
  3. ↑ Jorrey, Kyle (March 11, 2005). "Ben Orloff: standing tall at shortstop". Simi Valley Acorn. Retrieved February 18, 2013.
  4. ↑ Faulkner, Barry (April 20, 2007). "Orloff one Eck of a shortstop". Daily Pilot. Retrieved February 18, 2013.
  5. 1 2 Rogers, Kendall (April 28, 2009). "UC Irvine's Orloff much more than a player". Rivals.com. Retrieved February 17, 2013.
  6. ↑ "Orloff gets top accolade". Daily Pilot. June 12, 2009. Retrieved February 18, 2013.
  7. ↑ "A conversation with ... ValleyCats 2B Ben Orloff". Times Union. July 4, 2010. Retrieved February 18, 2013.
  8. ↑ Ed Weaver (September 11, 2010). "Orloff selected as Cats' MVP". troyrecord.com. Retrieved February 18, 2013.
  9. ↑ Herald-Leader Staff Report (September 3, 2011). "Orloff's bases-loaded single sends Legends past Sand Gnats | Lexington Legends". Kentucky.com. Retrieved February 18, 2013.
  10. ↑ "Stockton bats fall silent again on road". Recordnet.com. April 28, 2012. Retrieved February 18, 2013.
  11. ↑ Barancik, Scott (September 14, 2012). "It's here: Team Israel reveals its roster". Jewish Baseball News. Retrieved February 17, 2013.

External links

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