In keeping with baseball tradition for left-handed pitchers, 2004 White River High graduate A.J. Huttenlocker can be seen as a bit eccentric – but in a disarming and comical way.
The easygoing 22-year-old southpaw was recently selected in the 44th round of the Major League Baseball draft by the Oakland Athletics organization and is currently playing on the rookie squad in Phoenix, Ariz., whose season ends Sept. 1.
“A.J. exemplified the quirky southpaw mound guy,” said Mike Williams, who was the Hornet skipper when Huttenlocker was toeing the slab at WRHS and still is. “He had this wild, curly, tangle of hair that stuck out of both sides of his baseball cap. I’d have to remind him every season on the first day of practice, that we had a hair-grooming policy.
“Also, he stood 6-foot-3 and weighed about 180 pounds and change, but he would always ride a Razor scooter out to practices and park it in the dugout.
“But you know what? His behavior sort of reminded everyone that b aseball is supposed to be fun and doesn’t have to be so darn serious all of the time. He kept everybody pretty loose and laughing and I appreciated his off-the-wall mannerisms most of the time.”
After his high school days Huttenlocker went on to throw for the Edmonds Community College Tritons, then transfered to Missouri Western University to pitch for the Griffons in St. Joseph, Mo., where he developed a wicked curve ball.
Despite sitting out the 2007 diamond campaign with an injured knee, the Buckley native performed well for MWU in 2008 and 2009 and became the first Griffon since 1975 to be selected in the Major League Baseball draft.
The highlight of his senior swan song was striking out 14 batters in a contest against Kansas’ Pittsburg State University Gorillas.
“When I signed the contract with the A’s I didn’t have much bargaining leverage, being as I was drafted 44th,” joked the former Hornet. “It was kind of like take it or leave it, if you know what I mean. I’m just happy that I’ve been given the opportunity to grind it out in the heat down here and continue on with my dream of pitching in the big show someday.”
Huttenlocker boasts good location and control with all his pitches; the change-up, curve and fastball, and has been working in Arizona on his velocity. His fastball usually ranges between 85 and 90 mph.
The A’s have been using him mostly in a closer role and he has pitched about a dozen innings with an earned-run average of approximately 3.0.
“I just have to keep on performing to the best of my abilities and who knows? Anything can happen in pro baseball,” Huttenlocker said. “Look at Mike Piazza, he wasn’t even drafted and he became one of the greatest pro players ever.”
The Athletics’ rookie team competes against the other rookie squads – Seattle Mariners, San Diego Padres, Chicago Cubs, San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Angels – at the Papago Baseball Complex.
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