ABERDEEN, Md. — W.F. West product Mitch Gueller was the starting pitcher in the New York-Penn League All-Star Game on Tuesday, but took the loss as the North All-Stars beat the South 4-2 in front of 3,622 fans at Ripken Stadium.
It doesn’t, however, impact the incredible season the former Bearcat is having. Gueller is 7-1 with a 1.84 ERA and 36 strikeouts in 53.2 innings pitched for the Williamsport Crosscutters of the Philadelphia Phillies organization. With numbers like that, it’s no surprise he was handed the ball for the South All-Stars.
Gueller was also the highest draft pick playing in the all-star game. The 21-year old was a compensation round pick by the Phillies in 2012, and the 54th overall pick in the entire MLB draft.
Before the first pitch, it was announced that the game would last 8 1⁄2 innings, even if the host South team was trailing, due to recent injuries and promotions. And with a shortage of pitchers, there was a 25-pitch limit for each hurler, even if he did not record three outs in an inning.
Gueller, on the season is posting career highs in opponent’s batting average (.201), WHIP (1.06), strikeouts (36), earned runs allowed (11), runs allowed (15), ERA (1.84) and wins (7). The Crosscutters have the best record in the New York-Penn League at 32-19 with a 5.5 game lead in the division standings.
The New York-Penn League is at the Short Season Single-A level in baseball’s minor leagues, and Gueller has pitched for Williamsport since 2013.
In his senior year at W.F. West in 2012, Gueller posted a 6-0 record with an 0.80 ERA and 70 strikeouts as the Bearcats won the Evergreen 2A Conference title.
Gueller’s younger brother, Tanner, is currently playing quarterback at Idaho State University in Pocatello.
