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Former Cougar drafted by MLB
BY ANDREW MAY, Staff Writer
The Colony High School may soon be adding a former athlete to its list of professional players.
Zach Ashwood was drafted by the Chicago Cubs with the third pick of the 16th round in the 2007 Major League Baseball draft last week. Though only 19 players have gone directly to the majors after being selected, the last being Xavier Nady in 2000, Ashwood certainly has the tools and stature to get there in the next few years.
After graduating from The Colony in 2004, Ashwood enrolled at Texas Christian University, where he pitched two seasons for the Horned Frogs before transferring to the University of Kansas. The 6-foot-5, 205 pound lefty went 4-4 last season for the Jayhawks, posting a 5.77 ERA in 12 starts. He drew the attention of major league scouts for his ability to throw multiple pitches and consistently register a knee-buckling velocity on the radar gun.
The southpaw took his game to TCU where he helped lead the Horned Frogs to a Mountain West Conference title as a freshman. He finished his first collegiate campaign with a 2-0 mark and 20 strikeouts in 23.2 innings of work, combining on two shutouts, one as a starter and the other as a reliever.
Not accustomed to coming out of the bullpen, Ashwood struggled a bit his sophomore season. He went 0-1 with a 5.08 ERA in 33.2 innings, fanning 22 batters in 13 appearances.
Feeling as if his best opportunity to receive recognition would come as a starter, Ashwood transferred to Kansas for his junior year to get back into the rotation. He produced some dominant outings for the Jayhawks, but was set back at times by the inability to hit his spots as the second or third starter.
“He pitched some good games, but struggled with his command,” KU head baseball coach Ritch Price said. “The key for him is to find his command because he has enough of a fastball to advance.”
Price said Ashwood regularly registered 88-91 on his bread and butter pitch, and complemented it with a decent curve ball and change-up.
“He has the potential to play at [the MLB] level,” Price said. “He’s got a great body, a live arm, and a tremendous upside.”
Ashwood was the first of four Jayhawks to be selected in this year’s draft, marking the fourth straight year that KU has had four or more players drafted. The 487th pick of 1,453 total players chosen, Ashwood now faces a long journey through the minor leagues before he will be ready to pitch in the pros. Price said Ashwood will likely be in the minors for the next four to five years before making the jump, if his big break comes at all.
“He’s got to work his tail off and make the most of this,” Price said. “It takes incredible dedication. It is going to be four long years.”
Ashwood spent last summer playing for the Anchorage Bucs of the Alaska Baseball League, going 5-4 with a 2.40 ERA and 36 strikeouts in 60 innings. This summer will be spent in the Cubs’ farm system as he looks to join the list of former Cougars to reach the peak in their respective sport.
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