Aug. 4, 2010
Heath's 2010 Season Recap | Tri-City Website | State College Website | Nittany Lions in the Pros
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Former Penn State All-American catcher and single-season home run king Ben Heath (Huntersville, N.C.) will return to Medlar Field at Lubrano Park this weekend when his Tri-City ValleyCats face the State College Spikes. The three-game series begins on Saturday evening.
Heath returns to Happy Valley where he finished his collegiate career less than three months ago. He will become the fourth Nittany Lion ever to play at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park as both an amateur and professional. Scott Gummo was the first when he appeared with the Hudson Valley Renegades in 2006. The following season, Gary Amato and Matt Cavagnaro became the first former Penn State players to suit up for the hometown State College Spikes.
The series begins at 7:05 p.m. on Saturday followed by tilts on Sunday (6:05) and Monday (7:05). There will be fireworks following Sunday's contest. To purchase tickets, please click here or visit the Spikes online at StateCollegeSpikes.com.
Following a record-breaking college season, Heath has continued his hot hitting in the professional ranks. He was assigned to short-season single-A Tri-City ValleyCats after being selected by the Houston Astros in the fifth round of this June's Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. He currently leads the squad in home runs with six (tied for fifth in the New York-Penn League) while driving in 20. He also has eight doubles and a team-leading .459 slugging percentage. He enters Wednesday's game at Mahoning Valley with an eight-game hitting streak.
Heath's first professional home run was a memorable one, tying the score with none on and two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning against Vermont (June 25).
Batting cleanup in the majority of games, Heath has seen time at both catcher and designated hitter. He has also united with former Big Ten rival Michael Kvasnicka, who was selected in the supplemental round (33rd overall) after playing collegiately for the Minnesota Golden Gophers.
All this comes following a breakout collegiate season for Heath, who shattered the school's single-season home run record with 19. He led the Nittany Lions in most every statistical category: average (.369), home runs (19), RBI (57), runs scored (53), doubles (16), extra-base hits (36), total bases (148) and slugging percentage (.747). He also finished with four multi-home run games - against Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, Ohio State, and Michigan State - to tie for tops in the nation.
On May 14, Heath hit his 18th home run of the season off Minnesota ace and San Francisco Giants' fourth round pick Seth Rosin to break the 32-year Penn State season mark held by Dave Simononis, this coming in his first at-bat at the historic Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome. Overall, Heath homered against three Big Ten aces, all who were selected in this year's MLB Draft. Along with Rosin, Alan Oaks (Michigan) was an eighth round pick by the Florida Marlins while Matt Bischoff (Purdue) went in the 20th round to the Seattle Mariners.
Heath cracked three different All-America teams while being named both a Dick Howser Trophy and Johnny Bench Award semifinalist. He also became the first Penn State player to earn ABCA First Team All-Mideast Region laurels since 2000.
The postseason honors were endless, being named a Louisville Slugger and PING!Baseball Second Team All-American and a Pro-Line Athletic NCBWA Third Team All-American to go along with his First Team All-Big Ten laurels. He was also named both a Howser and Bench semifinalist awarded to the top player and catcher in the nation, respectively. Only 25 players were named a Howser semifinalist while 16 cracked the Bench List.
Additionally, Heath was invited to the inaugural TD AMERITRADE College Home Run Derby, but was unable to participate due to his commitment with the ValleyCats. Eight of the nation's premier power homers were invited to participate.
Heath also became the Nittany Lions' highest position player chosen in the MLB Draft since 1976 and the highest for an underclassman in school history.
Check back to GoPSUsports.com following the series for a complete update on his return to Happy Valley.
Baseball camp information is now available. Call the Sports Camp Office at (814) 865-0561 or email them at SportCampInfo@outreach.psu.edu for more information.
Follow Penn State baseball on Twitter: www.twitter.com/psubaseball.
Take a look back at Heath's 2010 season with these video features