Bobcats to Big Leaguers

Checking in on the biggest names in Quinnipiac Baseball history

Since the mid 1970’s, only a handful of players have made their way from Hamden to some type of MLB affiliate and in some cases, the big leagues.

Of the 23 players that have been drafted between 1974 and 2021, only one has cracked a major league roster, that being Turk Wendell who enjoyed an 11 year career with the Chicago Cubs, New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies and Colorado Rockies all while being named “baseball’s favorite oddball” due to the many camera crews focusing in on Turk brushing his teeth in the dugout before packing in a handful of black licorice into his mouth.

Wendell was drafted in 1988 alongside three teammates; Brain Landy (Cincinnati), Dominick Rovasio (Minnesota) and Doug Bond (Cincinnati). While none of the former made it quite as far as Wendell, the Quinnipiac name had become well represented in the minors.

After leaving Quinnipiac for Billings, Montana, Bond immediately noticed the discrepancies between college ball and the next level, even if it wasn’t the big leagues; “The game was the same, it really was. The hardest part to adjust to was how players were treated, you needed to be your best off the field at all times without exceptions. I even got fined for smelling bad once” said Bond.

Bond made his way back to Hamden for his last year of school to become the team’s hitting coach before rejecting a minor league contract with the Seattle Mariners and riding off into the sunset, accomplishing the dreams of every kid who puts on their glove and stands in the batters box.

As for the others, they are either grinding their way through the minor leagues or have hung up the cleats for good.

Since current manager John Delaney, a 2008 draft pick himself, took over in 2015, five players have heard their names called in the annual MLB draft with the most recent being Colton Bender who finished his four-year career with the Bobcats with a .295 batting average, 7 homeruns and 70 runs batted in before being selected by the San Diego Padres in the 10th round last year.

The race to become the second Quinnipiac alumni to make the majors has been ongoing since Wendell exited the league in 2004.

Matthew Batten has the best case out of all active Quinnipiac players. Batten, drafted in 2017, is in his fifth year as a minor leaguer and at age 26, is currently rostered on the San Diego Padres triple-a affiliate the El Paso Chihuahuas.

After a mediocre 2017 season in the lowest level of pro-ball, Batten adjusted to the professional game with impressive 2018-2021 seasons.

“The biggest difference is the speed of the game. Same game just at a faster speed and executed at a higher rate,” said Batten.

Though Batten is currently at the highest level of minor-league baseball, Quinnipiac alumni Robbie Hitt might be on the faster track to the big leagues of the two.

The right-handed reliever, also drafted in 2017, plays for the Biloxi Shuckers, the double-a affiliate for the Milwaukee Brewers.

In most cases of minor league baseball, the double-a holds the more highly-touted prospects. Making the triple-a a home for most athletes who just don’t have enough to get the promotion to the bigs.

Hitt has an impressive 3.56 earned run average in 197.1 innings pitched. But maybe the most important thing for his minor league career is the fact that he is a member of the Brewers organization.

The Brewers are understood around the league as a current day pitching factory, continually producing successful talent from their minor leagues.

“The biggest difference [between college and professional baseball] is that in minor league baseball the teams care more about the development of prospects than wins and losses,” said Hitt.

Hitt hopes to become the next success story out of the Brewers organization.

Though the two are actively fighting to make the major leagues, they continue to reminisce of their time as Quinnipiac baseball players.

“Being on the baseball team at QU will always be an experience I look back on fondly. I learned a lot about pitching and being a teammate,” said Hitt.

Batten shared a similar notion, “my experience with the baseball program was great. I made a lot of life-long friendships and learned a ton. It’s a huge part of where I am today because I have that same chip on my shoulder that I developed at QU.”

The current Quinnipiac baseball team is ranked eighth in the MAAC and hasn’t quite been able to capture the same success as it has in the past. The last time the school has finished over .500 is in its 2019 season.

“I always pay attention to the team every year. I haven’t been able to watch, but I follow it online. I know any team led by coach D and coach Egan are going to be prepared and playing hard,” said Batten.

As for Hitt, he admits to rarely following the team’s recent seasons.

“I paid more attention in previous years when I still knew or had played with most of the team. I was extremely proud of the run they made in 2019 winning the MAAC tournament,” adding “ I have not paid much attention this season but I wish them the best of luck.”

Between Batten and Hitt, the Quinnipiac baseball alums have a chance to break the 18-year drought of a Quinnipiac major leaguer.

While the team's record has been troubling over the past couple of seasons, many players have been able to find homes in professional baseball after their college careers came to a close, paving the way for future student-athletes to catch the eyes of scouts and build the Quinnipiac baseball brand.