Ian Ostlund
Ostlund pitching for the West Michigan Whitecaps, Single-A affiliates of the Detroit Tigers on June 6, 2005
St. Louis Cardinals — No. 63
Pitcher
Born: October 17, 1978 (1978-10-17) (age 31)
Bats: Right	Throws: Left

Ian S. Ostlund (born October 17, 1978, in Harrisonburg, Virginia) is a Minor League Baseball pitcher with the St. Louis Cardinals organization. He is 6' 1", 200 lbs.

[edit] High school and college

Ostlund attended Turner Ashby High School in Bridgewater, Virginia, where he played baseball as a starting pitcher. He made history in 1997 when he hurled a no-hitter against nearby Harrisonburg and became one of only two pitchers in Virginia high school history to strike out the side in every inning, although he walked several batters.^[1] After graduation he attended the nearby Virginia Military Institute from 1997–2000. He gave a standout performance in his junior year (1999–2000), setting new school records for most wins and saves in a season, plus most career wins. That year Ostlund was named to the Virginia Division I All-State team.^[2] Following the season, Ostlund transferred to Virginia Tech, in the hopes of getting drafted: "Scouts don't look favorably upon me because I go to VMI and they see me having a good year as a possible fluke."^[3]

Ostlund entered Virginia Tech with expectations; Baseball America had named him the "top newcomer" in the Big East conference and he was coming off a banner year at VMI.^[4] However, he suffered a setback when he injured himself during the fall hunting season and posted an 8–5 record with a 4.17 ERA. This was good enough, however, to be drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 34th round, 1017th pick overall. Said Tigers' scout Bill Buck: "Left-handed pitchers are a commodity. You can never have too many of them."^[5]

[edit] Minor leagues

The Tigers assigned Ostlund to the Single-A Oneonta Tigers, where he went 2–5 with an ERA of 3.16. Of his 14 appearances that season, he started 10; since then he has worked as a reliever. He spent the 2002 season with the Single-A Lakeland Tigers, posting a 2.89 ERA over 29 appearances. Ostlund spent three days with the Tigers during spring training in 2003, but then struggled at Lakeland in the 2003 season with an ERA over 8. Concerned, the Tigers sent him to the West Michigan Whitecaps, where he showed improvement, going 3–0 with a 1.59 ERA and making the Midwest League's All-Star team.^[6]

Ostlund returned to Lakeland for 2004, but much of the season was lost to Tommy John surgery.^[7] Recovered in 2005, he went back down to the Whitecaps for the first part of the year, going 2–3 with a 2.40 ERA. Moved back up to Lakeland mid-year, he continued his success, going 4–3 with a 2.93 ERA. The Tigers promoted Ostlund to the Double-A Erie SeaWolves in 2006, where he went 9–5 with a 4.43 ERA. Ostlund improved at Erie in 2007, enough that the Tigers promoted him to the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens mid-season, where he posted a 2–1 record with a 4.50 ERA. He became a free agent at the end of the 2008 season. Ostlund signed a minor league contract with the St. Louis Cardinals on November 19, and was invited to Spring Training for 2009.^[8][9]

Ostlund joined the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds at the conclusion of spring training, but after seven games, primarily in relief, went on the disabled list.^[10]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Career statistics and player information from Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)
• Ian Ostlund: The Valley's Own