Steam Alum Traded

The Normal Cornbelters of the Frontier League traded outfielder Asif Shah to Winnipeg of the American Association for future consideration

Press for Steam Alums

Jon Edginton

Jake Proctor/Zak Isler

Ben Thomas

Perfect Game CrossChecker Summer Collegiate League Coverage

Steam Lose to End Season

NEWARK, OHIO – It was “win or go home” as the Steam needed to beat Licking County in
order to advance to the next round of the GLSCL playoffs. The Steam went home with a 9-2
loss.  Read more...

Jefferson Signs with Pirates

More Players with Steam Ties Drafted on Day 3

Jefferson and 3 former Steam Players drafted

Cincinnati Steam pitcher Michael Jefferson was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 22nd round with the 662nd selection. The left-handed pitcher from Louisiana Tech University by way of Clermont Northeast has played for the Steam the past two summers. Jefferson, who was drafted last June in the 46th round by the New York Mets, is a redshirt junior with one season of college eligibility remaining. He has plenty of options including signing with the Pirates and becoming a professional immediately or he could return to school and hope go higher in the June 2012 draft. Jefferson, who is currently on the Steam’s roster, was 6-4 with a 3.56 ERA in 18 appearances with 70 strikeouts and 46 walks in 86 innings pitched this spring with LA Tech.

Kent State infielder Travis Shaw was the first former Steam player to hear his name called in this year’s draft. The Washington Court House, Ohio native was selected in the ninth round with the 292nd pick by the Boston Red Sox. Shaw was also drafted by the Red Sox coming out of high school in 2008 as a 32nd round pick. Shaw hit five home runs for the 2009 Steam club that won the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League tournament championship while playing mainly as a designated hitter and first baseman. Shaw, who played mainly third base at Kent State, helped lead the Golden Flashes to the Mid-American Conference regular season title, conference tournament championship and NCAA regional appearances all three seasons that he played for the team. The son of former Cincinnati Reds pitcher Jeff Shaw is expected by baseball insiders to sign with the Red Sox and give up his final year of college eligibility.

Cody Elliott, who also played on the 2009 Steam team, was selected in the 21st round with the 638th selection by the Cleveland Indians. Elliott who just finished his junior season at Ball State was a high school baseball and football standout in Northern Kentucky at Beechwood. Elliott, a second team All-Mid-American Conference performer this past spring, led Ball State in hits (64), RBI (38), runs (34), doubles (12), triples (5), slugging percentage (.482) and stolen bases (14). The centerfielder was a college teammate of current Steam infielder Tim Issler. Last summer, Elliott played for the Chillicothe Paints and helped lead that team to the Prospect League Championship.

The fourth player with ties to the Steam to be drafted in the second day of this year’s draft was Dave Middendorf. The left-handed pitcher just completed his college career at Northern Kentucky University as the program’s all-time leader in strikeouts (349). Middendorf went five spots after Jefferson in the 22nd round with the 666th selection by the Kansas City Royals. Last June, Middendorf was selected by the Yankees in the 44th round but elected to return to NKU for his senior season. It turned out to be a good decision as he was the Great Lakes Valley Conference and Midwest Region pitcher of the year along with earning Division-II first-team All-American honors. In 2011, the LaSalle alum set a single-season record with 127 strikeouts in 109.1 innings pitched for the Norse. Middendorf was a member of the 2008 Steam club that went 30-10 and won both the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League regular and tournament championships.

The Steam opens the 2011 season on Friday night June 10 at Western Hills High School with a schedule 7:05 first pitch versus the Lexington Hustlers.

Steam boasts first MLB player

Josh Harrison, a member of the inaugural Cincinnati Steam roster in 2006, has become the first Steam alumni to make it to the big leagues. The University of Cincinnati and Princeton High School stand-out was called up to the Pittsburgh Pirates on May 30.

Harrison, whose name is sprinkled throughout the Bearcats’ record book, was originally drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the sixth round with the 191st pick in the 2008 amateur entry draft. The infielder was traded to the Pirates organization on July 30, 2009. In three professional seasons, Harrison is a four-time All-Star while playing in 367 minor-league games. During his professional career, Harrison has a .307 batting average with 14 home runs, 170 RBI, 84 doubles and 75 stolen bases. At the time of his call-up, Harrison was hitting .321 for the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians.

In three seasons (2006-08) at UC, Harrison landed in the top ten in career batting average, runs, hits, doubles RBI, total bases and stolen bases. In 2008, Harrison helped lead the Bearcats to a second-place finish in the Big East standings and school-record 39 wins. He also earned individual accolades including second-team All-American and Big East co-Player of the Year with a .378 batting average.

Harrison played one summer (2006) for the Cincinnati Steam and helped guide the team to a 22-18 record and a playoff berth. He led the team in batting average, hits, total bases, slugging percentage and on-base percentage.

The Steam is a proud member of the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League and will begin its sixth season on June 10th at Western Hills High School versus the Lexington Hustlers.

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Former Steam Players...Where are They Now?

Cincinnati Steam Archives