Kenosha Wis. – First baseman and slugger, Zach Ratcliff of the Kenosha Kingfish, has been selected to participate in the TD Ameritrade College Home Run Derby as a contestant from the Ohio State University. The Derby will be held at 7:30 p.m. CT July 3rd at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Nebraska and will be televised live on ESPN.
Ratcliff will be one of eight competing in the derby and was selected in result of his strong performance in his sophomore season as a Buckeye. The Blacklick, Ohio native finished the year with a .232 average including two doubles, two home runs, 15 RBI and 11 runs scored in 25 starts. Looking to defend his title is Michael Aquino, from Rice College.
This summer marks Ratcliff’s first in the Northwoods League and has wasted no time making his presence known. He currently is hitting .284 with six doubles, 21 RBI and 16 runs scored. He sits in second place in the league for home runs with seven on the year, and leads the Kingfish team respectively. He also claims the number two spot with 21 RBI for King Elvis’s crew, behind his fellow Ohio State University teammate Pat Porter.
With the Kingfish season at its midway point, Ratcliff has become a staple in manager Duffy Dyer’s line-up. He has started the last seven games and the first baseman commonly sits in the number four spot behind his teammate Pat Porter. The Porter and Ratcliff combo, a Duffy Dyer specialty, has proven successful with four of Ratcliff’s homers coming with runners on base.
Past participants of the derby have had success beyond the collegiate level. Aaron Judge, from the 2012 derby was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 2013 draft, number 32 overall. Derek Fisher also from the 2012 derby and former Madison Mallards player was drafted number 37 overall by the Houston Astros in the 2014 draft.
For more information on the derby, log on to www.collegehomerunderby.com. To see the Kingfish in action this summer, contact the Kenosha Kingfish ticket office at 262.653.0990 or log on to www.kingfishbaseball.com for any other information.
