This week we are catching up with former Waterloo Bucks pitcher Eric Wordekemper.  The New York Yankees drafted the Storm Lake, Iowa native in the 46th round of the 2005 MLB Amateur Draft.  Since being drafted, Wordekemper has worked his way up the Yankees minor league system, seeing action at all levels of the Yankees’ farm system, playing for both their Double A Trenton Thunder and their Triple A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees in 2009 and 2010.

Wordekemper started the 2009 season playing in the Eastern League for Trenton.  There, he appeared in 28 games, all out of the bullpen.  Before being called up to Columbus, Wordekemper threw 42 innings, finishing his stint with the Thunder with a 1-2 record, a 3.00 ERA, and 32 strikeouts.

After being called up to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Wordekemper saw action in 10 games, throwing 16.2 innings and striking out 12 batters, while walking just two.  Wordekemper finished the season in Triple A with a 2-0 record and a 4.32 ERA.  For the 2009 season, Wordekemper’s minor league stats have him with a 3-2 record and a 3.38 ERA.  The Creighton University product struck out 44 batters, while walking 15, and held batters to a .228 average.

In the 2010 season Wordekemper again split time between Trenton and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.  Starting the season in Trenton Wordekemper appeared in 23 games pitching a total of 34.1 innings and boasted an impressive 2.88 ERA while striking out 35 batters and walking only 8.  He was then called back up to the AAA club appearing in 24 games and pitching 31.2 games while having an ERA of 3.13 and striking out 29 batters and walking only 9.  Wordekemper has worked is way up the Yankee organization and has become a solid pitcher who is looking to break into the major leagues in the coming season. 

Wordekemper played for Waterloo in 2005 where he appeared in four games before signing with the Yankees.  During his time with the Bucks, Wordekemper threw 16 innings, struck out 14, and finished with a 0-2 record.

Check waterloobucks.com every Wednesday for “Catching Up with the Bucks.”