MATT BASHORE

VITALS

Junior, Tipp City, Ohio
6 feet 3, 200 pounds
Left-handed pitcher
No. 46 overall pick, selected by the Minnesota Twins

THE SKINNY

Bashore had perhaps the best draft prospects of any Hoosier coming into this season, but a slow start in the non-conference schedule caused him to slip. Still, the left-hander finished strong, posting the best conference ERA among Big Ten pitchers and cementing his place as a top-five round player.

It took Bashore just 46 picks, the first compensation round, to know where he was going – though that was a bit of a surprise.

“They never were really that outspoken about what they thought of me,” Bashore said of the Twins. “We had maybe two conversations.”

Still, the surprise didn’t bother Bashore, who said he’s focused on getting into the Twins’ organization quickly and working his way to the majors.  

OF INTEREST

Bashore’s 244 strikeouts tied him with Eric Jacques (1986-89) for the most punchouts in school history. His 108 strikeouts in 2008 were just one short of a single-season record held by Vernon Wilshere (1936) and Eric Arnett, who tied the mark this season.  

ENDING STRONG

He started the 2009 season slow, struggling in the early going. But, by the time Big Ten season hit, he was on top of his game. He finished the season with a Big Ten-best 2.36 ERA in conference action.

That carried over into the Big Ten tournament, in which Bashore threw seven scoreless innings of nine-strikeout baseball in a 12-3 win against Minnesota.

Bashore nabbed all-tournament honors as a result.