TERRE HAUTE —
It’s obviously a bonus to recruit a college baseball player that can pitch once a week and take the field and bat in the middle of the batting order the rest of the time.
Terre Haute South graduate A.J. Reed, for example, was one of the top young players in the nation to do so for nationally-ranked Kentucky. He’s taken his talents to the prestigious Cape Cod League this summer.
But Two left-handed pitchers take on a similar role for the 2012 Terre Haute Rex: Michael Schroeder and Kyle Zimmerman.
Rex manager Brian Dorsett quickly developed an affinity for Schroeder, a native of Crown Point who is leading the Prospect League with 27 runs-batted-in this season.
Schroeder joined the Rex late during the team’s run to a 2011 playoff berth as second-half champions of the Central Division, becoming a key addition and a starter in the playoffs.
“He took the ball, he came in on the road, he actually got two wins in a doubleheader. It was funny because we hadn't even seen him swing the bat yet. Then all of a sudden he got up, he’s driving the ball everywhere,” Dorsett said.
Schroeder was the first player to contact Dorsett about playing again in 2012, showing he enjoys playing at Bob Warn Field. Dorsett lights up when talking about the versatile ballplayer.
“He was the first guy last year that even asked me about playing. I said 'you've got a spot on my squad right now.’ He’s a two-way guy that loves to compete,” Dorsett said.
Zimmerman, a left-handed thrower and right-handed batter, has played well recently in both roles. He tossed 8 1/3 innings in a winning effort Saturday and had three hits Tuesday night against Dubois County.
Rex pitching coach John Howes said both guys have been fun to coach, especially considering the extra work it takes to prepare in that dual role.
“He knows how to pitch, knows how to work hitters,” Howes said of Zimmerman. “They’re both bulldogs. They compete and go after batters. They’re a joy to coach because you know they’re going to give it their all every time out.”
Schroeder had a big spring for Lewis University, a Division II program in the far West suburbs of Chicago. The 6-foot-2, 220-pound junior made 45 starts at first base and eight starts on the mound, hitting .335 with seven home runs and 38 RBIs. He was also third on the team with a 3.18 earned-run average in 51 innings.
Zimmerman was just a freshman at Division II Wayne State University, starting six games and batting .287 as an every-day first baseman. Balancing both jobs just takes a little extra mental focus, but it’s something Zimmerman has grown accustomed to.
“I’ve done it my whole life so I’ve gotten used to it. You’ve just got to keep in mind the things you have to do with position players and pitching. Make your start, get your running in as a pitcher,” Zimmerman said.
Zimmerman has struggled at times in the first inning, Howes said, but has settled into some quality starts. At the plate, he’s hitting .333 over the last week to raise his average to .230.
“I’m starting to feel better at the plate. I was struggling a little bit. I just need to let the ball get deeper. I’ve been working in the cage a little bit,” Zimmerman said.
Schroeder has been a consistent force in the Rex lineup since the beginning of the 2012 season. His 10 doubles lead the Rex and rank him second in the league. Many of those are balls that find the gap in left-center field.
“I’m an oppo guy. I like seeing the ball deep so anytime I do that, I just like putting the barrel on it,” Schroeder said. “When I was younger, I liked to pull everything. Now people just tell me to look at the opposite field. I usually just go where the pitch is pitched.”
Schroeder laid into a ball and drove it to right-center field for a home run off the scoreboard in a big win Tuesday against Dubois County as the Rex pounded out 14 hits in a 12-6 victory.
“I got a hanging off-speed pitch and just got the barrel out there,” Schroeder said of the two-run shot.
On Saturday, Schroeder stepped in for his first start on the mound when Kameron Stady had some pain his arm. Schroeder tossed 4 2/3 innings and allowed just one run as the Rex eventually won 2-1.
“I’ll play outfield, first base, pitch, wherever they need me,” Schroeder said.
His most important role appears to be run producer. Dorsett has used him in the clean-up spot in most games.
“I’m seeing the ball well, I like being up in those situations. As a hitter, if you get a man in scoring position, that's what you have to do, get them in,” Schroeder said.
Terre Haute Rex
Related Photos
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Delivery: Terre Haute Rex pitcher Michael Schroeder fires a pitch to the plate in the first inning against the Quincy Gems.
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Tribune-Star/Jim Avelis Trot: Rex batter Michael Schroeder rounds third base on a home run trot after a three-run blast over the center field wall.
Discussion
Rex duo working overtime
Schroeder, Zimmerman playing big roles as pitcher, hitter for Rex
- Terre Haute Rex
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2012 an up, down season for Rex
The Terre Haute Rex went through plenty of trials and tribulations during the summer of 2012.
The team got off to a sluggish start to settle for third place during the first half of the Prospect League race, but manager Brian Dorsett rallied the troops to a second-half title. -
Metro Roundup: Dorsett, Rex players honored in Prospect League postseason awards
Terre Haute Rex closer Nick Blount won one award and shared another and Brian Dorsett shared Manager of the Year honors as the Prospect League announced postseason awards Saturday.
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Rex out of playoffs
Successful playoff baseball = clean baseball.
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Rex mix, match their way to win
The Terre Haute Rex clinched a playoff spot last Thursday … but there were still four games to be played.
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Rex turn eye to Prospect playoffs
Fans attending this evening’s Terre Haute Rex game should expect some handouts, some surprises — and probably better start by the home team than the Rex could provide Saturday night.
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Rex drop road game to Sliders 7-1
One night after a dramatic come-from-behind victory, the Terre Haute Rex went down meekly to the Springfield Sliders 7-1 in Prospect League baseball Friday night.
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Rex defeat Springfield twice, clinch spot in playoffs
It was a long but fruitful night for the playoff-bound Terre Haute Rex.
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Playoff march continues: Rex creep closer to postseason with victory over Dans
Hire the band, make the floats, and rent out a street.
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Rex split, retain 3 1⁄2-game advantage in West Division
A five-run ninth-inning rally fell far short for the Terre Haute Rex on Sunday night in Prospect League baseball.
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No no-hitter, but Rex triumphs
Kyle Zimmerman took a no-hitter into the seventh inning, lost his control and the lead, but the Terre Haute Rex offense had an immediate answer Friday night at Bob Warn Field.
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Travel baseball teams enjoy busy summer
So in the past two or three years, the increase in local travel baseball options has been led by three groups, Indiana (formerly Terre Haute) Havoc, Riley Recreation League and Junior Rex.
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First-place Rex top rival Bombers
If you haven’t been to a Terre Haute Rex game yet this season, tonight might be the time to go.
The Rex have a second straight home game against the Dubois County Bombers, a potential Prospect League West Division playoff preview — and a battle between maybe the division’s two biggest rivals. -
Rex top Cavemen, raise record to 14-6
The first-place Terre Haute Rex picked up a 6-4 victory Wednesday at Hannibal, Mo., against the Cavemen.
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Rex win first game of Saturday doubleheader
Terre Haute maintained its stronghold on first place in the Prospect League West Division on Saturday, the Rex defeating Dubois County 6-1 in the first game of a doubleheader.
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Strunc fans 10, Rex win 12-10
Power pitching and power hitting kept a season-high crowd of 1,732 Rex fans on the edge of their seats Friday night at Bob Warn Field.
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Starting role suits Cunningham as Rex win
Nick Cunningham took the mound Thursday in his relatively new role as starting pitcher looking to give the Terre Haute Rex some breathing room atop the Prospect League West Division standings.
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Rex fall at Danville, maintain two-game division lead
The Terre Haute Rex lost 7-4 on Wednesday at Danville, falling to 9-4 in the second half of the Prospect League schedule.
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High drama, but no win
Pinch-hitter Michael Eberle provided patient Terre Haute Rex fans with plenty of excitement by belting a three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning to tie the score against the Springfield Sliders at 9-9.
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Rex cool off against Springfield
It was a game Terre Haute probably didn’t deserve to win, and, despite an outstanding bullpen effort and focused hitting in the last few innings, the Rex did lose Monday for the first time since July 4 at Quincy.
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Rex roll to lead in division
A constant theme repeated by Terre Haute Rex manager Brian Dorsett is how his summer-league collegians adjust to the everyday schedule, rather than the four or five-game slates they’re used to.
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Rex bounce back, dominate Dans
Terre Haute reaped the bounty of three Danville errors in the second inning. The Rex made the Dans pay for each of their errors with eight base hits in the inning and Terre Haute never looked back on its way to an 11-4 victory in front of sweltering crowd of 669.
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Rex open second half with victory at Quincy
The Terre Haute Rex opened the second half of the Prospect League season with a 8-7 victory Tuesday night at Quincy Stadium.
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Head coach could be next stop for Prettyman
Credited in part to some unforgettable memories at Cal State Fullerton, where Ronnie Prettyman scored the winning run in the 2004 College World Series, the Indiana State and Terre Haute Rex assistant coach wants to pursue a future in college coaching.
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Cunningham, McCurdy pace Rex to win over league leader
What was essentially a meaningless baseball game as far as the standings were concerned couldn’t have gone much better for the Terre Haute Rex on Saturday night at Bob Warn Field.
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Rex score 4 before getting first hit, then hang on for win
With temperatures over 100 degrees Friday, affairs at Bob Warn Field took a walk on the wild side.
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Rex duo working overtime
It’s obviously a bonus to recruit a college baseball player that can pitch once a week and take the field and bat in the middle of the batting order the rest of the time.
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Rex fall 7-1 to Hannibal
The Terre Haute Rex lost 7-1 on Thursday, falling behind 4-0 after the first inning at Bob Warn Field.
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Rex have winning streak snapped
The season-long five-game winning streak of the Terre Haute Rex came to an end Wednesday night at Dubois County.
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Rex move within four games of first-place Dubois County
The Terre Haute Rex moved within four games of the first-place Dubois County Bombers, scoring the first 11 runs in a 12-6 shellacking at Bob Warn Field on Tuesday.
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Rex take third straight, move to 12-11 overall
Wildness cost the Terre Haute Rex a precarious lead in the fifth inning, but thankfully for the home team Quincy returned the favor in the bottom of the ninth inning.
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