(4-3-20) For Celina’s Seth Lonsway it has been a roller coaster ride during his post high school baseball career.

It started with the MLB Draft in the summer of 2017, Lonsway was projected to go in the 5th round (or higher). Ohio’s Mr. Baseball had all of the credentials that can make future MLB stars.

However; he had to wait on draft day and wouldton’t be selected until the 19th round by the Cincinnati Reds. A disappointment that would lead him  accept Ohio State’s scholarship offer, the Buckeyes were thrilled to have him.

Then another ride on the roller coaster…in the Spring of 2018 the NCAA deemed that Lonsway was ineligible due to some issues with his high school transcript, that would lead him to be red shirted for his freshman season.

After a slow 2018 summer league start in the Cape Cod League he would come back to Ohio and play for the Champion City Kings of the Prospect League.

Last season Lonsway, during his Freshman red-shirt season,  made an impact in the Big 10 with the Buckeyes. Lonsway would go 8-4  with 126 strikeouts, leading all DI Freshman. Thanks to some outstanding starts by Lonsway thhe seventh-seeded Buckeyes would win the 2019 Big Ten Tournament title with a 3-1 win over fifth-seeded Nebraska in the championship game and was named to the All Tournament team. Plus he would add numerous post season awards and pre-season awards in 2020.

Before the spring season was cancelled, Lonsway made four starts for OSU with a 1-2 record, a 3.00 ERA, 42 strikeouts and 18 walks in 18 innings.

ESPN Insider Kiley McDaniel has high praise for the Celina left-hander –

Ohio State lefty Seth Lonsway was the Saturday starter (vs Ga Tech), and he made the latest jump into first-round consideration after his fastball velocity sat at 92-96 mph in the season’s opening weekend, a marked improvement since he was working mostly at 87-90 this summer in the Cape Cod League. Lonsway does a lot of things that are broadly known as progressive in terms of style on the mound: He throws a 91-95 mph four-seam fastball up in the zone, he often buries a high-spin, easy plus curveball down in the zone, and he eschews traditional concepts of change up usage, instead using a slider as his third pitch

After the season was cancelled Lonsway returned to his parents home in Celina to keep in shape and get ready for the draft, he told NBC TV 4 recently –

“I just want them to see my work ethic,” he said. “You know, right now I’m doing everything I can to get my body in the best condition and the best shape possible, so just seeing my work ethic and everything I can invest into this game has been a big part of my life and a big part of my development.”

With Lonsway declring for the draft his next ride on the roller coaster will come from MLB, the ‘curve’ ball is will will the draft still be held in June or will they wait until the pandemic is done and all restrictions are lifted.

For Lonsway it is just another step towards a pro career.

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