Editor's note: This is the sixth installment in a seven-part series taking a closer look at former Ohio baseball players competing in the minor leagues of Major League Baseball.
Former Bobcat Mike Arbinger is continuing his career in baseball's Independent Frontier League much like he spent his time at Ohio.
In fact, even though he no longer plays baseball for the Bobcats, the outfielder is still taking classes through the university in between seasons as he attempts to finish his degree in physical education.
The professors at OU have been tremendous at working with me and helping me finish my degree
Arbinger said.
Arbinger entered the pros as an undrafted free agent. He said he took three years off before spending two seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Arbinger now is beginning his third season with the IFL's Washington Wild Things, out of Washington, Penn.
The team is unique Arbinger said, because it contains two other players from his high school in Toledo, Ohio. There also are players on the team that he competed against in the Mid-American Conference during his collegiate years.
While the team is full of former MAC players, Ohio baseball coach Joe Carbone said that he has never had a player quite like Arbinger, and he respects him very much.
Carbone described him as coachable tough and strong. He said that Arbinger would show up at the field to work out two hours before practice, always illustrating his desire to be a better player.
I knew he would go on to play at a higher level. He had a lot of passion for the game and always tried to be as good as he could be
Carbone said.
Field manager of the Wild Things John Massarelli describing him similarly, called Arbinger hard-nosed and hard-working.
An avid follower of MAC baseball, Massarelli said that he knew about Arbinger even before the Pirates signed him. He was playing in a different league, but the Wild Things traded for him.
He lives for baseball
Massarelli said. He shows up every day like he loves (the game).
Arbinger might be playing the game now much like he was in the past, but he still notices differences between levels of play.
One of the big differences between college baseball and the minor leagues ,Arbinger said, is the grind. The teams play every night, getting only three or four days off all year, which makes it crucial to stay in shape and continuously eat right to keep up with the swift pace of the game.
Come July and August ... it'll beat you up
Arbinger said. If you get hurt
it doesn't wait up on you.
So far Arbinger has been able to continue with success in the IFL, much like he enjoyed in college. He is a leader in statistics for Ohio and the Wild Things.
A four-year starter at Ohio, Arbinger still holds the Bobcats' best season slugging percentage (.828) and school record for home runs in one season with 20 ' both set in 2002, Arbinger's senior year.
In his college career from 1999-2002 Arbinger set school records for runs scored (200) and total bases (444), 26 ahead of the next-closest Bobcat. In addition, he was an All-American in 2002.
Wearing No. 2, Arbinger's statistics from last season for the Wild Things included 88 RBIs, which was the highest on the team, and a .317 batting average, the third highest on the team. Arbinger also tied for first on the team in home runs with 12. He played on the All-Star team last year and was named the game's Most Valuable Player.
Arbinger hopes to get another shot with a Major League affiliation. But if his baseball career does not end up like he anticipates, he said he is glad to have a degree to fall back on.
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Courtney Miller
