In the Dugout with Dan DeLucia – Ohio State Buckeyes
5/22/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 22, 2006
In Dan DeLucia’s three seasons pitching for the Ohio State Buckeyes, he has learned hard work has its rewards. After being unsatisfied with his 3-3 rookie season, the Columbus-native took advantage of the offseason to fine tune his mechanics and physical fitness. Now as a co-captain, the junior pitcher leads the Big Ten Conference with eight wins. As the left-hander continues to mature, DeLucia has created a niche for himself in the starting rotation. As a proud Buckeye, he is committed to ensuring the legacy of Ohio State’s baseball program by continuing to improve on the mound and passing the acquired knowledge he received from team members to the younger Buckeyes.
As the leader of the Big Ten Conference with eight wins, have you changed your training or style?
“After my freshman year I wasn’t satisfied with the season I had, so I made it a goal of mine to work hard in the offseason. I ended up having to take a month off because of arm trouble. I ended up running and lifting a lot, and it helped improve my game. So I worked hard again last offseason too and the extra effort has paid off in the long run.”
How has your role on the team evolved after being elected as co-captain this year?
“We had a lot of good leaders last year who graduated, and this year we needed a lot of juniors to step up because we only have three graduating seniors. Being elected co-captain is a great honor for me, especially here at this program. I think I deserve it and it shows my hard work is paying off. I want to lead my teammates to the best of my ability.”
Do you find yourself as a program veteran giving pointers to your younger teammates?
“When I came in as a freshman, I had Josh Newman, Trent Luyster and Mike Madsen who all were really knowledgeable and had a good understanding of the game. It helped a lot coming here and having the ability to work with them and our pitching coach. Now, I’m trying to take the things they taught me and relay it to the young guys who have really stepped up this year.”
Who is you favorite pitcher in Major League Baseball?
“My favorite pitcher is Andy Pettitte. A lot of people say I look and throw like him. Also, I like the way Pettitte competes. Once he left the New York Yankees he stepped into a role as a leader for the Houston Astros.”
What is your best pitch?
“My cutter is my favorite because I use it as an out pitch. I usually use my curveball to get ahead of the count.”
How much do you run?
“Pitchers run the most on the team. Our coaches emphasize running a lot because after pitching your arm is sore, so they make us run to release the lactic acid in the arm. Cory Luebke, Jake Hale and I run quite a bit the day after we pitch.”
You could have played both baseball and football at other colleges, what made you chose Ohio State?
“Miami, Toledo, Akron and Ohio University were other universities that recruited me, but Ohio State has the best baseball program in the state, if not the Midwest. I also chose Ohio State because of its great facilities and academic integrity. I thought I could take baseball to the next level; where as, football would have been tougher because it’s a more physical game. Plus, trying to balance two sports and classes would have been a struggle.”
You are a two-time OSU Scholar-Athlete. How have you managed to balance your time between the classroom and the baseball program?
“I have to thank my mom for that. She raised my brother and me to place academics first, so I took that to heart. Also, my high school, Bishop Watterson, was rigorous academically and that prepared me for college. I knew it would be tough with traveling on the road and keeping up with school work, but I just remember that academics come first and baseball comes second.”
Do you have any plans for this summer?
“I’m hoping to get in the Cape Cod League because it is the No. 1 summer league in the nation. I have a temporary contract right now, but if that falls through I’ll probably play for the Delaware Cows where I played last year.”
What are you studying at Ohio State and what are your plans after graduation?
“I’m a double major in finance and risk management. After graduation I’m not really sure what I’m going to do. Hopefully, I can continue playing baseball. If not, I would like to join a consulting firm and travel a bit.”
