Ben Petralli

Benjamin Hastings Petralli

• Bats Both, Throws Right
• Height 6' 2", Weight 200 lb.
• School Oral Roberts University, Sacramento City College
• High School Weatherford High School

• Born October 7, 1985 in Sacramento, CA USA

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Ben Petralli is a third-generation member of the Petralli baseball family. Ben is the son of Geno Petralli, who played for the Toronto Blue Jays (1982-1984) and the Texas Rangers (1985-1993), and the grandson of Gene Petralli, a minor league first baseman from 1948-1951 and 1953.

High School

Petralli played shortstop at Weatherford High School and hit .359 with 8 RBIs including 6 doubles and 2 triples in his senior year (2004). He drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 26th round after graduation.

Collegiate

Becoming a catcher in his freshman year (2005) at Sacramento City College, Ben hit .308 with 20 RBIs including 10 doubles. He was named to the first-team Northern California All-America. He was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 15th round of the 2005 MLB June Amateur Draft.

Petralli played in only three games in 2006, hitting .400 with 3 RBIs. He was redshirted the rest of the year. Following the 2006 season, the Detroit Tigers drafted him once more, this time in the 17th round of the 2006 MLB June Amateur Draft.

In the 2007 season, Ben hit .333 with 26 RBIs, 16 doubles, and 1 homer. He was named to the Big 7 All-Conference first team. The Texas Rangers drafted him in the 47th round of the 2007 MLB June Amateur Draft.

In 2008, Petralli transferred to Oral Roberts University where he hit .354 with 9 homers and 70 RBIs. He received both First Team-All Summit and Newcomer of the Year honors. The Texas Rangers again drafted him, this time in the 33rd round of the 2008 MLB Amateur Draft.

Minors

Petralli had Tommy John surgery in 2009.

At the onset of the 2010 season, Ben played for the Grand Prairie AirHogs of the American Association. He hit .232 with 24 RBIs and no home runs.

On August 2, 2010 the Normal CornBelters received Petralli from Grand Prairie for a player to be named later. Ben made his first appearance behind the plate for the CornBelters on August 3rd against the Evansville Otters. He was 0 for 2, but scored 1 run. Petralli finished the 2010 season with a .204 average with 5 RBIs and no homers.

Related Sites

• Oral Roberts Golden Eagles bio