Russ Rohlicek

Russel Louis Rohlicek

• Bats Right, Throws Left
• Height 6' 6", Weight 230 lb.
• School California State University, Long Beach
• High School College Park High School (Pleasant Hill)

• Born December 26, 1979 in Walnut Creek, CA USA

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Pitcher Russ Rohlicek was drafted by the Houston Astros in the 6th round of the 2001 amateur draft out of California State University, Long Beach, after having been a 16th-round selection by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 1998 amateur draft coming out of high school.

He began his professional career in 2001 with the Pittsfield Astros of the New York-Penn League, going 4-1, 2.74 in 12 games, although his ERA was a bit deceptive since only 13 of the 28 runs he allowed in 42 2/3 innings were earned. In 2002, he began the season with the Michigan Battle Cats of the Midwest League, going 9-5, 3.46 in 25 starts, then on August 21st was traded to the Chicago Cubs along with two players to be named later (Travis Anderson and Mike Nannini) in return for P Tom Gordon. None of the three youngsters acquired by the Cubs in that deal would ever play in the minors. In Ross's case, he finished the season still in the Midwest League, with the Lansing Lugnuts, going 0-2 in his two starts. In 2003, he began the season in the Florida State League, pitching well for the Daytona Cubs (2-3, 2.40 in 41 games as a reliever), but completely lost it after a promotion to the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx of the Southern League (2-3, 9.77 in 13 games).

In 2004, he spent a full season with West Tenn and did quite well, finishing at 5-5, 2.09 with 2 saves in 60 appearance, all in relief. He stuck out 67 batters in 69 innings. 2005 saw him pitch in AAA for the Iowa Cubs, where he was 3-1, 4.33 in 55 games, with 3 saves. A decade later, with the constant shuffle of back-end relief pitchers between major league teams and their AAA affiliates, he would most likely have gotten at least a brief shot at pitching in the majors, but not then. He moved to the Milwaukee Braves system in 2006, but went back to the Southern League, with the Huntsville Stars. He went 0-2, 4.50 in 24 games and did not pitch again professionally after that.

After baseball, he settled down in Chandler, AZ and worked in the insurance industry in Phoenix, AZ.