Stony Brook, N.Y. - Former Stony Brook University baseball star Tom Koehler '08 has been named the Southern League's Most Outstanding Pitcher, the league announced on Wednesday. Pitching for the Jacksonville Suns, the Double-A affiliate of the Florida Marlins, Koehler won 16 games to equal the Jacksonville franchise single-season wins mark.The honor capped a terrific season for Koehler, who leads the Southern League in victories in addition to ranking third in ERA (2.71). Koehler has allowed just 139 hits in 152.2 innings and got the start in the Southern League All-Star Game. Koehler also ranks second in the league with 139 strikeouts.
Drafted by the Marlins in the 18th round of the 2008 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, Koehler was promoted to the Suns in April. Last season, he went 4-1 with a 3.38 ERA in six starts for the Jupiter Hammerheads of the Advanced-A Florida State League.
A two-time, All-America East second team selection, Koehler went 6-5 with a 4.15 ERA in 14 starts for the Seawolves as a senior. He also led the America East in innings pitched (93.1) and strikeouts (111) and ranked 19th in the nation with 10.71 strike outs per nine innings.
Koehler finished his four-year Stony Brook career second in program history in innings pitched (293.1) and third in strikeouts (297). The Seawolves have had 34 players sign professional contracts under head coach Matt Senk including 25 since the program jumped to Division I in 2000.
