Familiar name joins Dolphins - Syracuse Post-Standard

Familiar name joins Dolphins

Mike Gedman, son of ex-Red Sox catcher Rich, signs on to play baseball at Le Moyne.

Saturday, December 17, 2005

By Matt Michael

Staff writer

Rich Gedman signed with the Boston Red Sox out of high school in 1977, and by September 1980 he was playing in the major leagues at age 20. Michael Gedman, Rich's son, has the talent and pedigree to follow in his father's footsteps. But Rich Gedman said he would prefer that his son takes a different path.

Michael Gedman is one of five high school seniors who recently signed letters of intent to attend Le Moyne in the fall of

2006, Dolphins coach Steve Owens said. Gedman could still get drafted by a major-league team in June and decide to play professionally

"I want him to get his education, and if baseball becomes something special, that's wonderful," Rich Gedman said. "I would suggest that he goes to school first and get as close as he can to graduation, if not finish it."

Michael Gedman, who's from Framingham, Mass., is a 6-foot-3 senior at the Loomis Chaffee prep school in Windsor, Conn. Last season he batted .526 with five home runs and 20 RBIs as a first baseman/outfielder. He also went 6-2 with a 2.06 earned run average and 42 strikeouts in 51 innings as a left-handed pitcher.

"He's excited about the possibility of being an immediate contributor to the baseball program," Owens said. "He's a good defensive player with a strong arm and is very athletic. As a left-handed pitcher, he'll throw out of our bullpen."

Rich Gedman spent 13 years in the major leagues with the Red Sox (1980-1990), Astros (1990) and Cardinals (1991-92). He was an American League All-Star in 1985 and 1986, and he started all seven games of the 1986 World Series against the Mets. He's now the manager of the Worcester (Mass.) Tornadoes of the Can-Am League.

Gedman visited Le Moyne with his son and said he was impressed by the Dolphins' coaching staff of Owens, Pete Hoy (a former Red Sox pitcher), Bob Nandin and Scott Landers. Gedman remembered playing against Nandin when Gedman was with Pawtucket and Nandin was with the Syracuse Chiefs.

"They're not only academic people, they're baseball people," Gedman said. "You want to be around baseball people who are not only going to teach you the game, but also how to handle yourself during the tough times because they understand that you're going to fail."

After winning the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference title and advancing to the NCAA Division I Tourney in 2003 and 2004, the Dolphins slipped to 25-22 last season. Le Moyne opens its 2006 season Feb. 25 at The Citadel.

Here's a look at the four other high school seniors who recently signed letters of intent to attend Le Moyne next fall: Ö Chris Edmondson, catcher/outfield/first base, Johnson City (Johnson City H.S.): Edmondson is a fourth-team, all-state player for the defending Section IV Class A champion Wildcats, who are coached by former Le Moyne player Joe Guccia. A left-handed hitter, Edmondson hit .588 (10-for-17) with six extra-base hits and eight RBIs for the Central Region at the 2005 Empire State Games.

"He's a front-line hitter and with both he and Mike [Gedman] together, hopefully they'll hit back-to-back in the order and be really tough outs," Owens said. "The two of them are as good left-handed hitting prospects as I've ever recruited."

Alejandro Del Valle, infielder, Miami (Christopher Columbus H.S.): A slick fielder, Del Valle hit .323 with two home runs and 20 RBIs in his junior year at Archbishop Carroll High School (he has since transferred). Owens spotted Del Valle on a recruiting trip to Florida over the summer.

"Of the 50 kids I went down there to see over the weekend, he stuck out the most as a heady, polished, athletic infielder," Owens said. "I watched him make every type of play you can possibly make at short, second and third."

Lucas Nellis, pitcher, Fonda (Fonda-Fultonville H.S.): A 6-foot-3 left-hander, Nellis was a first-team all-conference performer as a junior, batting .393 and posting a 1.10 earned run average with 81 strikeouts in 47 innings.

"We were looking for left-handed help in the bullpen and I think he can come in as someone who can throw for us," Owens said.

Dan Tunison, pitcher, Bath (Bath Haverling H.S.): Tunison, a 6-foot-4 right-hander, fanned 63 in 36 innings last year, with 14 strikeouts in a one-hitter and 19 strikeouts in another game. Tunison was a first-team All-Livingston County selection and Owens compares his style to former Dolphin Chris Barlow, who's now in the Washington Nationals' farm system.

"He's an upper-80's fastball guy with a good curve and is good enough to pitch on our staff right now," Owens said.