Who is Jeremy Ware?

Right around this time last year, I’d moved past the player profiles over on the UOLB and speculation was beginning as to whom would make the 25 man minor league roster.  With the late start that the Rapids have been forced to deal with, the roster signings are just now rolling out.

First up, Jeremy Ware.  Ware played last year in southern Ontario for the Guelph Royals of the Intercounty Baseball League (IBL for my purposes).  The IBL’s an amateur, independent league made up of nine teams - some going as far back as 1911 (the Brantford Red Sox). 

“It was a fun experience. We had a great bunch of guys and that made it fun,” Ware said of the Royals, who were ousted last week from the semifinals in seven games by the Toronto Maple Leafs. “Baseball’s in my blood. I enjoy playing, but the break from professional ball is good.”

Ware hit .277 and led the Royals in homers (nine) and RBIs (31) in the regular season. In 13 post-season games, he hit .292 with two homers and eight RBIs.

                                                              [Guelphmercury.com, August 21, 2007]

Over his 12 year professional career, the left-fielder is a .264 hitter with 86 HR and 526 RBI.

Batting Statistics

Year	Team	Lg	Age	Org.	Level		Pos	Ln	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	HBP	IBB	SH	SF	DP	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS	GB%
1995	GCL Expos	GCL	19	Mtl	Rk		of		38	116	18	28	4	2	2	15	5	4	18	28	3	0	0	1	2	.241	.355	.362	717	–
1996	GCL Expos	GCL	20	Mtl	Rk		of		15	44	10	16	3	3	0	17	6	1	9	4	0	0	2	0	0	.364	.472	.568	1040	–
	Vermont	NYPL	20	Mtl	A-		of		32	94	12	18	2	0	0	6	5	3	15	25	0	0	1	0	1	.191	.303	.213	516	–
1997	Cape Fear	SAL	21	Mtl	A		of		138	529	84	139	32	5	16	77	32	7	43	114	6	2	0	6	8	.263	.322	.433	755	–
1998	Jupiter	FSL	22	Mtl	A+		of		127	492	51	121	35	3	10	64	21	5	23	102	7	1	4	7	16	.246	.285	.390	675	–
1999	Jupiter	FSL	23	Mtl	A+		of		7	25	5	8	2	0	2	11	3	0	2	5	0	0	0	0	0	.320	.370	.640	1010	–
	Harrisburg	East	23	Mtl	AA		of		111	381	57	100	23	2	9	56	12	5	41	79	2	2	2	5	19	.262	.333	.404	737	–
2000	Harrisburg	East	24	Mtl	AA		of		123	442	62	123	23	2	10	63	12	11	39	87	2	2	0	5	10	.278	.336	.407	743	–
2001	Harrisburg	East	25	Mtl	AA		of		27	87	12	25	6	0	3	16	1	1	7	14	0	1	0	0	0	.287	.340	.460	800	–
	Ottawa	IL	25	Mtl	AAA		of		53	147	13	39	13	0	2	13	2	0	6	24	0	0	3	0	4	.265	.294	.395	689	–
2002	Harrisburg	East	26	Mtl	AA		of		24	95	13	25	6	1	6	18	0	0	7	17	1	0	0	0	6	.263	.320	.537	857	–
	Buffalo	IL	26	Cle	AAA		of		42	135	18	40	10	0	1	17	2	1	6	23	0	0	0	0	4	.296	.326	.393	719	–
2003	Harrisburg	East	27	Mtl	AA		of		68	254	33	71	10	1	12	52	1	0	16	41	2	1	0	6	6	.280	.320	.469	789	–
	Edmonton	PCL	27	Mtl	AAA		of		12	20	3	6	0	0	1	1	0	0	1	4	0	0	0	0	1	.300	.333	.450	783	–
2004	Harrisburg	East	28	Mtl	AA		of		54	192	24	43	10	0	2	14	2	3	15	38	2	1	1	2	7	.224	.284	.307	591	–
	Edmonton	PCL	28	Mtl	AAA		of		26	64	5	16	2	0	0	5	0	0	5	6	1	2	0	1	2	.250	.310	.281	591	–
2005	Edmonton	Northern	29		Ind		of		79	322	36	84	21	5	4	41	5	3	22	36	1	1	1	10	10	.261	.301	.394	695	–
2006	Edmonton	Northern	30		Ind				79	314	50	89	23	2	7	40	9	2	28	45	1	0	2	2	5	.283	.342	.436	778	–
Minor League Totals - 12 Season(s)									1055	3753	506	991	225	26	87	526	118	46	303	692	28	13	16	45	101	.264	.320	.407	727	–

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As was noted a couple of posts back, Jeremy was part of the 2004 Olympic team (both in the qualifying rounds and games in Athens) which eventually finished fourth.  He indicated to Guelphmercury.com that if he didn’t land a job with a pro-team, he’d gladly don the National team uni for the games in Beijing this summer.

“I’ve been told to stay prepared… (h)onestly, that’s my greatest pride, playing for the country,” Ware said.

Ware spoke to young ballplayers at Dino Roumel’s baseball camp earlier this summer and referenced his time with Team Canada.

“I almost teared up telling the kids what I’ve done,” Ware said. “I’m a little bitter I didn’t get the opportunity to play in the big leagues, but I’m grateful for what I’ve had.

“Who’d have thought I’d get drafted right out of high school and then play every level of baseball other than the majors?”

                                                 [Guelphymercury.com, August 21, 2007] 

We’re happy to have him here in Ottawa - although we’re now concerned about the proximity of our Canadian players to Baseball Canada and Jim Baba’s watchful eye.