When Ben Ancheff took the mound during the NAIA World Series last Friday…Twitter broke. But it wasn’t because of the St. Thomas University pitcher’s blazing fastball or his penchant for striking out opponents, it was because of his size.
Whoever says “Pitchers aren’t athletes” obviously haven’t seen St. Thomas’ Ben Ancheff in NAIA WS. @SportsCenter pic.twitter.com/vdKHTbqMNv
— DC (@DCmusicnation) May 30, 2015
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Listed at 300 pounds, the Williamstown, Pennsylvania native looks like he’d be better suited for the gridiron (if St. Thomas had a team) than the baseball diamond and you’ve got to believe that has everyone talking.
Suffice it to say, the 23-year-old is loving his new position as “America’s favorite athlete”.
HOVG: After your performance against Lewis-Clark State, you’ve popped up just about everywhere. When and how did you realize that you’ve become literally and figuratively, the next big thing in college baseball media?
ANCHEFF: After the game, a teammate had mentioned that I was famous. I thought he was joking and just wanted to make me smile after a tough loss. Once I did look at my phone…it had blown up with notifications and messages. Even though it was very cool and I appreciate all of the positive responses…I would trade it all for my team to have won that National Championship game.
HOVG: All the pieces being written reference your height and weight as 6’2” and 300 pounds. Where are you sitting right now? What’s your actual playing weight?!?
ANCHEFF: I am 6’2” and I about 320. My playing weight ranges from 300-325 throughout the season. I’ve been a big guy my whole life, so this is nothing new to me…just new to all the people on the web.
HOVG: And your coaches don’t have a problem with that? My guess is that if you perform…they’re relatively cool with it.
ANCHEFF: For sure, my coaches are fine with my size, they never mention it to me at all. They’re amazing. St. Thomas has a family atmosphere…they want the success for you on the field and they also want the best for you in life. Coach (Jorge) Perez always preaches about being a good person first and the law of averages will take care of the rest. Which pretty much means if you give life one hundred percent in everything you do on and off the field…good things will come your way.
HOVG: Back to your sudden rise in popularity. Regardless what the critics are saying, after being on SportsCenter and, frankly, just about major sports website out there…the ladies probably don’t mind. How is your social calendar looking here in the near future? Has your phone been blowing up?!?
ANCHEFF: Going viral has been amazing and I really appreciate everything that has been going on. It’s a dream come true to be on SportsCenter. I’ve just been soaking it all in…enjoying the moment. The social calendar is getting super hectic that’s for sure. To say my phone is blowing up would be an understatement…a media frenzy for sure. It’s awesome…a bunch of positive vibes. Like I said, I’m just really enjoying the moment and having a good time with it.
HOVG: Your story is actually pretty fascinating. We’ve read the stuff about your birth and the complications that came with it…what do Mom and Dad think about their baby boy now?
ANCHEFF: I’m sure my parents, George and Diane, are super proud. As long as I give one hundred percent in everything I do in life, my parents are proud. I could never thank the Doctors at Hershey Medical Center enough for saving me when I was born. I am truly blessed to be here. I’m thankful for my parents and for their courage and faith to be able to let the doctors take me as a newborn and attempt the miracle. That ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) system saved my life.
HOVG: It’s been a crazy journey to get to where you are now as well, right?
ANCHEFF: I’ve been to four different schools in four years…two different D-1 schools, a Junior College and now, thankfully, St. Thomas University. I’ve played baseball at all four schools and even had Tommy John surgery. College has just been a wild ride, but I’ve rolled with the punches and made the best of it.
HOVG: Lastly, John Kruk famously once said “I’m not an athlete…I’m a baseball player”. Clearly, you’re an athlete and an inspiration. Any words for Mr. Kruk?
ANCHEFF: Thank you very much. I appreciate the complement. Krukkie was a career .300 hitter and an amazing athlete with incredible hand eye coordination…he was a game changer. I hope I can do the same and break the mold a little bit more. You can either play baseball or you can’t. That is the beauty of the game…you can be 6’6”, 230, 5’5’ 140 or like me. It doesn’t matter. It’s another thing that makes baseball great.
HOVG: What’s next and where can people find you?
ANCHEFF: I have one more year at St. Thomas University and I’m ready to get back to work and have another great season with the Bobcats. Finding me though…you never know where I might show up. I could be frequenting the beaches of Miami. Joking aside, I’m ready to go back to the World Series and win it all next season.
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Ben Ancheff finished the 2015 season 3-2 and a 4.71 ERA in 21 innings of work. You can find him on Twitter at @acebenchura.
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