Bill Ostermeyer used diet to help get from college to pros; Saw pros over four seasons, made high-A

Bill Ostermeyer was tall - 6 foot, 7 inches. But in college, he also had a weight problem, hitting 286, The Spokane Spokesman-Review wrote.

But then he got his weight under control, dropping 50 pounds by his final year, The Spokesman-Review wrote.

"I like to eat; that's my biggest problem," Ostermeyer told The Spokesman-Review just after goining short-season Spokane in June 1990. "I've got a good diet going now."

Ostermeyer improved enough to turn pro in 1990 and he eventually stayed on the field into his fourth season. He topped out at high-A.

Ostermeyer's career began that year in 1990, signed by the Padres as an undrafted free agent out of Centenary College in Louisiana.

At Centenary, Ostermeyer hit .401 his final season, along with 19 doubles and scored 51 runs. He also got noticed by opponents.

"Centenary is a pretty sound team - they like to bunt-and-run and they have that big right fielder (Bill Ostermeyer)," coach at Hardin-Simmons University Marvin Stringfellow told The Abilene Reporter in April 1990.

Ostermeyer started with short-season Spokane. He got into 46 games and hit .221. He then moved to single-A Charleston. He hit .280 there in 57 games.

He returned to Charleston and saw 26 games at high-A High Desert in 1992. He had a good night with High Desert that April after a slow start as he hit a late three-run home run. He credited work with team hitting coach Lonnie Keeter, according to The Victorville Daily Press.

"Lonnie's been helping me a lot," Ostermeyer told The Daily Press. "He's trying toget me to be a smart hitter, not just go up and try to kill the ball."

Ostermeyer ended up hitting .245 in 105 total games that year, with 15 home runs. He then returned to high-A San Bernardino for 1993. He saw 16 games there to end his career.

• Abilene Reporter-News, April 20, 1990: HSU closes out year at Centenary
• Spokane Spokesman-Review, June 14, 1990: Indians prospect keeping waistline in line
• Victorville Daily Press, April 18, 1992: Hall, Ostermeyer lift Mavs

More: The 1990 Spokane Indians

1990 Minor League Tally 

Players/Coaches Featured:4,059
Made the Majors:1,347-33.2%
Never Made Majors:2,712-66.8%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors:548
10+ Seasons in the Minors:333