The catcher batted a .531 at Southeastern, earning the title of the nation's community college batting champ, according to Southeastern. He continued after moving on to Memphis State.
It was enough for Ochs to get noticed by the Cardinals, taken in the fifth round of the 1989 draft. But he never found his bat with St. Louis. He also never saw AA, let alone the majors.
With Memphis State, Ochs showed some power. In one April 1988 game, Ochs' single proved the difference in a 2-1 contest, according to the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. The next month, Ochs hit one out, according to the St. Petersburg Times.
In another game, a conference tournament game in May 1989, Ochs' home run was the only earned run off of Florida State's strong starter, according to the Orlando Sentinel. In all, he hit 13 home runs for Memphis State that year.
But with the Cardinals, Ochs played just three seasons. After being drafted, Ochs was sent to rookie league Johnson City. In Johnson City, Ochs hit five home runs and batted just .233.
With single-A Savannah, Ochs fared little better. He hit .248 with three home runs in 102 games. In an April game, Ochs' single and run scored helped Savannah to a 7-2 win. In a July game, Ochs hit a two-run single on an 0-2 count, helping Savannah to a 9-1 victory, according to the Spartanburg Herald-Journal.
Ochs returned in 1991 to high-A St. Petersburg. In 84 games, he hit .241 with no home runs. It was his final year.
According to Southeastern Illinois College, Ochs returned home to Montgomery, Ind., to start a family. He remained there, as of 2007, as a coal miner and heavy equipment operator. It was that year that he was inducted into the Southeastern Illinois College Hall of Fame.
1990 CMC-Pro Cards Tally
- Southeastern Illinois College, 2007: Tony Ochs
Players/Coaches Featured: 2,055
Made the Majors: 906-44.1%
Never Made Majors:1,149-55.9%
5+ Seasons in the Majors: 386
10+ Seasons in the Minors:222
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