Alumni Spotlight: Tommy Koehler

Alumni Spotlight:

Tommy Koehler #55

Bio: Koehler is a 6'3" right handed pitcher from New Rochelle, NY. He went to New Rochelle H.S. and graduated from Stony Brook with a degree in History. While in high school he played 3 years on varsity. Excelling on the mound he earned Rawlings All-Northeast, Section I Pitcher of the Year, spring athlete of the year, All-Section and All-State his senior year. He went 6-1 with 108 strikeouts with just 12 walks and a 0.86 ERA in 58 innings of work. He was also All-League as a junior going 5-1 with 54 strikeouts and earned rookie of the year in 2002.

**His career at Stony Brook was outstanding as well. As the years progressed so did his time on the mound and the influence he had on his team. In 2005 as a freshman he appeared in 18 games starting 8 of them. He had 42 K's in 44.1 innings while only walking 17. He picked up his first collegiate win against Princeton throwing seven innings while striking out six, and allowing  only one run.He also had a solid outing scattering eight hits with six strikeouts over six innings of work in a win over Hartford.
**In 2006 as a sophomore he finished the year ranked in the top ten in the America East in both innings pitched with 71.1 and strikeouts with 57. This year earned him being named All-America East Second Team. He had a few standout performances including; striking out 3 in 6.2 innings to pick up the first win of the season against Bucknell, allowed only 1 unearned run in 7 innings in a win over Maine, struck out 8 in 8 innings in a win over Hartford and threw 7 solid innings in a must-win victory over UMBC. He was second on the team in wins and K's.
**2007 he saw increased time starting a team high 13 games with 85 innings pitched over the season leading the America East. He also led the conference in strike outs with 87. He struck out at least 10 batters in a game four times. He pitched well against many teams, including; striking out 10 in 5.1 innings against Quinnipiac, struck out 10 allowing 2 runs in 7 innings against NYIT, pitched a season-high 8 innings with 10 K's at Hartford and threw 8 innings of shutout baseball to beat Vermont.
**His senior year was one which brought the Seawolves a championship. He went 6-5 with a 4.15 ERA in 14 starts. Leading the America East in innings pitched with 93.1 and strikeouts with 111. He also ranked 19th in the nation with a 10.71 K/9inn. He pitched well leading the team through the season and into the Tempe Regional hosted by Arizona State. He was named All-America East second team for his efforts through the season.
** Tommy finished his 4 year career second in the programs history in innings pitched with 293.1 and third in strikeouts with 297. He was drafted by the Marlins in the 18th round of the 2008 MLB first year player draft. Koehler was promoted to the Suns last April. The previous season, he went 4-1 with a 3.38 ERA in six starts for the Jupiter Hammerheads of the Advanced-A Florida State League. Last season, he went 16-2 with a 2.61 ERA and 145 strikeouts in 28 games for the Jacksonville Suns, the Double-A affiliate of the Marlins. Named the Southern League's Most Outstanding Pitcher, he led the league in wins and ranked second in strikeouts and innings pitched (158.2). His 16 wins also equaled a Jacksonville franchise record. Entering this season he was invited to Spring Training with the big league club and is aiming for a spot on the Marlins roster.

Pitching for SBU

Last season with Jacksonville

Tommy is a proud Alumni of Stony Brook University and is poised in the near future to be on the big league roster with the Florida Marlins. He answers a few questions about his career thus far:


What do you feel defined your college career?
  "To me winning the 2008 championship was the perfect way to end a college career. When I look back at my 4 years I dont really remember specific games or number, what I remember was 4 years of hard work and friendships leading to victory."

How do you think your experience in college affects you in the professional game?
  "What I learned must about in college was maturity and accountability. College for me was more about growing as a person, then the physical stuff will eventually take over. when you learned to work hard in college it will transfer over to the professional game."

What, if anything, do you miss about Stony Brook?
  "I made alot of great friends while at Stony Brook, and I would have to say i miss them the most, in college everyone is working towards one goal. I miss Coach Senks speeches and of course Taras"

Who do you think influenced you most so far in your career?
  "I dont know if anyone person directly influenced me, I know my parents raised me to always do my best and work my hardest in everything i do, they were the ones who drove me to constant practices and games, to with out them I would not be playing."

Explain how it felt the day you found out you would be playing professionally?
  "when i got drafted it was a great feeling, and like everyone who plays you cant wait for that day, but t me that joy lasted only a short period of time because then i set a new goal, and that is to be a Major Leaguers."

What differs from the college game at the higher levels?
  "I dont know if anyone person directly influenced me, I know my parents raised me to always do my best and work my hardest in everything i do, they were the ones who drove me to constant practices and games, to with out them I would not be playing."

What do you think helped you get where you are now and what will get you to where you want to end up?
   "I think my drive has gotten me to where im at, i never want to be one of those people who look back and wish they did it another way, i want to know that i worked me b@lZ off everyday. Never being satisfied, always pushing striving to be the best."

If you had to advise other players who aspire to play professionally, what would you tell them?
  "advice is simple, dont let anyone tell you that it cant be done, as my child hood idol Roger Clemens would say is " ispiration is not out working others but outworking yourself." Also be willing to learn and be able to be introspective."

Reflect on your last season and explain how it will aid in your success for this coming year.
  "Last season was great. Ultimately it showed me I can be successful at higher levels. At the same time though yesterday was yesterday, and i want to be better tomorrow then i was yesterday. If your not getting better, your getting worse"

Tommy is a great guy and a real influence to many of us who get the opportunity to pick his brain and we wish him the best of luck with this coming season and on into the future. Look out for him this season and remember where he came from.