John Ogiltree

From BR Bullpen

John Derrick Ogiltree

Bats Right, Throws Right
Height 6' 6", Weight 220 lb.

Schools Martin Methodist College, Lake City Community College
High School TL Kennedy Secondary School

Born June 3, 1978 in Toronto, ON Canada

John Ogiltree pitched five seasons in the minor leagues. He pitched for Team Canada several times, most notably in the 2004 Olympics, when they came close to a Bronze Medal.

Ogiltree was picked in the 32nd round of the 1996 amateur draft by the Detroit Tigers but opted for college. In 2000, he debuted for Team Canada, in the qualifiers for the 2001 Baseball World Cup. The tall right-hander was 7-3 with a 2.30 ERA and 97 K in 74 1/3 IP as a senior in 2001, making honorable mention on the SLAM! Canadian Baseball All-Canadian team.

The Toronto Blue Jays signed the undrafted free agent after his senior year; the scout was Jim Ridley. He went 2-4 with 6 saves and a 3.38 ERA as a rookie for the Medicine Hat Blue Jays, leading a bad staff (5.66 team ERA in a league somewhat offense-oriented) in ERA.

John went 5-4 with 26 saves and a 4.01 ERA for the 2002 Dunedin Blue Jays. He was six saves behind Florida State League leader Lino Urdaneta. Ogiltree was with the AA New Haven Ravens in 2003, going 4-4 with two saves and a 3.38 ERA in 45 games. He was with Canada in the qualifiers for the 2004 Olympics, as they locked up one of two American spots (alongside Cuba) in the Athens Games.

In 2004, Ogiltree returned to New Hampshire, where he was 2-4 with 3 saves and a 2.69 ERA in 45 games; opponents hit just .217 against him. His ERA was similar to closers Adam Peterson and Jordan De Jong. In the 2004 Olympics, the tall right-hander tied Aaron Myette for the Canadian lead with 6 games pitched. He allowed 1 run in 4 2/3 IP; only Shawn Hill had a lower ERA among Canadian right-handers in those Olympics. Ogiltree retired the only batter he faced in the Bronze Medal game, Shinya Miyamoto, but Canada fell short in a 11-2 loss that left them without a Medal.

Ogiltree only pitched two innings (both scoreless) for New Hampshire in 2005. He was released by Toronto. The Washington Senators picked him up and he split the remainder of the year with the Potomac Cannons (5-3, 2 Sv, 6.57) and Harrisburg Senators (1-0, 2.45 in 5 G). That was the end of his time in Organized Baseball.

Ogiltree allowed two runs in 2 2/3 IP in the 2005 Baseball World Cup. Against the South Korean national team, he allowed the game-losing homer to Jung-kwon Park in the 9th inning.

Following his professional days, Ogiltree returned to Canada to play in the Intercounty Baseball League.

Overall, he was 19-19 with 39 saves and a 3.62 ERA in the minor leagues.