Alex Ludwick likes to write down his goals on a piece of paper before every baseball season, giving him things to strive for as he makes his way through the long months at Baldwin Wallace in Ohio. But there’s no way that Ludwick could have written down or even envisioned all that he has accomplished as he enters his senior season with the Yellow Jackets.
Ludwick, who will be playing for the Asheboro ZooKeepers this summer, was recently named to the 2022 D3baseball.com Preseason Baseball All-America Team.
Ludwick, a shortstop who earned D3baseball.com All-Mideast Region first team honors, American Baseball Coaches Association/Rawlings Sports All-Mideast Region second team honors and was named to the Ohio Athletic Conference All-Tournament team last season, is among the nation-wide projected Division III top-45 athletes.
No way he had all that on a piece of paper before last season started.
“I am a very visual person,” Ludwick said after a preseason workout this week. “When I see those words on a piece of paper, it stands out more than just thinking about it. When I write them down, I can analyze them and do what I need to do. I have fun and I do it.
“I have definitely surpassed them the past few years,” Ludwick added. “Being invested in a team, going a long way with the guys. I love competing. It helps me stay at the top of my game.”
After a stellar prep career at Padua Franciscan in Parma, Ohio, the three-sport athlete hit the ground running at Baldwin Wallace. In his freshman season, Ludwick was named the team’s rookie of the year after appearing in all 45 games, hitting .331 (59-for-178), recording an on-base percentage of .441 and a slugging percentage of .494, while also recording 13 doubles, five triples and two home runs. He was 14 of 16 in the stolen base department and was fourth on the team with 39 RBIs and fifth with 43 runs scored.
That was just the beginning.
As a sophomore, he earned the team’s Gold Glove Award, while being named to the All-OAC First Team. He started all 43 games that year, hitting .314 with 11 doubles and a team-high six triples. He led the team with 43 runs scored and 88 total bases, while recording 35 RBIs and seven stolen bases. He hit two home runs at the NCAA Division III Midwest Regional Tournament in Chicago.
In the Covid-19-shortened 2020 season, he appeared in all 11 games before the season was canceled. He hit .372 with eight runs scored and five stolen bases. He had four doubles and a .481 on-base percentage.
Then it all came together his junior season. The list of accolades are endless.
As well as earning the afore-mentioned honors, he earned the Baldwin Wallace Big Stick Award after appearing in all 40 games, hitting a team-high .434 with a .697 slugging percentage. He led the team in runs (50), hits (76) and triples (4) and tied for the lead with eight home runs. He had 10 stolen bases and had a .465 on-base-average.
Oh, and he was 1-1 on the mound, giving up just four hits in 10 ⅔ innings while striking out six. All that led to his preseason honor in 2022.
“I don’t let that stuff get to my head,” said Ludwick, a member of the Dean’s List at school. “I want to earn it and then get it after the season. I really hope I can accomplish that. You have to push that to the side and focus on working on baseball. When in season, you have to stay locked in.”
Locked in is exactly what Ludwick has done throughout his BW career. He has a career average of .360, scored 144 runs, batted in 125 runs, and tallied 12 home runs. Ludwick has recorded 210 hits in three years, including 42 doubles and 16 triples with 36 stolen bases.
“Each year there are goals I want to obtain,” said Ludwick, who is just a few minutes down the road from his hometown, a big advantage when it comes to getting support from his family. “I love having a bigger role every year. I like leading on the baseball field. I really enjoy being around a team and working with a team.”
Ludwick has already played three summers, two in the Prospect League and one in the Northwoods League.
“I really like to use the summer to get my name out there,” Ludwick said. “Going to a Division III school, scouts are usually looking at the bigger schools, like SEC schools. I want to put my name out there and compare myself to them.”
It should be the higher Division players who are comparing themselves to him.