TicketsJan. 29, 2007
This is the seventh in a 17-day series previewing the 2007 Bearcats baseball team. Today's installment takes a look at junior pitcher Sean Munninghoff.
by Katie Voltz, UC Sports Communications Student Assistant
Junior Sean Munninghoff, or as his teammates call him "Money," is one Bearcat pitcher that is going to have a big impact this season for the University of Cincinnati baseball team.
This Bearcat in high school was a very strong hitter and shortstop, but coming to pitch for UC hasn't disheartened him at all. "The coaches wanted me to pitch and I think that pitching was my best option if I wanted to move on in baseball," he says.
Munninghoff does wish one thing could be different though, "I do miss hitting a lot. I don't ever get to touch a bat anymore, so yes I do miss batting a lot."
During high school is when everyone shortened his name to "Money" and he even had the "For the Love Money" by the O'Jays (also known as the theme song for the hit show "The Apprentice") when he came out onto the field last year. This season, Munninghoff is open to suggestions on what his entrance song should be.
Munninghoff and baseball have always gone hand in hand whether it is Sean or his father Scott Munninghoff. Sean Munninghoff is lucky enough to have a father that played in the majors, and was a first round draft pick of the Philadelphia Phillies, so baseball was something that Sean loved early in life. "My dad played baseball. When I was a kid I watched him play, and so I just wanted to play." The pressure isn't always easy as Sean explains, "It is kind of hard sometimes because everyone compares me to him, and he was really good." Although Sean doesn't think that he will be better than his dad, the UC baseball team sure hopes he will be.
As a freshman in 2005 Munninghoff was a starter for the Bearcats with four wins and five losses producing an ERA of 4.88. From there, his sophomore year he became a reliever, "I like relieving more, you get to pitch more often. When you are a starter you pitch once a weekend and then you are done, so I like being a reliever more because that doesn't happen." Munninghoff had a very impressive 2006 season earning three wins and only one loss along with collecting the first save of his career. This year, he is looking forward to being a reliever again. With those types of stats this Bearcat looks to be a real threat to opponents.