RICHMOND, Ky. – Four former Eastern Kentucky University baseball players will start their minor league season today.
 
Third baseman Armando Alvarez will begin the season with the New York Yankees' Triple A team in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.  Pitcher Aaron Ochsenbein's season starts with the Los Angeles Dodgers' Double A squad in Tulsa.  Catcher Alex Holderbach has been assigned to the Houston Astros' High A team in Asheville.  Catcher A.J. Lewis also begins the 2021 season in High A, playing for the Colorado Rockies' team in Spokane.
 
Lexington native Ochsenbein was drafted in the sixth round by the Dodgers in the 2019 Major League Baseball (MLB) Draft.  He was selected as a second team All-American by Collegiate Baseball and first team All-Ohio Valley Conference.  As a senior he had a 5-2 record with a program best 0.83 ERA and 10 saves.  Ochsenbein struck out 90 batters in 54 and one-third innings.
 
Alvarez was drafted by the Yankees in the 17th round of the 2016 MLB Draft.  The 2016 OVC Co-Player of the Year, had a .409 batting average, 97 hits, 13 home runs and 58 RBIs as a senior.  The Miami native was a first team All-OVC selection and a semifinalist for the Gregg Olson Award, which is given to the breakout player of the year.
 
Holderbach was drafted in the 16th round by the Houston Astros in the 2018 MLB Draft.  The Fairfield, Ohio native was one of three finalists for the 2018 Johnny Bench Award, given to the top NCAA Division I catcher.  He hit .352 with 12 doubles, two triples, 18 home runs, 55 runs scored and 79 RBIs.  The first team All-OVC catcher was also a semifinalist for the Dick Howser Trophy, given each year to the top player in college baseball.
 
Lewis signed a free agent contract with the Colorado Rockies in the summer of 2020.  The Chicago, Illinois native was on the Buster Posey National Collegiate Catcher of the Year watch list in 2019 and 2020.  He hit .303 with 45 runs scored, 10 doubles, nine home runs, a team-best 49 RBIs and 17 stolen bases in 2019.  Lewis finished the 2020 season with a .451 batting average, three home runs, 21 RBIs, 15 runs scored and three stolen bases.
 
The 2021 Colonels take to the road this weekend to face Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau.  Friday's series opener is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.