Photo by: Joseph Craven
Details Announced for Saturday’s First Pitch Banquet
1/27/2026 4:30:00 PM | Baseball
DAYTON- The Wright State baseball team will host its 22nd annual First Pitch Banquet on Saturday, January 31, at 6 p.m. on the main arena floor of the Nutter Center. This year, the banquet will feature a series of two panels instead of the traditional one keynote speaker. The two panels will consist of five current Raidergang players and three former major leaguers.
The First Pitch Banquet will also feature a plated dinner, a full program highlighting the upcoming season, and a silent auction with exclusive Raider items.
Registration for the event is still available! Tickets and sponsorships can be purchased at this link.
The five current student-athletes taking the stage as part of the Raidergang panel will be Patrick Fultz, Gus Gregory, Chet Lax, JP Peltier, and J.J. Thompson.
The three former Major Leaguers joining the First Pitch Banquet will be Josh Lindblom, Eric Sogard, and Tony Wolters.
Josh Lindblom is a pitcher known for his resilience and success across both Major League Baseball (MLB) and the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO). He was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2008 and made his MLB debut in 2011, later pitching for teams including the Philadelphia Phillies, Texas Rangers, Oakland Athletics, and Pittsburgh Pirates. While frequent transitions marked his early MLB career, Lindblom gained valuable experience as both a starter and reliever.
Lindblom's career reached new heights during his time with the Doosan Bears in the KBO, where he emerged as one of the league's most dominant pitchers. In 2019, he won the KBO Most Valuable Player and Gold Glove awards after leading the league in multiple pitching categories. His success overseas earned him a return to MLB with the Milwaukee Brewers, where he brought a reputation for toughness, adaptability, and veteran leadership to the mound.
Eric Sogard, the older brother of Wright State head coach Alex Sogard, is a former Major League Baseball infielder whose career exemplified versatility, intelligence, and professionalism. A graduate of Arizona State University, Eric was selected by the San Diego Padres in the second round of the 2007 MLB Draft. He made his Major League debut in 2010 and went on to play nine seasons in the big leagues.
Over the course of his career, Sogard played for several organizations, including the San Diego Padres, Oakland Athletics, Milwaukee Brewers, Toronto Blue Jays, Tampa Bay Rays, and Chicago Cubs. Known for his defensive reliability and ability to play multiple infield positions, he became a trusted teammate and steady presence in every clubhouse he joined. One of the most notable stretches of his career came in 2019 with the Tampa Bay Rays, where he delivered one of the best offensive seasons of his career and helped the team reach the postseason.
Beyond his on-field accomplishments, Sogard is widely respected for his work ethic, baseball IQ, and team-first mindset. Since stepping away from professional baseball, he has continued to impact the game through mentoring, leadership, and speaking engagements. Eric's journey through Major League Baseball offers valuable lessons on perseverance, adaptability, and sustained excellence.
Tony Wolters is a former Major League Baseball catcher known for his leadership, toughness, and deep understanding of the game. Drafted out of high school by the Cleveland Indians in the third round of the 2010 MLB Draft, Wolters transitioned from the infield to catcher early in his professional career—a move that showcased his adaptability and commitment to team success. He made his Major League debut in 2016 with the Colorado Rockies.
Wolters spent most of his MLB career with the Rockies, where he became a trusted presence behind the plate and a key part of the pitching staff. He gained national recognition during the Rockies' 2018 postseason run, delivering clutch hits and steady defense while helping lead the team to the playoffs. Over his career, Wolters also played within the Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Seattle Mariners organizations, and is currently a coach in the Colorado Rockies organization.
Proceeds from the First Pitch Banquet directly support the Wright State baseball program, providing essential resources for the development and success of current and future Raider student-athletes.
The First Pitch Banquet will also feature a plated dinner, a full program highlighting the upcoming season, and a silent auction with exclusive Raider items.
Registration for the event is still available! Tickets and sponsorships can be purchased at this link.
The five current student-athletes taking the stage as part of the Raidergang panel will be Patrick Fultz, Gus Gregory, Chet Lax, JP Peltier, and J.J. Thompson.
The three former Major Leaguers joining the First Pitch Banquet will be Josh Lindblom, Eric Sogard, and Tony Wolters.
Josh Lindblom is a pitcher known for his resilience and success across both Major League Baseball (MLB) and the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO). He was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2008 and made his MLB debut in 2011, later pitching for teams including the Philadelphia Phillies, Texas Rangers, Oakland Athletics, and Pittsburgh Pirates. While frequent transitions marked his early MLB career, Lindblom gained valuable experience as both a starter and reliever.
Lindblom's career reached new heights during his time with the Doosan Bears in the KBO, where he emerged as one of the league's most dominant pitchers. In 2019, he won the KBO Most Valuable Player and Gold Glove awards after leading the league in multiple pitching categories. His success overseas earned him a return to MLB with the Milwaukee Brewers, where he brought a reputation for toughness, adaptability, and veteran leadership to the mound.
Eric Sogard, the older brother of Wright State head coach Alex Sogard, is a former Major League Baseball infielder whose career exemplified versatility, intelligence, and professionalism. A graduate of Arizona State University, Eric was selected by the San Diego Padres in the second round of the 2007 MLB Draft. He made his Major League debut in 2010 and went on to play nine seasons in the big leagues.
Over the course of his career, Sogard played for several organizations, including the San Diego Padres, Oakland Athletics, Milwaukee Brewers, Toronto Blue Jays, Tampa Bay Rays, and Chicago Cubs. Known for his defensive reliability and ability to play multiple infield positions, he became a trusted teammate and steady presence in every clubhouse he joined. One of the most notable stretches of his career came in 2019 with the Tampa Bay Rays, where he delivered one of the best offensive seasons of his career and helped the team reach the postseason.
Beyond his on-field accomplishments, Sogard is widely respected for his work ethic, baseball IQ, and team-first mindset. Since stepping away from professional baseball, he has continued to impact the game through mentoring, leadership, and speaking engagements. Eric's journey through Major League Baseball offers valuable lessons on perseverance, adaptability, and sustained excellence.
Tony Wolters is a former Major League Baseball catcher known for his leadership, toughness, and deep understanding of the game. Drafted out of high school by the Cleveland Indians in the third round of the 2010 MLB Draft, Wolters transitioned from the infield to catcher early in his professional career—a move that showcased his adaptability and commitment to team success. He made his Major League debut in 2016 with the Colorado Rockies.
Wolters spent most of his MLB career with the Rockies, where he became a trusted presence behind the plate and a key part of the pitching staff. He gained national recognition during the Rockies' 2018 postseason run, delivering clutch hits and steady defense while helping lead the team to the playoffs. Over his career, Wolters also played within the Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Seattle Mariners organizations, and is currently a coach in the Colorado Rockies organization.
Proceeds from the First Pitch Banquet directly support the Wright State baseball program, providing essential resources for the development and success of current and future Raider student-athletes.
Players Mentioned
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INF
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INF
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OF/LHP
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