Bryan Bullington One of Six MAC Icons Headed Into League’s Hall of Fame
June 01, 2020 | Baseball
MUNCIE, Ind. – Former Ball State baseball standout pitcher Bryan Bullington was one of six individuals announced today as the newest members of the Mid-American Conference's Hall of Fame.
Bullington established many school records and was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2002 Major League Baseball Draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates, becoming the first student-athlete from the MAC to be the first selection in any professional draft.
"Today is a great day for Bryan Bullington and Ball State baseball," BSU baseball head coach Rich Maloney said. "Bryan had an amazing career for Ball State as he shattered most of our pitching records and led the 2001 team to a Mid-American Conference regular season championship. He is truly one of the greatest Ball State athletes of all time and most importantly a first class individual. Hats off to you Bryan. We are all very proud of you!"
Bullington (2000-02) holds the Ball State and MAC career strikeout record (357) and the Cardinals career wins record (29). As a freshman in 2000, he led the league in strikeouts and was tied for first in wins and fourth in innings pitched. As a sophomore in 2001, he led the conference in strikeouts, games started and was second in innings pitched. In his final season at Ball State in 2002, Bullington led the MAC in strikeouts, ERA and had the best record with an 11-3 mark overall and 6-0 in league games. He was twice named the MAC Pitcher of the Year (2001, 2002), a three-time All-MAC first team selection (2000, 2001, 2002) and honored as the MAC Freshman of the Year in 2000.
Bullington was named All-America first team in 2002 by Collegiate Baseball, ABCA, Baseball America and NCBWA. He was also a member of the USA National Team in 2001. He was also named a 2002 CoSIDA Academic All-District selection.
Bullington made his Major League debut with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2005. He went on to play with Cleveland (2008), Toronto (2009) and Kansas City (2010). He also played with the Hiroshima Toyo Carp from 2011-14 and was selected to the Japanese All-Star Game in 2011. He ended his professional career in 2015 with the Orix Buffaloes.
A native of Madison, Indiana, Bullington received his bachelor's degree in business administration and management from Ball State in 2010. He currently is an international scout for the Milwaukee Brewers. He was inducted in the Ball State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2014.
Bullington and his wife, Lauren, have three children, Isabella, Jack and Matthew. His wife, Lauren, was a member of the Ball State women's volleyball team. His father, Larry, is a member of the Ball State Athletics Hall of Fame and played baseball and basketball as a Cardinal. His mother, Mary, was a member of the Ball State women's swimming and diving team.
The 2020 MAC Hall of Fame inductees joining Bullington include Stevi Large Gruber (Akron, women's track & field), Margo Jonker (Central Michigan, softball), Wally Szczerbiak (Miami, men's basketball), Ellen Herman-Kimball (Ohio, volleyball) and Briana Shook (Toledo, women's track & field).
"We have such a storied history within our conference and it is important to honor and celebrate the accomplishments of our former students, coaches and administrators, specifically these six individuals, and their achievements during their time competing in the Mid-American Conference," said Dr. Jon Steinbrecher, MAC Commissioner. "We are honored to welcome this year's class to the Mid-American Conference Hall of Fame."
The MAC Hall of Fame was approved by the MAC Council of Presidents in 1987. The charter class was inducted in 1988 and subsequent classes were added in 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992 and 1994. After six induction classes, the MAC Hall of Fame maintained 52 members until it was reinstated in May of 2012. This year's class brings the number of MAC Hall of Fame inductees to 102 individuals from 15 classes.
Bullington is the 10th Ball State student-athlete, coach or administrator to be inducted the MAC Hall of Fame. The other Ball State inductees are Jen Brown-Mascari (field hockey), Karen Fitzpatrick (field hockey), Maurice Harvey (football), Ken Kremer (football), Brad Maynard (football), Ray McCallum (men's basketball), Sally Northcroft (field hockey), John Pruis (Ball State President) and Shafer Suggs (football).
For more information on the MAC Hall of Fame, please click here.
Bullington established many school records and was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2002 Major League Baseball Draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates, becoming the first student-athlete from the MAC to be the first selection in any professional draft.
"Today is a great day for Bryan Bullington and Ball State baseball," BSU baseball head coach Rich Maloney said. "Bryan had an amazing career for Ball State as he shattered most of our pitching records and led the 2001 team to a Mid-American Conference regular season championship. He is truly one of the greatest Ball State athletes of all time and most importantly a first class individual. Hats off to you Bryan. We are all very proud of you!"
Bullington (2000-02) holds the Ball State and MAC career strikeout record (357) and the Cardinals career wins record (29). As a freshman in 2000, he led the league in strikeouts and was tied for first in wins and fourth in innings pitched. As a sophomore in 2001, he led the conference in strikeouts, games started and was second in innings pitched. In his final season at Ball State in 2002, Bullington led the MAC in strikeouts, ERA and had the best record with an 11-3 mark overall and 6-0 in league games. He was twice named the MAC Pitcher of the Year (2001, 2002), a three-time All-MAC first team selection (2000, 2001, 2002) and honored as the MAC Freshman of the Year in 2000.
Bullington was named All-America first team in 2002 by Collegiate Baseball, ABCA, Baseball America and NCBWA. He was also a member of the USA National Team in 2001. He was also named a 2002 CoSIDA Academic All-District selection.
Bullington made his Major League debut with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2005. He went on to play with Cleveland (2008), Toronto (2009) and Kansas City (2010). He also played with the Hiroshima Toyo Carp from 2011-14 and was selected to the Japanese All-Star Game in 2011. He ended his professional career in 2015 with the Orix Buffaloes.
A native of Madison, Indiana, Bullington received his bachelor's degree in business administration and management from Ball State in 2010. He currently is an international scout for the Milwaukee Brewers. He was inducted in the Ball State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2014.
Bullington and his wife, Lauren, have three children, Isabella, Jack and Matthew. His wife, Lauren, was a member of the Ball State women's volleyball team. His father, Larry, is a member of the Ball State Athletics Hall of Fame and played baseball and basketball as a Cardinal. His mother, Mary, was a member of the Ball State women's swimming and diving team.
The 2020 MAC Hall of Fame inductees joining Bullington include Stevi Large Gruber (Akron, women's track & field), Margo Jonker (Central Michigan, softball), Wally Szczerbiak (Miami, men's basketball), Ellen Herman-Kimball (Ohio, volleyball) and Briana Shook (Toledo, women's track & field).
"We have such a storied history within our conference and it is important to honor and celebrate the accomplishments of our former students, coaches and administrators, specifically these six individuals, and their achievements during their time competing in the Mid-American Conference," said Dr. Jon Steinbrecher, MAC Commissioner. "We are honored to welcome this year's class to the Mid-American Conference Hall of Fame."
The MAC Hall of Fame was approved by the MAC Council of Presidents in 1987. The charter class was inducted in 1988 and subsequent classes were added in 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992 and 1994. After six induction classes, the MAC Hall of Fame maintained 52 members until it was reinstated in May of 2012. This year's class brings the number of MAC Hall of Fame inductees to 102 individuals from 15 classes.
Bullington is the 10th Ball State student-athlete, coach or administrator to be inducted the MAC Hall of Fame. The other Ball State inductees are Jen Brown-Mascari (field hockey), Karen Fitzpatrick (field hockey), Maurice Harvey (football), Ken Kremer (football), Brad Maynard (football), Ray McCallum (men's basketball), Sally Northcroft (field hockey), John Pruis (Ball State President) and Shafer Suggs (football).
For more information on the MAC Hall of Fame, please click here.
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