American International College

Jim Van Houten was a three-time conference all-star as a starting pitcher for the Yellow Jackets and was named the conference Player of the Year in 1984 after posting a record of 8-0 with a 1.60 earned run average (ERA) and 56 strikeouts in his 11 appearances that season. He posted a career record of 22-7, setting a school-record for career wins, in his 41 career-appearances (30 starts) with a 2.59 ERA and 195 strikeouts in 222 innings pitched. At the plate, Van Houten batted .382 with 65 hits in 170 at-bats while scoring 42 runs and driving in 32.

Van Houten was drafted twice by Major League Baseball clubs, being selected in the 18th round by the Toronto Blue Jays in 1983 and was then taken in the 21st round by the St. Louis Cardinals. He went on the play in the minor leagues for five seasons, rising as high as AA in both the Cardinals’ and Houston Astros’ organizations, posting a career record of 15-8 as a reliever with a 3.17 ERA, 31 saves and 170 strikeouts in his 131 career appearances.