(Rochester, MN) — A small flock of Oregon Ducks will be migrating east this summer to play for the Rochester Honkers. University of Oregon junior Ryan Hambright, sophomore Kyle Garlick, and freshman Scott Heineman will bring their talents to the Northwoods League this coming May. The Honkers have enjoyed the presence of Ducks players ever since the 2008-09 season, when the program ended a 26-year absence from intercollegiate competition.
Hambright [pictured left], a 6’2”, 195-pound utility player/RHP from Corona, California is returning for his third consecutive year with the Honkers. Last summer, Hambright played most of the season with an arm injury before having surgery at the end of the summer. For the Honkers in 2011, Hambright played in 46 games with a .266 batting average with 2 home runs and 19 RBIs. At Oregon in 2011, he hit .189, largely due to the hurt elbow he suffered for the entire year. Hambright enjoyed a healthy and productive season in 2010 for the Honkers. For the season, he hit .364 with 4 homers and 28 RBIs in only 32 games played. His .364 batting average was the highest on the team. Hambright also pitched in relief in 5 games, posting a 1-1 record with 7 strikeouts in 7.2 innings of work.
Kyle Garlick [center] is a 6’1”, 190-pound outfielder from Chino Hills, California. In his freshman year in 2011 at Oregon, Garlick was forced to miss the first 15 games of the season due to a broken hand injury. When he returned to the field, Garlick played in 32 games (started in 24) and hit .250 with 2 homeruns and 21 RBIs. In just his second collegiate career at-bat, Garlick hit a three-run home run to help beat San Diego on March 19th. A solid defender, Garlic did not commit one error in the outfield in all of 2011.
Scott Heineman [right] is a 5’9”, 185-pound infielder/RHP from Pacific Palisades, California. Heineman will be playing in his first collegiate baseball season this spring. As a senior at Crespi High School in 2011, Heineman hit .358, with 4 home runs and 19 RBIs. As a pitcher the same year, Heineman finished with a 2-1 record and 2.33 ERA in 27 total innings.
