Waterloo, IA – The Waterloo Bucks have announced that outfielder Pat Stover will return to play for the Bucks in 2010.  Currently a freshman at Santa Clara University, Stover was drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the 17th round of the 2009 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.  Stover will join fellow Broncos Paul Twining and Ryan Rieger on the Waterloo roster.

Joining the Bucks in early-July last year, Stover played in 26 games.  In 105 at bats, the Rocklin, California native hit .265 with one home run, 14 RBI, and a .373 slugging percentage.  

Bucks’ Manager Jason Nell believes Stover will be a crucial part of Waterloo’s lineup this summer. 

“Pat is an unbelievable athlete with a great make-up,” said Nell.  “He’s a young talent who should be able to use his freshman season at Santa Clara as a bouncing board to step in right away and help us in the outfield in Waterloo.  Pat has the ability to run downhill and go get the balls in the gap.  We’ll need him and his intelligence on the base paths to produce runs for us.”

The 6’4″, 210-pound right-handed hitter led Rocklin High School to the 2009 CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division II baseball state title.  Stover led Rocklin with a .451 average and slugged .756 as a senior. 

Then Bucks will open the 2010 season at home on Wednesday, June 2 at 6:35 pm versus Wisconsin Rapids.  Season tickets and single-game tickets are currently on sale.  Fans are encouraged to stay in touch with the Bucks in the off-season by utilizing their website at www.waterloobucks.com.