Battle Creek, MI – The very first Battle Creek Battle Jacks roster is finalized for the start of the 2022 season. The season starts May 30 with a two-game homestand against the Traverse City Pit Spitters. You can find the season schedule here. While this roster is finalized, some players are finishing up their college season and will be with the Battle Jacks a week or two later. Summer baseball is also known for fluctuating rosters as players decide to step away or college coaches keep them on a game limit. With that being said, here is the inaugural Battle Jacks roster.

Pitchers

This is a deep pitching room with 23 arms in the bullpen. Not only is it deep, but it’s experienced. Ten players are of junior status or higher. Another eight are true or redshirt freshmen. The rotation is dominated by righties, with just four of the 23 pitchers being southpaws. Lucas Bixby is the one returning player on the roster. He sported a 2.40 ERA over 17.1 innings of work for Battle Creek last summer.

Lucas Bixby 

School: Junior, Vanguard University

Throws: Right-handed

Hometown: Dewitt, Iowa

Will Conroy

School: Redshirt Freshman, Millersville University of Pennsylvania

Throws: Right-handed

Hometown: Raven Run, Pennsylvania

Travis Cowan

School: Senior, Doane College

Throws: Right-handed

Hometown: Denver, Colorado

Nick Davies

School: Junior, Brock University

Throws: Left-handed

Hometown: Ancaster, Ontario, Canada

Rolando De La Cruz

School: Sophomore, Trinidad State Junior College

Throws: Right-handed

Hometown: San Pedro De Macoris, Dominican Republic

Aaron Dolney

School: Sophomore, Eastern Michigan University

Throws: Right-handed

Hometown: Plymouth, Michigan

Jake Habelitz

School: Redshirt Freshman, Middle Georgia State University

Throws: Left-handed

Hometown: Long Beach, California

Sean Knorr

School: Freshman, Kellogg Community College

Throws: Right-handed

Hometown: Ann Arbor, Michigan

Gavin Knust

School: Sophomore, Indiana University Southeast

Throws: Left-handed

Hometown: Saint Anthony, Indiana

Caleb Lanoux

School: Junior, Middle Georgia State University

Throws: Right-handed

Hometown: Orange Park, Florida

Jacob Lycan

School: Junior, Concordia University

Throws: Right-handed

Hometown: Omaha, Nebraska

Garrett Martin

School: Senior, Middle Georgia State University

Throws: Right-handed

Hometown: Gypsum, Colorado

Lex Meinderts

School: Junior, Lyon College

Throws: Right-handed

Hometown: Bergschenhoek, Netherlands

Jeremiah Newman

School: Redshirt Freshman, Georgia State University

Throws: Right-handed

Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia

Cohen Nies

School: Redshirt Senior, Defiance College

Throws: Right-handed

Hometown: Logansport, Indiana

Jaidan Quinn

School: Sophomore, Concordia University

Throws: Right-handed

Hometown: Bonner Springs, Kansas

Noah Richardson

School: Senior, Northern Kentucky University

Throws: Left-handed

Hometown: Windsor, Ontario, Canada

Nathan Ross

School: Freshman, Kellogg Community College

Throws: Right-handed

Hometown: Jenison, Michigan

Brett Sanchez

School: Redshirt Sophomore, Bellhaven University

Throws: Right-handed

Hometown: Slidell, Louisiana

Peter Schaefer

School: Junior, Johns Hopkins University

Throws: Right-handed

Hometown: Knoxville, Tennessee

David Stich Jr.

School: Redshirt Freshman, Temple College

Throws: Right-handed

Hometown: Boerne, Texas

Hank Weiss

School: Freshman, Washington University in St. Louis

Throws: Right-handed

Hometown: Chagrin Falls, Ohio

Robert Whelan

School: Freshman, Green River College

Throws: Right-handed

Hometown: Camp Hill, Pennsylvania

Catchers

The catchers group is experienced, headlined by 2021 Great Plains Athletic Conference Player of the Year, Billy Hancock. Derick Stager is one of five Middle Georgia State players on the roster. 

Billy Hancock: 

School: Junior, Mount Marty College

Hometown: Wahoo, Nebraska

Derick Stager: 

School: Sophomore, Middle Georgia State University

Hometown: Tarpon Springs, Florida.

Infielders

The infield has a good mix of youth and veteran experience. There are three juniors, four sophomores and two freshmen. They come from universities all across the country, ranging from California to Florida and everywhere in between. This should be an exciting group of players. 

James Canar

School: Junior, McPherson College

Hometown: Longmont, Colorado

Daunte Decello

School: Redshirt Junior, Indiana University Southeast

Hometown: Hamilton, Ohio

Donovan Garcia

School: Sophomore, Flagler College

Hometown: Odessa, Florida

Josh Getz

School: Freshman, Northwood University (Commit)

Hometown: Milford, Michigan

Joey Grabanski

School: Sophomore, Concordia University

Hometown: Grand Forks, North Dakota

Core Jackson

School: Freshman, University of Nebraska

Hometown: Wyoming, Ontario, Canada

Dillon Kark

School: Sophomore, Michigan State University

Hometown: White Lake, Michigan

Pat Mills

School: Junior, Indiana University Kokomo

Hometown: Russiaville, Indiana

Fisher Pyatt

School: Sophomore, San Diego State University

Hometown: San Diego, California

Outfielders

The group flying around the outfield may be shallow, but don’t think they won’t make an immediate impact on day one. Isaiah Gibbs and Rafael Gomez Jr. are both coming off their junior year, while Tate Peterson is wrapping up his freshman season. Gibbs is the final of five players from Middle Georgia State University that rounds off this roster. 

Isaiah Gibbs

School: Junior, William Woods University

Hometown: Ironton, Missouri

Rafael Gomez Jr.

School: Junior, Middle Georgia State University

Hometown: Miami, Florida

Tate Peterson

School: Freshman, Kellogg Community College

Hometown: Grandville, Michigan