(Rochester, MN)-The Rochester Honkers Baseball Club announced today the signing of a pair of players from New Mexico State University. Justin Cooper, a 6’1″, 170-pound freshman pitcher and Chris Auten, a 6’4″, 225-pound redshirt junior infielder will join the Honkers this summer.
Cooper (pictured right) went undefeated in his freshman campaign at New Mexico State, finishing the year with a 2-0 record and a save while making 16 appearances, including a start. He struck out 24 in 28 innings, and should be reliable option out of the pen for the Honkers this summer. He also put up impressive numbers both from the mound and with the bat in high school, where he was the team MVP for Goddard High School (New Mexico) as a senior in 2008 when he hit .479 and pitched 48 innings with an ERA of only 1.89.
Auten (pictured left) was named to the Brooks Wallace Player of the Year Award watch list for the 2009 season, but played in only three games this season before being shut down with an injury. Last year for New Mexico State he had a monster season, appearing in 60 of the team’s 61 games and hitting .365 with a team-high 92 hits, 24 doubles and 26 total multi-hit games. He wrapped up the season with a 21-game hitting streak and managed to drive in multiple runs in 14 contests. Prior to playing for New Mexico State, Auten played for Saddleback Junior College in Mission Viejo (California) where he hit .393 with 37 RBI, 11 doubles and 5 home runs in 2007.
The Rochester Honkers 16th season begins on May 28th, 2009 when the Mankato MoonDogs come to Mayo Field for a 7:05pm first pitch. Season Tickets, Bonus Books, Suites and Patios are now on sale. Call the Honkers office at 507-289-1170 for more information.
