(Wausau, WI) – High school All-American and Pepperdine third baseman Chris Amezquita has signed on for his first summer of Wisconsin Woodchucks baseball. The La Mirada, California native, standing 6’2” 190 lbs, says he is “excited to be a part of the Woodchucks family and ready to have a great summer on the diamond. I will be sure to leave it all out on the field and [I am] very excited to have a great time with the ‘Chucks.”
“Amezquita is a great get for us, Aflac All-American, one season under Rick Vanderhook at UCLA; it says something about a kid when he transfers out of a place and they tell you good things about him,” said ‘Chucks skipper Guido Aspeitia. “He’ll be athletic, solid, and fun to watch.”
Amezquita, now a sophomore, played his first season of college ball with the UCLA Bruins. Before transferring to Pepperdine University, Chris posted a .259 BA with an impressive .799 OPS in limited playing time with the Bruins. Due to NCAA transfer regulations, Chris will be forced to sit out the 2010 season before taking the field with the Waves next year.
“It will be tough not to be able to play this season with my new team,” said Amezquita on sitting out this season. “But I am committed to work even harder in what will be “my offseason.” I have worked really hard in our strength program waking up at 4:30 three times a week and [spending] countless hours on the field improving my game to get an upper hand on the 2010-11 season.”
As a junior at Servite High School, Chris earned AFLAC and Sporting News All-American honors in addition to breaking Ryan Garko’s school season record for doubles. Before an injury-plagued senior campaign, Amezquita earned pre-season All-American honors from Louisville Slugger and Perfect Game. Baseball America named him the 37th best prospect in the nation for the 2008 senior class. Chris has also played for the Brewers, Dodgers, and Angels Elite teams, and competed for the Seattle Mariners scout team from 2006-08.
“Amezquita is a great defender who can play a variety of positions,” said Pepperdine head coach Steve Rodriguez. “He can handle the bat very well, he can use all fields with power and we are excited to have him in our lineup next year. He is a great kid with a solid attitude.”
The Woodchucks 2010 home opener is on Thursday, June 3rd as they take on the Madison Mallards. For group outing/ticket information contact the Woodchucks office at 715-845-5055 or visit the Woodchucks website at woodchucks.com.
