Willmar adds pitcher, catcher, and an outfielder to 2014 roster
WILLMAR, MN – The Willmar Stingers announced today that three new players have signed this week, joining the returners announced recently to the 2014 roster. The roster now sits at nine players for the upcoming season, which will be the Stingers’ fifth season in the Northwoods League.
Joining Willmar next summer are Pepperdine University freshman teammates Jack Ross and AJ Puckett. The Waves will have three members play for the Stingers this summer as Hutton Moyer, who was announced earlier, is also slated to join the team. The third player to sign this week is red-shirt freshman catcher Brett Barbier from California Polytechnic State University.
Ross is a 6-foot-1 inch, 180-pound outfielder who comes highly recommended by Waves coach Steve Rodriguez. Originally from Gilroy, CA, Ross was a standout at Palma High School. As a three-year varsity starter, Ross hit .367 and had an on-base percentage of .519. Ross was named to the 2012 CalHi State Sports All-Underclass State Second Team.
Puckett, a 6-foot-4 inch right-handed pitcher, is also originally from California. Puckett is from Danville, CA and captured honorable-mention all-league accolades at De La Salle High School. Over his high school career, Puckett posted 14 wins and a 2.49 ERA. Puckett also displayed himself as a dominant strikeout pitcher, with 106 K’s in 107 innings pitched.
Barbier is a 5-foot-11 inch, 190-pound catcher who just came off an impressive summer playing in the California Collegiate League with the Conejo Oaks. Barbier didn’t see action at Cal Poly as a freshman but comes off a solid showing in his senior season at San Ramon Valley High School where he hit .370 with 20 runs scored and 19 RBI.
Manager Matt Hollod, along with the Stingers organization, will continue to build the roster for the fifth season of Stingers baseball in 2014. The 2014 schedule will be released this fall; however, season tickets for the upcoming year are now available. For more information regarding this story or season ticket pricing, please call 320-222-2010 or visit www.willmarstingers.com. The 2014 season is presented by Charter.
The Willmar Stingers are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 21st season of summer collegiate baseball, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 18 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff, more than 115 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including MLB All-Stars Max Scherzer (DET), Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYY), Allen Craig (STL) and Ben Zobrist (TB). All league games are viewable live and free of charge via the Northwoods League YouTube channel. For more information, visit www.willmarstingers.com.