Roll Tide!! Rafters welcome pair of talented Alabama Crimson Tide Freshmen
Wisconsin Rapids, WI – Monday, February 17th. The Rafters and general manager John Fanta are pleased to announce the addition of two players from the University of Alabama. Infielder Taylor Propst and Outfielder William Elliott have both signed contracts for the 2014 season.
“Coach Ebright and I are excited to partner with one of the top schools in the SEC to bring two talented freshmen to Wisconsin Rapids this summer,” said Fanta. “I anticipate both players contributing at a high level for us this summer.”
IF-Taylor Propst, 6’1”, 185 lbs (R/R) Freshman
Propst arrived at Tuscaloosa as the top shortstop prospect in Alabama and was ranked 24th overall in the state in 2013, according to Perfect Game USA. As a junior in high school, he hit .359 and scored 26 runs to go along with 35 RBIs, seven doubles, and five home runs. He was named a 2012 Huntsville Times All-Area first team and was also the All-City Co-Offensive Player of the Year. A starter on Huntsville’s 2011 Class 6A state championship team, he tallied one hit, one RBI, two stolen bases, and four assists in the best-of-three series sweep. Propst is a native of Huntsville, Alabama and intends to major in accounting and business.
OF-William Elliott, 6’2”, 195 lbs (L/R) Freshman
Elliott will join Propst at Alabama for his freshman campaign this spring. He was rated as the 11th best prospect in Mississippi by Perfect Game USA and the second-best outfielder in the state in 2013. As a senior, Elliott posted a .400 batting average with nine doubles, two triples, and 30 RBIs and was named to the Class 5A coaches’ first-team all-state team. Additionally, he led Oxford in batting average at .387 and .351 his junior and sophomore year, respectively. Elliott will major in Human Performance and is a native of Oxford, Mississippi.
The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters 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 Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (DET) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYM), 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.raftersbaseball.com.