MANKATO, Minn- The Mankato MoonDogs Baseball Club, a member of the Northwoods League is pleased to announce the signing of catcher Ridge Smith, along with shortstop Logan Gray for the 2014 MoonDogs season.
Smith, a 5-foot-10-inch freshman from Austin Peay State University was selected in the 29th round of the 2013 MLB Draft by Cleveland.
As a senior at Germantown High School, Smith batted .473 with five home runs, and 28 RBI, compiling a .839 slugging percentage. He was selected first-team All Class AAA and first-team All-State by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association.
“He’s a guy who brings speed and flexibility to our lineup,” said field manager Mike Orchard. “He also brings some ability at the plate.”
Smith is listed as a catcher but is versatile, having the ability to play multiple positions.
Gray, a 6-foot-2-inch freshman from Austin Peay was also selected in the 2013 MLB Draft, taken in the 25th round by Kansas City.
He batted .507 with three home runs, and 32 RBI during his senior campaign at Rockhurst High School and was named to the Midwest All-Regional Team by the National High School Baseball Coaches Association. Gray was also ranked as the No. 1 shortstop in the state of Kansas by Perfect Game.
“Logan is an athletic player,” Orchard said. “He has speed and many of the tools that can make him an effective middle infielder.”
Austin Peay University has had a good relationship with the MoonDogs. They sent catcher Matt Wollenzin, and pitchers Jared Carkuff and Ryan Quick to the Dogs last summer.
The MoonDogs home opener is scheduled for Wednesday, May 28 at 7:05 p.m. against the Alexandria Blue Anchors at Franklin Rogers Park. Season tickets are now on sale at the MoonDogs office located at 1221 Caledonia Street.
The Mankato MoonDogs 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.mankatomoondogs.com.
