Four Others Added to 2014 Roster
St. Cloud, MN – The St. Cloud Rox announced today that they have signed five players to the 2014 roster including infielder Chris Paul (University of California), who has played for the Rox the past two summers and returns as the Team MVP of 2013. Other signees are pitchers Kevin Burgee (Georgia State University), Nick McCarty (University of Notre Dame), Trevor Jaunich (North Dakota State University) and Matt Rodgers (University of Evansville). These additions bring the total roster to 23 players.
Paul returns to St. Cloud for his third consecutive summer having played in 67 games in 2013, batting .299 (81-for-271), leading the team in stolen bases (17) and coming in second in runs (38), triples (2), homeruns (4) and RBI’s (37) on his way to becoming the 2013 MVP. In 2012, his first season with the Rox, Paul hit .271, tied for the team-lead in triples (6) and led the Rox with 20 doubles, which was tied for the second-best in the Northwoods League’s 2012 season. At Cal, Paul was fourth in the Pac-12 homerun category a year ago, smacking eight homeruns with 36 RBI’s and five doubles to complete his 2013 season.
Burgee, a 6-foot-3, 190 lbs. right-handed pitcher comes to the Rox in his junior season at Georgia State University. A native of Lawrenceville, Ga., Burgee has recorded a team-high six saves in 2014, posting a 3.29 ERA in 20 appearances and 27.1 innings pitched for the Panthers. Burgee, who transferred to GSU was 3-1 with six saves in 2013 at Gordon State College, tallying a 3.26 ERA and allowing 29 hits in 30.1 innings pitched at Gordon in his sophomore season. As a freshman, Burgee was 9-1 for Gordon State.
McCarty is a 6-foot-2, 192 lbs. right-handed pitcher and is currently registering a 4.25 ERA in his sophomore year at Notre Dame, appearing in 13 games, including nine starts, and throwing 55 innings in the process of allowing 26 earned runs and striking out 35 batters, which is fourth-best for the Fighting Irish. In his freshman season, McCarty appeared in a team-high 29 games on the hill, going 5-4 in 62.1 innings pitched, recording 33 strikeouts and allowing 63 hits.
Jaunich comes to the St. Cloud Rox in his junior season at North Dakota State University, where the 6-foot-3 pitcher from Delano, Minn. currently has tallied team-highs in saves (5) and appearances (13) as the closer for the Bison. This season he has pitched 22.2 innings, giving up nine earned runs, striking out 23 batters and posting a 3.57 ERA, the second-best out of the bullpen. A 2011 graduate of Delano High School, Jaunich went 2-3 on the mound with 56 strikeouts, four walks and a 0.66 ERA in 43.1 innings pitched his senior season, earning him All-County, All-Metro and All-State honors on top of being selected to the Minnesota Lions All-Star Series.
Rodgers, a 6-foot-3 right-handed pitcher out of the University of Evansville is currently 3-1 in 2014, making 16 appearances and eight starts for the Aces with 38 strikeouts and 18 walks in 40 innings pitched, the third-most on the team. The junior is a transfer from Lincoln Trail College in Robinson, Ill., where he went 2-3 on the mound in five appearances and two starts, recording 14 strikeouts in 15.2 innings pitched last season. He also equated a .333 batting average at LTC, hitting 14 doubles with 43 RBI’s and eight homeruns.
The Rox home opener is Friday, May 30th at 7:05p.m. at Joe Faber Field presented by Coborn’s. For Rox season tickets and single game tickets please call (320) 240-9798. Single game tickets also can be purchased online at www.stcloudrox.com or by stopping at the Rox box office located at the west end of the Municipal Athletic Complex.
The St. Cloud Rox 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 summer collegiate 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 via the Northwoods League YouTube channel. For more information, visit www.stcloudrox.com.
