Coleman and Smith Join the Mallards in 2015
Madison, WI – January 26, 2015. The Madison Mallards have announced the signing of two new position players for the 2015 season. Outfielder Ro Coleman (Vanderbilt University) and infielder Pavin Smith (University of Virginia) will join the Mallards roster.
Coleman, a 5'5", 150-pound sophomore from Chicago, Illinois will join the Mallards outfield this year. Coleman came through in the clutch multiple times during the NCAA post-season, helping the Commodores to their first ever College World Series title in 2014.
Highlighting Coleman’s clutch moments, was a pinch-hit walk-off single against Oregon in the NCAA Regional Championship game to help the Commodores advance. Coleman also came through with a single and a walk in Vanderbilt’s championship clinching win over Virginia.
As a senior at Simeon High School, Coleman finished with a .525 batting average, earning him All-State honors. In 2012 and 2013, Coleman won back-to-back city championships with the 18U Team USA. In 2013, Coleman was drafted in the 40th round by his hometown Chicago White Sox.
Smith, a 6'2", 200-pound freshman from Jupiter, Florida will also join the Mallards for the first time in 2015. Smith will be starting his college career this spring with the Cavaliers, who lost to Vanderbilt in the 2014 College World Series Championship game.
In 2014, prior to Smith’s senior year at Palm Beach Gardens High School, Smith was named a Third-Team Preseason All-American by Baseball America. Smith finished his senior season with a .329 batting average with seven home runs and 30 RBIs. On the mound, Smith finished with a 5-0 record with an impressive 0.66 ERA, tallying 54 strikeouts and only six walks in 32 innings pitched. Smith earned himself 2014 First-Team All-State and he was selected to Florida and Palm Beach County all-star teams. Smith was drafted in the 32nd round of the 2014 MLB draft by the Colorado Rockies.
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The Madison Mallards are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 22nd season of summer collegiate baseball in 2015, 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 120 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Allen Craig (BOS) and Ben Zobrist (OAK). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League Website. For more information, visit www.MallardsBaseball.com