Adam Walton joins Ryne Roper to the Honkers squad this summer
(Rochester, Minn.)— The Rochester Honkers Baseball Club today announced the signing of Adam Walton from the University of Illinois. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound sophomore infielder from Buffalo Grove, Illinois, joins teammate Ryne Roper to the Honkers this summer.
Currently the Illini starting shortstop is hitting .333 in 18 at bats as the leadoff hitter. He is leading the team in runs scored (6) and doubles (2). The Illini hold a 4-0 record to start the 2015 season after their opening weekend in Beaumont, Texas.
“Year after year we have had the privilege to place players up in Rochester for the summer, and it is a good feeling knowing our kids have to opportunity to play for such a class organization,” says Fighting Illini Assistant Baseball Coach, Spencer Allen. “The Honkers do a great job on the field continuing to develop players and we know when our guys come back that they have gotten better.”
In his 2014 season with the Fighting Illini, Walton led the team with a .329 batting average in 149 at-bats. Walton had 49 hits including five doubles, three triples, a homerun, and 19 RBIs. His efforts were rewarded when he was named Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American by Collegiate Baseball newspaper and was named to the Second-team All-Big Ten and All-Big Ten Freshman Team at shortstop.
Walton is no stranger to the Northwoods League, playing for the Madison Mallards for the 2014 season. He played in 36 games for the Mallards after starting the season on a temporary contract. In those 36 games, Walton had 114 at-bats, 27 hits, four doubles, and nine RBIs, finishing the season with a .237 batting average.
The Rochester Honkers 22nd season begins on May 26th when the Mankato MoonDogs bark into Mayo Field for a 7:05pm first pitch. Season Tickets, Bonus Books, Suites and Patios are now available. Call the Rochester Honkers office at 507-289-1170 for more information. The Honkers are also looking for host families for the 2015 season and ask all interested parties to call the business office for more information.
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The Rochester Honkers 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.rochesterhonkers.com