Mankato, Minn. – The Mankato MoonDogs Baseball Club, of the Northwoods League, is excited to announce the addition of pitcher Connor O’Neil and infielder David Metzgar to the MoonDogs 2015 Roster.
Connor O’Neil is a 6’2 190 pound Sophomore right handed pitcher out of Cal. State Northridge (CSUN). The Kennewick, Washington native is in his first season for the Matadors. In 2014, O’Neil played for Central Arizona College, where he posted a 4-3 record with a 3.06 ERA in 47 innings pitched.
“Connor throws a ton of strikes and we feel like his stuff will be extremely effective in the Northwoods League this summer,” said Field Manager Ryan Day. “We expect Connor to come in and be somewhere in the starting rotation.”
Matadors in 2015, O’Neil has a 1-1 record and a 1.72 ERA in seven appearances with three saves in 15.2 innings pitched. While fanning 15 and holding opponents to a .132 batting average.
Connor is not the first O’Neil to call Mankato home for a summer. In 2014, his brother and current CSUN teammate Spencer O’Neil was an outfielder for the MoonDogs.
“Spencer was a great teammate and representative of the MoonDogs, and we feel very fortunate to have another O’Neil come to Mankato for the summer,” said Day.
David Metzgar is a 5’8 165 pound Sophomore infielder out of Cal. State Bakersfield. The Lancaster, California native is returning for his second season for the Runners. In 2014, Metzgar lead the team with a .312 average in 51 games, 44 starts, while driving in 11 runs.
“David is a second baseman who can flat out hit. He’s another guy who got a ton of experience as a freshman and is only getting better his second year of starting at the college level,” said Day.
For the Runners in 2015, Metzgar is hitting .326 in 12 games, while tallying three doubles and eight RBI.
“He is swinging the bat really well to start the season for Cal. State Bakersfield and were excited to have him with the MoonDogs this summer,” said Day.
The MoonDogs home opener is scheduled for Wednesday, May 27, at 7:05 p.m. against the Rochester Honkers 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 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 (OAK) and Ben Zobrist (TB). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League Website. For more information, visit http://www.mankatomoondogs.com