Byrne and Maldonado Join 2016 Roster

The Madison Mallards have announced the signing of a pair from the University of Florida.  Pitcher Mike Byrne and infielder Nelson Maldonado will make their Northwoods League debut with the Mallards in 2016.

Byrne, a 6’3”, 205-pound right-hander is currently playing in his first season with the Gators.  The freshman from Orlando, FL was the Class 8A Player of the Year in 2015, his senior year at Olympia High School.  Byrne totaled an outstanding 29-2 career varsity record over three seasons.  He helped lead Olympia to a 25-0 start, which earned them the number one spot in USA Today’s Super 25 national rankings.

As a senior, Byrne finished with a 7-2 record and a 1.25 earned run average.  Byrne dominated opponents, striking out 96 batters in 72.2 innings pitched and held them to a .170 batting average.  Byrne also threw a no-hitter and had 14 strikeouts in a 1-0 victory over Wekiva High School.  His 2015 success earned him Central Florida Player of the Year, District Pitcher of the Year, Class 8A All-State Team, and the All-Area Team from Orlando-Sentinel.  Byrne played in the 2015 Florida Athletic Coaches Association All-Star Game.

Prior to his senior year, Byrne was an Honorable Mention Preseason All-American and was named to the Florida All-Region Second Team by Rawlings and Perfect Game.  As a junior, Byrne went 10-1 with a 0.93 ERA with 62 strikeouts in 67.2 innings pitched.  Byrne added another no-hitter that year as well.  His domination earned him 2014 Perfect Game Underclass High Honorable Mention All-American, and 2013 Perfect Game Underclass Honorable Mention All-American.

Maldonado, a 5’10”, 190-pound third baseman from Tampa, FL is also in his freshman year at Florida.  In 2015, his senior year at Jefferson High School, Maldonado was ranked as the number seven third baseman in the state of Florida by Perfect Game.  He was rated number 124 in Florida by Baseball America for the MLB Draft.  His .458 batting average, 22 RBIs, and three homeruns earned him the 2015 Wade Boggs Athletic Achievement Award; an award presented to a baseball player in Hillsborough County who excels on the field, in the classroom, and in the community.

Prior to his senior year, Maldonado was named Honorable Mention Preseason All-American as well as Florida All-Region Honorable Mention by Rawlings and Perfect Game.  In his junior year in 2014, he was selected First-Team Tampa Tribune All-Hillsborough County after hitting .432 and tallying 26 RBIs, including four homeruns.  Maldonado was also named a Perfect Game Underclass High Honorable Mention All-American.

The Mallards will host their home opener on Friday, June 3rd when they take on the new Northwoods League affiliate Rockford Rivets.  First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 pm.  Single-game tickets for the 2016 season will go on sale at 9:00 am on Saturday, April 30th.

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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 2016, 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 (DET), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Lucas Duda (NYM) and Ben Zobrist (CHC). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League Website.  For more information, visit www.MallardsBaseball.com