Wolfpack Teammate and current Honker Mastrobuoni leads the team in hitting
(Rochester, Minn.)— The Rochester Honkers announced today the signing of infielder Jed Sprague from the University of Nevada for the 2016 season. He joins fellow Wolfpack and second-year Rochester Honker, Miles Mastrobuoni, to the team this summer. Mastrobuoni is currently hitting .455 with 3 RBIs for the 3-5 Wolfpack. He is also 3-4 in stolen bases.
Sprague, a 6-foot-3, 205-pound sophomore from Stockton, Calif., transferred to Nevada after playing one season at the University of the Pacific, where his father was the head coach. He finished his freshman season hitting .224 with 22 hits and 11 RBIs while posting a .962 fielding percentage with 92 putouts.
A 2014 graduate of Saint Mary’s High School, Sprague finished his senior season hitting .283 with 23 RBIs and 17 extra base hits. He helped guide his team to a runner-up finish in the Division I Sac-Joaquin Section Championships. He was then selected in the 37th round of the 2014 MLB Draft by the Chicago Cubs.
Sprague’s father, Ed made it to the Major Leagues in 1991 with the Toronto Blue Jays and enjoyed an 11-year career in the big leagues. He helped the Blue Jays win back-to-back World Series Championships in 1992 and 1993. Later in his career, as a Pittsburgh Pirate, Sprague earned a selection to the 1999 All-Star Game. Sprague’s decorated playing career marks him as the only player ever to win a College World Series, Olympic Gold Medal and a Major League Baseball World Series.
Sprague’s mother’s athletic career is an impressive one as well, as she was an Olympic gold medalist in synchronized swimming in 1992.
The Rochester Honkers 23rd season begins on May 31st when the team travels to Eau Claire, Wisconsin to take on the Express. The following night, Wednesday, June 1st, the Honkers battle the Express in their home opener at Mayo Field at 7:05 pm. 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 2016 season and ask all interested parties to call the business office for more information.
The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. The 22-year old summer collegiate 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 140 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 Zobris (CHC).
