KALAMAZOO, MI – The Kalamazoo Growlers announced today the signings of two more pitchers and a catcher. Hayden Brauser, a sophomore right-handed pitcher from Pratt Community College, Larry Wood, a junior left-hander from Northwood University and Nick Hutchins, a sophomore catcher from Southern Illinois University will join the team for the 2016 season.

Hayden Brauser: 5’10” – 140lb, RHP, Bats/R. Throws/R, Pratt CC (So.), Edmond, Okla.

Brauser is a 5-10, 140 pound native of Edmond, Oklahoma. His unique submarine delivery enabled him to be successful on the mound during the course of his freshman season. Brauser appeared often out of the bullpen in his freshman season for the Beavers, leading the team with 24 appearances in 53 games, and picking up two wins along the way. Brauser threw 25 1/3 innings in all, with a 3.55 ERA, and he struck out 16 while only walking four. In a relief appearance against Barton Community College, Brauser pitched 2 1/3 innings, and struck out a season high four hitters.  

Brauser attended Edmond Memorial High School where he excelled on the mound. 

The Growlers look forward to using Brauser, and his unique submarine delivery, as a key part of the pitching staff this season.

Larry Wood: 6’5” – 205lb, LHP, Bats/L, Throws/L, Northwood (Jr.), Essexville, Mich.

Wood is a 6-5, 205 pound native of Essexville, Michigan. He has excelled on the mound for Northwood University, and as a sophomore, led the Timberwolves’ pitching staff with 20 appearances in 51 games. Wood made four starts for the Timberwolves, but pitched mostly out of the bullpen. He threw 42 1/3 innings in total, which was tops for Northwood relievers, and fifth in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. For the season, Wood picked up two wins and two saves while tallying a 2.98 ERA. And he struck out 33 while walking 18. Wood was also impressive in the classroom, earning honors in the GLIAC for All-Academic Excellence.

Wood attended Garber High School in Essexville, where he was a standout on the mound and in the classroom. For the Garber baseball team, he was a team captain in his senior season, and was the Bay County strikeout leader. He earned All-Conference and All-District Honors, and was named to the Bay County Dream Team. Wood capped his season in dominant fashion, throwing a no-hitter against Millington High School in the Tri-Valley League Championship game. Wood also excelled in the classroom, as he earned the four-year Academic G Award for all around academic excellence, and graduated Magna Cum Laude. 

The Growlers look forward to using the left-handed Wood in various situations, as he has proven he can pitch well under all circumstances.

Nick Hutchins: 6’1’’ – 200lb, C, Bats/R. Throws/R, Southern Illinois (So.), Franklin, Tenn.

Hutchins is a 6-1, 200 pound native of Franklin, Tennessee. During his freshman season with Southern Illinois, Hutchins played in 35 games, and started in 29, with most of those starts coming at catcher. He hit .241 for the season, while totaling 27 hits and three home runs. In a game in March last season against Austin Peay, Hutchins totaled a then career high three RBI. Behind the plate, Hutchins was very solid for the Salukis, as he threw out eight of the 16 players who attempted to steal bases against him, while compiling a .995 fielding percentage with only a single error to his credit. This season, Hutchins has started in 22 of the 28 games he has played in, and is hitting .222 with 18 hits and 9 RBI. He has been stellar behind the plate, committing only one error thus far while throwing out seven of twelve base runners attempting to steal.

Hutchins was a 2014 graduate from Franklin High School, where he was a standout throughout his four years. He was a four-year starter at Franklin, and during his senior year, he was named the District 11-AAA Player of the Year, after hitting .467 with seven home runs and 42 RBI. He was also named to the All-Region team and earned Second Team All-State honors. As a sophomore at Franklin, Hutchins helped his team to the District 11-AAA and Region 6AAA championships.

Hutchins skills behind the plate will make him a big part of the Growlers catching rotation for the upcoming season.

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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 Zobrist (CHC). All league games are viewable via the Northwoods League website. For more information, visit www.northwoodsleague.com.