KALAMAZOO, MI – The Kalamazoo Growlers announced today the addition of two players, both from Northern Kentucky University. Trey Ganns, a sophomore utility infielder/pitcher and Matt Ianni, a freshman pitcher, will join the team for the upcoming season. Ganns was named this week’s Louisville Slugger National Player of the Week.

Trey Ganns: 6’2’’ – 200lb, UTIL/LHP, Bats/L, Throws/L, Northern Kentucky (So.), Burlington, KY.

Ganns is a 6-2, 200 pound native of Burlington, Kentucky. A strong left-handed hitter, Ganns saw action in all but three games for the Norse in his freshman campaign, making 45 starts in 49 appearances as a two-way player, and earning a spot on the All-Conference Freshman Team. Used primarily as the designated hitter for the Norse, Ganns batted .296, with four home runs, and eleven doubles, and placed third on the team with 50 hits and second on the team with 25 RBI. Ganns also led the team with 24 walks and his on-base percentage of .383 was good for third on the team. He had seven multi-RBI games including a pair of three-RBI outings against Jacksonville and Butler. A left-handed pitcher, Ganns also made seven appearances on the mound, including three starts, throwing a total of 11 2/3 innings. Overall, he totaled a 1-2 record with ten strikeouts.

After being named to the preseason All-Horizon League team prior to this season, Ganns has exploded as a sophomore. He has appeared in 41 of NKU’s 42 games, making 40 starts thus far and as of April 27, his 45 hits and 17 walks lead the team, and his batting average of .296 is good for second. Ganns had three hits in a win over Northwestern in March and four hits against Oakland a week ago, two performances which count toward his total 15 multi-hit games this season. Ganns has also made five appearances on the mound for the Norse, tallying four starts, and a 2-2 record to his credit. He has struck out 16 in 24 1/3 innings and recently went seven innings against Wright State, striking out five.

Ganns is a 2014 graduate of Boone County High School, where he helped the Rebles to an 18-6 record as a senior. On the mound, he posted an outstanding 8-2 mark, and recorded a 1.70 ERA with 70 strikeouts over 51 innings. Ganns also pitched a perfect game and was awarded the Northern Kentucky Baseball Coaches Association, Kentucky High School Baseball Coaches Association and the Kentucky Enquirer's Ninth Region Player of the Year honors. As a junior, Ganns earned spots on the 33rd District and 9th Region All-Tournament teams, as well as being named to the Division I High School first team. He batted .392 with three home runs, eight doubles, 30 RBI and 14 runs scored.  On the mound, Ganns held a record of 5-2 with one save, and recorded a 2.94 earned run average over 40 2/3 innings, tallying 62 strikeouts while only walking 15. 

Matt Ianni: 6’8’’ – 250lb, RHP, Bats/L, Throws/R, Northern Kentucky (Fr.), Ottawa, Ontario

Ianni is a 6-8, 250 pound native of Ottawa, Ontario. He is a hard throwing right-hander who hits 90-plus miles per hour with his fastball. Despite having been contacted by about 15 MLB teams as he finished his high school career, Ianni chose not to declare for the MLB Draft, and instead decided to head to NKU. As of April 27, Ianni has made five appearances in his first season with the Norse, striking out ten. In a start against Northwestern in mid-March, Ianni went four innings, allowing just two hits and striking out five.

A 2015 graduate of John McCrae High School in Ottawa, Ontario, Ianni was a standout performer on the mound and at the plate. In his senior season, playing with his high school team as well as various club and travel teams in his senior season, Ianni batted .275 with nine home runs, 50 RBI and 25 doubles. He also posted a 3.14 ERA in 114 innings pitched, striking out 122 while compiling a 10-3 record with three saves. In his junior campaign, Ianni batted .350 with 14 home runs, 40 RBI and 15 doubles. He also posted a 2.75 ERA and struck out 29 in just 20 innings pitched. Ianni also had the opportunity to play for two years with the Canadian Junior National Team. A multi-sport athlete growing up, Ianni also played basketball, hockey, volleyball and football. His size helped him to excel in basketball and he was a two-time recipient of the best offensive lineman award while playing with the Nepean Redskins (now Eagles), of the National Amateur Football Association. For all his achievements during the course of his senior season, Ianni was named the Ottawa Athlete of the Year in 2015.

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