St. Cloud, MN – The St. Cloud Rox announced today that four additional players from the 2016 roster will return for the 2017 season. The list includes infielder/outfielder Drew Freedman, outfielder Mason Mamarella, and pitchers Aaron Rozek and Bobby Gauvreau.
Freedman, a junior transfer from Wake Forest to Nova Southeastern University returns to the Rox following his All-Star season in 2016. He saw action in 49 games last season with a .283 batting average, 33 runs scored and 14 runs batted in. Freedman lead the team in stolen bases (19) and sacrifice hits (10) and was second on the team in walks (30). The infielder/outfielder was selected to play and start for the North Division in the Northwoods League All-Star Game where he went 1 for 2 with a run batted in and a run scored.
Mamarella is a junior at Kent State University. During the 2016 season he played in 57 games for the Rox. Mamarella collected 56 hits good enough for a .307 batting average. He also drove in 21 runs and drew 29 walks. In the outfield he had a .990 fielding percentage in 100 tries, including two outfield assists.
Rozek, a junior at Minnesota State University, Mankato pitched in 14 games, including six starts during the 2016 season. He had a 6-2 record and one save to go along with a 3.13 earned run average. In August, Rozek was selected to play in the Major League Dreams Showcase where he pitched a perfect inning, earning the win.
Gauvreau is a sophomore transfer from Georgia Tech to Minnesota State University, Mankato. Last season he had a 2-1 record with one save in 22.2 innings pitched. He appeared in 13 games for the Rox and posted a 5.55 earned run average, including the second half of the season where he improved his earned run average to 2.70 in seven appearances.
In total the Rox now have nine players returning for the 2017 season. Rox Field Manager Augie Rodriguez, along with the Rox organization will continue to build the roster for the 2017 season.
The Rox will open their 6th season of Northwoods League baseball in late May of 2017. The Home Opener is June 2nd versus the Rochester Honkers at 7:05 pm. Season tickets for the 2017 season are currently on sale. For more information regarding this release please contact the Rox front office at (320) 240-9798 or visit www.stcloudrox.com
Returners from 2016 Bats/Throws School Positions
Angelo Altavilla S/R University of Nebraska 2B, SS, 3B
Drew Freedman R/R Nova Southeastern University INF/OF
Bobby Gauvreau R/R Minnesota State University, Mankato RHP
Brendan Illies R/R University of North Carolina C/1B
Shelby Lackey R/R University of the Pacific RHP
Mason Mamarella S/L Kent State University OF
Robbie Palkert R/R University of Nebraska RHP
Luke Ringhofer L/R South Dakota State University C/1B
Aaron Rozek L/L Minnesota State University, Mankato LHP
The St. Cloud Rox are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. The 23-year-old summer collegiate league is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 20 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 160 former Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including two-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champion Ben Zobrist (CHC) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (BOS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET), Curtis Granderson (NYM) and Lucas Duda (NYM). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information, visit www.stcloudrox.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Rox as your favorite team.