LOVES PARK, Ill. – The Rockford Rivets have added another pitcher with NCAA Division I experience.
The Rivets announced on Wednesday that they have added Ohio University righthander Josh Petersen for the Northwoods League season, which starts in less than two months. Petersen, a redshirt sophomore, has seen limited action for the Bobcats, but has been a summer collegiate league regular for the last couple of years.
“Josh pitched for a friend of mine (Zac Charbonneau) in the Prospect League last year and he loved how the kid competed,” Rivets manager Brian Smith said. “I like having guys who bring different skill sets to the table. A different look, arm slot and (velocity) can make a pitching staff very successful. Adding a strike thrower like Josh will make our job easier as coaches, knowing we are handing the ball over to someone who is going to compete in the zone and look for weak contact.”
Petersen went 2-3 with a 4.09 ERA in 15 appearances, one as a starter, with the Springfield Sliders last summer. He struck out 22 and walked five over 33 innings. Over the last two summers, Petersen has struck out 38 and walked just 15 batters in 54 1/3 total innings.
In his only appearance for Ohio this spring, Petersen gave up four runs in one-third of an inning. Petersen, a native of Deshler, Ohio and a major in pre-exercise physiology, was named to the Mid-American Conference Honor Roll in 2016.
The Rivets’ season begins May 30 at Kalamazoo. The home opener is at 6:35 p.m. June 1 against the Wisconsin Woodchucks. The Rivets are offering a $50 four-game pack that includes a replica Rivets jersey, tickets to four select games and all-you-can-eat food (burgers, brats, hot dogs, grilled chicken, popcorn and fountain soda) for the following dates: Friday, June 2; Saturday, June 24; Friday, July 14; Friday, July 28. The four-pack can be purchased only by calling the Rivets at 815.240.4159 or in person at the Rivets Stadium box office. There are a limited number of jerseys available, so don’t wait to order this four-pack.
The Rockford Rivets are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League, which will play its 24th season of summer collegiate baseball in 2017. The Northwoods 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, 160 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including two-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (Washington Nationals), two-time World Champion Ben Zobrist (Chicago Cubs) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (Boston Red Sox), Jordan Zimmermann (Detroit Tigers), Curtis Granderson (New York Mets) and Lucas Duda (Mets). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League Website, NorthwoodsLeague.com.