KALAMAZOO, MI – The Growlers are excited to announce the signing of two players from Valdosta State University, Austin Hamilton a Junior left hand pitcher from Okeechobee, Florida, and Quinton Forrester another left hander from Iowa City, Iowa.
Austin Hamilton: 6’0’’, 185 Ibs, (Jr.), LHP, Okeechobee, Florida, Valdosta State, Georgia
Hamilton is currently in his first season at Valdosta State. He spent the 2016 season at Indian River Community College before transferring. Hamilton is currently having a solid season posting a 2.91 ERA through 9 starts. Hamilton has thrown at least 5 innings in all 9 of his starts while racking up 73 strikeouts to only 11 walks. Hamilton is an experienced left handed arm that will provide the Growlers with a consistent command and control on the mound. Hamilton looks to excel throughout the remainder of his 2017 season as the Northwoods league fast approaches.
Quinton Forrester: 6’9’’, 250 Ibs, (Jr.), LHP, Iowa City, Iowa, Valdosta State, Georgia
Forrester is a big man, that's the first thing you notice about the left hander. His 6’9” has appealed to scouts ever since his high school days in Iowa City. He has a repeatable delivery working exclusively out of the stretch and works slow. Forrester transferred to Valdosta State after pitching at Cowley Community College in 2016 where he pitched out of the bullpen. Forrester has been pitching in a similar role thus far during his time in the peach state. Forrester hasn't had the season thus far he was hoping for, but in his last 4 appearances he has only surrendered one earned run. He will look to find his groove at Valdosta State the remainder of the season, and continue to develop by the time he arrives in Kalamazoo this summer.
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The Kalamazoo Growlers 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.growlersbaseball.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Growlers as your favorite team.