Green Bay, Wis – The Green Bay Bullfrogs have announced their first signings of the 2018 campaign: Villanova University junior pitching duo, Jake Esp and Jason Applegate, along with Saginaw Valley State University pitcher, sophomore Mason Schwellenbach. Esp and Schwellenach return to Titletown for the second consecutive summer.
Jake Esp, a 6-4 right-handed pitcher from Sugar Grove, Ill., emerged as one of the top bullpen options for the Bullfrogs in the 2017 season. The Wildcat posted a 2-2 record with a 3.78 ERA in 33 1/3 innings pitched, while tallying 31 strikeouts in 15 appearances for Green Bay. Prior to his 2017 summer campaign, Esp tossed 33 2/3 innings with a 2-1 record and 14 strikeouts through 21 appearances in his sophomore season at Villanova.
Esp’s teammate, Jason Applegate, is a 6-3 right-handed pitcher from Columbus, N.J. In his sophomore campaign at Villanova, Applegate appeared in 23 games, striking out 20 batters in 20 1/3 innings, with one save to his resume. Applegate brings one season of collegiate summer experience to Green Bay, playing for the Trenton Generals of the Atlantic Collegiate League in 2016.
Mason Schwellenbach, a 6-1 right-handed pitcher from Saginaw, Mich., thrived as a two-way player in his freshman season with the SVSU Cardinals in 2017. At the plate, Schwellenbach batted .305 with two home runs and 10 RBIs in 34 games played. On the mound, he tallied 33 strikeouts in 42 2/3 innings pitched. The current Saginaw Valley State sophomore, made two starts in four appearances with the Bullfrogs this past summer, posting 16 strikeouts in 16 innings of work.
“It is an honor to once again play for the Bullfrogs,” Schwellenbach said. “I joined the team during the last month of the season and getting to face these hitters was great competition for me. Playing NCAA Division II baseball, we do not get to see those types of players every day so getting to throw against experienced hitters was awesome.”
The Bullfrogs start the 2018 campaign on the road with a two-game series against the Rockford Rivets, before returning for the home opener against the Madison Mallards on Thursday, May 31st at 7:05 p.m. Group tickets are on sale now and single game tickets go on sale Saturday, April 28th at 9:00 a.m. For information call the Bullfrogs Ticket Office at 920.497.7225, email info@greenbaybullfrogs.com, or stop by the ticket office at 315 S. Baird Street, Green Bay, Wis.
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The Green Bay Bullfrogs are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Entering its 25th anniversary season, 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, more than 185 former Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-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 (LAD) and Lucas Duda (TBR). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information, visit www.greenbaybullfrogs.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Bullfrogs as your favorite team.