The lefty pitcher with deep ties to Huskies is eager to play for Duluth
Duluth, Minn- The Huskies have signed Ben Gerl of Joliet, Illinois to a 2021 temp contract. Grandson to the late Duluth Dukes legend Bernie Gerl, Ben is no stranger to the Wade. “Playing in Duluth means more than words can express,” Gerl said, referencing the admiration the city has for his grandfather, who passed away in November at age 94. “We would always visit and see a few Huskies games every year when I was growing up. I can’t say I ever thought I’d be in that spot one day, but it was always a dream. To play in the same stadium he did all those years ago, it is absolutely incredible.”
Gerl, who committed to play ball at Northern Kentucky as part of the 2020 class, was able to stay sharp playing in two different leagues during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic: the Joliet Collegiate League and the Upper Deck Cougars, a weekend travel team. A 3-year letter winner for Lincoln-Way West High School, Gerl recorded nine wins in 97 innings pitched, striking out 107 batters, per lwwathletics.com. He was named First Team All-Conference and All-Area in his last season on the mound for the Warriors.
With a rich history of baseball running in his family, Ben says he was swinging a plastic bat before he could even stand. “I’ve just always been around the game as a player and a fan,” he stated. While there is a familial aspect to joining the Huskies, Gerl noted the notoriety of the Northwoods League as a reason for his desire to come to Duluth. “The Northwoods League is notoriously one of the best and most competitive leagues in the country,” he remarked. “I’m excited to play alongside and against some great competition and develop as an overall player.”
Please join us in welcoming Ben to the Huskies family!
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The Duluth Huskies are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. Having completed its’ 26th season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 22 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, over 230 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time Cy Young Award winner and World Series Champion Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist (CHC) and Brandon Crawford (SFG) and World Series Champion Chris Sale (BOS). As well as 2019 Rookie of the Year and Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (NYM) and MLB All-Stars Jordan Zimmermann (DET) and Curtis Granderson (MIA). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website. For more information, visit www.northwoodsleague.com or download the Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play.
