The Kalamazoo Growlers continue to build their roster for their inaugural Northwoods League season with the addition of two junior college pitchers. Jevon Boyd is a sophomore pitcher for Kaskaskia College, and Caleb Baragar is a Michigan native, who currently pitches for Jackson Community College.
Jevon Boyd: 6’3” – 225lb, RHP, Bats/R, Throws/R, Kaskaskia College (So.), Edwardsville, IL
Caleb Baragar: 6’4” – 205lb, LHP, Bats/L, Throws/L, Jackson CC (So.), Jenison, MI
Jevon Boyd is a right-handed pitcher, who will bring a large presence to the mound for the Growlers this summer. During his freshman season in 2013 at Kaskaskia College, Boyd dropped 40 pounds and began to rework his mechanics after an up-and-down senior year at Edwardsville (IL) High School. He threw 12 innings out of the bullpen in 2013 for Kaskaskia College, recording 9 strikeouts. In the summer of 2013, Boyd played summer baseball for Edwardsville American Legion Post 199.
After improving his stamina during his freshman season, the 6’3” sophomore has converted to starter during his second season in the Great Rivers Athletic Conference, appearing in 10 games and starting seven of those. He has compiled a 2-3 record with a 3.53 ERA and 32 strikeouts over 43 1/3 innings pitched.
The power pitcher’s best pitch in high school was his changeup but has since developed a powerful slider, a pitch he began working on during his junior season at Edwardsville High School. Boyd committed to Bowling Green State University this past winter and will begin playing for the Falcons in 2015.
Caleb Baragar is a left-handed pitcher, who is familiar with no-hitting his opponent. During his sophomore season at Jackson CC, the 6’4” lefty threw back-to-back no-hitters during the first week of April. The first was in a five-inning game that was called due to a mercy rule, and his second no-hitter came against Kalamazoo Valley CC in a seven-inning game later that week. He struck out 15 batters in the 12 total innings he pitched.
The Jenison, Mich. native also threw two no-hitters in high school as well as one last summer in the West Michigan Baseball League. Baragar is 4-1 with 50 strikeouts over 46 1/3 innings this season. He has also committed to Indiana University for the 2015 season.
Baragar has a smooth delivery and has experienced success at every stop during his baseball career. He will bring the ability to pitch quality innings from the left side for the Growlers during their inaugural season in the Northwoods Baseball League.
The Growlers begin their 2014 season on the road as they take on the defending Northwoods League champions, the Madison Mallards on May 27th. The first home game of the year is on Friday, May 30th at Homer Stryker Stadium, when the Battle Creek Bombers come to Kalamazoo in the first of a five game home stand for the Growlers.
The Kalamazoo Growlers are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 21st season of summer collegiate baseball, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 18 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 115 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (DET) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Allen Craig (STL) and Ben Zobrist (TB). All league games are viewable live and free of charge via the Northwoods League YouTube channel. For more information, visit http://www.growlersbaseball.com.