Kalamazoo, Mich. — The Kalamazoo Growlers welcome a new quartet of strong arms to bolster their pitching staff this summer, officially signing a talented group from the Atlantic 10, BIG 10 and Big West. St. Bonaventure right-handed pitcher Braydon Nelson, Penn State righty Ralph Gambino, Indiana University left-hander Michael Dunkelberger, and UC Davis southpaw Brock Moffit will add to the Growler’s pitching depth for the 2019 campaign.

 

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RHP, Braydon Nelson, 6’4”, (R/R) Sophomore, St. Bonaventure University

Nelson is off to a strong start in his second year with the Bonnies, posting a 1-0 record with a 3.93 ERA in three starts this season. The Brecksville, Ohio native has struck out 22 batters through 18 1/3 innings of work with only nine walks allowed.

Nelson returns to Kalamazoo for his second season with the Growlers in 2019. Last summer, he posted a 1-1 record with a 1.42 ERA through five relief appearances. Nelson only allowed one earned run in his appearances with his longest outing on August 3, 2018 versus Fond du Lac. He went three scoreless innings allowing just one hit in the 7-3 victory.

He put together an impressive freshman season in 2018, appearing in 17 games with 10 starts on the bump. Nelson went 1-3 with a 4.45 ERA, posting a team-best 53 strikeouts to only 25 walks through 58 2/3 frames. He started the 2018 campaign with 18 straight scoreless innings, which was the most of any true freshman in Division I baseball. On February 27 of last season, Nelson tossed a complete game shut-out in the Bonnie’s 3-0 win over Mount St. Mary’s with eight hits allowed and seven strikeouts.

Prior to his already impressive college career, Nelson was a stand-out pitcher at Saint Ignatius high school where he tallied a career ERA of just over 1.00 in his junior and senior seasons combined.

 

RHP, Ralph Gambino, 5’10”, (R/R) Redshirt Freshman, Penn State University

Gambino has seen limited action in his career with the Nittany Lions so far, appearing in only one game out of the bullpen this season. Gambino came in relief versus nationally-ranked Duke on March 1. He missed the entire season in 2018 due to injury.

Before Penn State, Gambino was a three-year letter winner at Freehold Township High School in his hometown of Freehold, N.J. He was ranked one of the top seven right-handed pitchers in the state of New Jersey and a two-time Perfect Game All-America honorable mention. His senior campaign was cut short due to injury, but had a stellar junior season with 80 strikeouts over 46 innings of work.

 

 

 

 

LHP, Michael Dunkelberger, 5’11”, (L/L) Freshman, Indiana University

 

Dunkelberger has not seen action yet in his first season with the Hoosiers. The South Bend, Ind. native was a high school team captain and two-time Northern Indiana Conference First Team selection. Dunkelberger was 12-3 with a 2.10 ERA and 184 strikeouts as a senior, along with 148 strikeouts, a 1.52 ERA, and an 8-1 record in his junior season. He also was a two-year letter winner in basketball at South Bend Saint Josephs High School.

 

 

 

 

 

 

LHP, Brock Moffit, 6’0”, (L/L) Sophomore, UC Davis

 

Moffit has appeared in three games out of the bullpen so far this season for the Aggies, posting three strikeouts through 2 1/3 innings. His best performance came against Northern Colorado on February 16, tossing 1 1/3 scoreless frames with two strikeouts. Moffit had 10 relief appearances as a freshman in 2018 with a 5.59 ERA over 9 2/3 innings with 13 strikeouts.

He was a three-sport athlete (baseball, football and wrestling) at Valley Center High School in Valley Center, Calif. He was a first team All-Avocado selection and team MVP in his senior baseball season, compiling a .310 average at the plate and 73 innings of work on the bump. Moffit struck out 112 batters with a 0.73 ERA in 2017.