Kalamazoo, MI – The Kalamazoo Growlers have released their full roster for the 2022 season. The Growlers open up the 2022 campaign on the road in Kenosha on May 30th. The team will play their first game at home on June 1st against the new Battle Creek Battle Jacks with an 11am game. You can look at the full schedule here. The names below do not reflect the opening day roster as some players won’t be finished playing with their college teams when the Growlers seasons starts. Some may arrive to Kalamazoo a week or two later. The roster is also constantly updating so players may change between now and opening day.

Pitching Staff

The Growlers bring back a strong pitching staff. Headlined by Mr. Growler Adam Wheaton, as well as fellow 2021 Northwoods League All-Star Tanner Knapp. Also returning for a third season (2019, 2020) is Eamon Horwedel. They will be joined by Gavin Brasosky (Portage Central HS) and Carson Byers (Mattawan HS) who will be making their debuts with the Growlers this season.

Gavin Brasosky: School: Freshman, University of Tennessee. Hometown: Kalamazoo, MI
Logan Bursick-Harrington: School: RS Freshman, Davenport University. Hometown: South Lyon, MI
Carson Byers: School: Freshman, Miami University (OH). Hometown: Mattawan, MI
Jacob Davis: School: Freshman, Kalamazoo College. Hometown: Perrysburg, OH
Jayden Dentler: School: RS Junior, Northwood University. Hometown, Otsego, MI
Dylan Freeman: School: Junior, University of Montevallo. Hometown: Douglasville, GA
Zach Hopman: School: Sophomore, Michigan State University. Hometown: East Lansing, MI
Eamon Horwedel. School: RS Junior, Ohio University. Hometown: Ann Arbor, MI
Tyler Johnson: School: Freshman, Alma College. Hometown: Lexington, MI
Trent Jones: School, Sophomore, Ohio State University. Hometown: Massillon, OH
Tanner Knapp: School: RS Freshman, Ball State University. Hometown: Mattawan, MI
Mason Majors: School: RS Junior, Drury University. Hometown Kansas City, MO
Mason Meeks: School: RS Sophomore, Drury University. Hometown: Lake Dallas, TX
Adam Mrakitsch: School: Freshman, Central Michigan University. Hometown: Howell, MI
Doug Propson: School: Junior, Western Michigan University. Hometown, Rochester, MI
Quinn Waterhouse: School: RS Junior, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Hometown: Bondurant, IA
Nick Weyrich: School: Freshman, Marshall University. Hometown: London, OH
Adam Wheaton: School: Senior, Lamar University. Hometown: Kalamazoo, MI

Catchers

There will be a lot of young talent behind the plate for the Growlers this season. Three freshman will lead the Growlers pitching staff including a family connection to a former Growler/MacDaddy. Alex Calarco, the younger brother of Anthony Calarco (2020, 2021) will share time behind the plate this summer.

Gannon Andrews: School: Sophomore, Purdue Northwest. Hometown: Portage, MI
Daniel Pruitt: School: Freshman, Feather River Community College. Hometown: Gaston, OR
Alex Calarco: School, Freshman, Northwestern University. Hometown: Wilmette, IL
Cole Russo: School: Freshman, University of Central Florida. Hometown: Tampa Bay, FL

Infielders

There is a lot of young talent once again in the infield. A pair of teammates at the University of Virginia will make their way to Kalamazoo as well as some local players.

Colton Coca: School: Sophomore, Central Michigan University. Hometown: Mount Pleasant, MI
Ryan Dykstra: School: Sophomore, Oakland University. Hometown: Byron Center, MI
Sam Kirkpatrick: School, Sophomore, College of the Holy Cross. Hometown: Nashville, TN
Stephen Kwapis: School, Freshman, University of Notre Dame. Hometown: Kalamazoo, MI
Brandon Moore: School, Sophomore, University of Montevallo. Hometown: Romulus, AL
Griffin O’Ferrall: School, Freshman, University of Virginia. Hometown: Richmond, VA
Ethan Ruiz: School, RS Sophomore, Lamar University. Hometown: Round Rock, TX
Connor Schuman: School: Sophomore, Grand Valley University. Hometown: Mattawan, MI
Anthony Stephan: School: Freshman, University of Virginia. Hometown: Ridgewood, NJ
Luke Storm: School: RS Freshman, Duke University. Hometown: Easton, PA

Outfielders

Finally, we get to the players who will be patrolling the outfield at Homer Stryker Field. Five of the six outfielders this season will be freshman, including Zach MacDonald out of Portage Central HS.

Gaby Gutierrez: School: Freshman, University of Miami. Hometown: Miami, FL
Lawson Knight: School: Freshman, Western Texas College. Hometown: Round Rock, TX
Trey Lipsey: School: Freshman, Ohio State University. Hometown: Southfield, MI
Zach MacDonald: School: Freshman, Miami University (OH). Hometown: Portage, MI
Devin Obee: School: Freshman, Duke University. Hometown: Nashville, TN
Carter Smith: School: Junior, Grand Valley State University. Hometown: Decatur, MI
Edgardo Villegas. School: Freshman, University of Miami. Hometown: Vega Alta, Puerto Rico

 

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The Kalamazoo Growlers 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’ 27^th 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 250 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time All-Star and 2016 Roberto Clemente Award winner Curtis Granderson, three-time Cy Young Award winner and World Series Champion Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist 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 Gold Glove finalist and 2019 Second Team All-MLB shortstop Marcus Semien (TOR). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website. 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.