KALAMAZOO, MI – The Kalamazoo Growlers are proud to welcome back OF Troy Montgomery and RHP Jake Post, both hailing from Big Ten blue bloods Ohio State, for the 2015 season. Montgomery and Post were members of the inaugural Growlers team in 2014.

Troy Montgomery: 5’9”- 160lb, OF, Ohio State University (Soph.), Fortville, IN

Jacob Post: 6’2” – 190lb, RHP, Ohio State University (Jr.), Chesterton, IN             

As the team’s regular center fielder, Montgomery exploded onto the summer league scene last season, leading Kalamazoo in batting average (.357), triples (4), stolen bases (13) and OPS (.962). The Fortville, IN native was named to the Northwoods League regular season and postseason All-Star teams, one of three Growlers to make both squads.

Before returning to Homer Stryker Field, Montgomery turns his attention to his second season with the Buckeyes. As a freshman, the lefty hit .235 in 136 at-bats and committed just one error in 108 chances patrolling the Bill Davis Stadium outfield. Montgomery was a four-year starter at Mt. Vernon High School, where he earned three all-conference laurels and a spot on the all-state team his senior year, as well as all-state honorable mention the year before.

Given the starting nod for the Growlers’ first-ever home game, Post allowed three runs (one earned) on five hits through five innings, earning the W in Kalamazoo’s 13-3 shellacking of rivals Battle Creek on May 30. The Chesterton, IN native made four starts on the season, going 1-3 with a 10.31 ERA over 18.1 innings.

Post now prepares for his third season at OSU, electing to go enroll at Columbus despite being selected in the 29^th round by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 2012 MLB First-Year Player Draft. As a sophomore, the right-hander went 3-3 with a 3.35 ERA over nine starts and six relief appearances, earning one complete game and one save. Post was a three-year varsity player Chesterton High School, picking up all-state and all-region selections his senior year.

Montgomery and Post helped lead the 2014 Buckeyes to a 30-28 record and seventh-place tie in the Big Ten standings.

Kalamazoo begins its sophomore season in May. The full Northwoods League schedule will be announced at a later date. For information on 2015 Growlers season tickets, click here.

The Kalamazoo Growlers are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 22^nd season of summer collegiate baseball in 2015, 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 120 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 (BOS) and Ben Zobrist (TB). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League Website.  For more information, visit www.growlersbaseball.com