Kalamazoo, Mich. — The rosters for the 2014 Big League Dreams Showcase were announced on Monday, and three Kalamazoo Growlers players — catcher Ryan Lidge (Notre Dame), infielder Justin Fletcher (Northern Illinois) and outfielder Troy Montgomery (Ohio State) earned spots in the event.
The showcase, which will take place at Warner Park in Madison, Wis. on Aug. 5, consists of a day of workouts followed by a doubleheader between two teams of North Division players and two from the South Division. The rosters for the event were selected by a group of scouts.
Lidge has been a valuable asset behind the plate for the Growlers all year. While his offensive production has been inconsistent — his average hovered around .350 towards the end of the first half but has fallen to the .250 range — his defensive skills, especially controlling the running game, have always stood out. Lidge has a strong, accurate throwing arm and a quick release, and while his bat is streaky, he has good pop, especially from the right side.
Fletcher, whom the Growlers acquired in the middle of the season after he was released from the Mankato Moondogs, has become a consistent contributor with both his bat and glove. He has reliable hands, a quick release and an accurate arm and has combined with recent acquisition Alex Maloney (Ball State) to perform perhaps the best middle infield combination in the Northwoods League. Fletcher has also been a solid right-handed bat at the top of the Growlers order, with good bat speed, sneaky pop and a swing that consistently produces line drives.
Montgomery's tenure with the Growlers recently ended due to a bone bruise on his leg that he sustained after being hit by a pitch, but he was undoubtedly the most productive bat in Kalamazoo's formidable order. The rising sophomore his out of the leadoff spot and used a quiet load and smooth left-handed swing to spray line drives all over the field. Montgomery measures at about 5-foot-8, but he is strongly built and has the ability to drive balls to the gap and over the fence. He also has good instincts and range in center field, as well as a very strong arm.
The event's Growlers representatives will play at 8:35 p.m. Complete rosters can be found here. Visit mallardsbaseball.com to get tickets to the event.
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. Follow the team on Twitter at @kzoogrowlers. – See more at: http://northwoodsleague.com/kalamazoo-growlers/2014/07/28/growlers-fry-kingfish-bats-in-win/#sthash.dmLNdglO.dpuf