LA CROSSE, WIS. – The La Crosse Loggers baseball club closed out 2013 by signing a pair of highly touted freshman from the defending national champion UCLA Bruins squad in outfielder Luke Persico and pitcher Scott Burke in preparation of their 2014 season. Persico, a 6-3, 185 pound outfielder/shortstop, enjoyed a decorated high school career before being selected in the 37th Round of the 2013 MLB Draft by the Colorado Rockies.The California native declined the Rockies offer last June in order to join the defending national champion UCLA Bruins this fall. Persico, considered a five-tool player, was ranked as No. 125 on Perfect Game’s Top 500 2013 High School Prospects. The right-handed hitting Persico got a jump start on summer collegiate baseball as well, having competed forthe Walla Walla Sweets of the West Coast Collegiate League this past summer where he was tabbed as the 30th best prospect in that league by Perfect Game as a high school senior. UCLA skipper John Savage loves the athleticism that Persico brings to the baseball field. “Luke is one of the best athletes in this class. He was selected by the Colorado Rockies in the June draft and brings tools to our team. Luke has tremendous power potential and the ability to play all over the field. We look for Luke to be an impact player right away in our program.”
Like Persico, his teammate Scott Burke was also selected in the 2013 MLB Draft in the 31st round by the Houston Astros before deciding to further his career and studies at UCLA. The right-hander was a three-year letter winner at Glendora
High School (Calif.) and also went on to compete in the West Coast Collegiate league last summer as a high school senior. While there, Burke totaled 13 strikeouts in 23.2 innings pitched over four appearances. Savage thinks that Burke has a lot of upside as he begins his collegiate career. “Scott is a three-pitch guy with tremendous projection. He was drafted by the Astros in this year’s June draft and has the ability to make pitches when he needs to. Scott will be a guy that will be given an opportunity to pitch in a significant role right away and we are looking forward to seeing his progression as a pitcher.”
The La Crosse Loggers are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, theNorthwoods League. Playing its 21st season of summer collegiate baseball, the Northwoods League is the largest organized summer collegiate 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 MLB All-Stars Max Scherzer (DET), Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYY), 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 www.lacrosseloggers.com.
