The current issue of Baseball America (February 3-16, 2003) has given several former and current Madison Mallards players top pre-season honors for the upcoming 2003 season.
Jefferson Native & University of Wisconsin ? Whitewater?s junior pitcher/first baseman Brady Endl was named a pre-season All-American, picked as the Player of the Year, as well as being the number two prospect among the small colleges. Endl pitched for the Mallards in 2001 & 2002.
In the Mountain West Conference, junior second baseman Ryan Ruiz and junior pitcher Robbie Van, both from UNLV, earned pre-season All-Conference mentions. Van was also named pre-season pitcher of the year and is rated the number four prospect in the Mountain West. Van & Ruiz both played on the 2001 Mallards.
In the Horizon League, Illinois-Chicago sophomore right handed pitcher Bill Bernabei was rated the number 3 prospect in the conference. Bernabei was a member of the 2002 Mallards.
In the Mid-Continent Conference, Oral Roberts junior catcher David Castillo, junior outfielder Matt Van Der Bosch, and junior pitcher Rene Recio were all named pre-season All-Conference. Castillo was also named Player of the Year and rated the 3rd best pro-prospect in the Conference. Recio was named the top prospect in the MCC. Van Der Bosch, Recio, & Castillo were members of the 2001 Mallards.
The Madison Mallards would like to congratulate all these players and wish them the best of luck for the upcoming season! The Mallards 2003 Home Opener is Wednesday, June 11 at 7:05. Season tickets are currently available at the Mallards office at Warner Park for only $150 per seat. Single game tickets will go on sale in early May.