MANKATO-Minn. The Mankato MoonDogs Baseball Club, a member of the Northwoods League is pleased to announce the commitment of pitchers Blake Battenfield, Alex Hackerott, and Matt Wilson for the 2014 MoonDogs season.
Battenfield, a six-foot-three-inch, 191-pound freshman has pitched well in his first season for Oklahoma State this spring. He has 27 strikeouts and 10 walks, compiling an ERA of 1.24. He has been a reliable bullpen reliever for the Cowboys with 36.1 innings pitched and 17 appearances.
"He's a big right-handed pitcher that projects very, very well. He has a chance to throw hard one day", said OSU recruiting coordinator Marty Lees. "We see a guy who is very skilled."
Battenfield went 33-4 with 313 strikeouts in his career at Verdigris High School, leading his team to three-state Class 3A championships.
Hackerott, a six-foot-one-inch, 185-pound sophomore has been another solid bullpen option for Oklahoma State. He has an ERA of 2.25 in 16 relief appearances this spring.
Through 12 innings of work, Hackerott earned 15 strikeouts and walked 4. He has not given up a triple or home run and opponents are batting .196 against him. As a freshman, Hackerott made 16 relief appearances giving up 13 hits and posting an ERA of 1.64.
Wilson, a six-foot-four-inch, 214-pound freshman earned an All-Texas Region honorable mention in 2013 by Perfect Game USA and an Underclassmen All-American honorable mention in 2012. He went 8-3 with a 0.84 ERA and 101 strikeouts as a senior at Highland Park High School.
"Matt can really pitch", said Lees. "His ceiling is very high. He's a big kid, he's strong, and he brings a lot to our program."
Wilson has made 2 relief appearances for the Cowboys this spring, facing 14 batters.
The signing of Battenfield, Hackerott, and Wilson continues a successful relationship with Oklahoma State University. Last season, they sent lead-off hitter and Northwoods League All-Star Tim Arakawa and starting pitcher Jon Perrin to the MoonDogs.
The MoonDogs home opener is scheduled for Wednesday, May 28 at 7:05 p.m. against the Alexandria Blue Anchors at Franklin Rogers Park. Season tickets are now on sale at the MoonDogs office located at 1221 Caledonia Street.
The Mankato MoonDogs 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 www.mankatomoondogs.com.
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