Mankato, Minn. – The Mankato MoonDogs Baseball Club, of the Northwoods League, is excited to announce the addition of Infielder Kyle Weston and outfielder Joey Rodriguez to the MoonDogs 2015 Roster.
Kyle Weston is a 6‘0, 190-pound Redshirt Junior infielder out of James Madison. The Penn Laird, Virginia native is in his second season for the Dukes. In 2013 he Redshirted as a Division I transfer. In 2014 Weston was a mainstay as he started all 50 games he appeared in and collected 14 doubles, two triples, two home runs, 26 RBI. A season a go he also recorded a ten game hitting streak from February 28 to March 16.
“Kyle is a solid well rounded baseball player. We are bringing him in with the intention of playing 3rd base, however, he could easily play any position on the infield,” said Field Manager Ryan Day. “He provides us a position player with tons of versatility, as well as, a hitter who will hit gap to gap and score and drive in a lot of runs for the MoonDogs this summer.”
For the Dukes in 2015, Weston has appeared in 16 games, 15 starts, while he has tallied two doubles, one triple and eight RBI. On March 13 he went 4 for 5 against the University of Minnesota, a season high.
Joey Rodriguez is a 5‘7, 175-pound Junior outfielder out of Wake Forest. The Miami, Florida native is in his third season for the Demon Deacons. Joey is not the first in his family to play college baseball. His father Joel Rodriguez played collegiately at Georgia Tech. As a Freshman Rodriguez started 22 games, appearing in 42, while hitting three doubles, two homeruns and twelve RBI. In his Sophomore season he started 28 games, appearing in 30, where he tallied five doubles, one home run, eight runs driven in and was a perfect six for six on stolen base attempts.
“Joey is an athletic centerfielder that you can probably pencil in somewhere at the top of the lineup for this coming season,” said Day. “He is a player who can put a lot of pressure on opposing teams with his ability to run the bases. He will also provide us a guy at the top of our lineup who can hit for some occasional power.”
For the Demon Deacons in 2015, Rodriguez has appeared in 18 games, 15 starts, in which he has hit .286 and collected eight doubles, ten RBI, two home runs, while swiping six bases.
“Both players are extremely athletic and will fit in great with the type of team we are trying to put together for this summer. They both come from well respected programs on the East Coast and we are happy they have elected to spend their summer in Mankato with the MoonDogs,” said Day.
The MoonDogs home opener is scheduled for Wednesday, May 27, at 7:05 p.m. against the Rochester Honkers 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 22nd 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 (WAS) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Allen Craig (OAK) and Ben Zobrist (TB). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League Website. For more information, visit http://www.mankatomoondogs.com