MANKATO, MN – The Mankato MoonDogs are thrilled to announce the return of three beloved athletes who have etched their names into the hearts of fans and the annals of Mankato baseball history. Grant Garza, Louis Magers, and Ty Rumsey are back in the game, ready to ignite the field with their unparalleled talent, camaraderie, and unwavering determination. Get ready to witness greatness as these hometown heroes reclaim their rightful place on the diamond.
The Tarleton State product, Grant Garza, has simply been doing Grant Garza things this spring. The fan-favorite right-handed pitcher has had a dominant senior campaign, where to this point, he has hurled a 2.13 ERA, striking out over three times as many batters as he has walked. Garza is renowned for his rare mixture of command and volatility, and the 6’2” Missouri City Texas native looks forward to causing ISG Field to roar on numerous occasions this summer.
Staying closer to home, Louis Magers is here to stay. Magers plays for the Minnesota State Mankato Mavericks, where his father, Matt Magers, is the head coach. After a storied high school career, where Louis was an all-conference player, the Mankato Minnesota native had a no-brainer offer when choosing the remain in his hometown for his academic and athletic continuation at the collegiate level. Now, the 2023 Mankato MoonDog is back for more, as the standout two-way player brings immense versatility between his abilities at the plate and on the mound.
In Evansville, one of Mankato’s worst-kept secrets has continued his success he found a summer ago with the Orange and Grey, as the 5’11” Rumsey, who hails from Indiana has continued to tear it up this spring. The outfielder was a fan-favorite in 2023, as his bat-to-ball skills make him a threat to reach base any time he takes the diamond. Rumsey has seen major improvements across the board in the statistical front compared to a spring ago, most notably improving his batting average from .234 in 2023 to .294 in his 2024 stint with the Purple Aces. Rumsey is another familiar face, whose game has grown a lot in the last calendar year and looks keen to wave the Rawlings maple for another season in Mankato Minnesota.
Talent is always welcomed to a prestigious franchise like the MoonDogs; but there’s something about returning talent that makes it all the sweeter and more exciting. Garza, Magers, and Rumsey each had their fair share of theatrics a summer ago, and now look to provide more fireworks to ISG Field in 2024.
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The Mankato MoonDogs are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. Now in its’ 31st season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 24 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, over 325 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time All-Star and 2016 Roberto Clemente Award winner Curtis Granderson, three-time Cy Young Award winner and World Series Champion Max Scherzer (TEX), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist and Brandon Crawford (SFG) and World Series Champion Chris Sale (BOS). As well as 2019 Rookie of the Year and 2019/2021 Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (NYM) and 2021 All-Star, MLB Gold Glove winner and 2019 Second Team All-MLB shortstop Marcus Semien (TEX). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website. League games are viewable live at watchnwl.com and on ESPN+. For more information, visit www.mankatomoondogs.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the MoonDogs as your favorite team.
