The Mankato MoonDogs would like to welcome catcher Brandon Vlcko to the Team for the 2025 season! Vlcko will join the dog squad from the Minnesota State University Mankato following his junior spring season.
Vlcko is from the Cedar, Iowa area and went to high school at Cedar Rapids Prairie High School. On the field, he was all-state for 2 years and lettered on varsity for 3 years. On top of being a stellar athlete, he also got work done in the classroom, being a part of the National Honor Society.
He started his baseball career playing for Southeastern CC. Vlcko would have two seasons at Southeastern CC before his transfer to MNSU. Before coming to MNSU, Vlcko would end his 2023 and 2024 seasons with a total batting average of .286. He played in 29 games and had 77 at-bats, 21 runs, 22 hits, 20 RBIs, and 7 home runs! While catching for Southeastern CC, he had 169 total chances in which 147 of them were putouts, 20 assist, and only 2 errors! In his time there, he also had a Juco World Series appearance.
At MNSU so far, he has played in 8 games and started 6 of them. In those 8 games, Vlcko had 22 at-bats, 7 runs, 7 hits, 10 RBIs, and 2 home runs! So far this season, he has a batting average of .318. His fielding stats are just as good, with 48 putouts, 5 assists, and no errors!
Vlcko is excited to stay in Mankato and play for the hometown team as he says, “It’s exciting to be staying in Mankato and playing with the MoonDogs this summer. I am grateful for the opportunity and am looking forward to competing with the team soon!”.
Coach Danny Kneeland is also ready for this MNSU catcher as he says, “Brandon is an elite athlete who brings a lot to the table. He has a very strong throwing arm and plenty of juice in his bat!”.
If you want to see Vlcko and the rest of the MoonDog squad this summer, come out to the ISG field or get your tickets online at www.mankatomoondogs.com or call the office at 507-625-7047!
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The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. Having completed its’ 31st season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in history 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 370 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 two-time World Series Champion Max Scherzer (TEX), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist and Brandon Crawford and World Series Champion and Cy Young Award winner Chris Sale (ATL). As well as 2019 Rookie of the Year and 2019/2021 Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (NYM) and 2023 World Series Champion, MLB All-Star, MLB Gold Glove, two-time Silver Slugger winner and two-time All-MLB first team shortstop Marcus Semien (TEX). League games are viewable live on Northwoods League+ (at watch.northwoodsleague.com), ESPN+, and the Northwoods League Network.