(Rochester, Minn.) – Former Rochester Honker Ryan Boldt was drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in the second round (53rd overall) in the 2016 MLB First-Year Player Draft Thursday.

A product out of the University of Nebraska, the Red Wing, Minn. native hit .313 with 33 doubles, eight home runs, 82 RBI, stole 36 bases and scored 140 runs in his three seasons with the Huskers. Boldt is a two time Academic All-American, and was named to the 2016 Golden Spikes Award Preseason and Midseason Watch Lists. The Golden Spikes Award is presented to the top amateur player in America.

Boldt played for the Honkers in 2014, where he hit .333, with 21 runs, five doubles, 11 RBI and stole 14 bases in 28 games.

Boldt was drafted right out of Red Wing High School by the Boston Red Sox in the 22nd round in 2013, but turned down the opportunity to play for Nebraska.

The Rochester Honkers play in St. Cloud to battle Rox tonight, with a first pitch set for 7:05 p.m. The Honkers will play the same Rox team in St. Cloud again Saturday night, with first pitch set for 6:05 p.m. Rochester will then travel to La Crosse to take on the Loggers, with a first pitch set for 5:05 p.m. The Honkers are back at home Monday to play the same Loggers team at Mayo Field. It is MN Bankers Association Night, with a first pitch set for 7:05 p.m.

All Rochester Honkers’ games can be heard on 1520 AM ‘The Ticket”. Season tickets, Bonus Books, Suites and Patios are now available. Call the Rochester Honkers office at 507-289-1170 for more information or go to rochesterhonkers.com

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 The Rochester Honkers are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 23rd 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 150 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 (DET), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Lucas Duda (NYM) and Ben Zobrist (CHC). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information, visit www.rochesterhonkers.com