ROCHESTER, MINN. — The Rochester Honkers, five-time champions of the Northwoods League, are proud to announce the selection of left-handed pitcher Brant Alazaus to the 2021 Northwoods League Postseason All-Star roster.
The roster, which compiles 31 of the league’s top performers each season, was released on Friday afternoon. Alazaus is one of just three left-handed arms to crack the prestigious list after leading the Northwoods League in various pitching categories in 2021.
The Walsh University rising senior was impressive this season to say the least. Alazaus paced all qualifying pitchers, which is defined as pitchers who hurl at least 0.8 innings per team game played, in innings pitched (69.1) and strikeouts (67). The lefty’s pinpoint command of three pitches also kept his walk total unbelievably low, as Alazaus issued just five free passes all summer long — also the fewest among qualifiers.
Perhaps the highlight of Alazaus’s summer in “The Woods” were his not one, but two, complete-game shutouts coming just four starts apart. The Alliance, Ohio native turned in his brightest performance of the season on June 30, making easy work of a league-best Waterloo Bucks offense by holding them to two hits over nine spotless innings, striking out a season-high 10 batters en route to his third winning decision of the year.
Just 27 days later, Alazaus accomplished the rare feat again, silencing the Eau Claire Express on July 27 by allowing just five hits and striking out seven Eau Claire batters. In a game that lasted two hours and three minutes, — the shortest of the summer — Alazaus had some of his best stuff.Between the two games, Alazaus went 18 innings and allowed zero runs on seven total hits, while striking out a combined 17 batters and walking only one.
Alazaus joins 2020 Honkers alum Larson Kindreich (Biola University) as the last two lefties to break the postseason roster. However, Alazaus is the first Rochester lefty to make the team in a full season since 2014, when Matt Kent, a Texas A&M arm, turned in a Northwoods League Co-Pitcher of the Year campaign. Both Kindreich and Kent went on to be Major-League draftees the season after they pitched for the Honkers: Kindreich was taken in the 12th round of the 2020 Major League Baseball Draft by the Texas Rangers, and Kent was selected in the 13th round of the 2015 draft by the Boston Red Sox.
The Rochester Honkers complete their 28th summer of fun at Mayo Field. Connect with the team on social media by liking them on Facebook at Rochester Honkers Baseball Club and following them on Twitter (@RochHonkers) and Instagram (@HonkersBaseball). Join the conversation by using the hashtag #FunForTheWholeFlock.
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Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league of its kind in the world with 22 teams, drawing significantly more fans and provides a friendly ballpark experience. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff, over 250 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 (WAS), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist and Brandon Crawford (SFG) and World Series Champion Chris Sale (BOS). 2019 Rookie of the Year and Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (NYM) and MLB Gold Glove finalist and 2019 Second Team All-MLB shortstop Marcus Semien (TOR) each participated in the NWL before they were MLB stars. All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website. All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information, visit www.rochesterhonkers.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Honkers as your favorite team.
