The Rochester Honkers have added another to “The Show”. Former Honker Mark Contreras made his Major League debut with the Minnesota Twins on Thursday afternoon. The game resumed play in the fourth inning from the previous night, after it was suspended due to weather.
Photo (along with featured photo) courtesy of Bally Sports.
Contreras came into Left Field for Byron Buxton in the fifth. In the bottom of the inning, Contreras made his first plate appearance with runners at the corners. On the first pitch he saw for the Twins, Contreras hit a fly ball to Center, Gilberto Celestino and earning his first career RBI.
In the seventh, Contreras reached safely on an error and scored his first career run on a Jorge Polanco single. Contreras grounded into a fielder’s choice in the eighth, ending his day offensively at 0-2 with an RBI and a run scored.
Contreras played in 40 games with the Honkers in 2015, hitting .275 with five home runs and 17 RBI. In 2016 he briefly returned, playing in just eight games. In that span, he hit .357 with two home runs and three RBI. He is the 17th former Honker to play in the Majors in the team’s 29 years.
The Rochester Honkers start their quest for a sixth Northwoods League title on May 30th when they host the Willmar Stingers at Mayo Field. Connect with the Honkers on social media by following them on Twitter (@RochHonkers), Instagram (@honkersbaseball) and like the Honkers on Facebook at Rochester Honkers Baseball Club. Also, subscribe to the Honkers on YouTube at ‘Rochester Honkers’ where episodes of Meet The Honkers premiere every Friday. Interact on social by using the hashtag #FunForTheWholeFlock!
The Rochester Honkers 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. Having completed its’ 28th season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 22 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 280 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time All-Star and 2016 Roberto Clemente Award winner Curtis Grandson, three-time Cy Young Award winner and World Series Champion Max Scherzer (NYM), 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 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. 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.
