Rochester, Minn. – They say time flies when you’re having fun and now the moment is almost here. In less than 30 days, fans will hear the infamous two words “Play ball” echoing over the speakers at Mayo Field. With the season fast approaching, the excitement only continues to build as the Honkers add new talent to the roster, including a pair of pitchers: Jack Gallison and Payne Lochridge.
Payne Lochridge is a 6-foot-1 sophomore right-hander from Salado, Texas. A multi- sport athlete at Salado High School, he lettered in both baseball and golf while also earning Academic All-District honors. Now a student at Southwestern University, Lochridge is majoring in kinesiology with a minor in business. This season with the Pirates, he has logged 20 innings across 15 appearances, recording 16 strikeouts. With increased opportunities on the mound, he’ll look to make an impact for the Honkers when called upon.
Also joining the pitching staff is Jack Gallison, a 6-foot-4, 190-pound freshman from Dana Point, California. Gallison is a graduate of Dana Hills High School and now plays at Saddleback College, just minutes from home. It is no surprise that Gallison is where he is today because athleticism runs in the family. His father, Mark, played collegiate basketball at Plymouth State University. While Gallison has seen limited action this spring, he’ll have plenty of opportunities to showcase his abilities in a Honkers uniform this summer.
The Honkers are eager to take the field at Mayo Field and kick off a 72-game season. As opening day draws closer, anticipation for the 2026 Northwoods League season continues to rise.
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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. Now in its’ 32nd 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, 360 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 (TOR), 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 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 on FloSports. 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.
