Rox Announce First Five Returners for the 2016 Season

St. Cloud, MN – The St. Cloud Rox announced this afternoon that five players from the 2015 roster will return for the 2016 season.  The list includes pitchers Trevor Charpie and Collin Strall, catcher Austin Athmann, outfielder Michael Strem and infielder Brett Pope.

Charpie, a 6’1” junior at University of Nevada, Reno will return for his third season with the Rox after being named the team’s most valuable player in 2015. Last season he was selected to play in the Northwoods League All-Star Game and the Major League Dreams Showcase.  Charpie appeared in 23 regular season games in 2015 posting a 3-1 record to go along with 11 saves. In 40 innings pitched he struck out 42 batters to go along with a 0.67 earned run average.

Strall a 5’10” junior at Louisiana State University will return to the Rox bullpen following the 2015 season where he saw action in 14 games.  He posted a 2-0 record and one save.  Over 25.2 innings Strall had a 3.85 earned run average.

Athmann, a 6’2” junior from the University of Minnesota is a Cold Spring native.  Last season for the Rox he played 60 games, primarily at catcher.  He batted .286 on the summer and led the team in homeruns (5) and runs batted in (42) and was selected to play in the Major League Dreams Showcase during the 2015 season.

Strem, a 5’11” junior at Boston College spent last season playing outfield and first base for the Rox.  He returns after playing 60 games in 2015 where he batted .257 and drove in 28 runs.  In 212 defensive chances he committed zero errors good enough for a 1.000 fielding percentage.

Pope, a 6’0” sophomore at Western Carolina University returns to the Rox after playing 43 games in 2015 primarily at short stop.  He batted .284 in his first season with the Rox while driving in 18 runs and stealing nine bases.

“I’m excited to have this group of guys that played a major role in last year’s playoff  run back for next season, said Rox Field Manager Augie Rodriguez. “They are a group of positive role models in the locker room and community and have what it takes on the field to get us back to the Summer Collegiate World Series in 2016.”

Rodriguez, along with the Rox organization will continue to build the roster for the 2016 season. 

The Rox will open their 5^th season of Northwoods League baseball in late May of 2016. Season tickets for the 2016 season are currently on sale. For more information regarding this release please contact the Rox front office at (320) 240-9798 or visit www.stcloudrox.com

The St. Cloud Rox are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Preparing for its 23^nd season of summer collegiate baseball in 2016, the Northwoods League is the largest summer collegiate 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 130 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 (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Lucas Duda (NYM) and Ben Zobrist (KC). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League Website.  For more information, visit www.stcloudrox.com.