Bucks Announce Coaching Staff & Opening Day Roster
Waterloo Opens Their
Waterloo, Iowa – The Waterloo Bucks have announced their 2016 coaching staff along with their Opening Day roster for the 2016 season. Field Manager Scott Douglas leads the 22nd edition of the Bucks with Opening Day slated for Tuesday, May 31.
Joining Douglas, who was announced as the Bucks skipper in December, is bench coach Justin Jacques, pitching coach Corey Thompson, and hitting coach Jimmy Turk.
Justin Jacques – Assistant Coach (1st Season)
Jacques joins the Waterloo Bucks for his first season in 2016 as an assistant coach. From 2007-2014, Jacques was the First Base/Outfield Coach at Colorado Christian University. Jacques was also involved in recruiting and the team’s strength and conditioning program. Jacques has previously helped guide the Arvada Colts (Rocky Mountain Baseball League) to two National Baseball Congress World Series. In addition, Jacques has been a Licensed Professional Counselor and Masters Addictions Counselor, working in the mental health field for the last 12 years. Jacques has a B.A. in Health Promotion from the University of Northern Iowa and a M.A. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Colorado at Denver. Jacques also has a Certificate in Learning and Organizational Change from Northwestern University. In the fall, Jacques will pursue his PH.D in Counseling at The George Washington University.
Corey Thompson – Pitching Coach (1st Season)
Thompson joins the Waterloo Bucks for his first season in 2016 as the team’s pitching coach. Thompson just completed his second season as an assistant coach at his alma mater, Point University. In two seasons as a pitcher at Point University, Thompson went 8-9 with a 4.94 ERA in 30 games (23 starts). As a senior in 2014, Thompson went 4-3 with a 5.65 ERA in 16 games (10 starts). In 57.1 innings, Thompson struck out 43. As a junior in 2013, Thompson finished with a record of 4-6 in a team-high 13 starts. Thompson finished second on the Skyhawks with four complete games, 81 innings pitched and 54 strikeouts.
Jimmy Turk – Assistant Coach (1st Season)
Turk joins the Waterloo Bucks for his first season in 2016 as an assistant coach. Turk is an assistant baseball coach at South Mountain Community College in Phoenix, Ariz., and has been a coach at Slammers Baseball and Softball in Colorado for the last six years. Turk has experience as a coach at the Perfect Game World Championships and represented team Colorado at the NTIS USA Baseball Showcase as a coach. Turk won a 6A State Championship as a senior at Owasso High School in Oklahoma. Turk went on to be a two-year starter at Otero Junior College before transferring to Oral Roberts University. Turk concluded his collegiate baseball career at Northwestern Oklahoma State University, finishing with a .396 batting average. Turk has a BSBA in Management from Colorado State-Pueblo.
Waterloo’s roster features 14 players who have played for the Bucks in either 2014 or 2015.
PLAYER BIOS
PITCHERS
Jordan Accetta – Accetta finished the 2016 regular season 2-0 with a 5.73 ERA in 28 relief appearances as a junior at Wofford College. As a sophomore in 2015, Accetta went 1-3 with a 7.75 ERA in 15 appearances (six starts). The right-hander pitched for the Vienna Riverdogs in the Cal Ripken Summer Collegiate League last summer, finishing 3-4 with a 3.19 ERA in nine games (seven starts). Accetta struck out a team-high 44 in a team-best 56.1 innings. As a freshman in 2014, Accetta finished 3-3 in 13 appearances (six starts). The Charlotte, N.C., native was named the New York Collegiate Baseball League Pitcher of the Year in the summer of 2014 with the Hornell Dodgers. Accetta finished the summer 9-0 with a 1.78 ERA in 11 games (10 starts). Accetta established a New York Collegiate League All-Time single-season winning percentage record and tied the single-season record for most wins in the regular season. Accetta was a four-year starter at Charlotte Catholic High School.
Steven Baker – Baker went 4-6 with one save and a 4.15 ERA in 23 games (nine starts) in the 2016 regular season at Chico State University after transferring from the College of Marin in Kentfield. The Truckee, Calif., native went 7-2 with a 4.32 ERA in 14 games (12 starts) as a sophomore in 2015. Baker was named Second Team All-BVC as a freshman in 2014, finishing with a 5-1 record and four saves in 16 appearances (one start). Baker helped lead Truckee High School to a 2012 Nevada 3A State Championship and was named the 2012 3A State Player of the Year by the Reno Gazette. Baker was a 3A/2A Mount Rose League selection and the All-State MVP in 2012. Baker was also a two-time All-State selection in wrestling during high school, finishing fourth in 2008, and a state runner-up in 2010.
Patrick Boyle – Boyle went 5-0 with a 4.81 ERA in 13 games (10 starts) at Missouri Baptist University in 2016 after transferring from the University in Cincinnati. Boyle held opposing hitters to a .214 batting average and struck out 47 hitters in 43 innings pitched. Prior to attending the University of Cincinnati, Boyle pitched at Sinclair Community College, earning First Team All-Ohio Community College Athletic Conference honors in 2014. The southpaw went 10-0 with a 2.25 ERA as a sophomore at Sinclair Community College. The Farmersville, Ohio, native set a school record with overall wins in a season (10) and conference wins in a season (6). Boyle began his college career at Wooster College in 2013, finishing 1-1 with two saves and a 4.34 ERA in 18.2 innings. Boyle also played quarterback as a freshman on the Wooster football team. Boyle was a three-year varsity letterman in football and baseball at Valley High School and was named First Team All-Southwestern Buckeye as a senior in baseball.
Jonathan Buckley – Buckley went 1-1 with a 6.75 ERA in 11 games (one start) as a freshman in 2016 at St. Mary’s College. The Chino, Calif., native was named a 2015 Perfect Game Honorable Mention All-American and named Second Team All-Region as a senior at Ruben S. Ayala High School. The right-hander ranks second in Ayala school history in career innings pitched (87), strikeouts (65), wins (9), appearances (31), complete games (2) and shutouts (2).
Brandon Downey – Downey went 4-1 with one save and a 5.01 ERA in 16 games (one start) at Maryville University in 2016. The right-handed finished 1-1 with a single-season high seven saves and a 3.74 ERA in 19 appearances as a freshman in 2015. The Ballwin, Mo., native was named to the Missouri High School Coaches Association’s Class 4 All-State Team as a senior. Downey was a four-year varsity letterman at Lutheran South High School as a pitcher/infielder.
Doug Hayes – Hayes returns to the Waterloo Bucks for his second straight season after going 4-4 with a 5.01 ERA in 14 games (three starts) last. Hayes went 6-5 with a 3.58 ERA in 14 starts as a Redshirt Sophomore in 2016. Hayes’ six wins led all Illini pitchers, and finished tied for the team lead with two complete games this season. The Wheaton, Ill., native finished 0-0 with a 7.20 ERA in five appearances as a Redshirt Freshman in 2015 at the University of Illinois. In 2014, Hayes redshirted and pitched for the Illinois Fighting Illini Club Team. Hayes was named to the All-Area Team as a senior at Wheaton North High School after posting a 0.93 ERA in 66 innings. Hayes was also a two-time DuPage Valley Academic All-Conference selection.
Derek Hendrixson – Hendrixson redshirted at Wright State University in 2016 after transferring from Heidelberg University. Hendrixson was named an ABCA All-American, First Team All Mid-East Region and First Team All-OAC as a reliever in 2015. The right-hander finished his sophomore campaign 7-0 with a team-high seven saves and team-best 1.15 ERA in 21 games (six starts). The reliever was named the Prospect League Galen Woods Fireman of Year with the Chillicothe Paints last summer. The Prospect League All-Star went 3-3 with a 1.84 ERA in 28 games (two starts) and finished second in the league with 17 saves. The Centerville, Ohio, native went 6-3 with a team-high six saves and 3.51 ERA in 19 appearances (one start) as a freshman. Hendrixson attended Centerville High School and was named First Team All-GWOC as a senior.
Lincoln Hochmuth – Hochmuth returns to the Waterloo Bucks in 2016 after making two appearances (one start) in 2015. The Cannon Falls, Minn., native went 5-2 with one save and a 7.15 ERA in 11 games (eight starts) as a junior in 2016 at Augsburg College. Hochmuth appeared in 14 games as a sophomore at Augsburg in 2015, finishing 2-0 with two saves and 29 strikeouts in 26.1 innings pitched. As a freshman in 2014, Hochmuth appeared in three games, striking out three in 4.2 innings. Hochmuth was an All-Section selection in baseball as a senior at St. Croix Lutheran High School and was named to the All-Conference team in baseball, basketball and football.
Nicholas Hynes – Hynes went 2-2 with an 8.68 ERA in 10 relief appearances as a junior at Missouri Baptist University in 2016 after transferring from Chaffey College. Hynes struck out 15 batters in 9.1 innings and held opposing hitters to a .188 batting average this season. In 2015, Hynes went 1-2 with a 6.15 ERA in 10 appearances (five starts) at Chaffey College. In 2014, Hynes went 0-2 with one save and a 3.46 ERA in 10 relief appearances as a freshman at Riverside Community College. Following the 2014 college season, Hynes was drafted in the 30th round of the 2014 MLB Draft by the Cleveland Indians, but did not sign.
Carson McPherson – McPherson returns to the Waterloo Bucks in 2016 after finishing last summer 4-2 with a 4.29 in 10 starts. McPherson finished the 2016 regular season 6-3 with a two complete games and a 3.30 ERA in 14 games (11 starts) as a junior at Oklahoma Baptist University in 2016. McPherson held opposing hitters to a team-best .178 batting average and struck out 95 in 73.2 innings. Prior to attending Oklahoma Baptist University, McPherson pitched at Murray State College in 2015. The southpaw was named to the JUCO Region 2 All-Conference team in 2015, posting a 6-2 record with one save and a 3.79 ERA in 13 games (10 starts). The Ardmore, Okla., native attended the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 2014, but did not see any action. In 2013 McPherson pitched at Seminole State Junior College. McPherson earned All-State and All-West Region honors at Ardmore High School and was also the Southern Oklahoma Player of the Year Twice.
Andrew Muehlberger – Muehlberger returns to the Waterloo Bucks in 2016 after going 0-0 with a 4.90 ERA in eight relief appearances in 2015. Muehlberger finished 1-0 with two saves and a 1.69 ERA in 14 relief outings as a junior at Central Missouri University in 2016. The Olathe, Kan., native attended Coffeyville Community College in 2015 before transferring to Central Missouri University. The right-hander went 1-0 with a 5.87 ERA in 16 relief appearances as a sophomore at Coffeyville. Muehlberger was part of two state championship teams at St. James Academy High School and was a three-time letterwinner in both football and wrestling in high school. As a wrestler at St. James Academy, Muehlberger was a two-time state qualifier, a regional champion and a state runner-up
Tim Mulvey – Mulvey finished 0-2 with an 8.22 ERA in 12 games (three starts) as a junior at Washington & Jefferson College in 2016. The southpaw went 3-1 with a team-high three saves and 3.82 ERA in 18 appearances (one start) as a sophomore in 2015. The Glenshaw, Penn., native was named a Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League Postseason All-Star last summer as a starting pitcher with the Licking County Settlers. Mulvey finished the summer 6-1 with a 3.12 ERA in nine appearances (eight starts). As a freshman in 2014, Mulvey went 3-1 with a 3.37 ERA in eight games (two starts).
Bryce Reichmann – Reichmann finished the 2016 campaign 0-2 with a 4.10 ERA in 22 appearances (four starts) at St. Mary’s College in 2016 after transferring from Sierra College. The southpaw went 4-6 in 12 appearances (11 starts) with a 3.46 ERA in 2015 at Sierra. The Roseville, Calif., native pitched for the Danville Dans of the Prospect League last summer, posting a 4-3 record and 3.03 ERA in 12 starts.
Tim Shannon – Shannon returns to the Waterloo Bucks in 2016 after going 1-3 with a 5.23 ERA in 13 games (six starts) in 2014. Shannon finished 0-0 with a 9.00 ERA in 12 games (four starts) as a redshirt junior at the University of Minnesota in 2016. Shannon went 2-5 with a 5.85 ERA in 11 games (10 starts) in 2015. The right-hander was named to the Academic All-Big Ten Team in 2014 and was second on the Gophers pitching staff with 52.1 innings. The Hopkins, Minn., native garnered the University of Michigan’s Athletic Academic Achievement Award in 2013 before transferring to the University of Minnesota. Shannon was an All-State honoree, a Star Tribune All-Metro Selection and a Mr. Baseball Finalist as a senior in 2012 at Hopkins High School. Shannon was also recognized as a Rawlings-Perfect Game Honorable Mention All-American and named Second Team All-Central Region as a senior in high school.
Zach Siggelkow – Siggelkow returns to the Waterloo Bucks in 2016 after going 1-2 with a 2.28 ERA in five games (four starts) in 2015. After redshirting in 2015, Siggelkow finished without a record or an ERA in two relief appearances at St. Cloud State University in 2016. In 1.1 innings, the southpaw yielded a hit and a walk while striking out a pair. Siggelkow was a three-time All-Conference selection, a two-time All-Section selection and a MSHSBCA All-State selection in baseball as a senior at St. Anthony Village High School. The St. Anthony Village, Minn., native was also named Second Team All-Metro and a Perfect Game USA Central Region Honorable Mention selection in baseball as a senior. The southpaw was a three-time letterwinner in both basketball and football at St. Anthony Village High School.
Brett Solano – Solano redshirted at Menlo College in 2016. As a junior in 2015, Solano went 10-2 with a 3.28 ERA in a team-high 15 starts. The right-hander led all Oaks pitchers in 2015 with 104.1 innings pitched and 10 wins. Solano’s 10 wins was also a single-season high for wins in a season. Prior to attending Menlo College, the Campbell, Calif., native pitched for Mission College. Solano was named the team’s Pitcher of the Year in 2014, finishing 5-5 with a 2.85 ERA in 14 games (12 starts).
Hunter Spencer – Spencer joins the Waterloo Bucks in 2016 after being named the Great Lakes Valley Pitcher of Year in 2016 at Bellarmine University. Spencer finished the 2016 campaign 6-2 with a 2.18 ERA and a team-best two shutouts and 74.1 innings pitched. The southpaw went 1-4 in five relief appearances as a freshman in 2015. The Scottsburg, Ind., native was named an IHSBCA All-State Honorable Mention selection as a senior at Austin High School.
Nate Spielvogel – Spielvogel returns to Waterloo for his second season in 2016 after going 1-6 with an 8.37 ERA in 18 games with the Bucks in 2015. Spielvogel finished the 2016 campaign at Merrimack College with a 3-1 record and team-best five saves in 15 relief appearances. Through three seasons, Spielvogel is already the all-time leader in saves with 11 at Merrimack. The right-hander went 1-2 with a team-high six saves and 3.14 ERA in 12 appearances as a sophomore at Merrimack College in 2015. As a freshman in 2014, Spielvogel went 0-1 with a 4.40 ERA in 10 games. The Brookline, Mass., native was named a Futures Collegiate Baseball League All-Star as a relief pitcher in the summer of 2014 with the Pittsfield Suns. Spielvogel finished the summer 2-4 with two saves and a 2.25 ERA in 19 games. Spielvogel was a two-way player and a four-year member of the baseball team at Brookline High School.
Trevor Swaney – Swaney finished the 2016 regular season 9-1 with a 2.82 ERA in 16 games (11 starts) as a Redshirt Junior at Wright State University. The right-hander finished tied for the team lead with nine wins during the regular season, and was third on the Wright State pitching staff in starts (11) and innings pitched (67). Swaney went 4-3 with a 4.81 ERA in 17 games (16 starts) in 2015 as a Redshirt-Sophomore. The right-hander recorded one shutout and finished second on the team with 76.2 innings pitched. Prior to redshirting in 2014, Swaney went 4-0 with a 4.75 ERA in 27 relief appearances as a freshman in 2013. The Wheaton, Ill., native was a two-way player at Wheaton Academy High School and earned back-to-back SSC Player of the Year honors as a junior and senior. Swaney was a three-time All-League and All-City selection and is Wheaton Academy’s career leader in hits, RBI, and ERA.
CATCHERS
Adam McGinnis – McGinnis returns to the Waterloo Bucks in 2016 after hitting .228 with two home runs and 14 RBI in 31 games last summer. McGinnis hit .262 with two home runs and 15 RBI as a junior in 2016. The Normal, Ill., native was named to the Summit League Spring Academic Honor Roll as a sophomore at Western Illinois University in 2015. McGinnis hit .243 with four home runs, 11 stolen bases and 27 RBI in 49 games last season for the Leathernecks. As a freshman in 2014 at WIU, McGinnis finished with two home runs, 19 RBI, 26 runs scored and a .281 average in 41 games (38 starts) while making starts at three different positions. McGinnis was a three-year letterman in both basketball and baseball at Normal Community West High School, earning First Team All-State Honors in baseball as a senior in 2013. McGinnis was also named the Big 12 Conference Baseball Player of the Year and a Big 12 Scholar Athlete as a senior at Normal Community West.
Nate Soria – Soria hit .257 with three home runs and 22 RBI as a sophomore in 2016 at Xavier University. Soria was named the Big East Freshman of the Year, a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American, an All-Big East Second Team selection and a Big East All-Academic Team selection at Xavier University in 2015. Soria led Xavier with a .335 batting average, a .420 on-base percentage and 11 doubles in 2015. Behind the plate, Soria led the Big East with 16 runners caught stealing. The Homer Glen, Ill., native hit a career .312 at St. Rita High School and helped lead the Mustangs to a 2014 State Runner-Up Finish. Soria is also the younger brother of Bucks infielder Zack Soria.
Zack Soria – Soria returns to the Waterloo Bucks for his third straight season in 2016. Soria hit .264 with 15 RBI, 17 runs and six stolen bases last summer. In 2014, Soria hit .272 with 20 RBI, 24 runs and a stolen base. Soria hit .305 with three home runs and 23 RBI during the regular season as a Redshirt Junior at Florida International University in 2016. Soria finished tied for the team lead with 62 hits during the regular season and was second on the team during the regular season with 11 stolen bases The Homer Glen, Ill., native hit .288 with a home run and 26 RBI as a sophomore at Florida International University in 2015. Soria was named All-Conference, All-Region and First Team All-Tournament in the D2 JUCO World Series as a freshman in 2014 at Mesa Community College. Soria was named a Louisville Slugger All-American, Third Team All-State, All-Conference, and All-Area as a senior at St. Rita High School in Chicago, Ill. Soria was also a two-year letterman in football at St. Rita, including a Second Team All-CCL selection as a senior running back/cornerback. Soria made ESPN’s Top 10 Plays and Web Gems in 2006 during the Little League World Series as a member of the Great Lakes region. Soria is also the older brother of Bucks catcher Nate Soria.
INFIELDERS
Blake Alexander – Alexander joins the Bucks in 2016 after redshirting at Dallas Baptist University this season. Alexander previously attended Elgin Community College, where the infielder garnered All-Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference First Team honors as a sophomore and Second Team honors as a freshman. As a sophomore in 2015, Alexander hit .382 and finished with a team-best four home runs and 43 RBI. Alexander was a three-time All-Conference and All-Area selection at Burlington Central High School and was named the Big Northern Conference Player of the Year as a senior.
Taylor Boyd – Boyd returns to the Waterloo Bucks in 2016 after hitting .234 with 18 RBI and a team-high 16 stolen bases last summer. Boyd started all 50 games as a junior during the regular-season at St. Joseph’s University and finished second on the team with a .296 average. Boyd also finished tied for the team lead with seven stolen bases. The middle infielder earned St. Joseph’s University Academic Award in 2015 and was also named to the Big 5 All-Academic Team. Boyd hit .272 with one home run and 21 RBI as a sophomore last year while leading the Hawks with 10 stolen bases. As a freshman in 2014, Boyd finished with a .247 average and eight stolen bases. The Springfield, Va., native was named St. Joseph’s Rookie of the Year and earned the team’s Academic Award in 2014. Boyd earned All-District Second Team honors as a senior at West Springfield High School and was part of the school’s state championship team as a freshman.
Jonah Bride – Bride returns to the Waterloo Bucks in 2016 after hitting .237 with 18 RBI in 28 games last summer. The Owasso, Okla., native transferred from Neosho Junior College to the University of South Carolina in 2016. Bride hit .284 with two home runs and 27 RBI while starting all 55 regular-season games as a junior at the University of South Carolina. Bride led the Gamecocks with 18 hit by pitches during the regular season and was a perfect 7-for-7 on stolen base attempts. Bride was named First Team All-Jayhawk Conference and Second Team NJCAA All-American in 2015. As a freshman, Bride hit .471 with 14 home runs and 93 RBI while setting a single-season school record of 96 hits. The infielder was named a 2014 Louisville Slugger High School All-American as a senior by Collegiate Baseball and helped lead Owasso High School to a perfect 36-0 record and a 6A state championship as a junior in 2013.
Tyler Curtis – Curtis returns to the Northwoods league after hitting .233 with seven RBI and 13 runs in 28 games for the now defunct Alexandria Blue Anchors in 2013. Curtis hit .330 with 11 home runs and 57 RBI as a redshirt junior in 2016 at Lynn University. After redshirting in 2015, the Newburgh, N.Y., native hit .387 with two home runs, 28 RBI, 29 runs and eight doubles as a sophomore at Triton College in 2014. As a freshman in 2013, Curtis batted .348 with three home runs, 32 RBI, 29 runs and 11 stolen bases. Curtis hit a career. 437 at Marlboro High School and was named First Team All-State at shortstop and named a Perfect Game Northeast Region Honorable Mention Selection as a senior in 2012. Curtis was also a two-time First Team Freeman All-Star and a two-time First Team Times Herald Record All-Star.
Scott Jarvis – Jarvis hit .267 with six runs and four RBI in 10 games (seven starts) as a redshirt freshman in 2016 at UCLA. The San Jose, Calif., native hit .281 with 13 runs and 11 RBI over 34 games with the Victoria HarbourCats of the West Coast League this past summer. Jarvis was a 2014 Perfect Game All-Region Honorable selection and a West Catholic League Honorable selection at Bellarmine High School.
Daniel Perry – Perry returns to the Waterloo Bucks after hitting .306 with three RBI, five runs and two stolen bases last summer as a high school senior. Perry also made one appearance on the mound, tossing 1.1 innings. Perry redshirted at the University of Iowa in 2016 for his freshman season. Perry was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 13th round of the 2015 MLB Draft out of Lassen High School, but did not sign. The Susanville, Calif., native was ranked a Top 500 prospect nationally by Perfect Game and was a four-time All-League selection. Perry was named All-Section and his team’s Most Valuable Defensive Player as a senior in high school. As a junior, Perry was named his team’s Most Valuable Offensive Player. Perry was also a three-time All-League selection in basketball. Perry’s father, Eric Perry, currently works in the Chicago Cubs organization and was drafted by the Cubs in the 15th round of the 1987 MLB June Amateur Draft. Perry’s brother, Quinton Perry, played for the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters in 2010 and played college baseball at UC-Santa Barbara.
Zac Sanders – Sanders joins the Waterloo Bucks in 2016 after hitting .383 with 12 home runs and 57 RBI and 13 stolen bases as a sophomore at New Mexico Junior College. Sanders was named to the Perfect Game Texas Region Honorable Mention team as a senior in 2014. The Lubbock, Texas, native attended Monterey High School.
Luke Stratman – Stratman returns to the Waterloo Bucks in 2016 after being named to the Northwoods League All-Star Team in 2015. The infielder finished second on the team with a .292 batting average and hit three home runs, 20 RBI, 25 runs and 10 stolen bases in 37 games last summer. Stratman transferred to Dallas Baptist University in 2016 after garnering First Team All-Region, First Team All-Conference and Academic All-Conference honors in 2015 at Lamar Community College. The Morrison, Colo., native finished with a team-best .393 batting average, eight home runs, 49 RBI and 16 stolen bases last season. Stratman was a four-year letterman at D’Evelyn High School and was named the Colorado Class 4A Player of the Year as a senior. Stratman was also a two-time All-State selection in basketball and holds the career record for three-point field goals made in Colorado High School history.
Brody Weiss – Weiss joins the Waterloo Bucks after hitting .314 with four home runs and 33 RBI and seven stolen bases during his sophomore season at Riverside City College. The Denver, Colo., native attended the University of California at Santa Barbara as a freshman in 2014. In the summer of 2014, Weiss hit .227 with two home runs, eight RBI and 17 runs with the LaCrosse Loggers. As a senior in 2013 at Regis Jesuit High School, Weiss batted .390 with six home runs, garnering All-State honors. Weiss was also named a Rawlings-Perfect Game Third Team All-American and First Team All-West Region as a senior in 2013. Weiss was a three-time All-League selection and a USSSA All-American during his tenure at Regis Jesuit. Weiss also won a state championship in 2011 at Regis Jesuit. Weiss was drafted in the 22nd round of the 2013 MLB First Year Player Draft by the Colorado Rockies, but didn’t sign. Weiss’ dad, Walt Weiss, is currently the manager of the Colorado Rockies and played in the Major Leagues for 14 years.
OUTFIELDERS
Alex Boxwell – Boxwell returns to the Waterloo Bucks in 2016 after hitting .289 with one home run in 45 games last summer. Boxwell finished second on the team with 23 RBI and stole 10 bases last summer. The Coon Rapids Minn., native hit .344 with 1 home run and 15 RBI as a sophomore during the 2016 regular season at the University of Minnesota. Boxwell hit .194 with two home runs and 6 RBI in 25 games (19 starts) as a freshman in 2015. Boxwell was a four-year letterwinner in baseball at Coon Rapids High School and was a two-time All-Northwest Suburban Conference selection. Boxwell was a Mr. Baseball Finalist and named All-State and All-Metro as a senior.
Robert Neustrom – Neustrom joins the Waterloo Bucks in 2016 after completing his freshman season at the University of Iowa. Neustrom hit .293 with one home run, 18 RBI and a team-best three triples as a freshman during the 2016 regular season. Neustrom led the Hawkeyes during the regular season with three triples. Neustrom was ranked the 482nd best prospect nationally by Perfect Game and was named the Iowa Gatorade Player of the Year as a senior at Sioux City North High School. The Sioux City, Iowa, native was selected to the Honorable Mention Perfect Game All-American team and was named Second Team All-Region as a senior by Perfect Game. Neustrom was a two-time MRAC Player of Year, a two-time Super Team All-State selection and a three-time All-Conference selection in baseball, too. Neustrom was named Third Team All-State in football as a wide receiver and First Team All-Conference in basketball. Neustrom was also named Academic All-State in football and baseball as a senior and was the vice president of the National Honor Society.
Zach Weatherford – Weatherford joins the Waterloo Bucks in 2016 after hitting .217 with two home runs and nine RBI as a redshirt freshman during the 2016 regular season at Wright State University. Weatherford redshirted in 2015 as a true freshman. The Englewood, Ohio, native was a three-sport athlete at Normont High School and was named All-State, All-League and All-District as a senior in baseball. Weatherford is also the career leader in stolen bases at Normont.
The Bucks are holding their 2016 Meet the Bucks event on Sunday, May 29 at Pepper’s Grill and Sports Pub in Cedar Falls, Iowa at 6:30 pm. The team’s annual Open House will be on Monday, May 30 at 7:05 pm.
The Bucks open the 2016 Northwoods League season on Tuesday, May 31 against the St. Cloud Rox at 7:05 pm with gates opening at 6:00 pm
The Bucks play at Riverfront Stadium where the team welcomed a new state of the art video board in 2016 thanks to a matching grant from the Black Hawk County Gaming Association. Team ownership has invested more than $170,000 in improvements since the end of the 2014 season including painted bleachers, public Wi-Fi, sound system, group outing areas, and concessions equipment. Season tickets, individual game tickets, and group outings are currently on sale by calling the Bucks’ Ticket Line at (319) 232-5633. Fans are encouraged to stay in touch during the season with the Bucks by utilizing their website at www.waterloobucks.com or utilizing the Waterloo Bucks app.
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The Waterloo Bucks 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, 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.waterloobucks.com.
