Waterloo, IA – The Waterloo Bucks have announced that right-handed pitcher J.D. Moore will return to Waterloo for his second season in 2014. Moore, a junior at South Dakota State University, is the fifth player to be named to the Bucks’ roster for the team’s 20th season.
Last season for Waterloo, Moore appeared in 22 games for the Bucks, all out of the bullpen. The 6’2”, 215-pounder finished with a 4-1 record, a 2.08 ERA, and 36 strikeouts with six saves. Moore was one of eight Bucks invited to attend the Northwoods League Big League Dreams Showcase in July and the righty was ranked as the 58th top prospect in the NWL’s Top 200 Prospect Report.
“In putting together a team, a lot of trust has to go into the college coaches that you talk to when discussing their players,” said Waterloo field manager Travis Kiewiet. “When I talked to Coach Grunzke at South Dakota State about J.D., he billed J.D. as a bulldog on the mound that would compete on every single outing. Not only was he all that, but his work ethic off the field was just as impressive. He will no doubt be counted on to do the same thing he did last summer for us and that is to shut down the opponent in crucial situations.”
Moore was recently named the Summit League Preseason Pitcher of the Year by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper. Last season for the Jackrabbits, the Mississauga, Ontario native set a single-season school record with 13 saves to go along with 38 strikeouts and a 1.99 ERA. Moore held opponents to a .175 average in 26 appearances.
Born May 2, 1992, Moore attended Meadowvale Secondary School where he was named the Most Valuable Player of his team in 2010. Moore also played for the Ontario Blue Jays travel team, which won the Premier Baseball League of Ontario championship and was the Connie Mack regional runner-up in 2011.
The Bucks will open the 2014 season on the road versus the Rochester Honkers on May 27, but return to Waterloo for their home opener versus Rochester on May 28. Season tickets and group outings are currently on sale. For more information, call the Bucks’ Ticket Line at (319) 232-5633. Fans are encouraged to stay in touch with the Bucks in the off-season by utilizing their website at www.waterloobucks.com.
The Waterloo Bucks are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 21st 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, more than 115 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including MLB All-Stars Max Scherzer (DET), Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYY), Allen Craig (STL) and Ben Zobrist (TB). All league games are viewable live and free of charge via the Northwoods League YouTube channel. For more information, visit www.waterloobucks.com.
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