Stingers announce four returning players for 2023 season

Written by Logan Bourandas

To kick off our roster reveal, the Willmar Stingers are happy to announce the return of four Stingers for the 2023 season. Left handed pitcher Andrew Baumgart, catchers Drey Dirksen and Graysen Tarlow, and right handed pitcher Jack Zigan will all make their return to Willmar this summer.

Baumgart, a Willmar native, is entering his redshirt-freshman season at North Dakota State. Last season, Baumgart started nine games with the Stingers winning two games and finishing with a 6.33 ERA and 35 strikeouts in 48.1 innings pitched. Prior to that, Baumgart played at Willmar High School where he was a four-year letterwinner and set a new record for wins in a season with 10 during his senior year.

Dirksen also played high school ball at Willmar and is entering his junior season at Augustana University. In his past season there, Dirksen was tied for second on his team with 16 home runs with 37 RBI’s and a .275 batting average. The catcher turned his collegiate success into a big role in a Stingers offense that summer, on a team that broke the Northwoods League record in runs scored with 525 in the 68 game season. Dirksen tied for the team lead and was third in the league with nine home runs with 50 RBI’s and a .266 batting average in what was his second season with the Stingers. That success earned Dirksen a spot on the mid-season All-Star team.

Tarlow was another big piece in the Stingers potent offense from a year ago. After joining the team late in the season, Tarlow made a major impact in the Stingers late season push towards a playoff berth. In just 14 games, Tarlow finished with a .455 average while also accounting for one home run and 18 RBI’s. Tarlow is set to enter his redshirt-sophomore season at Cal-State Northridge where the Orange, California native hit for a .286 average with 3 RBI’s in 24 starts last season.

Closing things out for this week is Jack Zigan who is entering both his senior season at Minnesota State and his third summer with the Stingers. Zigan appeared in eight games last season making six starts and finished with a 2.02 ERA and 24 strikeouts in 35.2 innings pitched. Half of Zigan’s appearances ended in wins as he tied for second on the team with four. That summer followed a junior season at Minnesota State where the Eden Prairie native recorded a 3.60 ERA and 44 strikeouts in 40 innings pitched.

Those four Stingers, and many more still to be announced, will open up the 2023 Northwoods League season on May 31st at Bill Taunton Stadium against the Eau Claire Express.

If you would like more information on tickets for the 2023 season, or more information regarding this press release, please contact the Willmar Stingers front office by calling 320-222-2010.  For more coverage of the Stingers, visit the West Central Tribune online at www.wctrib.com.

The 2023 season is presented by J.D. Kreps Financial Group, empowering investors with powerful financial advice.