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University of Minnesota Athletics
Motl Signs With The Sioux Falls Canaries
11/15/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Minneapolis, Minn. - University of Minnesota Golden Gopher alum Dan Motl has signed a professional contract with the Sioux Fall Canaries of the American Association League.
Motl becomes the fifth Gopher Baseball player to sign a professional contract this year joining Matt Fiedler, Austin Athmann, Jordan Jess and Dalton Sawyer.
Motl, a fifth-year senior in 2016, was named to the All-Big Ten Second Team last spring, in addition to be named Academic All-Big Ten for the third straight season, posting career highs across the board with a .336 batting average to go along with 77 hits, three homeruns, 19 doubles, three triples, 42 runs scored and a .485 slugging percentage in 53 games played. Motl finished top ten in the Big Ten in average, doubles, hits, triples and total bases.
Apart from his impressive resume on offense Motl was considered by many to be one of the top defending centerfielders in the nation overt the last two seasons compiling over 220 putouts and leading all Big Ten outfielders with eight assists in 2016.
The Burnsville native finished his Golden Gopher career amongst the top center fielders in program history joining the likes of J.T. Bruett, Charlie Nelson, Ryan Lefebvre, Wes Denning and Erik Decker to be named to the All-Big Ten Team. Motl finished his career in Gold Country with an impressive .303 average in 151 games in addition to accumulating 155 hits, 94 runs scored, 61 runs batted in, 33 doubles, six homeruns and 27 stolen bases.
Motl and the Sioux Fall Canaries will open the 2017 season on the road against their I-29 rivals, the Sioux City Explorers, on Thursday, May 18. Sioux Falls season opener is set for Saturday, May 20 against the Explorers at Sioux Falls Stadium. Gophers fans will get their first chance to see Motl again when the Canaries visit CHS Stadium July 10 - 14 against the St. Paul Saints.
"We are very excited to land Dan," stated Canaries Manager Mike Meyer in a recent Sioux Falls Canaries Press Release. "He's young, hungry, and eager to compete. Motl is a plus defender who can really track down the ball in the outfield. There is a lot of upside to his game, and defines the type of player we are looking to bring in this season."
For information on Motl and the Sioux Falls Canaries visit www.sfcanaries.com.
