University of Minnesota Athletics
Transfer Slugger Sweeny Added to 2019-20 Incoming Class
3/12/2019 9:00:00 AM | Baseball
The Gopher Baseball team, head coach John Anderson, and his staff can announce the addition of junior college transfer infielder Ronnie Sweeny to its incoming class for next season. Sweeny has spent the past two seasons with NJCAA Division I Iowa Western Community College.
Ronnie Sweeny
Sweeny will join Minnesota for his junior season after starting his collegiate career at Iowa Western C.C. Sweeny competed alongside current Gophers pitcher Max Meyer for Woodbury High School during his prep career. A two-sport athlete lettering in both hockey and baseball, Sweeny helped lead the Royals to back-to-back state tournament appearances in 2016 and 2017 on the diamond. He finished his career with a .372 average, 11 home runs, 23 doubles, 64 RBIs, and 132 total bases. As a junior, he posted one of the best seasons in Woodbury's history compiling a .425 average, 13 extra-base hits, 48 total bases, and 26 RBIs. As a senior, he was among the state leaders in homers (7), total bases (61), doubles (10), slugging percentage (.753), and hits (30). The slugger was a three-time Suburban East All-Conference performer, All-Section selection in both 2016 and 2017, All-State nominee in 2017, and an All-Metro selection in his senior season. On the ice, Sweeny led the Royals in goals scored (17) and stood among the team leaders with his 30 points and 13 assists. He earned a pair of All-Conference selections and an All-Section selection in hockey.
As a freshman at IWCC, Sweeny became a middle-of-the-order force for the Reivers, who finished sixth at the Junior College World Series last spring in addition to finishing as the Northern District Champions with a 30-0 record in Region XI play. Sweeny batted .375 with four homers, seven doubles, two triples, 34 RBIs, and 65 total bases in his rookie campaign. To start his sophomore season, he already has one home run and six RBIs in just six games played. His parents are Lisa and Ron Sweeny. He plans to major in Sport Management or Criminology at Minnesota.
Assistant Coach Patrick Casey on Sweeny: "Ronnie is the perfect fit for our baseball family. He has grown up around the program, understands our history and tradition, and has connection to many of our current players. Apart from being one of more polished left-handed, middle-of-the-order bats in the country, Ronnie is going to bring leadership, integrity and passion to the Gopher Baseball program both in the classroom and on the field. We couldn't be more grateful to have him, his mother Lisa and father Ron a part of the Golden Gopher Baseball family and bring him home for the remainder of his collegiate career."
Sweeny on why he chose Minnesota: "I chose the University of Minnesota program because they are a family. Coming from a close group at Iowa Western, I needed the same type of culture. I've always been close with the coaching staff at Minnesota. They really want what's best for the players on, and especially off, the field. I've always loved the campus and am now very excited to be a part of the Gopher community representing the state of Minnesota. The University of Minnesota is just the perfect fit for me because of the culture, academics and my closest friends are on the team. I am looking forward to the opportunity to wear a Gopher uniform and help continue the winning tradition at Minnesota."
Sweeny joins a highly-touted recruiting class which previously featured seven top national talents announced earlier this academic year. Click here to read more.
"We are pleased and excited to welcome Ronnie into the Gopher Baseball family," said Anderson. "His growth and maturation at Iowa Western Community College as a student-athlete makes him a strong fit for our baseball culture at Minnesota. He has always expressed a strong desire to wear the 'M' and is motivated to help grow our history and tradition on and off the field of play. His performance and experience at Iowa Western should allow him to hit in the middle of our line-up throughout his career with his talented left-handed bat. Ronnie is talented, internally motivated, and possesses all the intangibles that makes him a great fit for our program."
Ronnie Sweeny
| Position: IF | Height: 6-2 | Weight: 230 | Bat/Throws: L/R Hometown: Woodbury, Minnesota | High School: Woodbury | Previous School: Iowa Western C.C. Scouting Report: A heavily recruited, highly-polished left-handed bat with middle-of-the-order power |
Sweeny will join Minnesota for his junior season after starting his collegiate career at Iowa Western C.C. Sweeny competed alongside current Gophers pitcher Max Meyer for Woodbury High School during his prep career. A two-sport athlete lettering in both hockey and baseball, Sweeny helped lead the Royals to back-to-back state tournament appearances in 2016 and 2017 on the diamond. He finished his career with a .372 average, 11 home runs, 23 doubles, 64 RBIs, and 132 total bases. As a junior, he posted one of the best seasons in Woodbury's history compiling a .425 average, 13 extra-base hits, 48 total bases, and 26 RBIs. As a senior, he was among the state leaders in homers (7), total bases (61), doubles (10), slugging percentage (.753), and hits (30). The slugger was a three-time Suburban East All-Conference performer, All-Section selection in both 2016 and 2017, All-State nominee in 2017, and an All-Metro selection in his senior season. On the ice, Sweeny led the Royals in goals scored (17) and stood among the team leaders with his 30 points and 13 assists. He earned a pair of All-Conference selections and an All-Section selection in hockey.
As a freshman at IWCC, Sweeny became a middle-of-the-order force for the Reivers, who finished sixth at the Junior College World Series last spring in addition to finishing as the Northern District Champions with a 30-0 record in Region XI play. Sweeny batted .375 with four homers, seven doubles, two triples, 34 RBIs, and 65 total bases in his rookie campaign. To start his sophomore season, he already has one home run and six RBIs in just six games played. His parents are Lisa and Ron Sweeny. He plans to major in Sport Management or Criminology at Minnesota.
Assistant Coach Patrick Casey on Sweeny: "Ronnie is the perfect fit for our baseball family. He has grown up around the program, understands our history and tradition, and has connection to many of our current players. Apart from being one of more polished left-handed, middle-of-the-order bats in the country, Ronnie is going to bring leadership, integrity and passion to the Gopher Baseball program both in the classroom and on the field. We couldn't be more grateful to have him, his mother Lisa and father Ron a part of the Golden Gopher Baseball family and bring him home for the remainder of his collegiate career."
Sweeny on why he chose Minnesota: "I chose the University of Minnesota program because they are a family. Coming from a close group at Iowa Western, I needed the same type of culture. I've always been close with the coaching staff at Minnesota. They really want what's best for the players on, and especially off, the field. I've always loved the campus and am now very excited to be a part of the Gopher community representing the state of Minnesota. The University of Minnesota is just the perfect fit for me because of the culture, academics and my closest friends are on the team. I am looking forward to the opportunity to wear a Gopher uniform and help continue the winning tradition at Minnesota."
Sweeny joins a highly-touted recruiting class which previously featured seven top national talents announced earlier this academic year. Click here to read more.
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