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St. Paul Saints Turn to Former Gophers to Bolster Roster
4/9/2019 9:53:00 AM | Baseball
ST. PAUL, Minn. – The St. Paul Saints of the American Association have signed a pair of former Gopher Baseball players in outfielder Dan Motl and pitcher Jordan Jess.
Minnesota has been a pipeline to St. Paul in recent years, with 2018 graduates Luke Pettersen and Alex Boxwell each playing briefly with the Saints last season.
Motl returns to St. Paul after joining the Saints in a midseason trade from the Sioux Falls Canaries last season. He batted .258 with a pair of home runs and 25 RBI in 67 games last season, but tore up the league in his first professional season of 2017, batting .256 in 93 games, scoring 52 runs and driving in 41 RBIs while knocking 14 doubles and nine triples. Motl earned Second Team All-Big Ten distinction for the Gophers in 2016.
Jess joins the Association after pitching professionally in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization the last three seasons. He posted a career 4.09 ERA across three levels of minor league baseball, earning 12 saves with a 6-11 record. He struck out 147 batters in 136.1 innings while allowing just 34 walks. With Minnesota, Jess finished his career at 4-11 with a 4.76 ERA, earning 13 saves in 74 appearances and striking out 119 batters in 134.1 innings before being drafted by the Pirates in the 31st round back in 2016.
Jess, Motl, and the Saints open the season at CHS Field on Thursday, May 16.
Minnesota returns to Siebert Field Tuesday for "Game of Thrones" Night as the Gophers meet North Dakota State to decide who rules the North. First pitch against the Bison is set for 5 p.m.
Single-game tickets remain available for all Siebert Field home games. Tickets for Minnesota's Saturday, April 20 home game against Oklahoma at Target Field will be available for purchase at the box office on day of game. Gopher season ticket holders and students will receive free admission for the Big Ten-Big 12 showdown.
Minnesota has been a pipeline to St. Paul in recent years, with 2018 graduates Luke Pettersen and Alex Boxwell each playing briefly with the Saints last season.
Motl returns to St. Paul after joining the Saints in a midseason trade from the Sioux Falls Canaries last season. He batted .258 with a pair of home runs and 25 RBI in 67 games last season, but tore up the league in his first professional season of 2017, batting .256 in 93 games, scoring 52 runs and driving in 41 RBIs while knocking 14 doubles and nine triples. Motl earned Second Team All-Big Ten distinction for the Gophers in 2016.
Jess joins the Association after pitching professionally in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization the last three seasons. He posted a career 4.09 ERA across three levels of minor league baseball, earning 12 saves with a 6-11 record. He struck out 147 batters in 136.1 innings while allowing just 34 walks. With Minnesota, Jess finished his career at 4-11 with a 4.76 ERA, earning 13 saves in 74 appearances and striking out 119 batters in 134.1 innings before being drafted by the Pirates in the 31st round back in 2016.
Jess, Motl, and the Saints open the season at CHS Field on Thursday, May 16.
Minnesota returns to Siebert Field Tuesday for "Game of Thrones" Night as the Gophers meet North Dakota State to decide who rules the North. First pitch against the Bison is set for 5 p.m.
Single-game tickets remain available for all Siebert Field home games. Tickets for Minnesota's Saturday, April 20 home game against Oklahoma at Target Field will be available for purchase at the box office on day of game. Gopher season ticket holders and students will receive free admission for the Big Ten-Big 12 showdown.
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