Summer League Update: The Pulse on Gopher Hitters

MINNEAPOLIS - Since the conclusion of Minnesota's 2019 season in late May, various Gophers have been competing in summer baseball leagues throughout the country in order to improve and prepare for the 2020 campaign. This offseason, Minnesota players can be found on rosters spanning from coast to coast, including the Cape Cod League, Northwoods League, Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League, California Collegiate League and the Sunbelt Baseball League.

Most notably, two Gophers have been selected to partake in the Northwoods League's annual Major League Dreams Showcase on Tuesday, August 6: rising sophomore catcher Chase Stanke and incoming transfer slugger Ronnie Sweeny. A double-header series featuring the top players from the league, the Dreams Showcase rosters are chosen by a panel of Major League Baseball Scouts.

We begin our summer baseball update by taking a look at how Gopher position players have fared so far this summer, with a recap on Minnesota hurlers soon to come.

Kyle Bork | 1B/OF, Alpharetta Aviators | Sunbelt Baseball League
So far this summer, Bork is slashing .264/.333/.375 with two homers, 12 runs and 10 RBI across 72 at bats. The incoming freshman has appeared in 24 games for the Alpharetta Aviators, collecting a total of 19 hits while also swiping seven bags in the process. Bork comes to the Gophers after a stellar career as a four-year starter at St. Francis High School in Georgia.

Zack Elliott | IF, St. Cloud Rox | Northwoods League
Elliott has shown an improved approach at the plate in the Northwoods League, swinging his way to a .265 average to go along with four extra-base hits, 22 runs, and 11 RBI over 132 at bats. Playing in 44 games for the St. Cloud Rox, Elliott has drawn 18 walks and stolen five bases. After getting his first taste of collegiate action as a freshman in 2019, Elliott has received a heavy amount of playing time this summer in hopes of taking his production to the next level in 2020.

Otto Grimm | OF, Fond du Lac Dock Spiders | Northwoods League
Currently possessing the highest average of any Gopher playing summer ball, Grimm has been on a tear in combined action with the Wellington Heat (Jayhawk League) and Fond du Lac Dock Spiders. With 164 at bats already to his credit, the rising redshirt freshman is hitting .317 with 10 extra-base hits, one of which found the bleachers for a round tripper. With 52 hits, 35 runs, 25 RBI and 13 steals, Grimm appears to be primed for a potential breakout season for the Gophers following his redshirt campaign. The Bemidji, Minn. native has even drawn nearly as many walks (33) as strikeouts (34) to this point.

Gabe Knowles | IF, Badlands Big Sticks | Expedition League
Fresh off a redshirt sophomore campaign in which he took major steps forward in the batter's box, Knowles has performed even better at the plate this summer. Over the course of 42 games, Knowles owns a robust .302/.391/.491 slash line with 20 extra-base hits and four home runs, both of which are tops among Gopher batters this offseason. Digging deeper, he has tallied 34 runs and 26 RBI in his 159 at bats for the Big Sticks, while also working 22 free passes at the dish. In the field, Knowles has been equally as good with the glove, with only three errors to his credit thus far.

Chase Stanke | C, Willmar Stingers | Northwoods League
One of two Gophers to be named to the Northwoods League Dreams Showcase, Stanke has turned in a well-rounded summer at the catcher position. The rising sophomore looks to be headed for an increased role behind the plate with the departure of MLB draftee Eli Wilson, and his current .259 average with 12 extra-base knocks casts a positive outlook for the Gophers heading into 2020. Appearing in 44 games, Stanke has scored 21 runs and driven in another 23 across 162 at bats.

Ronnie Sweeny | IF, Lakeshore Chinooks | Northwoods League
Sweeny, an incoming transfer from Iowa Western Community College, comes to the Gophers on the heels of an impressive two-year career with the Reivers. Although the Woodbury, Minn. native has experienced more growing pains at the plate this summer than he may be accustomed to, he still owns a respectable .224/.355/.376 batting line that is bolstered by three home runs and four doubles. With 85 at bats in 25 games, Sweeny has driven in 19 runs, crossed the plate 14 times and stolen three bases. The best is likely yet to come for Sweeny, who has exhibited a mature approach at the plate that features more walks (17) than strikeouts (16).

Riley Swenson | C, Saugerties Stallions | Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League
Following a season in which he redshirted in his first year with the program, Swenson has done his part to make the competition for the starting catching job interesting. Swenson carries a .263/.317/.386 batting line over 57 at bats, chipping in five runs and eight RBI as well. The rising redshirt freshman has smashed four extra base hits this summer, including one home run to his credit.

Andrew Wilhite | IF/OF, Rockford Rivets | Northwoods League
Wilhite's offseason is highlighted by a fantastic performance on July 4 in which he reached base six-out-of-six times versus the Kenosha Kingfish. Overall, he is batting .265 across 151 at bats with one homer, 26 runs, 19 RBI and five stolen bases. The rising sophomore from Stillman Valley, Ill. has also swatted ten doubles and two triples for a grand total of 13 extra-base knocks.

Additionally, the following players saw limited action with their respective summer league teams.

Easton Bertrand | OF, Lakeshore Chinooks | Northwoods League
Bertrand appeared in six games for the Chinooks this offseason.

Drew Hmielewski | OF, Fond du Lac Dock Spiders | Northwoods League
In eight games with the Dock Spiders, Hmielewski batted .296 with two doubles, four runs, three RBI and four stolen bases. This comes on the heels of a strong redshirt sophomore campaign for Hmielewski, in which he hit .281/.366/.393 over 41 games.

Zack Raabe | IF, Green Bay Booyah | Northwoods League
After seeing a heavy dose of action as a freshman in 2019, Raabe played in five games with the Booyah this offseason, batting .333 and driving in five runs.

Be on the lookout for more news on Gophers developing their game through summer baseball action, with the update on Minnesota pitchers soon to come.

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Players Mentioned

Easton Bertrand

Zack Elliott

Otto Grimm

Drew Hmielewski

Gabe Knowles

Zack Raabe

Chase Stanke

Riley Swenson

Andrew Wilhite

Eli Wilson