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Photo by: Brad Rempel
2023 Summer Ball Assignments
5/23/2023 1:53:00 PM | Baseball
The Gophers will be scattered across the country once again this summer
MINNEAPOLIS -- Heading into the summer of 2023, numerous current Gopher Baseball program members will be competing on summer teams throughout the country. The Golden Gophers have 18 returners placed throughout three different summer collegiate leagues across the country. As is standard, the Gophers have placed a majority of their players in the Northwoods League (10) scattered across six different teams.
Minnesota players can also be found in the Appalachian League (1), Cape Cod League (4) and Coastal Plains League (1). More additions are expected throughout the summer as Minnesota continues to grow its roster in preparation for the 2024 season. Several players will stay back on campus this summer to train with the strength and conditioning staff in preparation for the fall. Right-hander George Klassen will prepare for the 2023 MLB Draft Combine.
Appalachian League (1)
Tristan Ellis, Fr., INF (Greenville Flyboys) -- A former First Team All-State Wisconsin selection in 2022, Ellis redshirted for the Gophers in 2023 to further his player development. He will play for the Greenvile Flyboys this summer.
Cape Cod League (3)
Brett Bateman, Jr., OF (Cotuit Kettleers) -- A Second Team All-Big Ten selection, Bateman started in 48 of the 50 games he played in as a junior, slashing .354/.407/.450 with 67 hits, 29 runs scored and 12 RBI. He stole a team-best 17 bases, which ranked sixth in the Big Ten and he ranked eighth with his .354 batting average.
Sam Malec, So., RHP (Wareham Gatemen) -- As a sophomore, Malec battled back from a mid-season bout with Mono after missing 52 days of action. He went 0-3 with a 7.48 ERA in seven appearances (five starts) in 2023. He struck out 14 in 27.2 innings pitched, giving up 23 earned runs with just 10 walks. Malec lasted five-or-more innings in two of his starts.
Tucker Novotny, So., LHP (Cotuit Kettleers) -- A 2023 Third Team All-Big Ten pick, Novotny had a big-time sophomore season. The lefty went 4-5 with a 5.03 ERA in 14 appearances (14 starts) as Minnesota's Friday guy in 2023. He struck out a team-best 80 hitters in 73.1 innings pitched, allowing just 41 earned runs and walking 39. Novotny lasted five-or-more innings in 10 of his 14 starts, going six-or-more five times. He ranked in the top-10 in the Big Ten in strikeouts (sixth), strikeouts looking (fourth) and innings pitched (10th).
Coastal Plains League (1)
Jake Larson, So., INF (Macon Bacon) -- The Covington, Wash., native appeared in 32 games (19 starts) as a sophomore in 2023, slashing .209/.384/.292 with two home runs and 11 RBI. Larson tallied 18 hits, including five doubles and two triples with 10 runs scored. This will be his second straight summer playing with the Macon Bacon.
Northwoods League (11)
Drew Berkland, Fr., C/OF (Wausau Woodchucks) -- The Wayzata, Minn., native started in 10 of the 23 games he played in, slashing .171/.180/.171 in his true freshman season. He tallied six hits, two RBI and one run scored. Berkland posted two hits in a win over Michigan, his first multi-hit game in college, on May 5.
Caden Capomaccio, Fr., RHP (Green Bay Bullfrogs) -- The Green Bay, Wis., native will stay home again this summer. As a true freshman in 2023, he made 11 appearances, including one start for the Gophers. He posted a 1-3 record with a 10.55 ERA, striking out 15 in 21.1 innings pitched. He went 3.0 innings vs. No. 18 Oregon State, striking out four and allowing just one hit in his collegiate debut. In his first start, he went 5.0 innings, striking out three and allowing just three hits and one earned run vs. Gonzaga.
Brady Counsell, So., INF (Lakeshore Chinooks) -- The Milwaukee, Wis., native was the only Gopher to start in all 52 games in 2023. Counsell slashed .248/.371/.316 with four home runs and 27 RBI as a sophomore. He tallied 52 hits (third on Minnesota) with 14 doubles and 16 walks in 2023. BC led the team with 147 assists (fourth in Big Ten) with just four errors and a .981 fielding percentage.
Easton Fritcher, Fr., OF (Mankato Moondogs) -- Fritcher made 10 appearances, including two starts as a true freshman in 2023. He slashed .200/.200/.290 with two RBI and two hits. He singled in Big Ten games vs. Purdue and Maryland.
Joe Hauser, RSo., RHP/INF (Mankato Moondogs) -- Hauser made five appearances on the mound, posting a 4.66 ERA with eight strikeouts in 9.2 innings pitched in 2023. He also played in eight games as a position player (starting one), scoring one run. Due to injury, he missed the team's final 24 games of the year.
Kris Hokenson, Fr., LHP/OF (Willmar Stingers) -- The 2022 Star Tribune Metro Player of the Year had a big impact in year one at Minnesota. He started in 36 of the 50 games he played in, slashing .239/.358/.421 as a true freshman. He hit two home runs, seven doubles and drove in 17 RBI with 16 runs scored and also walked 33 times. on the mound, he made five appearances, going 0-1 with a 7.88 ERA and two strikeouts in 8.0 innings pitched.
Sam Hunt, RFr., C/OF (Eau Claire Cavaliers) -- A Vanderbilt transfer, Hunt played in 29 games (starting 23) in 2023, slashing .217/.348/.267 with one home run and 16 RBI. He hit five doubles, three triples and scored nine runs. He aggravated a finger injury in late April and had to miss the rest of the season.
Brady Jurgella, Jr., OF (Wausau Woodchucks) -- A junior college transfer from Madison College, Jurgella played in 30 games (23 starts) as a Gopher in 2023, slashing .224/.263/.344 with 17 hits, nine RBI and 12 runs scored . He hit three doubles and drew 12 walks in 74 at-bats while posting a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage. He went 1-for-4 with the game-winning RBI double vs. SDSU for his first career hit in March.
Ike Mezzenga, RSo., UTL (St. Cloud Rox) -- A former JUCO transfer, Mezzenga had a significant impact on Minnesota in his first year. He started in 50 of the 52 games he played in, slashing .254/.383/.329 with four home runs and 30 RBI in his first season in the Maroon and Gold. Mezzenga totaled 49 hits, including 13 doubles, with 31 runs scored and 23 walks. He tallied a .916 fielding percentage with 119 assists while appearing at multiple positions, including shortstop, left field, right field and first base.
Weber Neels, Fr., C/1B (St. Cloud Rox) -- A 2023 Big Ten All-Freshman Team selection, Weber Neels had a big time first year in Dinkytown. He started in 39 of the 49 games he played as a true freshman, slashing .274/.452/.372 with seven home runs and 24 RBI. Neels totaled 43 hits, including five doubles and a triple, with 25 runs and 25 walks. He led all Minnesota true freshmen in every major hitting category and started games at catcher, first base and designated hitter. He was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week on May 21 after a four-game week in which he hit .412 in three Gophers wins.
Connor Wietgrefe, So., LHP (St. Cloud Rox) -- The Gophers ace out of the bullpen, Wietgrefe made 22 appearances, posting a 2-3 record with five saves and a 3.83 ERA in 2023. He struck out 58 hitters (bullpen-high) with just 19 earned runs allowed in 44.2 innings pitched. He walked 19 and allowed just 33 hits as opponents hit a measly .205 off of him.
MLB Draft Preparation (1)
George Klassen, RSo., RHP -- The right-handed flamethrower posted a 1-7 record with a 5.72 ERA in 2023, making 14 appearances (13 starts) as the Saturday guy in 2023. He struck out 49 in 53.1 innings, walking 47 with 36 earned runs · allowed just 49 hits as opponents hit just .222 off of him. Klassen went five-or-more innings five times, including three Big Ten starts. He was named the Big Ten Pitcher of the Week on March 20, 2023 after striking out eight while walking just two in 7.2 innings while giving up just one hit and no earned runs vs. Houston. Klassen was named a top-five Big Ten MLB Draft Prospect by both DIBaseball and Perfect Game.
Lifting and Training/Rehabbing Injuries (13)
Kyle Bork, RJr., INF -- The Alpharetta, Ga., native started in 27 of the 34 games he played in, slashing .250/.421/.424 in 2023. He hit two home runs and drove in nine RBI with 14 runs scored and drew 23 walks with seven doubles.
Seth Clausen, So., RHP -- One of Minnesota's top bullpen arms, Clausen went 2-1 with a 7.01 ERA in 22 appearances (team-best) as a true sophomore. He struck out 20 in 25.2 innings pitched, allowing 23 hits and 20 earned runs. Clausen posted four saves, including three in Big Ten play.
Danny Davis, RFr., C -- Davis hit .333 in three at-bats, scoring one run in three games played. He tallied his first career hit against Purdue on April 8.
Randon Dauman, RSr., RHP -- The 2023 Pinky McNamara Award Winner posted an 0-1 record with a 12.15 ERA in nine appearances as a senior. He struck out four and walked seven in 6.2 innings of work.
Noah DeLuga, Jr., LHP -- A southpaw, DeLuga went 0-1 with a 10.59 ERA in 13 appearances as a junior in 2023. He struck out 17 in 17.0 innings of work and held opponents scoreless in five of his outings. The 2023 CSC Academic All-District honoree earned one save.
T.J. Egan, Fr., LHP -- The freshman left-hander missed the 2023 season due to tommy john surgery and will continue his rehab this summer.
Josh Fitzgerald, RJr., OF -- A Dallas Baptist transfer, Fitzgerald missed the 2023 season due to a torn ACL. He will rehab this summer with the goal of being ready for the 2024 season.
Sam Kennedy, Fr., RHP -- The 2022 Gatorade Minnesota Player of the Year, Kennedy missed the 2023 season due to tommy john surgery and will continue his rehab this summer.
Boston Merila, Jr., UTL -- The St. Michael, Minn., native started in all 51 of the games he played in, slashing .303/.377/.425 with 53 hits, one home run and 18 RBI in 2023. He scored 25 runs, walked 21 times and was hit by a pitch a team-high 17 times. His 17 HBP ranks No. 1 all-time for a single season in Gopher laurels. Merila posted a .425 on-base percentage, which was second on the team. He will stay back to train this summer on campus.
Jake Perry, So., INF -- A Hopkins, Minn., native, Perry started in 51 of the 52 games he played in, slashing .229/.370/.326 with four home runs and a team-best 32 RBI. As a sophomore, he totaled 44 hits, including 13 doubles, with 29 runs scored and 27 walks. Perry also played an excellent third base, recording a .939 fielding percentage with 98 assists.
Noah Rooney, So., LHP -- One of Minnesota's most consistent arms out of the bullpen, Rooney had a stellar sophomore season. He made 18 appearances in 2023, posting a 3-0 record with a 3.29 ERA. Rooney struck out 26 and allowed just 14 earned runs with 16 walks in 38.1 innings pitched. Opponents hit just .240 off Rooney and in 10 of his appearances, he shutout the opposition. From March 8 to April 7, he went 15.2 innings of work, allowing just one earned run and striking out 11. Rooney suffered a labrum injury against Michigan that ended his season on May 5.
Gilbert Saunders III, Fr., RHP/INF -- The Pennsylvania native redshirted in 2023 to further his development. He will train at Tread Athletics this summer.
Will Semb, RSo., RHP -- Expected to be a key piece of Minnesota's pitching staff in 2023, Semb missed the entire season due to an upper body injury. He will stay on campus to train for the 2024 season.
Minnesota players can also be found in the Appalachian League (1), Cape Cod League (4) and Coastal Plains League (1). More additions are expected throughout the summer as Minnesota continues to grow its roster in preparation for the 2024 season. Several players will stay back on campus this summer to train with the strength and conditioning staff in preparation for the fall. Right-hander George Klassen will prepare for the 2023 MLB Draft Combine.
Appalachian League (1)
Tristan Ellis, Fr., INF (Greenville Flyboys) -- A former First Team All-State Wisconsin selection in 2022, Ellis redshirted for the Gophers in 2023 to further his player development. He will play for the Greenvile Flyboys this summer.
Cape Cod League (3)
Brett Bateman, Jr., OF (Cotuit Kettleers) -- A Second Team All-Big Ten selection, Bateman started in 48 of the 50 games he played in as a junior, slashing .354/.407/.450 with 67 hits, 29 runs scored and 12 RBI. He stole a team-best 17 bases, which ranked sixth in the Big Ten and he ranked eighth with his .354 batting average.
Sam Malec, So., RHP (Wareham Gatemen) -- As a sophomore, Malec battled back from a mid-season bout with Mono after missing 52 days of action. He went 0-3 with a 7.48 ERA in seven appearances (five starts) in 2023. He struck out 14 in 27.2 innings pitched, giving up 23 earned runs with just 10 walks. Malec lasted five-or-more innings in two of his starts.
Tucker Novotny, So., LHP (Cotuit Kettleers) -- A 2023 Third Team All-Big Ten pick, Novotny had a big-time sophomore season. The lefty went 4-5 with a 5.03 ERA in 14 appearances (14 starts) as Minnesota's Friday guy in 2023. He struck out a team-best 80 hitters in 73.1 innings pitched, allowing just 41 earned runs and walking 39. Novotny lasted five-or-more innings in 10 of his 14 starts, going six-or-more five times. He ranked in the top-10 in the Big Ten in strikeouts (sixth), strikeouts looking (fourth) and innings pitched (10th).
Coastal Plains League (1)
Jake Larson, So., INF (Macon Bacon) -- The Covington, Wash., native appeared in 32 games (19 starts) as a sophomore in 2023, slashing .209/.384/.292 with two home runs and 11 RBI. Larson tallied 18 hits, including five doubles and two triples with 10 runs scored. This will be his second straight summer playing with the Macon Bacon.
Northwoods League (11)
Drew Berkland, Fr., C/OF (Wausau Woodchucks) -- The Wayzata, Minn., native started in 10 of the 23 games he played in, slashing .171/.180/.171 in his true freshman season. He tallied six hits, two RBI and one run scored. Berkland posted two hits in a win over Michigan, his first multi-hit game in college, on May 5.
Caden Capomaccio, Fr., RHP (Green Bay Bullfrogs) -- The Green Bay, Wis., native will stay home again this summer. As a true freshman in 2023, he made 11 appearances, including one start for the Gophers. He posted a 1-3 record with a 10.55 ERA, striking out 15 in 21.1 innings pitched. He went 3.0 innings vs. No. 18 Oregon State, striking out four and allowing just one hit in his collegiate debut. In his first start, he went 5.0 innings, striking out three and allowing just three hits and one earned run vs. Gonzaga.
Brady Counsell, So., INF (Lakeshore Chinooks) -- The Milwaukee, Wis., native was the only Gopher to start in all 52 games in 2023. Counsell slashed .248/.371/.316 with four home runs and 27 RBI as a sophomore. He tallied 52 hits (third on Minnesota) with 14 doubles and 16 walks in 2023. BC led the team with 147 assists (fourth in Big Ten) with just four errors and a .981 fielding percentage.
Easton Fritcher, Fr., OF (Mankato Moondogs) -- Fritcher made 10 appearances, including two starts as a true freshman in 2023. He slashed .200/.200/.290 with two RBI and two hits. He singled in Big Ten games vs. Purdue and Maryland.
Joe Hauser, RSo., RHP/INF (Mankato Moondogs) -- Hauser made five appearances on the mound, posting a 4.66 ERA with eight strikeouts in 9.2 innings pitched in 2023. He also played in eight games as a position player (starting one), scoring one run. Due to injury, he missed the team's final 24 games of the year.
Kris Hokenson, Fr., LHP/OF (Willmar Stingers) -- The 2022 Star Tribune Metro Player of the Year had a big impact in year one at Minnesota. He started in 36 of the 50 games he played in, slashing .239/.358/.421 as a true freshman. He hit two home runs, seven doubles and drove in 17 RBI with 16 runs scored and also walked 33 times. on the mound, he made five appearances, going 0-1 with a 7.88 ERA and two strikeouts in 8.0 innings pitched.
Sam Hunt, RFr., C/OF (Eau Claire Cavaliers) -- A Vanderbilt transfer, Hunt played in 29 games (starting 23) in 2023, slashing .217/.348/.267 with one home run and 16 RBI. He hit five doubles, three triples and scored nine runs. He aggravated a finger injury in late April and had to miss the rest of the season.
Brady Jurgella, Jr., OF (Wausau Woodchucks) -- A junior college transfer from Madison College, Jurgella played in 30 games (23 starts) as a Gopher in 2023, slashing .224/.263/.344 with 17 hits, nine RBI and 12 runs scored . He hit three doubles and drew 12 walks in 74 at-bats while posting a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage. He went 1-for-4 with the game-winning RBI double vs. SDSU for his first career hit in March.
Ike Mezzenga, RSo., UTL (St. Cloud Rox) -- A former JUCO transfer, Mezzenga had a significant impact on Minnesota in his first year. He started in 50 of the 52 games he played in, slashing .254/.383/.329 with four home runs and 30 RBI in his first season in the Maroon and Gold. Mezzenga totaled 49 hits, including 13 doubles, with 31 runs scored and 23 walks. He tallied a .916 fielding percentage with 119 assists while appearing at multiple positions, including shortstop, left field, right field and first base.
Weber Neels, Fr., C/1B (St. Cloud Rox) -- A 2023 Big Ten All-Freshman Team selection, Weber Neels had a big time first year in Dinkytown. He started in 39 of the 49 games he played as a true freshman, slashing .274/.452/.372 with seven home runs and 24 RBI. Neels totaled 43 hits, including five doubles and a triple, with 25 runs and 25 walks. He led all Minnesota true freshmen in every major hitting category and started games at catcher, first base and designated hitter. He was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week on May 21 after a four-game week in which he hit .412 in three Gophers wins.
Connor Wietgrefe, So., LHP (St. Cloud Rox) -- The Gophers ace out of the bullpen, Wietgrefe made 22 appearances, posting a 2-3 record with five saves and a 3.83 ERA in 2023. He struck out 58 hitters (bullpen-high) with just 19 earned runs allowed in 44.2 innings pitched. He walked 19 and allowed just 33 hits as opponents hit a measly .205 off of him.
MLB Draft Preparation (1)
George Klassen, RSo., RHP -- The right-handed flamethrower posted a 1-7 record with a 5.72 ERA in 2023, making 14 appearances (13 starts) as the Saturday guy in 2023. He struck out 49 in 53.1 innings, walking 47 with 36 earned runs · allowed just 49 hits as opponents hit just .222 off of him. Klassen went five-or-more innings five times, including three Big Ten starts. He was named the Big Ten Pitcher of the Week on March 20, 2023 after striking out eight while walking just two in 7.2 innings while giving up just one hit and no earned runs vs. Houston. Klassen was named a top-five Big Ten MLB Draft Prospect by both DIBaseball and Perfect Game.
Lifting and Training/Rehabbing Injuries (13)
Kyle Bork, RJr., INF -- The Alpharetta, Ga., native started in 27 of the 34 games he played in, slashing .250/.421/.424 in 2023. He hit two home runs and drove in nine RBI with 14 runs scored and drew 23 walks with seven doubles.
Seth Clausen, So., RHP -- One of Minnesota's top bullpen arms, Clausen went 2-1 with a 7.01 ERA in 22 appearances (team-best) as a true sophomore. He struck out 20 in 25.2 innings pitched, allowing 23 hits and 20 earned runs. Clausen posted four saves, including three in Big Ten play.
Danny Davis, RFr., C -- Davis hit .333 in three at-bats, scoring one run in three games played. He tallied his first career hit against Purdue on April 8.
Randon Dauman, RSr., RHP -- The 2023 Pinky McNamara Award Winner posted an 0-1 record with a 12.15 ERA in nine appearances as a senior. He struck out four and walked seven in 6.2 innings of work.
Noah DeLuga, Jr., LHP -- A southpaw, DeLuga went 0-1 with a 10.59 ERA in 13 appearances as a junior in 2023. He struck out 17 in 17.0 innings of work and held opponents scoreless in five of his outings. The 2023 CSC Academic All-District honoree earned one save.
T.J. Egan, Fr., LHP -- The freshman left-hander missed the 2023 season due to tommy john surgery and will continue his rehab this summer.
Josh Fitzgerald, RJr., OF -- A Dallas Baptist transfer, Fitzgerald missed the 2023 season due to a torn ACL. He will rehab this summer with the goal of being ready for the 2024 season.
Sam Kennedy, Fr., RHP -- The 2022 Gatorade Minnesota Player of the Year, Kennedy missed the 2023 season due to tommy john surgery and will continue his rehab this summer.
Boston Merila, Jr., UTL -- The St. Michael, Minn., native started in all 51 of the games he played in, slashing .303/.377/.425 with 53 hits, one home run and 18 RBI in 2023. He scored 25 runs, walked 21 times and was hit by a pitch a team-high 17 times. His 17 HBP ranks No. 1 all-time for a single season in Gopher laurels. Merila posted a .425 on-base percentage, which was second on the team. He will stay back to train this summer on campus.
Jake Perry, So., INF -- A Hopkins, Minn., native, Perry started in 51 of the 52 games he played in, slashing .229/.370/.326 with four home runs and a team-best 32 RBI. As a sophomore, he totaled 44 hits, including 13 doubles, with 29 runs scored and 27 walks. Perry also played an excellent third base, recording a .939 fielding percentage with 98 assists.
Noah Rooney, So., LHP -- One of Minnesota's most consistent arms out of the bullpen, Rooney had a stellar sophomore season. He made 18 appearances in 2023, posting a 3-0 record with a 3.29 ERA. Rooney struck out 26 and allowed just 14 earned runs with 16 walks in 38.1 innings pitched. Opponents hit just .240 off Rooney and in 10 of his appearances, he shutout the opposition. From March 8 to April 7, he went 15.2 innings of work, allowing just one earned run and striking out 11. Rooney suffered a labrum injury against Michigan that ended his season on May 5.
Gilbert Saunders III, Fr., RHP/INF -- The Pennsylvania native redshirted in 2023 to further his development. He will train at Tread Athletics this summer.
Will Semb, RSo., RHP -- Expected to be a key piece of Minnesota's pitching staff in 2023, Semb missed the entire season due to an upper body injury. He will stay on campus to train for the 2024 season.
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Saturday, February 28
Highlights: Gophers 12, Kansas 5
Friday, February 27
Highlights: Gophers 7, Kansas 8
Wednesday, February 25
Cinematic Recap: Gophers Sweep Northeastern
Wednesday, February 25