2024 Summer Ball Update

Gopher Baseball Summer Ball 2024 Update

Minneapolis-- The 2024 summer baseball season is halfway through, and 17 members of the Gopher Baseball program have competed on teams throughout the country.

Majority of Gophers can be found playing in the Northwoods League (11). The Cape Cod League (2), Appalachian League (2), and West Coast League (1), and Town Ball (1) also have seen action for the Gophers this season. Check out the update to see how our guys have been playing. The Gophers also have incoming freshmen playing in the MGF league in Utah or wrapping up their high school season. More information to come about the newcomers soon.

Cape Cod League (2)
Connor Wietgrefe, Jr., LHP (Bourn Braves)- Wietgrefe made 15 appearances (13 starts) for the Gophers in 2024. The junior led the team with a 2.77 ERA, which was second in the Big Ten. Wietgrefe also led the time in innings pitched (78.0) and strikeouts (74). Last summer he played for the St. Cloud Rox of the Northwoods. There he struck out 31 batters with a 2.89 ERA. This summer, Wietgrefe has pitched 11 innings, posting a 0.82 ERA and 0.184 batting average against.

Tucker Novotny, Jr., LHP (Bourn Braves)- Novotny made 15 appearances (14 starts) striking out 62 in 52 innings of work. He was also ranked No. 5 in the Big Ten in K's per 9 innings (10.7). Last summer he also played in the cape for the Cotuit Kettleers, where he made three appearances throwing 11 innings. This season with the Braves he has started two games, throwing seven innings striking out five.

Appalachian League (2)
Alex Altmann, Fr., OF (Pulaski River Turtles)- Altmann spent the 2023 season focusing on development with the Gophers. Prior to Minnesota he was ranked No.3 player at his position and No. 352 player nationally by Perfect Game. In his first collegiate summer ball season this summer he has hit .247 in 29 games, while also driving in 10 runs.

Parker Lewin, Fr., RHP (Pulaski River Turtles)- Lewis red-shirted in 2024 for player development. During the summer of 2023 he played for the Utah Marshalls out of Salt Lake City, Utah along with two other teammates. There he was a two-way player who had a .605 OPS with two home runs and eight RBI. This summer with the Turtles he has thrown 13.1 innings striking out 15.

West Coast League (1)
Jack Larson, Jr, INF (Wenatchee Applesox)- Larson played in 34 games (18 starts) during his junior season, slashing .197/.282/.289. Last summer with Macon Bacon (Coastal Plains League) he appeared in 16 games, collecting 13 hits, 7 RBI and 8 runs. This season with the Applesox, he has played in seven games batting .250 with a .790 OPS.

Northwoods League (11)
Drew Berkland, So., OF/C (Wausau Woodchucks)- Berkland appeared in 33 (21 starts) in 2024, slashing a career high .325/.434/.550. The sophomore was named most improved player at the 2024 team banquet. Last summer, also with the Woodchucks, Berkland hit .282/.417/.435. He was also named Northwoods League Player of the Night (June 21) after going 3 for 4 with a home run, five RBI and two runs scored. This summer with the Woodchucks, he has hit .296 with 4 HR and 26 RBI through 29 games.

Seth Clausen, Jr., RHP (Wausau Woodchucks)- Clausen made 18 appearances from the bullpen for the Gophers in 2024. He posted a 3.75 ERA while striking out 31 in 24 innings pitched. Last summer, Clausen spent the summer training for the season on campus. This summer with the Woodchucks, he has appeared in seven games, throwing 6.1 innings and striking out 14.

Tyler Hemmesch, Fr., RHP (St. Cloud Rox)- Hemmesch made 15 appearances in his freshman campaign, striking out 25 through 27 innings of work. Last summer also with the Rox, he threw 20.2 innings with 29 strikeouts in 8 appearances. This season he has appeared in two games picking up three strikeouts in 1.2 innnings of work.

Jake Perry, Jr., INF (St. Cloud Rox)- Perry started in all 48 games in 2024, slashing .305/.398/.557. He led the team with 43 RBI and led the Big Ten in regular season doubles with 20. Last summer, Perry spent the summer training for the upcoming season on campus. In 22 games with the Rox this summer he has hit .299 with three home runs and slugging .494.

Sam Hunt, R/S So., C (Lakeshore Chinooks)- Hunt appeared in 31 games (21 starts) in 2024 slashing .256/.392/.462 while hitting three home runs and seven doubles. This summer with the Chinooks, Hunt has appeared in 29 games, hitting .140, collecting 13 hits and 17 RBI.

Jack Spanier, Fr., INF (Willmar Stingers)- Spanier appeared in 30 games (27 starts) during his rookie season, slashing .293/.414/.329 while maintaining a .979 fielding percentage. He was also named to the All-Big Ten Freshman Team. Last summer with the Stingers, he appeared in three games collecting two hits and four walks. This season with the Stingers he has played in 29 games hitting .195 and collecting 13 RBI.

Jack Taxdahl, Fr., C (Willmar Stingers)- Taxdahl appeared in 16 games (6 starts) during his freshman campaign with the Gophers in 2024. He slashed .250/.344/.250 and recorded a .986 fielding percentage. Last summer, Taxdahl played for the Utah Marshalls out of Salt Lake City, Utah. There he hit .329 and collected 20 RBI. This summer with the Stingers, he has hit .194, with 9 RBI and two home runs through 20 games.

Will Whelan, Fr., LHP (Willmar Stingers)- Whelan appeared in 17 games out of the bullpen in his first season as a Gopher. Striking out 26 through 18.2 innings recording a .197 BAA. Last summer with the Stingers he made nine appearances, striking out 28 in 19.2 innings of work. This summer with the stingers he has made eight appearances (6 starts), striking out 37 in 26 innings.

Charlie Sutherland, Fr., INF/OF (Duluth Huskies)- Sutherland appeared in 33 games (11 starts) in his rookie season with the Gophers. He slashed .274/.430/387 with a home run and nine RBI. Last summer, he played for the Utah Marshalls out of Salt Lake City, Utah with teammate Jack Taxdahl. There he hit .280 with four home runs and 20 RBI. This summer, he is putting on a show for his hometown team. He is hitting .328, 12 doubles, and 25 RBI. Earlier this summer he held a 12 game hit streak.

Caden Capomaccio, So., RHP (Green Bay Rockers)- Capomaccio appeared in 15 games from the bullpen in 2024, striking out 26 through 19 innings pitched. Last season against No. 7 Oregon State he struck out all three batters faced. This is his second season with the Rockers as he played for them in 2022. This summer with the Rockers he started 4 games, pitched 12 innings, striking out 13.

Sam Kennedy, R/S Fr., RHP (Minnesota Mud Puppies)- Kennedy made eight appearances (one start) in his first with the Gophers. In 14.2 innings he struck out 18 while holding opponents to a .212 BAA. Kennedy spent the summer of 2023 on campus rehabbing and training in preparation for 2024. This season with the Mud Puppies he has appeared in one game recording one strikeout.

Town Ball (1)
Cade Bruett, R/S Fr., INF/OF (Delano Athletics)- Bruett red-shirted his first season with the Gophers to focus on player development. During the summer of 2023 he played for Delano's legion team. This summer with the Athletics Bruett has hit .302 with 11 RBI.

Upcoming Events

Players Mentioned

Alex Altmann

Drew Berkland

Cade Bruett

Caden Capomaccio

Seth Clausen

Tyler Hemmesch

Sam Hunt

Sam Kennedy

Parker Lewin

Tucker Novotny

Jake Perry

Jack Spanier

Charlie Sutherland

Jack Taxdahl

Will Whelan

Connor Wietgrefe