Willmar Stingers
| Willmar Stingers | |
|---|---|
 Team Logo | |
| League | Northwoods League (North Division) |
| Location | Willmar, Minnesota |
| Ballpark | Bill Taunton Stadium at Baker Field |
| Year founded | 2010 |
| League championships | 0 |
| Division championships |
3 (First Half: 2014, 2015 Second Half: 2012) |
| Former name(s) | Willmar Stingers (2010-present) |
| Colors | black, yellow |
| Ownership | Ryan Voz and Marc Jerzak |
| Manager | Matt Passauer |
| Media | West Central Tribune |
| Website | willmarstingers.com |
The Willmar Stingers are a baseball team that plays in the Northwoods League, a collegiate summer baseball league. The Stingers played their inaugural season in 2010. The team plays its home games at Bill Taunton Stadium at Baker Field.
On June 3, 2010, the franchise's first ever hit and run were recorded by former Willmar Cardinal and current Cleveland Indians minor leaguer Jordan Smith.
The Stingers were honored with the Northwoods League Organization of the Year Award in 2010. Stingers co-owner Marc Jerzak credited "Stingers fans, host families, sponsors and city officials" for "[making] the 2010 Inaugural season a memorable one."[1]
Alumni in professional baseball
The Stingers have had 52 players either drafted or signed to free agent deals in the seven years of the franchise as of the 2016 season. Jacob Barnes became the first former Willmar Stingers player to make it to the Major League level when the right-handed pitcher was called up to the Milwaukee Brewers on June 1, 2016. Barnes made his MLB debut on June 3 against the Philadelphia Phillies, throwing a spotless frame with a pair of strikeouts.[2]
The 2016 MLB season also saw a second former Stingers player make it to The Show, as Steven Brault made his MLB debut with the Pittsburgh Pirates on July 5 against the St. Louis Cardinals. Brault tossed four innings in a start against the Cardinals at Busch Stadium, yielding just one earned run with five strikeouts.[3]
- Forrestt Allday, Boston Red Sox
- Isaac Ballou, Washington Nationals
- Jacob Barnes, Milwaukee Brewers
- Carter Bell, Arizona Diamondbacks
- Anthony Bemboom, Los Angeles Angels
- Steven Brault, Baltimore Orioles
- Jack Cleary, Milwaukee Brewers
- Mitch Delfino, San Francisco Giants
- Hunter Dozier, Kansas City Royals 2013 first-round pick
- Sean Dwyer, Colorado Rockies
- Dillon Haupt, Chicago White Sox
- Max Homick, Baltimore Orioles
- Ricky Knapp, New York Mets
- Jason Leblebijian, Toronto Blue Jays
- Scott Lieser, Milwaukee Brewers
- Jerad McCrummen, Colorado Rockies
- Mikey Reynolds, Atlanta Braves
- Joe Sever, Cleveland Indians
- Jordan Smith, Cleveland Indians
- Kurt Spomer, Los Angeles Angels
- Pat Stover, Los Angeles Dodgers
- Thomas Taylor, Los Angeles Dodgers
- Andre Wheeler, Chicago White Sox
References
- ↑ Kern Named NWL Executive of the Year at northwoodsleague.com, URL accessed October 21, 2010. Archived 10-21-2010
- ↑ http://m.mlb.com/player/606930/jacob-barnes?year=2016&stats=gamelogs-r-pitching-mlb
- ↑ http://m.mlb.com/player/643230/steven-brault
External links
- Willmar Stingers - official site
- Northwoods League - official site
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