Busy Roster Day for the Schaumburg Boomers
May 2, 2012 - Frontier League (FL)
Schaumburg Boomers News Release
SCHAUMBURG, Ill. - The Schaumburg Boomers have announced more additions to the roster leading up to the opening of spring training on Thursday, May 3, selecting a trio of players in the 2012 Frontier League Draft while also announcing the signing of Franklin Pfister and Jason Braun, former teammates in the Cincinnati Reds organization.
Pfister, 25, comes to the Boomers after spending four seasons in the Reds organization, totaling over 300 games played. The Reds chose Pfister in the 17th Round of the 2008 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. The Los Angeles native played every position in the infield and also logged time in the outfield during his tenure with the Reds, reaching as high as Triple-A Louisville in2011.
The right-handed hitter debuted in the Gulf Coast League in 2008 before ascending to the Billings Mustangs of the Pioneer League to open 2009. Pfister moved up to Class-A Dayton in the Midwest League before the end of 2009 and spent all of 2010 and the beginning of 2011 with the Dragons. Pfister appeared in 120 games with Dayton in 2010, posting career highs in every offensive category including hits (117), doubles (26), runs (41), and RBIs (50) while primarily playing third base. Pfister moved up to Triple-A Louisville in April of 2011, appearing in three contests.
The Reds selected Pfister out of Emory University in Georgia, an NCAA Division III institution, where he posted one of the best careers in school history. Pfister finished ranked third all-time in hits and RBIs, while posting the seventh best batting average. Starting 150 games over a four-year career, Pfister struck out only seven times as a senior for the Eagles in 2008 and was named as the MVP of the University Athletic Association.
Pfister established a school record for hits in 2007, racking up 87, one of the topsingle season marks in NCAA Division III history. Along the way, Pfister posted two impressive hitting streaks of 25 and 18. The 25-game streak was the second longest of the year in the nation. The three-time First Team All-Conferencechoice earned MVP of the South Region Tournament and was also named to the National Championship All-Tournament team.
Braun, 25, is a big right-handed reliever with time in Double-A. The Dallas, Oregon native was drafted by the Reds in the 29th Round of the 2009 Draft. Braun opened his pro career with the Billings Mustangs of the Pioneer League in 2009, pitching in 18 games, finishing 10. The 6-5 hurler struck out 30 in 33.2 innings of work.
Promoted to Dayton for 2010, Braun struck out a career high 48 in 53 innings while appearing in 35 contests. The 2011 season featured stops up and down the Reds organization, including four appearances at Double-A with the Carolina Mudcats.
Braun, a four-year starter for the Warriors, was the ace of Corban University's pitching staff in 2009, setting a single-season Earned Run Average (ERA) mark of 3.46. Earning all-conference honorable mention recognition, the 6'5" right-hander led the Warriors in six pitching categories: appearances (13), games started (11), shutouts (1), saves (2), innings pitched (78.0), and strikeouts (61).
Among the best to wear a Warrior uniform, Braun is ranked inside the Top 10 in Warrior history in eight categories, including shutouts (2 - tied for 2nd), inning pitched (276.2 -3rd), strikeouts (166 - 4th), appearances (60 -tied for 4th), games started (39 -7th), complete games (8 - tied for 7th), saves (2 - tied for 7th), and wins (7 - tied for 10th).
Picking fourth at the 2012 Frontier League Draft, conducted following a two-day tryout camp that drew nearly 400 hopefuls to CONSOL Energy Park, home of the WashingtonWild Things, the Boomers chose LHP Jose Rodriguez.
Rodriguez impressed during both days of the tryout in Pennsylvania and comes to the Boomers after pitching for St. John's University for two seasons. Rodriguez made seven appearances in 2010, all in relief, and earned a 3.38 ERA over 5.1 innings pitched. The 5'11" left hander surrendered six hits and two earned runs en route to a 2-0 record. In 2011, Rodriguez appeared in three games and allowed six hits in 2.1 innings.
Rodriguez also appeared in 10 games for the DeLand Suns in the Florida Collegiate Summer League in 2010. The southpaw allowed 18 earned runs in 21 innings over three starts. Rodriguez gave up 22 hits and collected 13 strikeouts as a member of the Suns.
With their second round choice in the 2012 Frontier League Draft, 18th overall, the Boomers chose outfielder Chad Mozingo.
Mozingo, 23, spent two seasons as a member of the Washington Nationals organization. Theleft-handed hitter was selected in the 20th Round of the 2010 Major League Baseball First-Year Draft. Mozingo opened his professional career in the New York-Penn League with the Vermont Lake Monsters, playing 60 games and posting a .253 batting average with seven doubles, three triples, 17 RBIs, and seven stolen bases. Mozingo spent 2011 in the Gulf Coast League, appearing in 20 games.
Mozingo hit over .300 in three seasons at Rice University before being drafted. The Texas native made an immediate impact, earning All-NCAA Houston Regional honors as a freshman for a team that reached the College World Series. Mozingo started 58 games as a freshman and earned Second Team All-Conference USA honors as a sophomore before hitting a career best .322 as a junior. Mozingo stole 28 bases in three years including 14 in 2010, when the right-fielder hit out of the leadoff slot and recorded 10 outfield assists.
The third round saw the Boomers draft another outfielder in Sean Mahley.
Mahley will be a rookie with the Boomers and posted solid numbers in college at the University of the Cumberlands, an NAIA school, where he improved each season. The Cambridge, Ohio native led Cumberlands with a .378 batting average as a senior, stealing 14 bases while drawing 25 walks and striking out only nine times in 45 games.
After transferring from Marietta College, the left-handed hitter was named to theAll-Mid-South Conference Team three times. Mahley batted .331 as a sophomore with 14 doubles, three triples, seven homers, 48 RBIs, and 17 stolen bases. The numbers only improved for Mahley during his junior season as he batted .347with 13 doubles, four triples, seven homers, and 24 steals.
In a separate transaction to cap a busy day, the Boomers released catcher David Fanshawe.
With additions of Pfister, Braun, Rodriguez, Mozingo and Mahley the Boomers now have 28 players on the active roster, however players selected in the FL Draft are do not count toward the total for the first week of Spring Training. The roster may consist of up to 34 players on May 3 when the team is scheduled for the first workout of Spring Training. All players in Boomers Camp are vying for up to 24 spots on the Boomers Opening Day Roster.
Season Tickets, Group Outings and Single-Game Tickets for the Inaugural Season of Schaumburg Boomers Baseball are on sale now by calling the 847.461.3695, by visiting www.boomersbaseball.com or by stopping by Schaumburg Boomers Stadium located at 1999 S. Springinsguth Road in Schaumburg.
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