Eight Bullfrogs Dreams Come True in 2016 MLB Draft
June 14, 2016 - Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Green Bay Rockers News Release
Green Bay, Wis. - Every young baseball player growing up dreams of one day playing in the Major Leagues. This past weekend eight former and current Bullfrogs players got one step closer after being taken in this year's MLB Amateur Draft. Mike Ellenbest, a right handed pitcher from Saginaw Valley State, and Matt De La Rosa, a right handed pitcher from Lenior Rhyne, highlight the talented 2016 Bullfrog draft class.
Mike Ellenbest was a right-handed pitcher in his third season as a member of the Bullforgs. This season Ellenbest had two starts, striking out 11, and had an ERA of 0.81. At Saginaw Valley State, Ellenbest was named to the 1st Team All-GLIAC after posting a 5-4 record and a 3.52 ERA in his redshirt sophomore season. He was picked in the 24th round by the Toronto Blue Jays.
Hunter Owen had a short stint in a Bullfrogs uniform. The outfielder from Indiana State University only appeared in 11 games before getting picked up by the Pittsburg Pirates in the 25th round. For the Bullfrogs, Owen hit .216 and had one home run. After a dominant junior year at Indiana State, Owen received All Conference honors in the Missouri Valley Conference. He hit .345 with 44 runs batted in.
Taylor Blankmeyer, a member of the 2015 Green Bay Bullfrogs team, was picked by the Cincinnati Reds in the 36th round. Blankmeyer played his college baseball at St. John's University and he posted a career-high .408 on-base percentage this past season, while batting .241 with two doubles, five RBI and 11 runs scored. In the 2015 season for the Bullfrogs, Blankmeyer won the 2015 Rawlings "Finest in the Field" award as the top defensive second baseman in the Northwoods League.
Dane Hutcheon, an infielder from the University of Montevallo, got drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 29th round. At Montevallo, Hutcheon started all 53 games for the Falcons during his junior season and posted a .365 batting average with three home runs while driving in 43 runs. Hutcheon finished eighth in the Peach Belt Conference with 85 hits on the season. As a Bullfrog, Hutcheon hit .208 in 25 games.
Matt De La Rosa spent two seasons in Green Bay. As a Bullfrog, De La Rosa spent most of his time in the infield. He hit .213 and drove in 25 runs in the 2015 season. Despite having some success as a hitter, the Baltimore Orioles drafted De La Rosa as a pitcher in the 28th round. He made nine appearances on the mound, recording three saves for the Bullfrogs last year.
Brian Trieglaff, a relief pitcher for Texas Christian University, got drafted by the New York Yankees in the 13th round. Trieglaff has made 24 appearances for the Horned Frogs, posting a 4-1 record and a 2.41 ERA. Going from a Horned Frog to a Bullfrog, Trieglaff appeared in 21 games in 2013 finishing with four saves. Before heading to New York, Triefglaff and the Horned Frogs will attempt to win the College World Series as they head to Omaha.
Another member of the 2013 Bullfrogs, JD Crowe heads to St. Louis as he got drafted by the Cardinals in the 26th round. As a Bullfrog, Crowe appeared in 12 games behind the plate and hit .143 in 35 at-bats. Starting at Auburn, Crowe transferred to Francis Marion University where he was a two-time All-Peach Belt Conference player. In his senior season, he hit .347 with 11 doubles, eight home runs, and 49 runs batted in.
The last Bullfrog to get drafted was Ryan Matranga. Mantranga stays close to home as he was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the 36th round. The catcher from University of San Francisco spent two seasons as a member of the Bullfrogs. As a member of the 2013 Bullfrogs team, Mantranga hit .206 in 102 at bats.
Player Pick Round Team College Year w/ Bullfrogs
Mike Ellenbest 732 24 Toronto Blue Jays Saginaw Valley State 2014-2016
Hunter Owen 765 25 Pittsburg Pirates Indiana State 2016
Taylor Blankmeyer 1068 36 Cincinnati Reds St. Johns 2015
Dane Hutcheon 873 29 Minnesota Twins University of Montevallo 2015
Matt De La Rosa 841 28 Baltimore Orioles Lenoir-Rhyne 2014-2015
Brian Trieglaff 398 13 New York Yankees TCU 2013
JD Crowe 706 23 St. Louis Cardinals Francis Marion University 2013
Ryan Matranga 1085 36 San Francisco Giants University of San Francisco 2012-2013
You can purchase tickets to all Bullfrogs home games by calling or visiting our front office. For more information please call our office at (920) 497 -7225 or visit our website, www.greenbaybullfrogs.com.
Northwoods League Stories from June 14, 2016
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- Eight Home Run Night Looks to Bring Momentum to the Bullfrogs - Green Bay Rockers
- Chinooks Edge Battle Creek 2-1 - Lakeshore Chinooks
- Mallards Split Series with Woodchucks - Madison Mallards
- Kingfish Fall to Bucks 9-1 - Kenosha Kingfish
- Bucks Bash Kingfish, 9-1, in Series Finale - Waterloo Bucks
- Battle Creek Bombers Fall to the Lakeshore Chinooks, 2-1 - Battle Creek Battle Jacks
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