Woodchucks enter season with a veteran look

USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

WAUSAU - The Wisconsin Woodchucks will have a far different roster this summer than before, and it goes beyond the names of the players for the Northwoods League team.

The Chucks have traditionally loaded up on college freshmen and sophomores, in part out of fear of losing some older players who are eligible for the Major League Baseball Draft, which will be held in early June.

This year, the Chucks are shifting their philosophy this year and loading up on veterans. Ten of the 25 players who are with the team this week for the start of the season are juniors and just four are freshmen.

"I am taking a risk this year because to replace some of these guys who might get drafted is really tough," Chucks general manager Ryan Treu said last week. "I can find players, but finding quality players is the challenge.

"This year (the team) is an older class, a more mature one that has other summer (baseball) league experience. They are baseball rats," Treu said. "We just have to see how they jell as a group."

The Chucks, who are coming off a 31-40 season, will not be only an older team but one that should be a power-hitting lineup. Dalton Reed, a freshman infielder from Seminole State College, hit 28 home runs this spring. In addition, Andrew Kendrickhas 18 home runs for Youngstown State, and the Chucks have three other players who have reached near double digits in home runs as well.

Infielder Brylie Ware, who is a sophomore at Oklahoma, won the Junior College Triple Crown last year at Neosho County Community College as he had 29 home runs, 122 RBI and a .589 batting average.

"On paper, we are built to hit a lot of home runs this year," Treu said.

Andrew Fabian enters his first season as the Chucks manager after serving as the team's pitching coach and bench coach last season.

"He is a player's coach," Treu said of Fabian. "(The players) just seem to like him, but yet he is strict enough with them where they will listen to him. He understands the delicate balance of these are college kids ... but they're trying to learn pro ball. You have to teach them how to prepare every day, and (Fabian) understands that."

Fabian handled the recruiting for the Chucks pitching staff this offseason and one notable newcomer this summer could be Orsen Josephina, a right-handed sophomore at Hillsborough Community College who has hit the mid-90s on the radar. Furman University sophomore right-hander Heath Hawkins also is considered a hard-throwing pitcher as well.

The pitching staff returns Notre Dame junior Evy Ruibal and Auburn junior Gordon Cardenas; the pair served as the setup pitcher and closer for the Chucks last season, respectively.

Tomahawk native and St. Cloud State University pitcher Kevin Bolder is back for a third season with the Chucks as well.

The three pitchers are among the returning players for the Chucks that also includes infielders Stevie Mangrum and Chad Fleischman.

The Chucks also signed University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point sophomore catcher Kyle Mrozinaki to a temporary contract. Mrozinaki, an Ashwaubenon native and one of 10 temporary players the Chucks signed, led the Pointers with a .310 batting average and 34 RBI this spring.

Tim Johnson: 715-845-0731, or twjohnson@gannett.com; on Twitter @timmyjo11

WISCONSIN WOODCHUCKS

Opening week roster

Pitchers (15): Eli Baez, Kevin Bolder, Josh Bottenfield, Gordon Cardenas, Payton Coffman, Josh Evans, Tyler Garam, Armando Gonzalez, Orsen Josephona, Gwizdala Lenny, Tyler Luneke, DJ Moreland, Andres Papageorge, Pavin Parks, Kellen Rholl.

Catchers (2): Kyle Mrozinaki, Aaron Soucey.

Infielders (6): Andrew Kendrick, Ivan Nunez, Jackson Owens, Milton Rivera, Jake Rosen, Nolan Ryan.

Outfielders (2): Stevie Mangrum, Andrew Smith.