A’s Alumni Report: Apr. 9
Posted: April 9, 2012
Each week leading up to the season, SheboyganBaseball.org will look at how some Sheboygan A’s alumni, and A’s signed on for the current season are doing in their collegiate and professional seasons.
Elizabethton Twins 
Tyler Jones (2009) is at spring training in Fort Myers with the Elizabethton Twins, the rookie league affiliate of the Minnesota Twins.
Jones, who pitched at Louisiana State University after transfering from MATC in Madison, was taken on day 2 of the 2011 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. Jones was the 11th-round pick, 358th overall of the Minnesota Twins.
Jones was also a 21st-round selection of the Chicago White Sox in the 2010 draft.
Jones pitched for the Sheboygan A’s in 2009.
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 
Chad Pierce (2006) has yet to make an appearence this season for the Timber Rattlers, who are 1-2 on the young season.
This is Pierce’s first season with the Class A Timber Rattlers, after joining the Helena Brewers following the MLB draft last season.
Valparaiso University 
Kevin Wild (2009, 2010) pitched a complete game against the University of Illinois – Chicago over the weekend, scattering seven hits, giving up only two runs (two earned), striking out five and walking none.
Marian University 
Mitch Gardner (2009-present) is one of only three Sabers’ pitchers to start four or more games this season. He is 1-0 with a 4.68 ERA in 25 innings pitched.
Josh Gruenke (2012), is batting .328 in 18 games this season.
Purdue North Central 
Colin Willis (2011) is leading Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference in batting average so far this season for the Purdue North Central Panthers.
Willis is batting .466 in 38 games (38 starts). He has produced 62 hits in 133 at-bats, nine doubles, one triple, and one home run. He is also 19-22 on stolen bases.
Willis is expected to be with the A’s again this summer.
Tyler Jones photo by: Steve Franz, LSU Athletics Staff Photographer
The Sheboygan A's are members of the Wisconsin State League and Northeastern Wisconsin Baseball League. The A's have helped develop more than 43 players that have reached professional baseball, including 2002 World Series Champion Jarrod Washburn (Anaheim Angels). All Sheboygan A's home games are played at Wildwood Baseball Park in Sheboygan. Connect with the A's on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
