Reds Announce Opening Day Starter, Sign Five Players

OPENING DAY STARTER

The 2019 season kicks off Wednesday night in Crookston with a Red River League game against the Dilworth Raildogs.  Second-year player Jackson Seibel has been named the opening day starter on the hill.  Seibel was 0-0, 7.56 ERA in 8 1/3 IP last season.  

In September he was diagnosed with Hodgkin Lymphoma.  After several months of treatment, he was given the all clear both from cancer and to return to the field. 

The Reds finished 2018 23-19 with their second consecutive trip, and 27th overall, to the Minnesota State Amateur Baseball Tournament.  They look to make it three straight as they open 2019 against Dilworth whom the Reds went 5-1 against in 2018. 

REDS SIGN FIVE

After losing former ace LHP Sean Minder as he relocated to Sartell, LHP Aaron Hollcraft who plans to move to California this summer, LHP Blake Karas wavering on playing with a young son and new work responsibilities, and concerns RHP Lars Brevik would be unable to pitch during the off-season the Reds were short with the only guaranteed arm returning with more than 20 IP in a season as veteran Matt Morin.  The Reds bolstered the rotation in the last few weeks before the season signing four pitchers among the five new players.  

Aaron Butcher (P/UTIL) and Jacob Butcher (P/C) are brothers who moved to Crookston from Alaska.  Jacob went 7-6 with a 5.85 ERA in two seasons pitching for UMC.  The Reds are hoping both players will be able to contribute offensively as well. 

Owen Ellefson (P/UTIL) is from Argyle, MN and pitched one season for UMC going 0-0, 3.52 ERA in 7.2 IP.  He previously played two years at Northland Community and Technical College.  Ellefson will also play a variety of defensive positions for the Reds.

Zach Stangl (P/OF) is a freshman Aviation student at UND.  He received interest from a number of schools but has said he always wanted to be a pilot so he chose UND.  The Reds will look to him on the hill and play in the outfield.  

Alex Wolfe (OF) played high school baseball in Fosston.  He is a freshman at UMC, however, doesn't play for the Golden Eagles.  He's shown good speed and the ability to hit the ball hard in practice. 

The Reds still have a couple of roster spots open, so additional signings are possible in the coming weeks.  These players join a Reds lineup that is mostly intact from a season ago including returning the 1-5 hitters from last season who combined to for a .405 AVG, 51 XBH, 135 RBI, 46 SB.