Hammond, Ind. – May 24, 2023 – We are less than a week away from the Vikings season opener. The team has continued to announce its 2023 roster, releasing the list of position players.
Adan Abarca (Olive Harvey College) RHP/UTIL – Abarca is a right-handed pitcher and utility player from Gwendolyn Brooks College Prep in Chicago. He is committed to Olive Harvey College, an NJCAA Division I school in Chicago. With Gwendolyn Brooks this spring, Abarca hit .280 with one home run and 13 RBIs in 75 at-bats. Abarca also played in the White Sox A.C.E. program.
Ty Chaney Jr. (Mississippi Valley State University) RHP/1B/3B – Chaney is a corner infielder and right-handed pitcher committed to Mississippi Valley State University, an NCAA Division I school in Itta Bena, Miss. Chaney played for Olive Harvey this spring and finished second on the team with 20 RBIs. Chaney played in the Northern League last summer as a member of the Crestwood Panthers.
Charlie Dumo (Davenport University) 1B/OF – Dumo is a first baseman and corner outfielder committed to Davenport University, an NCAA Division II school in Grand Rapids, Mich. After helping Top Tier North win the Primetime 17U Futures Championship in 2022, Dumo added to his accolades by being selected to the 2023 Central Suburban League North All-Conference team as a first baseman with Deerfield High School.
Hobbs Dunne (Joliet Junior College) 1B/DH – Dunne is a first baseman and designated hitter with Joliet Junior College. Dunne returns to the Northern League after hitting .315 with one home run and 25 RBIs in 34 games with the Crestwood Panthers last summer. Dunne was also a 2022 Northern League All-Star. In 20 games with JJC this spring, Dunne hit .311 with a .446 OBP.
Jack Fitzharris (Western Michigan University) INF – Fitzharris is a middle infielder from Western Michigan University, an NCAA Division I school in Kalamazoo, Mich. He spent last summer with the Michigan Monarchs of the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League. Fitzharris was a three-sport athlete in high school, also playing basketball and football before turning his focus solely to baseball.
Maurey Garrett Jr. (Calumet College of St. Joseph) UTIL – Garrett Jr. is an infielder with Calumet College of St. Joseph, an NAIA school in Whiting, Ind. He played for the Crestwood Panthers last summer in the Northern League and showed off some speed with three triples and nine stolen bases. This spring during his senior season, Garrett Jr. stole six bases, while only getting caught once.
Mike Gentile (Upper Iowa University) UTIL – Gentile is a utility player with Upper Iowa University, an NCAA Division II school in Fayette, Iowa. Primarily used as a pinch runner with Upper Iowa this spring, he was perfect on stolen base attempts, swiping three bases. Gentile was a three-sport athlete at St. Laurence High School, playing football and wrestling in addition to baseball. In 2020, he was a State Qualifier in wrestling.
Jimmy Gurgone (Illinois Wesleyan University) UTIL – Gurgone is an infielder at Illinois Wesleyan University, an NCAA Division III school in Bloomington, Ill. Another returning face to the Northern League, Gurgone tied for the 2022 Northern League batting title with a .398 average. His efforts last summer earned him selections to both the Northern League All-Star and All-League teams.
Winston Hill (Mount Mercy University) OF – Hill is an outfielder for Mount Mercy University, an NAIA school in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Prior to attending Mount Mercy, Hill played for Moraine Valley Community College in Palos Hills, Ill. In 22 games as both a first baseman and outfielder with Moraine Valley, Hill hit .242 with a homerun.
Colin Horneman (Lincoln Trail College) C – Horneman is a catcher from Lincoln Trail College, an NJCAA Division I school in Robinson, Ill. He played with the Northwest Indiana Oilmen in the 2022 Northern League. In 29 games this spring with Lincoln Trail, Horneman had a .316/.465/408 slash line and drew 16 walks compared to just 10 strikeouts.
Connor Janik (Kankakee Community College) UTIL – Janik is an infielder from Kankakee Community College, an NJCAA Division II school in Kankakee, Ill. In 30 games this spring with Kankakee, he hit .270 with a .382 OBP. Last summer, as a member of the Crestwood Panthers, Janik hit .305 with 15 RBIs and 23 runs scored in 34 games.
Alexander Las (Olive Harvey College) OF – Las is an outfielder with Olive Harvey College, an NJCAA Division I school in Chicago. He played in the Northern League last summer with the Crestwood Panthers. This spring, Las led Olive Harvey in multiple offensive categories, including batting average (.373), slugging percentage (.627), extra base hits (12), triples (3) and RBIs (21).
Matt Merk (Eastern Florida State College) C – Merk is a catcher with Eastern Florida State College, an NJCAA Division I school in Cocoa, Fla. This spring, he hit .250 with a .432 OBP in 17 games. Behind the plate, Merk caught two base runners trying to steal and did not allow any stolen bases.
Bryce Nevils (Western Kentucky University) OF – Nevils is an outfielder committed to Western Kentucky University, an NCAA Division I school in Bowling Green, Ky. He helped lead Brother Rice to 36 wins as a junior in 2022, their winningest season in school history. Nevils was named to the All-Tournament Team after Brother Rice competed in the USA Baseball National High School Invitational earlier this spring.
Luke Pajeau (University of Illinois – Springfield) OF/RHP – Pajeau is an outfielder and right-handed pitcher with University of Illinois – Springfield, an NCAA Division II school. Between his junior and senior years at Lockport Township High School East, Pajeau hit .397 with seven homeruns and 21 RBI in 24 games. He was also named to the 2022 Herald News First-Team All-Area during his senior year.
Giovanni Pamias (Bryant & Stratton College – Wisconsin) INF – Pamias is an infielder with Bryant & Stratton College – Wisconsin, an NJCAA Division II school in Wauwatosa, Wis. Capable of coming through with a clutch hit, Pamias delivered a walk-off, RBI single on April 1, 2022, to help Oak Park River Forest High School beat Ozinga.
Nicholas Pena (Dillard University) OF – Pena is an outfielder with Dillard University, an NAIA school in New Orleans, La. Part of Dillard’s inaugural baseball season this spring, Pena helped the team win the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Tournament. Pena played in the Northern League in 2022 with the Crestwood Panthers.
Jayden Phillips (Franklin College) INF – Phillips is a middle infielder with Franklin College, an NCAA Division III school in Franklin, Ind. A member of the Crown Point High School Class of 2021, Phillips spent the summer after he graduated playing for the NWI Rippers, where he hit .368 with a .556 OBP during their regular season.
Frederick Ragsdale III (Kent State University) OF – Ragsdale III is an outfielder who is committed to Kent State University, an NCAA Division I School in Kent, Ohio. He has been playing baseball since he was three years old, playing in the Jackie Robinson West Little League. The Lyons Township captain played for Team Illinois in the GEICO High School Baseball National Championships last summer, where he won the Defensive Specialist Award.
Ivan Rosado (Olive Harvey College) INF – Rosado is an infielder with Olive Harvey College, an NJCAA Division I school in Chicago. As a freshman this spring, Rosado hit two home runs, good for third on the team.
Charlie Schau (Madison College) 1B – Schau is a first baseman with Madison College, an NJCAA Division II school in Madison, Wis. As a senior at Maine South High School in 2022, he had a .352/.391/.590 slash line in 31 games. He also added two home runs and 26 RBIs enroute to being named to the Central Suburban League All-Conference Team.
Colin Small (Heidelberg University) INF – Small is a middle infielder at Heidelberg University, an NCAA Division III school in Tiffin, Ohio. He played in the Northern League last summer as a member of the Lake County Corn Dogs, helping them win the Northern League Title in their first year in the league. At Mount Carmel High School, Small was awarded the Mr. Defense, Mr. Hustle and “Do It Stevie’s Way” awards.
Jorgie Vazquez (Triton College) INF/RHP – Vazquez is an infielder and right-handed pitcher with Triton College, an NJCAA Division I school. In 33 games this spring, he hit .345 with a .493 OBP. Vazquez is also a Northern League veteran, having played with the Joliet Generals last season. In 16 games with the Generals, he hit .283 with a .391 OBP and also added four stolen bases.
