Bees’ Roster Starting To Fill As Season Approaches

By JOHN BOHNENKAMP

Six NCAA Division I players are among the 23 who have signed so far to play for the Burlington Bees in the Prospect League this season.

The list includes seven players from the state of Iowa, and three players — outfielder Cedric Dunnwald and pitchers Preston Kaufman and Zach Leuschen — who played with the Bees last season.

Prospect League teams can carry as many as 40 players on their roster for the 58-game season. The Bees open their season on May 28 at Clinton.

Owen Oreskovich is back for his third season as the Bees’ manager. 

A look at the Bees’ roster, including current statistics:

CATCHERS

Michael Carrano (Parkland College) — Batting .300 with three home runs and 16 RBIs.

Jacob Schindler (McHenry County College) — No stats this season.

INFIELDERS

Skyler Agnew (Hawaii Pacific) — Hitting .298 with two home runs and 26 RBIs.

Landon Akers (Bellarmine) — No stats this season.

Carson Bittner (Phoenix College) — Hitting .317 with 10 RBIs.

Jackson Lindquist (Rock Valley College) — Hitting .416 with six home runs and 45 RBIs.

Merrick Mathews (Iowa) — Hitting .333 in seven games, with one home run and six RBIs.

Ty Plummer (Iowa) — No stats this season.

Kinnick Pusteoska (Tennessee Tech) — No stats this season.

Jackson Rooker (Tennessee Tech) — No stats this season.

Ryan Skwarek (McHenry County College) — Hitting .410 with one home run and 29 RBIs. Also has pitched five innings with 10 strikeouts.

OUTFIELDERS

Luke Bragga (Tennessee Tech) — No stats this season.

Cooper Donlin (Hawaii Pacific) — Hitting .313 in 24 games.

Cedric Dunnwald (Mount Mercy) — Hitting .214 in 21 games. Hit .239 for the Bees last season.

Jackson Reid (Chandler Gilbert CC) — Hitting .179 in 12 games.

Scotty Savage (Milwaukee Area Tech) — Hitting .339 with six home runs and 35 RBIs.

PITCHERS

Shea Blanchard (Hawaii Pacific) — 3-0 with a 6.44 ERA in nine appearances with five starts. Has 17 strikeouts in 29 ⅓ innings.

Nathan Chapman (McHenry County College) — 0-1 with one save. Three strikeouts in 3 ⅓ innings

Noah Harbin (Maryville University) — 1-2 with a 4.19 ERA. Has 25 strikeouts in 19 ⅓ innings.

Preston Kaufman (Marian University) — 1-1 with a 4.35 ERA in two appearances this season. Had a 6.63 ERA in 14 appearances with the Bees last season.

Zach Leuschen (Southeastern CC) — 1-0 with a 4.73 ERA in 11 appearances this season. 1-0 with a 7.40 ERA with the Bees last season.

Michael Schaul (Mount Mercy) — No stats this season.

Jackson Wohlers (Rock Valley College) — 2-3 with four saves. Has 27 strikeouts in 18 ⅔ innings.

Photo: Pitcher Preston Kaufman is one of three former Burlington Bees returning to the team for this season. (Steve Cirinna/Burlington Bees)