Home Baseball Grizzlies Bring Back Sluggers Waldrip and Seigel

Grizzlies Bring Back Sluggers Waldrip and Seigel

by Press Release

SAUGET, IL – The Gateway Grizzlies have re-signed Ben Waldrip and Richard Seigel for the upcoming season. The pair of left-handed sluggers combined to hit 22 home runs for the Grizzlies in 2014.

Waldrip, 24, will embark on his fourth professional season in 2015. The Moro, Ark. native smashed 12 home runs and totaled 51 RBI last season.

“We had a lot of fun last year with a great group of guys, but the season didn’t end how we wanted it to,” Waldrip said. “We want to be one of the top teams in the league this year.”

Waldrip spent two seasons in the Colorado Rockies’ system after finishing his college baseball career at Jacksonville State University. The first baseman signed with Gateway prior to last season.

“I know Phil [Warren] has a good group of players coming in,” said Waldrip, who comitted just three errors in 86 games last year. “It’s going to be exciting to get the new and old talent, while seeing what we can do to finish with a different outcome this season,” he said.

Seigel, 23, is back for his second season with the Grizzlies after developing into a power-hitting outfielder during his rookie year. Gateway manager Phil Warren selected Siegel with his first round pick in the 2014 Frontier League draft.

The Los Angeles product went on to hit 10 homers and 36 RBI, while stealing 10 bases. He played in 89 games for the Grizzlies.

“I learned a lot during my rookie season,” Seigel said. “The Grizzlies are a great organization and I can’t wait to get back.”

Seigel provided one of the most memorable highlights of Gateway’s 2014 campaign, when he collected a franchise-record six hits at Joliet on June 28. His accomplishment came during the Grizzlies’ season-best nine game win streak.

“My goal is to be more aggressive this season,” said Seigel, who spent his final two collegiate seasons at UC San Diego. “I want to be ready for whatever the game presents to me.”

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