The Boise Hawks are coming off a great season, where they won the Pioneer Baseball League’s Southern Division in 2021. They finished just one game short of winning the Pioneer Baseball League Championship. This season the team is playing with the motto ‘unfinished business.’ The Hawks return just eleven players as they gear up for the 2022 Season, leaving 17 roster spots available for new players.
“Looking at last years roster we had a special group and made a great run, but we bring in a new infield and we filled a few areas that we wanted to improve on, especially on the mound bringing in guys who can throw more strikes as well as guys who can make the routine play defensively. Offensively, we got some guys who can put the ball in play more, and we brought in speed overall.”
Gary Van Tol, Boise Hawks Manager
After a very successful season, the Hawks saw three players (Myles Miller, Anthony Walters, and Ryan Widdell) get picked up my major league teams, including Miller by the Seattle Mariners.
RETURNING PLAYERS
Pitchers
- Jay Baggs – RHP
- Matt Dallas – RHP
- Matt Gabbert – RHP
- Mitch Lines – RHP
- Zach Penrod – LHP
- Byron Smith – RHP
- Tyler Tomaka – RHP
Fielders
- Myles Harris – C
- Sean Skelly – C
- Tyler Jorgenson – UTL
- Greg White – OF
New Players
Pitchers
- Victor Cole – LHP (Mannheim Tornados)
- Gavin Gorrell – LHP (Wenatchee Applesox)
- Ian Kahaola – RHP (Gateway Grizzlies)
- Noah McBride – LHP (Concordia-Irvine)
- Jordan Nelson – RHP (Gary SouthShore Railcats)*
- Jeff Rotz – RHP (White Sands)*
- Brayden Spears – RHP (Cal State Fullerton)*
- Justin Valdespina – RHP (Rockland Boulders)
Fielders
- Jesse Fuentes – C R/R (SW Oregon College)
- Jorge Gutierrez – C S/R (Equipe Quebec)
- Haloa Dudoit – INF S/R (Concordia Irvine)
- Raymond Gil – 1B/3B R/R (Jacksonville)
- Kobe Lopez – INF R/R (Gigantes de Carolina)
- Derek Romberg – 3B/1B L/R (Mannheim Tornados)
- Jimmy Smyth – INF R/R (Saint Xavier)
- Jayce Bailey – OF R/R (Cowlitz Black Bears)
- Jacob Cruce – OF/1B L/R (San Diego State)
- Juan Teixeira – OF R/R (Cardenales de Lara)
* means player inactive
The Hawks season officially starts on Wednesday, May 25th. They will travel to Eastern Idaho, and play the first three games of the Idaho Transportation Department Highways Series against the Idaho Falls Chukars. The series will involve a total of 24 games between the Hawks and Chukars. The latter will then follow the Hawks to Boise over the weekend into Monday. With two new teams added to the league this season with the Northern Colorado Owlz and Glacier Range Riders, the Hawks have a stronger course to get back to the championship. But the team is up for the challenge.
Northwest Sports Desk 