Miners add trio to 2016 roster

PALMER — The Mat-Su Miners have added to their arsenal.

The Palmer-based Alaska Baseball League program has added a trio of players, including a three-time All-Big East selection.

Outfielder Michael Donadio, an incoming senior at St. John’s University, is among the three players that have been added to the squad, Mat-Su head coach Ben Taylor said Monday afternoon. Donadio has been named first-team All-Big East in each of his three years with his college team, and earned Freshman All-American honors after his first season. As a junior Donadio finished fifth in the conference with a .324 batting average, third with 15 doubles and tied for fifth with 38 runs scored.

Donadio hit .348 in league games.

Mat-Su also added Long Beach State outfielder Brooks Stotler, and catcher Andy Cosgrove, who will play at North Carolina State in the fall. Stotler started 24 games in the outfield as a freshman, hitting .306. After starting his career at the University of Washington, Cosgrove appeared in 31 games for Santa Barbara Community College as a sophomore, and hit .287.

Taylor said all three players had been on the Miners radar.

“These are big pick ups for us,” Taylor said. “The are big additions to come our way.”

Taylor said Donadio is a veteran hitter with three years of experience in the No. 4 spot in the lineup, Stotler has plus speed, and Cosgrove has a big arm behind the plate and will help solidify Mat-Su’s defense.

Roster spots opened after a pair of athletes slated to play for the Miners — Texas A&M pitcher Jace Vines and Vancouver, Washington, high school product Brady Whalen — were selected during the 2016 MLB First-Year Player Draft in early June. Vines was taken by taken in the fourth round by Kansas City. Whalen was taken in the 12th round by St. Louis. Taylor said both players opted to sign professional contracts.

Heading into Mat-Su’s home game against Chugiak-Eagle River Monday night, the Miners stood in second place of the ABL with a 5-4 mark. Results of Monday’s contest were not available prior to press time.

Mat-Su was scheduled to play the Anchorage Glacier Pilots in Anchorage Sunday night, but the game was rained out and rescheduled for July 5.