The Hillsdale College baseball program continues to send players to the professional ranks.
Pitcher Andrew Verbrugge is the latest Charger to get a professional opportunity, signing a contract with a team in the United Shores Professional Baseball League, an independent league based in Suburban Detroit. Verbrugge made the opening-day roster of the Eastside Diamond Hoppers, and will begin play with the team this weekend.
The USPBL is a growing independent league based out of Jimmy John's Field in Utica, located north and east of the city of Detroit. The USPBL has previously signed former Charger All-Americans Luke Ortel, Ethan Wiskur, Chris McDonald and Steven Ring to pro contracts. Verbrugge is the fourth Charger to sign with the Diamond Hoppers, joining Ortel and McDonald in 2016 and Ring in 2019.
A four-year starting pitcher for the Chargers, Verbrugge finished second in Hillsdale history in innings pitched (295), tied for fifth in career wins (18), seventh in career strikeouts (176). He set the single-season innings pitched record for the Chargers in 2018 (101.2), and also earned honorable mention All-G-MAC honors in that season.
The Eastside Diamond Hoppers open the 2021 season with a game against the Westside Woolly Mammoths on Saturday, May 29 at 7:05 p.m. For more information on the league and how to watch, visit the USPBL website here.