Windy City ThunderBolts Hold Open Tryout Monday

CRESTWOOD, IL — The Windy City ThunderBolts will be holding a spring open tryout at Ozinga Field, 14011 S. Kenton Ave., Crestwood, Monday, June 12.

Check-in will begin at 9:30 a.m., participants will be allowed on the field at 10 a.m. The workout begins at 10:30 a.m. sharp. There will be no advance registration. Cash and credit card will be accepted.

The fee is $60 to be paid at the ballpark.

If you have any questions please email Richie Sexson from Baseball Operations at rsexson@wcthunderbolts.com.

Any player signing a Frontier League contract at any time, for spring training or the regular season, will lose all college athletic eligibility. All participants must sign a waiver. No exceptions.

The ThunderBolts will supply only batting helmets and baseballs. Bring your own bats, gloves, and catcher's equipment (if needed).

The ThunderBolts' coaching staff will be in charge of the tryout.

The Frontier League annually moves the most players to MLB organizations of any MLB Partner League, and has produced multiple MLB All-Stars and World Series players. Forty-seven players were signed to MLB organizations in 2021, the second highest total in league history behind the 2015 season. There were also a few former Frontier League players that made it to the MLB level. Most notably, Jake Cousins (Milwaukee Brewers), Mickey Jannis (Baltimore Orioles), Tommy Nance (Chicago Cubs), and Brandyn Sittinger (Arizona Diamondbacks) all made their MLB debuts in the 2021 season.

On the coaching side, former Rockford manager James Frisbie was added to the Detroit Tigers’ MLB staff. Eight more players had their contracts acquired by MLB organizations in February and March, 2022, including reigning MVP Quincy Nieporte. Former Gateway broadcaster Sam Levitt was hired by San Diego to host their pre-game and post-game shows on the Padres’ radio network. He joins Robert Ford (Houston radio), Aaron Goldsmith (Seattle radio), Joe Pott (St. Louis radio) and Jason Benetti (Chicago White Sox television) as former Frontier League broadcasters calling action for Major League teams.