Otto Grimm, Garrett Bevacqua and Payton VanBeck (L-R) join SCSU at semester
Huskies Baseball adds three impact transfers at semester
1/17/2023 3:05:00 PM | Baseball
Outfielder Otto Grimm, infielder Garrett Bevacqua and lefthander Payton VanBeck round out 2023 roster
ST. CLOUD, Minn. – St. Cloud State Baseball has announced the addition of three transfer student-athletes ahead of the 2023 season. Outfielder Otto Grimm, infielder Garrett Bevacqua and lefthanded pitcher Payton VanBeck have joined the Huskies and are immediately eligible to compete this spring.
"We are very fortunate to bring in three impact players at semester," said head coach Pat Dolan, "I think we will see both Otto and Garrett become productive thumpers in the heart of our lineup while Payton can fill multiple roles as a spot starter and bullpen weapon."
Otto Grimm joins St. Cloud State as a graduate transfer after four years with Minnesota. The lefthanded hitter has played in 124 games over his collegiate career including two separate stints in the Northwoods League, blasting 15 doubles and six home runs while driving in 57 runs and working walks at a 14.5% rate. Grimm battled injuries that kept him out of the lineup at times during his Gopher career but was extremely productive at the top of their order, slashing .400/.525/.533 for a 1.058 OPS in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. Last year, Grimm hit .270 over 24 games and reached base at a .387 clip, driving in 10. He will have two years of eligibility remaining at SCSU.
"Otto was one of the top high school players in the state coming out of Bemidji a while back," commented Dolan, "We're extremely excited to add him to our lineup after graduating this fall from Minnesota. He's a great fastball hitter, takes great competitive at-bats and will provide a big bat to the order."
Garrett Bevacqua joins St. Cloud State after three years of junior college ball, one with South Mountain and two with Orange Coast. A lefthanded bat who has played third and left over his collegiate career, Bevacqua has played in 57 games while producing a .280/.392/.407 slash line for a .799 OPS. He has driven in 32 runs with seven doubles, three triples and a pair of long balls while drawing walks at a 12.1% clip. The Carlsbad, California native is the son of 15-year Major League Baseball veteran Kurt Bevacqua, best known for his incredible performance in the 1984 World Series with San Diego – the corner infielder hit .412 with four extra-base hits and a 1.327 OPS over five games against the Tigers.
"We're thrilled to add Garrett to our program," Dolan said, "He has some pretty good baseball blood in his family with his dad's pedigree but has definitely become his own player. Garrett brings plenty of pop to the left side of the plate, knows how to get on base and can play multiple positions, which we really like."
Payton VanBeck joins St. Cloud State following three years at North Dakota State. Extremely well-known on the Minnesota Baseball Association circuit, VanBeck stars for the Elrosa Saints where he went 7-1 with a 1.90 ERA over 12 starts this past summer while leading the club to a MBA Class C State Tournament appearance – going on to fire a complete game victory at the tournament. The lefthander struck out 89 over 85.1 innings while walking just 16 batters, maintaining a 0.94 WHIP. He was a two time All-Central Minnesota Conference honoree at Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa and captained the Jaguars.
"Payton is a local player that has been at NDSU the last three years," said Dolan, "He's a crafty left with some zip on the fastball and fits the mold of what we look for with our lefthanders. He has been a lot of fun to watch as one of the top pitchers in the Stearns County League the past few summers and we're excited to add him to our mix of arms."
Grimm will wear No. 31, Bevacqua will wear No. 29 and VanBeck will wear No. 1 with the Huskies.
For all the latest on St. Cloud State Baseball, stay tuned to SCSUHuskies.com and follow the team on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
"We are very fortunate to bring in three impact players at semester," said head coach Pat Dolan, "I think we will see both Otto and Garrett become productive thumpers in the heart of our lineup while Payton can fill multiple roles as a spot starter and bullpen weapon."
Otto Grimm joins St. Cloud State as a graduate transfer after four years with Minnesota. The lefthanded hitter has played in 124 games over his collegiate career including two separate stints in the Northwoods League, blasting 15 doubles and six home runs while driving in 57 runs and working walks at a 14.5% rate. Grimm battled injuries that kept him out of the lineup at times during his Gopher career but was extremely productive at the top of their order, slashing .400/.525/.533 for a 1.058 OPS in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. Last year, Grimm hit .270 over 24 games and reached base at a .387 clip, driving in 10. He will have two years of eligibility remaining at SCSU.
"Otto was one of the top high school players in the state coming out of Bemidji a while back," commented Dolan, "We're extremely excited to add him to our lineup after graduating this fall from Minnesota. He's a great fastball hitter, takes great competitive at-bats and will provide a big bat to the order."
Garrett Bevacqua joins St. Cloud State after three years of junior college ball, one with South Mountain and two with Orange Coast. A lefthanded bat who has played third and left over his collegiate career, Bevacqua has played in 57 games while producing a .280/.392/.407 slash line for a .799 OPS. He has driven in 32 runs with seven doubles, three triples and a pair of long balls while drawing walks at a 12.1% clip. The Carlsbad, California native is the son of 15-year Major League Baseball veteran Kurt Bevacqua, best known for his incredible performance in the 1984 World Series with San Diego – the corner infielder hit .412 with four extra-base hits and a 1.327 OPS over five games against the Tigers.
"We're thrilled to add Garrett to our program," Dolan said, "He has some pretty good baseball blood in his family with his dad's pedigree but has definitely become his own player. Garrett brings plenty of pop to the left side of the plate, knows how to get on base and can play multiple positions, which we really like."
Payton VanBeck joins St. Cloud State following three years at North Dakota State. Extremely well-known on the Minnesota Baseball Association circuit, VanBeck stars for the Elrosa Saints where he went 7-1 with a 1.90 ERA over 12 starts this past summer while leading the club to a MBA Class C State Tournament appearance – going on to fire a complete game victory at the tournament. The lefthander struck out 89 over 85.1 innings while walking just 16 batters, maintaining a 0.94 WHIP. He was a two time All-Central Minnesota Conference honoree at Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa and captained the Jaguars.
"Payton is a local player that has been at NDSU the last three years," said Dolan, "He's a crafty left with some zip on the fastball and fits the mold of what we look for with our lefthanders. He has been a lot of fun to watch as one of the top pitchers in the Stearns County League the past few summers and we're excited to add him to our mix of arms."
Grimm will wear No. 31, Bevacqua will wear No. 29 and VanBeck will wear No. 1 with the Huskies.
For all the latest on St. Cloud State Baseball, stay tuned to SCSUHuskies.com and follow the team on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
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