Willmar Stingers


The Willmar Stingers are a baseball team that plays in the Northwoods League, a collegiate summer baseball league. The Stingers played their inaugural season in 2010. The team plays its home games at Baker Field at Bill Taunton Stadium.
On June 3, 2010, the franchise's first ever hit and run were recorded by former Willmar Cardinal and current Cleveland Indians minor leaguer Jordan Smith.
The Stingers were honored with the Northwoods League Organization of the Year Award in 2010. Stingers co-owner Marc Jerzak credited "Stingers fans, host families, sponsors and city officials" for " the 2010 Inaugural season a memorable one."

Alumni in professional baseball

The Stingers have had 52 players either drafted or signed to free agent deals in the seven years of the franchise as of the 2016 season. Jacob Barnes became the first former Willmar Stingers player to make it to the Major League level when the right-handed pitcher was called up to the Milwaukee Brewers on June 1, 2016. Barnes made his MLB debut on June 3 against the Philadelphia Phillies, throwing a spotless frame with a pair of strikeouts.
The 2016 MLB season also saw a second former Stingers player make it to The Show, as Steven Brault made his MLB debut with the Pittsburgh Pirates on July 5 against the St. Louis Cardinals. Brault tossed four innings in a start against the Cardinals at Busch Stadium, yielding just one earned run with five strikeouts.