Four Position Players Return For 2022 Roster

Columbus, GA - The Columbus Chatt-a-Hoots are excited to announce the return of four position players from 2021 that have confirmed to return for the 2022 edition of the team.

Catchers Conner O'Neal and Ellis Yohn as well as infielder Bryce Newman and outfielder Bryce Valero have all given their commitment to play their summer collegiate season in Columbus.

Conner O'Neal will be a sophomore from CVCC during the 2022 SBL season. Last year with the Hoots he appeared in 28 games hitting .244 with one home run, 14 RBIs and an OPS of .602. His home run hit was the only grand slam in Chatt-a-Hoots history and was the longest home run tracked at Golden Park last season at 403 feet. O'Neal was clutch both behind the plate and at it with a perfect fielding percentage at catcher and a hit in all but one postseason game in 2021.

Ellis Yohn comes back to Columbus with a sophomore designation during the SBL season out of UT-Martin. Yohn found himself as a two way player by the end of the season, appearing in 26 games, with two of them as a pitcher. His pitching lines saw him with two outing of 3.1 innings pitched each. As a hitter Yohn hit .190 with a home run and two RBIs and two stolen bases.

Bryce Newman will be a senior out of Lawson State Community College during the 2022 season and returns to Columbus a one of their hotter hitters near the end. With an average of .318 and five RBIs in the playoffs, his RBI total nearly matched his regular season output from the bottom of the lineup. Newman's 2021 total was a .267 average with 12 RBIs, 10 walks and five stolen bases. His on-base percentage had him top-5 on the team at .344.

Bryce Valero returns to Columbus as a junior at Motlow State Community College seeking a bigger role on the 2022 version of the squad. He appeared in only two playoff games during the 2021 run, however he recorded hits in each time at bat and an RBI. His total 2021 numbers saw him only take 40 at-bats, and he was a .150 hitter. He did also have a home run and four RBIs in his 2021 season.

These four position players along with the first wave of pitchers returning from the 2021 squad (Middleton, Weatherly, Trepanier and James) make a solid core for Steve Smith to build around as the 2022 roster begins to take shape. Don't miss a single pitch at Golden Park by becoming a Flight Club member for the 2022 season. More information can be found here.