Irish Wolfhounds Announce Roster for Debut Game

by John Fitzgerald

The Irish Wolfhounds Baseball Club has announced the roster for the team’s debut game. The game will take place on June 17, 2023 at Clover Stadium in Pomona, NY, home of the New York Boulders. The Wolfhounds will be taking on the NYPD’s NY Finest Baseball Club at 1:30pm.

The Wolfhounds coaching staff is led by Donegal Fergus. Coach Fergus led Ireland’s Men’s National Baseball Team to its only gold medal in 2018. Bench coach Steve Lyons is a 9-year MLB veteran. Coaches Vin Malzahn and Eric Helmrich were both coaches on Ireland’s gold medal-winning Under-18 Junior National Team in 2017.

The team’s roster is led by former big leaguer Ryan O’Rourke. O’Rourke was the 13th round selection of the Minnesota Twins in the 2010 MLB Draft. He pitched for parts of three seasons for the Twins and Mets, appearing in 56 games. O’Rourke will be joined by a team of current and former college and professional players from across the United States. Each player is a dual citizen of Ireland and the United States, making them eligible to play for Team Ireland in the World Baseball Classic.

The Irish Wolfhounds are the first ever All-Irish Baseball Club – all players are current college or former professional players and all are citizens of Ireland! They’re out to prove that Ireland has what it takes to get to the next World Baseball Classic!

NumberLast NameFirst NameCollegeProfessionalPrimary Position
2McKERMITTPADDY
Northern Illinois University

2B
3HAYESDEVIN
Castleton College

P
4GALLAGHERDAVIDMarshall / Mt. OlivePecos League / Pacific AssociationSS
5McAULIFFEBRIAN
Denison University

DH
7M. KANEMIKEY
Oregon State University

3B
8SANTOIANNICONOR
Springfield College

OF
9T. SHAWTOMMIE
Vermont State (committed)

2B
10PADIANLUKE
Amherst College

1B
12McGEEMIKEUniversity of BuffaloAtlantic / United Shore LeagueP
14D. KANEDOYLEUC-San Diego
1B
15R. MACKLERYAN
SUNY New Paltz

2B
17FERGUSDONEGAL

HEAD COACH
18C. MACKLECOLINMarist College
OF
20LUCEYKEVIN
Southern CT State

C
21DOLANJPQueens College
PLAYER/COACH
22O’CONNORSEAMUS
York College (PA)

P
23DILLONPATRICKTrinity College
SS
25EATONBRENDANKeene State
OF
27LYONSSTEVE

BENCH COACH
30G. SHAWGREG
Manhattan College

P
32C. CONNOLLYCADEUSC
P
33R. CONNOLLYREIDUSC
P
34KENNEALLYBRENDAN
Adelphi University

P
36McADAMSSEANMercy College
2B
41CAGNEYPATRICK
St. Thomas Aquinas (committed)

C
42HELMRICHERIC

COACH
44MALZAHNVIN

COACH
50O’BRIENSLATER
St. Joseph’s University

P
57HILLERTMITCH
Concordia College

P
61O’ROURKERYANMerrimack CollegeMLBP