SCHAUMBURG, Ill. — The 2013 Frontier League Champion and Organization of the Year Schaumburg Boomers have sold the contract of shortstop Gerard Hall to the Arizona Diamondbacks, it was announced today.

“I want to thank everyone from the fans, host families, front office, coaching staff and also my teammates for all of their support the last couple of seasons,” Hall said. “My experience in Schaumburg has been nothing short of amazing!”

Hall, 25, collected the first hit in franchise history for the Boomers in 2012 and was a fixture at the top of the order and up the middle for the 2013 Championship squad. The switch-hitter returned from an injury-shortened campaign in 2012 to put together a stellar season at shortstop for Schaumburg in 2013. One of five Boomers who represented the West Division at the 2013 Frontier League All-Star Game, Hall owned a .273/.331/.441 stat line in 91 games during the regular season and added 23 doubles, four triples and 10 home runs.

“I had a feeling the first time I watched Gerard play that this opportunity would arise, and I am extremely excited to see him take this step in his career,” said 2013 Frontier League Manager of the Year Jamie Bennett. “He is very deserving and I am extremely proud of Gerard. He put in a lot of hard work and exemplifies the type of person we want representing the Boomers on and off the field.”

Hall tied with Steve McQuail for a team-high with 28 multi-hit games and 12 multi-RBI games in 2013. The fleet-footed shortstop collected the most RBI in a game by a Boomers player with five on May 26 at Gateway and was the only Schaumburg slugger to swat multiple home runs in a game when he blasted two on September 1 at Evansville. With his 99 hits and 50 runs scored in 2013, Hall sits fourth in each category in the Boomers single-season record book.

“I have to also thank Jamie Bennett for giving me an opportunity to continue my career in Schaumburg,” added Hall. “These past two seasons have been the highlight of my career thus far. Thank you Chicago, you are the best sports city in the world and I am so grateful to have played in front of such amazing fans!”

Hall becomes the fourth player in the Boomers two-year history to have his contract purchased by a major league organization and third by the Arizona Diamondbacks. Hall will join fellow former Boomers teammates Sean Mahley and Steve McQuail in camp with the Diamondbacks organization this winter. Edwin Carl, the first player to move from the Boomers to affiliated ball when the Los Angeles Dodgers purchased his contract in August 2013, finished the season with a 1.17 ERA over his 15.1 innings with the High-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes in the California League.

Group Outings, Season Tickets and Ticket Packages are on sale now for the 2014 season of Schaumburg Boomers Baseball. Opening Day is set for Friday, May 23 as the Boomers square off against the Florence Freedom at 6:30 p.m. at Boomers Stadium in Schaumburg. To reserve your preferred date for a great group outing or for more information, give us a call at 847.461.3695 or visit www.boomersbaseball.com.

COMPLETE BIO

The Schaumburg Boomers signed free agent infielder Gerard Hall on February 12, 2012.

Hall, 25, collected the first hit in franchise history for the Boomers in 2012 and was a fixture at the top of the order and up the middle for the 2013 Championship squad. The switch-hitter returned from an injury-shortened campaign in 2012 to put together a stellar season at shortstop for Schaumburg in 2013. One of five Boomers who represented the West Division at the 2013 Frontier League All-Star Game, Hall owned a .273/.331/.441 stat line in 91 games during the regular season and added 23 doubles, four triples and 10 home runs.

Hall tied with Steve McQuail for a team-high with 28 multi-hit games and 12 multi-RBI games in 2013. The fleet-footed shortstop collected the most RBI in a game by a Boomers player with five on May 26 at Gateway and was the only Schaumburg slugger to swat multiple home runs in a game when he blasted two on September 1 at Evansville. With his 99 hits and 50 runs scored in 2013, Hall sits fourth in each category in the Boomers single-season record book.

Hall was an impact player for Schaumburg early in 2012 despite appearing in just 21 games. The switch hitter was batting .333 when he first injured his shoulder during the first home series in Boomers history and was placed on the 14-day injured reserve list on May 27. Hall belted a three-run home run in his first game back in the lineup on June 11 to lead the Boomers to a 5-3 win in Joliet over the Slammers. Hall continued to be a tough out at the top of the order and played outstanding defense up the middle until he reaggravated his shoulder injury, which required season ending surgery.

Prior to joining Schaumburg in 2012, Hall spent the previous two seasons in the Royals organization after signing as an undrafted free agent out of Old Dominion University near the end of the 2009 season. After appearing in two games with the then Rookie League Burlington Royals in the Appalachian League, Hall returned to Burlington in 2010 and got his first taste of regular playing time as a professional, this time in the Low-A Midwest League. Hall batted .224 in 121 games, splitting time at both shortstop and second base. 

Hall once again began the season in the Midwest League in 2011 where he had an outstanding first half and earned an All-Star selection after batting .280 with 14 doubles and four triples in 157 bats before the break. Hall moved up to the Class-A Advanced Wilmington Blue Rocks to finish the 2011 campaign and batted .255 in 32 games, adding 6 doubles and a triple.

A Second Team All-Colonial Athletic Conference selection as a senior at Old Dominion, Hall appeared in 149 games during his tenure as a member of the Monarchs Baseball Team. A career .304 hitter, Hall collected 26 doubles, 6 homers and 73 RBI in addition to 31 stolen bases over the course of his three seasons at ODU. Hall’s best season came in 2008 as a sophomore when the fleet-footed shortstop batted .361, was a perfect 13-13 in stolen base attempts and was second on the Monarchs with a .435 on-base percentage.

Prior to attending Old Dominion, Hall earned All-Metro honors and was a three-time All-Conference selection at Gonzaga College High School in Washington D.C., where he also served as a team captain as a senior.