SCHAUMBURG, Ill. — Prior to the start of Spring Training on May 1, the 2013 Champion Schaumburg Boomers have sold the contract of outfielder Nick Schulz to the San Diego Padres and added three to the roster at the annual Frontier League Tryout Camp Draft with the selection of IF/OF Mark Nelson out of Florida Atlantic University, former Kansas City Royals prospect RHP Joe Karlik and RHP Heith Hatfield from the University of Memphis.

Schulz was preparing to report to Spring Training in Schaumburg before the Padres called. Despite never officially donning a Boomers uniform, the San Jose State star becomes the fifth member of the Schaumburg Boomers to have his contract purchased by a Major League Baseball organization in the last eight months. Prior Boomers purchased by MLB teams are INF Gerard Hall, P/OF Sean Mahley and INF Steve McQuail, who all went to the Arizona Diamondbacks after the 2013 season and RHP Edwin Carl, who joined the Los Angeles Dodgers organization in July 2013.

Nelson, 23, helped lead Florida Atlantic University to their second-ever Sun Belt Conference Tournament Championship in 2013. In 162 career games at FAU, Nelson owns a .273/.377/.412 stat line with 24 doubles, 14 homers and 97 runs batted in. A preseason All-Sun Belt Conference selection in 2013 and a two-time Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week, Nelson was one of those rare players who drew more career walks (81) than strikeouts (75) as a member of the Owls.

Karlik, 25, joins the Boomers after appearing in nine games with the Royals in 2012 before an injury ended his season and caused him to miss all of 2013. In 10.2 innings of work as a professional, Karlik owns a 2.45 ERA with five strikeouts and seven games finished.

Hatfield, 23, comes to Schaumburg after a four-year career at the University of Memphis. The Bartlett, Tenn. native is coming off his best season in 2013, where the senior earned a 4-2 record with a 3.67 ERA, two saves and 39 strikeouts over 41.2 innings and 21 appearances out of the bullpen for the Tigers. For his career as a pitcher, Hatfield boasts a 10-9 record with a 5.63 ERA to go along with seven saves and 113 strikeouts in 123 innings pitched.

The Annual Tryout Camp has been in place for all 22 seasons of the Frontier League. A record number 334 players pre-registered and with approximately 50 walk-up signups, that makes a total of around 384 participants at the two-day tryouts. Eight players from the 2012 and 2013 drafts have been signed by MLB organizations and eight MLB clubs had scouts in attendance in 2014.

The Boomers in particular have had a great deal of success finding talent at the Tryout Camp with 2012’s second and third round selections, Sean Mahley and Chad Mozingo respectively, each earning a trip to the Frontier League All-Star Game. Mahley was also a two-time selection and the Most Valuable Player at the 2013 Frontier League All-Star Game. The 2012 first round selection, Jose Rodriguez, was a solid contributor on the pitching staff before being lost for the season in 2013 due to an arm injury.

With the additions of Nelson, Karlik and Hatfield, the Boomers officially have 35 players signed to contracts for the 2014 season. The latest additions will join outfielders Alexi Colon, K.C. Judge, Bobby Martin, Matt Petrone, Justin Vasquez and Zac Zdanowicz; pitchers Hunter Ackerman, Kayvon Bahramzadeh, Gilbert Barrara, James Bierlein, Cal Bowling, Max Duval, Seafth Howe, Danny Jimenez, Clark Labitan, Matt Lamothe, Sean Mahley, Dexter Price, Charle Rosario, Erik Shannahan, Anthony Smith and Seth Webster; catchers Michael Valadez, Ty Nelson and Cody Coffman; and infielders Denver Chavez, Jordan Dean, Ben Kline, Brian McConkey, Ryan Normoyle, Tyler Sciacca and Cameron Sherrer on the final Spring Training Roster, with Media Day and the team’s first workout scheduled for May 1.

The Schaumburg Boomers open the 2014 season with Championship Weekend featuring three straight days of fireworks and giveaways along with the Ring Ceremony on Friday, May 23 when the Boomers open against the Florence Freedom at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are available now by calling 847.461.3695, online at www.boomersbaseball.com or in person at the Boomers Stadium Box Office located at 1999 S. Springinsguth Road in Schaumburg.

COMPLETE PLAYER BIOS 

INF/OF MARK NELSON

With the 14th pick in the first round of the 2014 Frontier League Tryout Camp Draft, Schaumburg Boomers selected INF/OF Mark Nelson out of Florida Atlantic University (FAU).

Nelson, 23, helped lead the FAU Owls to their second Sun Belt Conference Tournament Championship in 2013. In 162 games at FAU, Nelson owns a .273/.377/.412 stat line with 24 doubles, 14 homers and 97 runs batted in. A preseason All-Sun Belt Conference selection in 2013 and a two-time Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week, Nelson was one of those rare players who drew more career walks (81) than strikeouts (75) as a member of the Owls.

The Orlando native was named the Florida Summer Collegiate Baseball League All-Star Game Most Valuable Player in July 2012 and broke the record for highest single-season batting average (.513) at Dr. Phillips High School in Orlando, Fla. in 2009.

RHP JOE KARLIK

With the 13th selection (27th overall) in the second round of the 2014 Frontier League Tryout Camp Draft, the Schaumburg Boomers selected RHP Joe Karlik, who spent the 2012 season as a member of the Kansas City Royals organization.

Karlik, 25, joins the Boomers after appearing in nine games with the Royals in 2012 before an injury ended his season and caused him to miss all of 2013. In 10.2 innings of work as a professional, Karlik owns a 2.45 ERA with five strikeouts and seven games finished.

Karlik completed his college career at Southern Utah University (SUU) before the school dropped the baseball program after the 2012 season. The 6-foot-3 right-hander from Colorado Springs posted a 2-3 record with a 6.47 ERA in 57 innings over nine starts and two complete games as a senior at SUU. Karlik also pitched six innings at Azusa Pacific in 2010 and allowed just two hits in five appearances including one start.

RHP HEITH HATFIELD

With the ninth pick (36th overall) in the third round of the 2014 Frontier League Tryout Camp Draft, the Schaumburg Boomers selected RHP Heith Hatfield out of the University of Memphis.

Hatfield, 23, comes to Schaumburg after a four-year career at the University of Memphis. The Bartlett, Tenn. native is coming off his best season in 2013, where the senior earned a 4-2 record with a 3.67 ERA, two saves and 39 strikeouts over 41.2 innings and 21 appearances out of the bullpen for the Tigers.

For his career as a pitcher, Hatfield boasts a 10-9 record with a 5.63 ERA to go along with seven saves and 113 strikeouts in 123 innings pitched. Hatfield began his career as a dual-role player appearing in 34 games over 2009 and 2010 as a position player and owns a .270/.321/.490 slash line with five doubles and five home runs.