BOOMERS PLAYER SPOTLIGHT KYLE FITZGERALD CHRISTIAN FEDKO DEREK SALATA MERS BOOMER 34 IF Fitzgerald enters his third season with the team after appearing in a career high 88 games last year. The Brookfield, III. native owns nearly 30 career homers after equaling his career best with 10 last season. Chosen by the Boomers in the first round of the 2023 Frontier League Draft at 10th overall, Fitzgerald played in 73 games in his first season as a professional, appearing mainly at first base. The right-handed hitter became just the second player in franchise history to hit two grand slams in a season, batting .615 with the bases loaded and driving home 26 runs with the bags packed. Fitzgerald, who owns five career appearances on the mound, led the Boomers in batted balls 100mph or more with 15. Fitzgerald came to the Boomers after completing his college career at St. Louis University where he led the team in walks and RBIs and had a 25-game on-base streak. OF Fedko has been selected as an All-Star in each of his first two seasons with the team. A versatile player who can play nearly every position and hit anywhere in the lineup, Fedko batted .279 and established career highs with 93 games played, seven homers and 63 RBIs. Among his long list of highlights with the team was a defensive play at Gateway in 2024, going over the wall to rob a homer that ended up as the SC Top 10 #1 play. Fedko made his Frontier League debut with Joliet in 2023 and his pro debut in the United Shore League with East Side in 2022. Fedko was the first player in the modern era to play four NCAA Tournaments at UConn and was named to the South Bend All-Regional Team in 2021. Fedko also served as a captain for two seasons and was a Freshman All-American and the American Athletic Conference Rookie Position Player of the Year in 2018. +34 P A local product, Salata made 19 starts on the mound last season. The righty threw a complete game shutout against Gateway in the Frontier League Playoffs, allowing just six hits while striking out 11. Salata recorded seven starts of six innings or longer and struck out five or more on nine occasions. Salata attended Nazareth Academy and pitched collegiately at Illinois State where he struck out 197 batters over 193 career innings. The Friday starter as a senior, Salata struck out 88 in 2023, the most by an Illinois State hurler since 2015. The right-hander was selected by the Oakland Athletics in the 19th round of the 2023 MLB Draft. FEEL THE BOOM BOD HOME OPENER! MONDAY MAY 11 6:30PM & POST GAME FIREWORKS! SCHAUMBURG BOOMERS WINTRUST FIELD FRONTIER LEAGUE PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL BoomersBaseball.com BOOMERS PLAYER SPOTLIGHT KYLE FITZGERALD CHRISTIAN FEDKO DEREK SALATA MERS BOOMER 34 IF Fitzgerald enters his third season with the team after appearing in a career high 88 games last year . The Brookfield , III . native owns nearly 30 career homers after equaling his career best with 10 last season . Chosen by the Boomers in the first round of the 2023 Frontier League Draft at 10th overall , Fitzgerald played in 73 games in his first season as a professional , appearing mainly at first base . The right - handed hitter became just the second player in franchise history to hit two grand slams in a season , batting .615 with the bases loaded and driving home 26 runs with the bags packed . Fitzgerald , who owns five career appearances on the mound , led the Boomers in batted balls 100mph or more with 15. Fitzgerald came to the Boomers after completing his college career at St. Louis University where he led the team in walks and RBIs and had a 25 - game on - base streak . OF Fedko has been selected as an All - Star in each of his first two seasons with the team . A versatile player who can play nearly every position and hit anywhere in the lineup , Fedko batted .279 and established career highs with 93 games played , seven homers and 63 RBIs . Among his long list of highlights with the team was a defensive play at Gateway in 2024 , going over the wall to rob a homer that ended up as the SC Top 10 # 1 play . Fedko made his Frontier League debut with Joliet in 2023 and his pro debut in the United Shore League with East Side in 2022 . Fedko was the first player in the modern era to play four NCAA Tournaments at UConn and was named to the South Bend All - Regional Team in 2021. Fedko also served as a captain for two seasons and was a Freshman All - American and the American Athletic Conference Rookie Position Player of the Year in 2018 . +34 P A local product , Salata made 19 starts on the mound last season . The righty threw a complete game shutout against Gateway in the Frontier League Playoffs , allowing just six hits while striking out 11. Salata recorded seven starts of six innings or longer and struck out five or more on nine occasions . Salata attended Nazareth Academy and pitched collegiately at Illinois State where he struck out 197 batters over 193 career innings . The Friday starter as a senior , Salata struck out 88 in 2023 , the most by an Illinois State hurler since 2015 . The right - hander was selected by the Oakland Athletics in the 19th round of the 2023 MLB Draft . FEEL THE BOOM BOD HOME OPENER ! MONDAY MAY 11 6:30 PM & POST GAME FIREWORKS ! SCHAUMBURG BOOMERS WINTRUST FIELD FRONTIER LEAGUE PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL BoomersBaseball.com