ST. LOUIS – Former University of Missouri-St. Louis first baseman Mitch Bonczkowski recently signed a professional contract with the Schaumburg Boomers of the Frontier League to continue his playing career.

Bonczkowski is coming off an All-American season for the Tritons in which he set the school's single season records for home runs (23), runs batted in (75) and total bases (179). He also set the career record for home runs (32) and slugging percentage (.796). His career .407 batting average at UMSL is tied for second best in school history while his 270 total bases and 107 RBIs rank eighth and ninth respectively in program history.

Bonczkowski finished the season leading the Great Lakes Valley Conference in batting average (.438), hits (92), home runs, slugging percentage (.852) and was second in total bases and third in RBIs.

He was a First Team All-GLVC and All-Region selection by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA), American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) and the Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA).

Bonczkowski was named a First Team All-American by the NCBWA and D2CCA and a Second Team All-American by the ABCA.

"Mitch has been awesome," UMSL head baseball coach Sott Eul said. "He got hurt his first year, got off to a slow start and a red hot finish in year two, to an All-American year this past spring. He was a captain and as good of person as we had on this team.  He earned this opportunity to go show what he can do. I am fired up for him."

"This past season was the greatest season of baseball I have ever been a part of, not only because of my personal success and the success of the team, but because of the guys I was able to accomplish it all with," Bonczkowski said. "I've never connected so closely with a group of guys before. I couldn't have asked for more from my final season of college baseball. I am now lucky enough to continue my baseball career at the pro level, and I can say with 100 percent certainty that it would not have been possible without UMSL baseball." 

He becomes the 30th player in program history and joins his collegiate teammate Eli Cartwright in continuing their journey in professional baseball. Cartwright signed with the Gateway Grizzlies last week.

Schaumburg plays in the Frontier League's Midwest West Division. The Frontier League is a Major League Baseball Professional Partner League. The Frontier League is a 16-team league with four divisions that spans from Canada to Mississippi.