Schuck on a Truck: Former QU All-American Dayson Croes discusses first season playing professional baseball

QUINCY — It started with the American Association’s longest hitting streak of the season and ended with Rookie of the Year honors. Dayson Croes’ first season as a professional baseball player was an undeniable hit. He capped it with a tournament championship in Mexico.

Croes, the former Quincy University All-American infielder, signed with the Winnipeg Goldeyes last winter, joined them in late April at the start of the American Association season and proceeded to go on a 25-game hitting streak starting with his second game there. By the end of the season, Croes led the Goldeyes in hitting with a .351 average and he topped the league with 135 hits in 94 games.

Playing third base for the Goldeyes, Croes was one of the league’s most efficient hitters. His average was fourth best in the league, while he struck out just 36 times in 439 plate appearances. He was named to the league’s postseason all-star team and the position player Rookie of the Year.

Croes was invited to join the Fargo-Moorhead Redhawks in the inaugural WBSC Baseball Champions League Americasn in Mexico, where the Redhawks won the championship.

Back in Quincy to work on his graduate studies and train throughout the offseason, Croes took time to join Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman on the tailgate of his pickup and discuss his rookie season and plans for Year 2 in this episode of “Schuck on a Truck,” brought to you by Shottenkirk Toyota.