University of Minnesota Crookston Athletics

2018: Junior season...Started all 51 games...Hit .436 with 10 homeruns, 50 RBI's, 5 triples, 19 doubles, and 38 runs scored...Drew 25 walks, and an on-base percentage of .509...Had a fielding percentage of .987, while being a part of 20 double plays...Went 4-6 with a homerun and 4 RBI's in a loss to Greensboro College....Went 4-5 with 3 RBI's in a win against nationally ranked Seton Hill...Hit home runs in 3 straight NSIC games against St. Cloud State and Upper Iowa...The outstanding season for the East Grand Forks native netted him some impressive honors...Was named to the National College Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) All-Central Region First Team as well as the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA)/Rawlings All-Central Region First Team...Was named the ABCA/Rawlings Central Region Position Player of the Year...Became the first ever UMC baseball athlete to be named NSIC player of the year...Was also named to the NCBWA All-America Third Team and ABCA/Rawlings All-America Third Team.

2017: Sophomore season...Hjelle earned NSIC Gold Glove at first base with a .995 fielding percentage with just two errors on the season...He led the team with a .339 batting average on the season...Hjelle scored 32 runs with 26 RBI's on the season...He posted seven doubles and four triples...Hjelle posted a .419 slugging percentage and a .421 on-base percentage on the season...Walked 21 times and reached base on six HBP's...Went 3-of-5 with one run scored in win over Missouri-St. Louis...Was 3-of-3 with two runs scored in win over Mansfield...Hit 3-of-5 with four RBI's and two runs scored in win over Winona State...Was 3-of-3 with two RBI's and one run scored in win over Minot State...Hit 3-of-6 with one RBI and two runs scored against Bemidji State.

2016: Freshman season...Hjelle made an instant impact on the lineup from day one as a freshman...He led the team with a .387 batting average on the season starting all 46 games in the outfield for UMC...Hjelle had 39 runs scored, 13 doubles, two triples, seven home runs and 38 RBI's...He posted a .620 slugging percentage...Hjelle earned 20 walks on the year...He stole four bases...He posted a .967 fielding percentage with just three errors on the year. 

Prior to UMC: Hjelle joins an East Grand Forks connection to UMC that includes current player Ethan Mushitz, fellow signee Clarke Peterson along with UMC head coach Steve Gust...As a junior for East Grand Forks H.S., Hjelle hit .465 with one home run and 23 RBI's...He was named to the All-Section 8AA Team. He was a three-year letter winner in baseball and also lettered in hockey and football...Hjelle played for East Grand Forks American Legion Post 157, hitting .466 with five home runs and 38 RBI's during the 2014 slate...He was named to the 2013 VFW Baseball District 9 All-Tournament Team...Hjelle was a member of the two-time Minnesota Class A State Championship hockey team at East Grand Forks H.S...He participated in the 2014 Perfect Game Midwest Top Prospect Showcase.

Personal: Hjelle is the son of Garret and Kelly Hjelle...He was born Aug. 24, 1996 and plans to major in sports and rec management at UMC...Father Garret Hjelle played football at University of Minnesota Duluth...Mother Kelly played softball at Itasca Community College and uncle Jerod Hjelle played baseball at Bemidji State
University.