Reifert signs Contract With Milwaukee Brewers

 WILTON — Former Wilton All-State baseball player Evan Reifert is beginning his professional baseball career. The 2017 Wilton graduate recently agreed to a contract with the Milwaukee Brewers as an undrafted free agent. The Brewers are a member of Major League Baseball’s National League, in the same division as the Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals, Cincinnati Reds, and Pittsburgh Pirates. Reifert even has a page on Baseball-reference.com.
 “I did not know that,” said Reifert in a recent interview. “I was originally planning on going back to school to the University of Central Missouri. But not getting in a full season, and how the draft played out with less rounds, my age would have played a role in my potential draft position. In talking with the scouts, I felt that this is the way to go,” he said.
 After two years at North Iowa Area CC, Reifert had signed with North Carolina and appeared
in fall scrimmages in 2019 before joining Central Missouri in Warrensburg, Missouri.
 He entered four games in relief throwing 2.2 innings while allowing one hit and striking out four, pitching to a 3.37 ERA. In two out of his four appearances, Reifert struck out two batters in an inning of work. He was ranked the No. 12 recruit in Iowa and No. 4 right-handed pitcher after graduating from high school.
 “(Milwaukee’s) development system is really good,” said Reifert.
 “Just going from there, I think that was a big factor, going to a team that knows how to develop their players.”
 Reifert has signed a term sheet and pending a physical, he will be in Arizona to begin his career in Rookie ball. He also will report in the fall to workout. He is projected as a starting pitcher and will train to be a starter. Provided the major league schedule returns to normal for the 2021 season, Reifert will be assigned to one of the Brewers minor league affiliates. The Brewers have a team in the low-A Midwest League, the Wisconsin
 Timber Rattlers. Reifert still is a fireballer and throws in the low to mid-90’s with a high of 97 mph. He is trying to get command of it consistently.
 “It’s another chapter in my life. I’m closing the college door where I’ve learned a lot about myself and the game. It’s another step toward my dream of making it to the big leagues,” Reifert said. “It’s been unreal, it’s been a roller coaster, but it’s a dream come true.”
 Reifert graduated from Wilton in 2017. In 2018 after his freshman season at NIACC, he was drafted in the 30th round by the Texas Rangers, the No. 899 selection in the draft. Reifert finished his freshman season at North Iowa Area Community College this past spring where he pitches for the Trojans. Reifert, a right-handed pitcher from Wilton, was 1-1 with 28 strikeouts and 21 walks in 17 2/3 innings
pitched in his freshman season at NIACC. He was the second player with NIACC ties to be drafted in this year’s draft. Reifert is the fifth player at NIACC to be selected in the MLB first-year player draft.
Reifert signed with North Iowa Area Community College in Mason City out of high school to play baseball. Reifert was a two-time All-State players and one of the top high school pitchers
in Iowa at the time. His junior season, he threw three no hitters and had a 9-0 record in 49 innings pitched. He had 92 strikeouts and 25 walks with a ERA of 1.29 that season. He also was a good hitter, batting .450 with 50 hits, 28 RBI’s, 13 doubles and he scored 39 runs. He also had 24 stolen bases that season. Reifert was a standout in football as well, catching 23 passes for 547 yards and eight touchdowns his senior season in helping Wilton to a 7-2 record.
Reifert is the son of Ben and Julie Reifert.