FARGO — Mikey Hallquist’s baseball path to the Chicago Cubs organization has made the achievement more satisfying for the Fargo North graduate.
His journey included stops at junior college and NCAA Division II and Division I programs before a few seasons of independent ball, including two with his hometown Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks.
“I’m a bit of an underdog here in a big world and I think that’s really powerful for other people trying to make it in sports, or whether that be something else in life,” said Hallquist, who started this season with the Milwaukee Milkmen of the American Association.
Two weeks ago, Hallquist signed with the South Bend Cubs, a High-A affiliate, after Chicago purchased his contract from the Milkmen near the end of June.
“I’ve been working hard my whole life just to get an opportunity,” Hallquist said. “I was waiting for a call, waiting for someone to take a shot on me.”
Former Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks infielder Mikey Hallquist has shoes that Edythe, Oliver and Lydia Zuel designed. Their father is “SuperFan” Jamie Zuel, who is one of the game-day characters for the American Association baseball team. Hallquist is now with the South Bend Cubs.
Dylan Engel / Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks
Hallquist batted .312 with 11 home runs and 27 RBIs in 40 games with the Milkmen.
Since he joined the South Bend Cubs, he’s batting .214 with three doubles, one triple, one home run and four RBIs in 10 games. He’s added five stolen bases and scored eight runs. He was officially assigned to South Bend on July 1.
“It’s going to take a bit of adjusting, and after that, we’re going to get rolling,” Hallquist said.
South Bend earned a 5-2 victory against the Cedar Rapids (Iowa) Kernels on Sunday, July 12, heading into Major League Baseball’s All-Star break. South Bend resumes its season at 6:05 p.m. (CT) Friday, July 17, against Peoria (Ill.) at Four Winds Field.
Hallquist said Milkmen manager Anthony Barone called him late on a Sunday night, to tell Hallquist the Cubs were going to acquire him.
“I was shocked by it because, ‘Why are you calling me at this time of the day?’” Hallquist said. “I was just so excited. … It’s really possible if you dedicate yourself to something.”
Hallquist is playing second base for South Bend, and added the Cubs like his speed and ability to play multiple infield positions.
Hallquist said the three seasons he spent in the American Association were valuable in helping him transition into the Cubs organization. He said Alec Olund — who played with Hallquist with both the RedHawks and Milkmen — and RedHawks veteran Dillon Thomas and Milwaukee slugger Griffin Doersching were among his teammates who provided the most influence during his time in independent baseball.
“I was taking all the information I can to learn from them,” Hallquist said.
Hallquist is on a similar career arc as RedHawks manager Chris Coste, who also launched his pro career with Fargo-Moorhead. A Fargo South graduate, Coste, like Hallquist, played American Legion baseball for Fargo Post 2. West Fargo’s Andy Young, now an assistant baseball coach for North Dakota State, was also an inspiration for Hallquist. Young played parts of two seasons (2020 and 2021) with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
“The mountaintop wouldn’t be as sweet unless you didn’t go through the grind,” Hallquist said. “I’ve really had to work for it. … North Dakota is not really looked at as a baseball state.”
Thomas played parts of two seasons in the Major Leagues prior to joining the RedHawks for the 2023 season. He’s now in his fourth season with F-M. He’s also taken notice of former American Association players who ascended after their time in the league.
“It’s like, ‘That could be me, too,'” Hallquist said. “I really hope it is me later on. If I continue to work and continue to do the right things, I know it will be me.”
Peterson covers college athletics for The Forum, including Concordia College and Minnesota State Moorhead. He also covers the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks independent baseball team and helps out with North Dakota State football coverage. Peterson has been working at the newspaper since 1996.