2015 is Buckner's first in the Frontier League. He spent the past four seasons in the Chicago White Sox organization.
"I've had some really good friends play at Gateway and they've had nothing but great things to say about the organization," said Buckner, who played collegiately at West Virginia University. "I wanted to be a part of it."
Buckner played on four different teams in the White Sox system. He reached Birmingham (AA) in 2014 after beginning the season with Winston-Salem (Advanced-A). He posted a .265 batting average and hit 27 home runs during his time in Chicago's system.
"I have nothing but great things to say about the White Sox organization," Buckner said. "I definitely have more baseball left in me."
He was one of WVU's top hitters while playing for the Mountaineers. He hit for more than a .360 average in both his junior and senior seasons. After hitting 21 homers during his college career, the White Sox selected Buckner in the 26th round of the 2011 MLB Draft.
Buckner has never won a championship at any level of professional baseball. He's hoping to change that fortune with the Grizzlies in 2015. "I would love to win a Frontier League title," he said.
