Derek Bangert is in his second season with the ThunderBolts and second as a professional in 2019. He was signed on July 27, 2018 and hit .351 over 22 games down the stretch for the Bolts after finishing a two-year career at Bradley University. He hit .271 there in 95 career games with 23 homers, including 14 as a junior, and 82 RBIs. He slugged .574 his junior season and posted a .479 on-base percentage as a senior. Prior to Bradley, he spent two years at Heartland Community College, where he batted .362 over 78 total games. He hit 17 homers and drove in 69 runs in his freshman year. Derek attended Lockport Township High School in Lockport, Illinois.