The Alameda Merchants are announcing that several members of the 2015 squad will return to the team in 2016.

Marcus Williams - INF Cal State East Bay - In 36 games last summer, Williams hit .316 (37 for 117) for the Merchants and scored 21 runs while playing some stellar defense at SS and 3B. Williams will be playing in his senior season this year at Cal State East Bay. He will split time between infield and relief pitcher.

Kyle Oden - LHP San Joaquin Delta JC - Oden had 14 appearances for the Merchants last summer as a spot starter and reliever. He had a record of 3-2 with 28 strike outs. He will be a redshirt sophomore at Delta this season.

Tucker McPhaul - LHP San Joaquin Delta JC - McPhaul had 16 appearances for Alameda last summer as a spot starter and reliever. He had a record of 2-3 with 25 strike outs in 24 innings pitched. McPhaul will be a sophomore this year at Delta.

Willie Traynor - RHP UC Santa Barbara - Traynor had 17 appearances for Alameda last summer as a relief pitcher. He had a record of 1-0 with 23 strike outs in 29 innings pitched. Traynor will be playing his freshman year at UCSB.

Nabeeh Blackburn - RHP Adams State - Blackburn had 11 appearances for Alameda last summer as a relief pitcher and spot starter. He had a record of 1-0 over 20 innings pitched. Blackburn will be playing his junior season at Adams State in Colorado.

Gunnar David - RHP Holy Names - David was one of the Merchants best middle relief pitchers over the past two summers. In 2015, he had 24 appearances where he had a record of 3-2 with 4 saves. David had 35 strike outs over 31 innings pitched. David wil be playing his junior season at Holy Names.

The Merchants are excited to have this good core group of players back for the 2016 season. The Merchants will be announcing the rest of their recruiting efforts in the near future.