Twenty-One had participated in the Northwoods League’s Major League Dreams Showcase
Rochester, Minn. – The 2022 Major League First-Year Player Draft was held July 17 through July 19. This year’s draft was twenty rounds with ninety-three Northwoods League players selected. There were also nineteen drafted players that were scheduled to play in the League but were not able to do so due to injury or other circumstances.
The highest Northwoods League alum picked in this year’s draft was Brooks Lee, a junior infielder from Cal Poly. Lee was picked in the 1st round by the Minnesota Twins with the 8th overall pick. Lee played for the Willmar Stingers in 2020.
Of the ninety-three players drafted twenty-one of them had played in the Northwoods League Major League Dreams Showcase. The Major League Dreams Showcase brings together 100 of the Northwoods League’s top prospects to form four teams for a day of scouting workouts and double-header action. Played in front of Major League scouts, the Showcase provides an invaluable platform for players looking to one day make it into the professional ranks. Participating players are hand-selected by a panel of MLB scouts, distinguishing this event from the more traditional All-Star Game format that features representatives from every team. This year’s Major League Dreams Showcase will be held on August 2 in La Crosse.
The Waterloo Bucks had a league-high, eleven players drafted this year. The highest pick for the Bucks was pitcher Brycen Mautz from the University of San Diego. Mautz was selected by the Cardinals in the 2nd round. The Mankato MoonDogs had nine former players selected. The Chicago White Sox and the Houston Astros each selected a MLB high six Northwoods League players.
After playing the 2020 season due to pods being formed for play in Bismarck, Traverse City, Kalamazoo, and Kenosha the Bismarck Bull Moose, Mandan Flickertails, Great Lakes Resorters, Kalamazoo Mac Daddies and the K-Town Bobbers all had players selected.
The full list of 2022 NWL draftees can be found here: 2022 MLB Draft
As the Northwoods League continues the 2022 season, fans everywhere can take advantage of games streamed each night on ESPN+ and at watchnwl.com. Games are viewable on PC or on mobile devices, tablets, and select smart TV services.
###
The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. Now in its’ 29th season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 22 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff, over 295 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time All-Star and 2016 Roberto Clemente Award winner Curtis Granderson, three-time Cy Young Award winner and World Series Champion Max Scherzer (NYM), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist and Brandon Crawford (SFG) and World Series Champion Chris Sale (BOS). As well as 2019 Rookie of the Year and 2019/2021 Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (NYM) and 2021 All-Star, MLB Gold Glove winner and 2019 Second Team All-MLB shortstop Marcus Semien (TEX). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website at watchnwl.com and on ESPN+. For more information, visit www.northwoodsleague.com or download the Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play.
*************************************************
Where are they Now? We feature athletes and difference makers from the past, standouts in sports who excelled over the years and have moved on. Know of a former athlete, coach or difference maker we should feature? Know of a former standout competitor whose journey beyond central Wisconsin sports is one we should share? Send us information on athletes and difference makers of the past with our simple form HERE
Baked or Fried! We also feature difference makers throughout central Wisconsin: coaches, booster club leaders, adminstration, volunteers, you name it. Send us your nominations for who you’d like us to interview HERE
We welcome your stories! Contact us at [email protected]!
Author: David Keech
David Keech is a retired teacher and works as a sportswriter, sports official and as an educational consultant. He has reported on amateur sports since 2011, known as 'KeechDaVoice.' David can be reached at [email protected]
