Minot Hot Tots added while Thunder Bay Border Cats and Minnesota Mud Puppies Return
Rochester, Minn. – The Northwoods League today has announced that the Thunder Bay Border Cats will return for the 2023 season. The League is happy to welcome back the Border Cats after a three-year absence. Along with the Border Cats returning the Minot Hot Tots will enter play for their inaugural season in 2023 and the Minnesota Mud Puppies will return as a road only team again.
“As the Northwoods League enters its 30th year, we as a League are looking forward to having all of our affiliates be a part of the 2023 season,” said Northwoods League President Ryan Voz. “This is a milestone as the Northwoods League will celebrate 30 years of providing family entertainment across the upper Midwest in 23 different locations with 24 teams.”
The Border Cats are busy recruiting their team for 2023 and will be announcing a new Field Manager soon. During the 2022 MLB season, four former Border Cats made their Major League Debuts.
“The Northwoods League continues to expand its footprint to Minot, ND, while also welcoming back Thunder Bay after a three-year hiatus,” said Voz.
The newly named Minot Hot Tots and their General Manager Monica Blake are also working on their team for the 2023 season and recently named Mitch Gallagher as their first Field Manager. Gallagher is no stranger to the League having played and coached in Bismarck previously. Blake was named as GM in Minot after being with the Bismarck Larks since 2019.
For the first time in its history the Northwoods League will also have two All-Star Games. The Bismarck Larks and the Traverse City Pit Spitters will each host games in the Lakes and the Plains Divisions. The full 2023 Northwoods League schedule will be announced soon.
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The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. Having completed 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 310 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.
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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]
